The Chat Thread (Read OP)

[Sir Adrian]

The Communist Bunga Bunga. Everybody shares his woman with Silvio.

 

[Septentrionalis]

As a Finn, do you think the Swedes mature and age really quickly?

I haven't noticed that and haven't heard anyone else make the observation. Their pale skin probably ages badly if they move south (like Spain) and like sunbathing. How did you come by that?

 

[Bo1Bo1Sha3]

I've seen Swedes and a few Norwegians, on my social media when younger a friends graduation photo showed and they all looked like fully grown men, and now I took a look again they all look at least 10-15 years older than other Europeans their age. This is like those old photos of our grandparents where it seemed people aged faster than now.

Edit:

https://www.boredpanda.com/past-you...oogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
Relevant link

I don't think it's only lifestyle. I've never heard anyone say the Danes or Finns look older, yet Danes like to eat and drink.

 

[Septentrionalis]

Interesting stuff and thanks for the link. What I have observed though is that people are incredibly subjective when judging other people's age. Even to an annoying degree, and I think that they operate mainly on a subconscious level. There also might be national differences at work; one nation may display either innate characteristics or manners of dress and grooming at young age that are common for mature people in your culture.

Swedes probably drink much less than most other European nations (that can be determined with some accuracy) and my personal experience is that they are generally quite skinny. On the other hand, many see them as quite neat dressers, which may give young people a mature look if you come from a culture where young adults like skateboarding shoes, baggy shorts and baseball caps.

As for the subjective qualities, let's say that if you grow up around a family and family friends that do not lose hair or lose it a late age, you may greatly overestimate the age of someone who is balding at 25 or so. At any rate, while lifestyle certainly plays a role, it seems that much of perceptual aging is caused by genetic factors. I've seen a few who like the drink and the not so healthy foods and do no sports but have been quite baby faces pushing forty.

The link you posted is interesting, but it is also the very definition of cherry picking. I bet you could come up with a lot of examples like that from present populations.

Edit: smoking is also by a wide margin less common in Sweden than elsewhere in Europe. Check this out:

https://www.statista.com/statistics...ently-smoke-cigarettes-in-european-countries/

 

[Septentrionalis]

The pictures that you linked to, obvious jokes aside, seem to confirm some of my suspicions. Being overweight, having hair loss or facial grooves that some develop at a later age while others have from early adulthood all seem to be interpreted as signs of aging. Keeping thinning hair and possibly a comb-over and combining it with a moustache will make you look older to an unanalytical observer even if your skin is still young. Do away with the moustache, shave your head or wear a baseball cap and presto, in their judgment you just lost 15 years.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

I'm not Italian, I am Italy

Spoiler: I HAVE A STATUE

Oh , it explains so much.

 

[Bo1Bo1Sha3]

The pictures that you linked to, obvious jokes aside, seem to confirm some of my suspicions. Being overweight, having hair loss or facial grooves that some develop at a later age while others have from early adulthood all seem to be interpreted as signs of aging. Keeping thinning hair and possibly a comb-over and combining it with a moustache will make you look older to an unanalytical observer even if your skin is still young. Do away with the moustache, shave your head or wear a baseball cap and presto, in their judgment you just lost 15 years.

Out of curiosity I googled graduation pics from the Scandinavian countries to compare, (I also googled my question, I found a forum post where they wondered the same thing) The Danish ones didn't seem atypical (to me); the Swedish and Norwegian ones looked like the people in them were maturing early.
You are correct, different dress and behavior is true, but I suspect people who look older act older.
But most countries have dialect and regional differences, I can't generalize, the photos could all come from a few cities.
I'm in HK now, (I'm half HK), people have different personalities, appearance, and fashion-sense literally within a kilometer of each other.

Thanks for going into great detail with the reply, you are an analytical thinker and a good observer.

 

[Cookiegod]

I mean... I find that boys mature late. They can look like kids when deep in their 20s. Not me of course, my hairline started receding before I was even allowed to vote.
Girls are just really hard to judge at times. Especially in Denmark it's almost a uniform. White shoes, black trousers, same hair, same make-up. It's really hard to tell the age.
Both of these things hold true globally, but I find it easier in other parts of Europe than in DK.

As for the later aging, it really depends on the lifestyle people live. Genetics still has a role of course but not as dominant as before. In general, people living unhealthy or unhappy age faster than people that do sports, eat and live healthy and happy lives. Now, have I answered your questions in a timely and satisfactory manner? If so, give me a 5 star on yelp pls and a rep here. It really helps my algorithm.

 

[Flinn]

The Communist Bunga Bunga. Everybody shares his woman with Silvio.

Ius Prime Silvio

 

[Sir Adrian]

I wonder what will Italy do once he is not more. He is 84 years old now.

 

[Flinn]

If it was up to me, I would be embalming him and put him into a transparent coffin; then I would be setting a huge mausoleum around it, all set up with screens passing the most iconic moments of his life, documentaries about his history, etc. Everything should be done to keep his memory for the eternity

Though, honestly, those who love him will bring him in their hearths forever

Spoiler: embalmed with this expression

 

[Cookiegod]

I wonder what will Italy do once he is not more. He is 84 years old now.

Once he's no more, Italy will be no more

 

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

And if Italy makes a clone from him like Kahless, the first Emperor of the Klingon Empire?

 

[Flinn]

And if Italy makes a clone from him like Kahless, the first Emperor of the Klingon Empire?

Berluschless, the first Emperor of the Mediolanum Empire

damn, that sounds awesome

 

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

And how entertaining politics would be, if the chancellor would be determined by duells with the bat'leth.^^

 

[Sir Adrian]

They already have the Coloseum. Perfect venue.

 

[Septentrionalis]

Though, honestly, those who love him will bring him in their hearths forever

Sounds like tough love. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearth

 

[Mhaedros]

Put his brain in a jar and install it into a giant mech before he dies seems like the obvious answer.

 

[Sir Adrian]

Mecha Silvio, now with extra lovin'

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

And ribbed for your pleasure

 

[Septentrionalis]

Out of curiosity I googled graduation pics from the Scandinavian countries to compare

[...]

I'm in HK now, (I'm half HK), people have different personalities, appearance, and fashion-sense literally within a kilometer of each other.

I was actually going to suggest that you take a look at some class or graduation photos as a more relevant source (no cherry picking individuals), but you beat me to it. Not surprised, really. The only caveat I can imagine is that it is hard to determine the real age of the people pictured if we don't know the educational system of a country.

Of all the places that I have been to, HK has been the most foreign one in feel to me, having grown up in a place with vast woodlands and no high-rise buildings. Hands down. It felt like another world on both occasions. And I never even visited Kowloon. If you say that you are half HK, are you saying that you are both Western (e.g. British / American) and HK Chinese? That must be an asset in the job market.

We should have another idle chat thread here in TD, because not everyone takes kindly to more serious discussions in this one and they have a point.

 

[Sir Adrian]

I want redneck transexual Nietzche fighting staty at home mom Darth Vader in the next Star Wars movie.

 

[PikeStance]

Seems like a good time to introduce the Jerry Springer show...

 

[Sir Adrian]

I just realised that Wolverine is actually two Batmans kissing.

 

[Turkafinwë]

I don't know what's worse. Communism or homosexuality. Damn you Karl!

 

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

I would rather be a (Marxist) dictator than gay.

 

[PikeStance]

The world could use a gay dictator... especially North Korea... so drab

 

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

why not both?

Woah, Marxism is already pretty gay. Are you sure?

 

[Flinn]

I think we can enjoy our time in the TD without necessarily having to make jokes about homosexuality, can't we? Let's not risk to offend someone and let's stay on the safe side. Thanks.

 

[Sir Adrian]

Flinn is telling us to avoid going on the Wrong Side of the Tracks