Elders are wise, they say. But to a younger person, advice from older generations can feel hilarious and out of touch…until life throws them a curveball. People left over 1,000 comments in an online forum about the “old people” advice they used to think was funny before realizing it was true.
Note: Some quotes in this piece have been lightly edited for grammar.
1: From a Parent
“The days are long but the years are short” is a funny piece of advice a formerly new parent remembers hearing from older generations. They now realize that couldn’t be more true.
2: Catch Up
A waiter in their 20s dismissed the “grizzled old dishwasher” who told them, “Everything catches up to you. Everything.” Their young self thought they knew it all and would be young forever. “I later found out he was absolutely correct.”
3: Too Bad
The old saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is” is advice one commenter used to think was funny. They didn’t give context for what made them change their tune, but it was impactful enough for them to now know this advice is often true.
4: Company Lies
An employee remembers being told, “The company only has your back if it’s in their financial interests.” Their young self and generous heart thought it couldn’t be true. Not anymore.
5: Time Perceptions
One commenter remembers rolling their eyes whenever they heard their elders say, “The older you get, the faster time goes by.” Turns out they’re not rolling their eyes anymore.
6: Look Away and Listen
A person who has spent a long time with their partner says they always laughed off advice, “When you’re choosing who to marry, don’t focus on looks. Looks don’t last forever. Focus on voice, that does last forever, and you’re going to be listening to that voice for the rest of your life.” Their older self now knows it couldn’t be more true.
7: Turn the Volume Down
“Don’t listen to music so loud” was a common piece of advice people remember hearing from older generations. Now, comments abound along the lines of “I’m just waiting for the hearing aid to kick in.”
8: Animals Are a Responsibility
An animal lover said they pictured themselves having tons of pets as an adult. Their now adult self understands why their parents “didn’t want a bunch of animals.” It’s “Too much money and responsibility,” they say.
9: DIY Fails
“It’s cheaper to hire a professional to do the job than to try and save a couple of dollars to do it yourself” is advice from an older generation that one commenter no longer thinks is funny. Unfortunately, it meant losing money on a DIY project.
10: Fresh Air
A child used to think their parents were crazy for airing out their home and advising others to do the same. They now realize “indoor air quality is pretty bad to start with and gets worse with gas fires and people breathing.”
11: Think Again
One commenter shared three pieces of wisdom from older generations that they thought were funny but now know are true.
1: “When you’re in your 20s, you worry about what people think about you.”
2: “When you’re in your 30s, you don’t worry about what people think about you.”
3: “When you’re in your 40s, you realize nobody ever cared or thought about you.”
12: Midnight Troubles
The saying “Nothing good happens after midnight” seems like older generations are trying to wreck a good time for younger folks. But as one former bartender now recognizes, “After working late nights, I 100% agree. It’s like a switch in people’s minds goes off at 12:00 am.”
13: Job Security
Try telling a teen or someone in their young 20s that the most attractive man is one with a steady job, and they’ll likely laugh. A now wiser person says the advice “There’s nothing sexier than a man with a 9-5 job” is spot-on.
14: Big Brother
A person reflects on what they used to construe as “grumpy old men” saying, “Don’t trust the government!” In hindsight, they say they “think they’ve got a point.”
Source: Reddit.
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