To think that 40s is not 'middle aged'

[Beancounter1]

Here is how my scheme goes:

0-10 childhood
10-19 older childhood and teens
20-29 young adult
30 to 49 - two decades of 'prime' adulthood
50-59 middle aged
60-69 getting older
70-79 old
80+ bonus time

Do you disagree?

Of course 40 is middle aged. U.K. average life expectancy is about 81 years, therefore 40 is middle aged by definition. It’s absurd, or more likely, wishful thinking to think otherwise.

40 is definitely middle aged

It only matters if you think being middle aged is a bad thing. It doesn't need to be.

How old are you? My guess is below 40 🤣

Im 42 so I’m going with this. I don’t feel middle aged but I guess I can’t argue after 45!

I'm 55 and I refuse to be middle aged.

Don’t worry @lurchermummy you’re not middle aged anymore!

I'm 48 and feel the same 🤣

40 is middle aged. The majority of us don't get past 80.

40 is middle aged. It’s utterly deluded to think otherwise. Middle aged doesn’t have to mean old, boring, whatever, but you are still middle aged.

I’d say
20-45 young
45-65 middle aged
65-79 older
80+ elderly

I'd say 20-35 young-youngish, 35-55 middle-aged, 55-70 older, 70+ old. I'm 51.

Exactly @lurchermummy is a 'senior' now. 55 is PAST middle age!

It's like how summer technically only ends in late September, but no-one would consider mid September to be "summer." Same with "middle aged". In practice it's at a time somewhat beyond the middle.

It’s mad to think that middle aged used to be about 15.

45 -YOUNG? And 65 - middle aged?! 😂

And 65-79 is 'older' WTF is 'older?'

My Dad and Uncle are in their early 80s and still refer to themselves as middle aged. We dare not tell them that they may not see their 170th!

Life expectancy in the UK is 80, so middle age is late 30s to early 40s.

Ouch!

Some people must hold negative notions of what middle age represents if they're objecting to that label in 40s or 50s? It would have been pipe and slippers and 'sensible' haircuts in my parents day, I think, but I no longer think that applies?

42 to 60 seem middle-aged, but then 61 to about 73 does not seem old. Elderly is 78 plus.

You may not have pipe and slippers and sensible haircut (whatever THAT is) at 45, but you are STILL MIDDLE AGED! What is wrong with it? Why are people in such huge denial? Claiming they are not even middle aged yet at 55, is just silly. Not worthy of an OUCH at all to put them straight.

20-29 young adult
30-45 adult
46-55 middle aged adult

@TiaraBoo fingers in my ears la la la - middle aged people wear beige and say "oof" when they sit down. I prefer to think of myself as mature, like a fine wine.

I think 20 to 40 is young adult, 40 to 65 is middle-aged. I don't think 60 can be counted as old now as pension age is 66. Most people now are still fit and active now for longer so would say 67 to 75 older and over 75 elderly.

Well, I personally self-identify as 'young' even though I am approaching my 70s! 😁

@PurpleButterflyWings what are you talking about?

You have completely the wrong end of the stick if you'd read my posts and the rest of the thread. And I'm late 30s as I've said! I don't know where you have 45 from 

And don't take things so seriously, purple! My 'ouch' comment wasn't intended to be serious.