When is middle age?

[2024namechange]

I’m deep in winter hibernation mode and watching all my comfort TV. Currently on Cold Feet (original late 90s version).

In it I noticed they have made several comments about them being Middle Aged.

• Adam is 33
• Rachel is 28
• David is 39
• We also know that Karen is 7 years younger than David which also makes her 33.

The age of the other characters isn’t clear but the tag line is that the story is about “thirty somethings”.

I am 31 and I don’t consider myself anywhere near middle aged. I would consider middle aged to be 40-70, after that you are old.

AIBU?

I’m also wondering if definitions have changed since this show was made, it is 25 years old after all!

I'd say 40-60. After 60 years is old, and after 80 very old.

I’d say 40-60 is middle age, or anyone who’s currently Gen x to simplify it. As a Millennial, I absolutely don’t see myself as ‘middle aged’ yet, but then again in my head everything is still shell suits and listening to Spice Girls tapes so I’m actually one foot in a care home by yoof standards 🤣

Middle aged is ALWAYS ten years older than I am.

I’d also say 60-80 is (or was) the ‘wind down’ age and 80+ is elderly. It’s difficult to think of 60-70 especially as being particularly old these days

20-26 young adult.
27-40 adult,
40-55 middle aged,
56-75 older adult,
75+ elderly.
I don't think that the definitions are literal, but medical in terms of how you heal, fight off infection etc.

Pretty much this. 35 is middle aged. It's definitely the sensible, slipper wearing, not on the lash, responsibility at work, time of life.

Having kids makes a difference.. they wear you out. I've met middle aged 20 something and youthful 50 somethings

When I turned 40 I made some comment on facebook about being middle aged, and all my friends the same age were highly offended

Spoiler alert - you never feel middle aged, or at least I don't yet and I'm 50. It's a bit of a shock when I remember that.

I'm 46 so middle age must be 47+

Bugger. According to most PPs, I'm old (64). I see myself as late middle-aged - and can still get up off the floor without struggling! I would say middle age stops around 65 - but I'm not sure it's immediately followed by 'old'. 'OldER', maybe :)

I'm 47 & don't feel anything like this!

They did this in Jeremy vine on 5 a year or two ago ... it was mid-late 50's ... which works for me as I'm 51 🤪

I think of 30-39 year-olds as old young people. I’m in my early 40s and am a young middle-aged person!

That’s my theory anyway…

Bloody hell! Looks fall off a cliff post 35? I have to say I haven’t noticed this in either myself (and sadly I wouldn’t say I’ve won the genetic lottery ageing-wise before that’s interpreted as a boast) or anyone around me.

Your comment reminds me of a description of a female character in a Chinese story I once read who was referred to as having a ‘ruined face’ because she was no longer a youthful maiden. She was 27.

Double post.

@JohnMytton presume you're <35

I'd say 45-65. Maybe a few years ago I'd have said from 40-65, but anyone I know in their early 40's looks/acts nothing like what I think of as someone middle aged. But maybe that's because I'm 35 so not that far off 40 yet mentally I still feel like I'm in my late 20s.

In Anthony Buckeridge’s “Jennings” books, written in the 50s and 60s, there’s a long-running joke that the boys (10-11) think Mr Carter is middle-aged. He is 33. Ergo clearly the adult reading this to their child is supposed to think it’s funny that 33 could be considered middle-aged. So I’m not sure what Cold Feet was on about!

So farage is a whiper snapper going around the drapers in jermyn street 😂🤣