Why do people say you age on your birthday?

[YUPPIE]

It's plausible when you're a kid but when you're older like in your 40s, don't you start viewing yourself aging when the year starts rather than your birthday? Unless there's scientific proof your date of birth is where it holds meaning, why not just say you're a year older when the new year starts?

[Felya]

Because it’s kind of like a count down, for vultures to get your stuff. Happy birthday!

[Shadowferal]

It's plausible when you're a kid but when you're older like in your 40s, don't you start viewing yourself aging when the year starts rather than your birthday? Unless there's scientific proof your date of birth is where it holds meaning, why not just say you're a year older when the new year starts?

Wait until you're older.
When you look back and realize how much your biology has changed then both dates, your birthday, and New Year's Day, will likely be days you'll view with a degree of cynicism.

[Nevcairiel]

It's plausible when you're a kid but when you're older like in your 40s, don't you start viewing yourself aging when the year starts rather than your birthday? Unless there's scientific proof your date of birth is where it holds meaning, why not just say you're a year older when the new year starts?

"Being a year older" is a fully arbitrary human concept. Biology doesn't count your age in years. Your biological age doesn't just suddenly jump up a year at some point. You slowly age every day.

Hence, why wouldn't you use the most accurate measure of your age, which is based on your birthday?

Here is a neat trick, with any theory you should run it through the extremes to see if it makes any sense.
Say, for example, someone born on December 31 1980 and someone on January 1 1981 are quite close to being the same age, just one day apart. But if you counted on new year they would be a year apart in age suddenly? Or do you "round" to the closest year change? Or pick one arbitrarily? If my birthday is in July, do I make myself half a year older or younger?

We already celebrate our birthdays, not using them to refer to your age would just be silly.

[Antiganon]

My birthday is at the very end of December, so...yes? I think?

[Amerissis]

why not just say you're a year older when the new year starts?

Because you're not? A year is a measurement of time length, so if you're born in July and say you're a year older at new year's, you're not. You're 6 months older. Can't believe you need to have that explained to you.

[Ghostpanther]

Not sure why anyone would care.

[Forgettable]

Because we don't live in Korea, obviously.

[prwraith]

I don't tell people when my birthday is tbh. So nobody says anything...it's kinda nice

[Katchii]

It's plausible when you're a kid but when you're older like in your 40s, don't you start viewing yourself aging when the year starts rather than your birthday? Unless there's scientific proof your date of birth is where it holds meaning, why not just say you're a year older when the new year starts?

You do know how math works, right?

[Ryzael]

Because you're not? A year is a measurement of time length, so if you're born in July and say you're a year older at new year's, you're not. You're 6 months older. Can't believe you need to have that explained to you.

it's only broken on your actual birth year

[Pony Soldier]

Everyday, every hour, every minute, every second that passes by you're aging. You don't just age as soon as we hit the new year. Birthdays are just anniversaries celebrating the day you were born and the fact that you're still alive 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, years later.

Weird thread.

[Daedius]

Just to give you a friendly reminder;

[Pony Soldier]

Just to give you a friendly reminder;

Damn, he only has 3 more years to live. Poor lad doesn't even know it.

[Felya]

Damn, he only has 3 more years to live. Poor lad doesn't even know it.

Sleeping with a teddy bear at 15? Sounds like he had it coming...