Wizard ages

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 149275

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "manawydan" <manawydan at ...> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve" <bboyminn at ...>
> Subject: [HPforGrownups] Re: Wizard ages
> 
> 
> > Many of us, well specifically me and a couple others, believe 
> > that the Maximum age difference is about double, disregarding
> > the first 18 years ....
> >
> > Dumbledore-
> >
> > ME = (150-18)/2 + 18 = 84
> >
> > So, functionally, at real age 150, Dumbledore functions like 
> > an 84 year old Muggle.

> Ffred:
> 
> I think most 84 year old Muggles of my acquaintance would be
> delighted to be as fit and active as Albus!
> 
> The really old wizards, like Marchbanks, Dippet and Tofty, give 
> far more of an impression of old age.
> 
> I wonder if Dumbledore's ME would work better with a divisor of 3
> 
> ME = (150-18)/3 + 18 = 62.
> 
> And indeed, he acts far more like a 62 year old than an 84 year old.

bboyminn:

You are looking at the typical 80 year old, I suspect that Dumbledore
is an exceptional 80 year old. Let's not forget that the Queen is 80,
and she seems well and fit. Let's not forget that many US Congressmen
are in or near their 80's and still serving well. In fact, one who
died recently, served well into his 90's.  Further, Bob Dole
[http://www.bobdole.org/], who is now 83, ran for President when he
was 73. Still a bright, active, healthy man; who, as a side note, is a
spokes person for Viagra. 

It is a standing joke in our family than my 82 year old mother lives a
more active life than any of her children. So, while many in their
80's are quite old, it is not absolute. I've seen people on the Jay
Leno - Tonight Show who are 100 or more, and many of them are still
active. 

So, Dumbledore is exceptionally well and fit for his age, and let's
not forget that he has to walk up and down several flights of stairs,
and up and down sloping lawns several times a day. I'm sure that
excersize contributes to him staying fit and healthy. Further,
Dumbledore is constantly surrounded by young people. In there presents
circumstances demand that he constantly engage his intellect which is
like excersize for the mind. The biggeest waste and wasting of a mind
and body is to not use them. Dumbledore is engaged in life, and that
keeps him young.

For the record, McGonagall at age 70, would be Muggle Equivalent age
of 44 years. How does that square with your view of her? Would you
suggest that she is (70-18)/3 + 18 = 35? 

I'm basing my estimation on an approximate double Maximum age for
Wizards. So, Max for muggles is 125; Max for wizards is about 250 (or
232 according to the formula). Using the average life expextancy in
the USA of 76 years, transferred, using the formula, that would make
wizard's average life expectancy age 134. That would make Dumbledore
older than the average, and I find that consistent with what I see in
the books.

I suspect the ancient and wizened Marchbanks and Tofte are closer to
age 200, which is about a 109 years according to the formula.

Of course, I can't prove I'm right. I'm just making a best quess. But
I think, all things considered, it is a reasonably accurate best guess.

Just passing it a long.

Steve/bboyminn