Growing old

A post discussing Niall Ferguson became one that also discussed Chomsky and among other things how scholars behave as they get older. Do they get less smart? Do they take more risks in terms of what they say?

In general (not just scholars) there are at least two stereotypes that persist in my mind:

1. We become wiser, gentler and more patient.
2. We become crankier, cantankerous, rude and impatient.

I find myself falling into the second bucket these days.