"When we started the company, a big chunk of our staffers were in their 20s, bestowing large portions of our editorial output with the imprimatur of youth, but it turns out that every 28-year-old becomes 33 five years later, like clockwork. While we've frequently hired early-career writers in their twenties, our overall average age continues to inch upward, as everyone progresses interminably towards unc status."
"There's the fact that in August, I hurt my back for the first time. In the months that have passed since I wrote about it, I've learned just how right one of the commenters was when they pointed out that nobody's ever said, I used to have back pain. But as I wrote then, I'd also never particularly enjoyed being young."
"I was reminded of this recently when I started falling asleep in the middle of a basketball game. I think the Wizards were playing, though I can't say with any real certainty. I'd turned the game on as background noise to scroll my phone to, a habit formed during the 2025 NBA Finals when I'd discovered how pleasant watching sports could be without the constant commentary of my dad and two brothers."
A company that began with many staffers in their twenties now sees its average age steadily rise, as early-career hires grow older and the workforce inches toward UNC status. A member who joined at 28 noticed the gradual shift into middle age and experienced a back injury in August, discovering that back pain tends to persist. The youngest-in-the-room dynamic created pressure and limited enjoyment of youth, while growing familiarity and routine offered relief. Simple habits emerged, such as using basketball as quiet background entertainment—born during the 2025 NBA Finals—and as a way to get through winter evenings.
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