Wikipedia:Why ageism on wikipedia should not be employed

In adminship discussions, the issue of age often comes up. One viewpoint on this is expressed at [Wikipedia:Ageism]. This expresses another.

Arguments
A wikipedia member should not be judged in full, or in part on the basis of their age. While it is true that one's age may affect maturity, consideration of a candidate's age may instill a bias in the minds of other members as to their maturity. There is no excuse for judging a member on anything other than their merits, and judging based on a factor that may affect their merits places undue weight. If someone were applying for a fava bean eating job, would they be rejected because many people are allergic to fava beans, whether they are, or not? It may furthermore be considered a violation of NPOV to support adults over children, with its implicit suggestion of the superiority of adults. In short, there is no excuse to bring up the age of a candidate during a discussion. Assuming a comprehensive knowledge of the consequences of prejudice, such an action can only be performed in bad faith.