We don't ask to be deeper. But, whether we want to or not, we automatically get deeper, just from experiencing life. When we are 20 or 30, we don't have quite as many questions spring to mind as when we are older. A new product? Another candidate? A repair needed? How about this? Why? Who? What if?
When I found that older students, let's say past 30 or 40, often showed up in college classrooms a little nervous, a little doubtful they could understand fully and rapidly enough to keep up, I was surprised. It was clear from just a few hours in classes containing such students that they were the best in the room. It seemed to be because of that greater depth. A typical undergraduate wants to know what you want learned and learns it. Few questions asked. The typical older student wants to know why you focus on these learnings and skills and not some others. How long have you required these projects? When did you last change? Do the conditions supporting these assignments and requirements still hold? Are you thinking of any changes?
The younger students often react in a mildly negative way to questions and interruptions from the older ones. It seems as though they are afraid this thinking business might be contagious and spread to them. That would be unpleasant. For one thing, it is clear that most of the young ones are silent, much as a typical American adolescent. So, if I start using those little gray cells and begin popping out questions and comments, I will stand out. Could be dangerous. Could negatively affect my social standing, something I don't want, especially with members of the opposite sex.
The older students pay little attention to social signals from the younger ones, much as parents often have to learn to pay little attention to the huffs and puffs of older kids at home, often emitted as signals that requests to help clean or cook or do the laundry are silly and out of place. The older students have little interest in being popular with the mass of the class. They want to know and they shell out good money for answers. They aren't about to waste their chance to question somebody who probably knows.
