Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ageism.

118 replies

WhatsUpNowThen · 18/06/2024 02:55

It's awful, on Mumsnet. Do these posters think they will never be 60?

I have to admit that I'm not too pleased about it. But turning 60 does not change my views on anything at all. I think the same things as I did when I was 30 Why do the younger generation hate us so much?

I'm on their side.

OP posts:
Bumblebeeinatree · 18/06/2024 08:52

WhatsUpNowThen · 18/06/2024 02:55

It's awful, on Mumsnet. Do these posters think they will never be 60?

I have to admit that I'm not too pleased about it. But turning 60 does not change my views on anything at all. I think the same things as I did when I was 30 Why do the younger generation hate us so much?

I'm on their side.

I think the problem is young people seem to think older people had a much more cushy life when they were young than they have now, when most of us went through really tough times when we were young and we actually do know and sympathise with young people now going through the same sort of things, no money, rubbish job, not able to get on the property ladder, not able to afford the things we want, or to start a family, we mostly came from poor families and got no inheritances either, etc, etc, things don't change that much. As you get older hopefully things improve slowly you get promotions at work, your income goes up, you scrimp and save to buy that tiny house in a terrible area, which you trade up years later, and if you're lucky you get a half decent pension having worked 40 odd years.

Everythingiscalmfornow · 18/06/2024 08:52

Goldenbear · 18/06/2024 08:04

You are determined to take offence, I didn’t mean it like that, they don’t view me or DH or Grandparents with contempt but in an everyday situation they would be self aware walking past a load of teenagers in the sense of what they are dressed in, what they look like. They are also plugged into their headphones to and from school so I don’t think they notice much. I was the same as a teenager, it is not that outlandish to suggest that teenagers don’t really think if people 20 plus (not famous people) as setting trends, people in their 20s can be their teachers remember and appear very out of touch with ‘young’ people. I felt the same when I was younger.

My DS really likes Ed Davey and said if he was old enough he’d probably vote for Lib Dems but it wouldn’t care what Ed Davey thought of his clothes or music, teenagers thinking they set trends is hardly a new phenomenon!

I'm not taking offence at all.
My idea of a decent society is one where people of all ages mix with each other and where they regard every one as an individual. Lumping people together on basis of age is not healthy. How can people understand and learn from other people's view points and experiences if they only mix with people of their own generation? I'm not just talking about your teenagers being unaware of anyone older than themselves. I'm talking also about older people only mixing with people of their generation. I'm talking about the " othering" effect - which is a very real thing.
So I'm not taking offence. I'm generally sad about the unpleasant society we live in and ageism is just one of the things wrong with it.

PuddlesPityParty · 18/06/2024 08:48

anunlikelyseahorse · 18/06/2024 08:35

Oh I see puddles you're saying vestal's post is sort of reversed ageism, sort of youngisim?
Nah, she's just using satire! She clearly doesn't really think the 30 somethings can no longer converse in person! Don't take it to heart. She's more poking fun at society in general!

It’s not reverse ageism - it’s just ageism. Ageism is stereotyping or discrimination based on age (it’s not just referring to older people being stereotyped / discriminated against by younger people).

Listen, you can say it was satire or whatever you want but I’ve seen it so many times on mumsnet where people are so casually ageist to younger generations and then get a bee in their bonnet when it’s called out. Ageism against older generations gets quickly called out. There’s no way it wouldn’t have been if it was about older gen’s. I’m just calling it how I see it, you can disagree if you want to but it won’t change my mind on this matter.

TheEyesOfLucyJordon · 18/06/2024 08:40

"Every generation; Blames the one before ....." 🎵🎶🎵

I think much of the ageism on here is more sweeping generalisations about different generations.

We have a diverse age profile in my team at work. We laugh about the differences, especially in music tastes and knowledge of 1970s TV. The office would lose something if we couldn't. But that's completely different to me shouting someone down in a meeting, and suggesting they know nowt cos they're young.

It's just knowing where the line is. And everyone's line is different. Which makes the debate ...... interesting 😊

anunlikelyseahorse · 18/06/2024 08:35

Oh I see puddles you're saying vestal's post is sort of reversed ageism, sort of youngisim?
Nah, she's just using satire! She clearly doesn't really think the 30 somethings can no longer converse in person! Don't take it to heart. She's more poking fun at society in general!

anunlikelyseahorse · 18/06/2024 08:29

Errr what's ageist about vestal's post? She's pointing out how the younger generation think about us oldies.....although I'm still a young'un in my dreams!

I dislike the posts where children are convinced their parent is demented, when in fact it's very clear their parent has capacity, and it's obvious that the adult child(ren) just want to control finances....occasionally there have been genuine concerns, but most of the time it's pretty unpalatable, but I don't think it's ageist in the true sense just more abusive.
I also dislike it when age is used as a negative descriptor, if someone is being a dick it's not because they're old, it's because they're a dick! Tbf you often see teenagers getting a hard time on here, again it's not their ages that make them dicks, it's because they are dicks! The young'uns I work with are awesome!

What's that saying 'every generation thinks the one before or after is wrong'? 😁

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 08:28

PuddlesPityParty · 18/06/2024 08:23

Look - if you weren’t making fun of other generations why do what you did? If I wrote a similar post but about boomer tropes I’m sure I would be told I was ageist, and rightfully so.

You’re just being silly now to be honest. Others have agreed with me, so saying the OP agreed with you doesn’t really mean anything does it? Perhaps it’s a generational difference.

IMO ageism to the younger generations is often laughed off or not seen as bad, but if it’s done to the older generations it’s seen as nasty and called out. I think your little post highlighted that - fine if you don’t think so, but you can’t dictate how others feel or respond to your post.

Perhaps you should make your intent clearer next time.

🤐

PuddlesPityParty · 18/06/2024 08:23

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 08:12

Shame because you really do have the wrong end of the stick
But, the OP agreed with my first reply, as have others.
Do you always jump to such conclusions and judgements?

Look - if you weren’t making fun of other generations why do what you did? If I wrote a similar post but about boomer tropes I’m sure I would be told I was ageist, and rightfully so.

You’re just being silly now to be honest. Others have agreed with me, so saying the OP agreed with you doesn’t really mean anything does it? Perhaps it’s a generational difference.

IMO ageism to the younger generations is often laughed off or not seen as bad, but if it’s done to the older generations it’s seen as nasty and called out. I think your little post highlighted that - fine if you don’t think so, but you can’t dictate how others feel or respond to your post.

Perhaps you should make your intent clearer next time.

Goldenbear · 18/06/2024 08:14

My Mum is not even in her 60s, she is in her 70s and she feels there is lots of contempt for teenagers like her Grandson and told me a tale about being on a train where two teenage boys quickly stood up for an older woman with a walking stick, despite them doing it without asking, she was muttering about them not being helpful and Amun felt sorry for them as they didn’t do anything that was not helpful. Maybe it is because I have teenagers so I am more aware of it but they definitely experience ageism and they are just existing like any other member of the public; for example, when I met him at lunchtime to pop into a small supermarket, the security guard ushered us in to skip the queue of sixth formers waiting to buy lunch. How many people in their sixties have to queue up outside a shop as they are lumped into one big category as potential thieves, absolutely outrageous!

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 08:12

PuddlesPityParty · 18/06/2024 08:06

I really don’t need to 🫶

Shame because you really do have the wrong end of the stick
But, the OP agreed with my first reply, as have others.
Do you always jump to such conclusions and judgements?

PuddlesPityParty · 18/06/2024 08:06

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 07:55

Read through my posts again.

I really don’t need to 🫶

AuntieMarys · 18/06/2024 08:06

KimberleyClark · 18/06/2024 08:02

As a fully competent 63 year old zI would like to know what it is you have to guide her on?

Exactly! I'm 66 and can't imagine having to be guided!!

Goldenbear · 18/06/2024 08:04

Everythingiscalmfornow · 18/06/2024 07:37

Well tbh I think not noticing any one over the age of 19 is very sad. In other words no one older than them is worthy of notice. It is a form of contempt.

You are determined to take offence, I didn’t mean it like that, they don’t view me or DH or Grandparents with contempt but in an everyday situation they would be self aware walking past a load of teenagers in the sense of what they are dressed in, what they look like. They are also plugged into their headphones to and from school so I don’t think they notice much. I was the same as a teenager, it is not that outlandish to suggest that teenagers don’t really think if people 20 plus (not famous people) as setting trends, people in their 20s can be their teachers remember and appear very out of touch with ‘young’ people. I felt the same when I was younger.

My DS really likes Ed Davey and said if he was old enough he’d probably vote for Lib Dems but it wouldn’t care what Ed Davey thought of his clothes or music, teenagers thinking they set trends is hardly a new phenomenon!

KimberleyClark · 18/06/2024 08:02

MariaVT65 · 18/06/2024 03:13

I suppose it is just bad stereotyping. My mum is in her 60s and I really have to guide her on a lot of things, but I know not all 60 year olds are like that.

As a fully competent 63 year old zI would like to know what it is you have to guide her on?

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 07:55

PuddlesPityParty · 18/06/2024 07:45

Are you being serious? Your intent was obvious - just because you’re being called out for it you’re now trying to change it.

Read through my posts again.

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 07:53

Maggiethecat · 18/06/2024 07:44

Aah, yours too 😂

😀

RosesAndHellebores · 18/06/2024 07:53

I love being 64.
I still work full-time in a demanding job, have grown up dc who still seek advice about work and relationships, I have a freedom I have never had previously, despite being mindful of my 88 year old mother's needs (who by the way can still play a cracking hand of bridge).

Tortiemiaw · 18/06/2024 07:51

Dearie me, Vestibule made a very funny observation, which, as a clearly almost dead and probably demented 60 year old living in a mansion and block voting tory whilst clogging up shops at the weekends made me laugh a lot.

I have noticed that younger people find it hard to laugh at themselves. Probably too busy taking selfies and having their eyebrows done*
*sarcasm for the youngsters

RampantIvy · 18/06/2024 07:50

At 65 I find having had DD at 41 makes me feel less old in outlook than my contemporaries who are grandparents.

I am still working, am a confident driver, am IT literate, am not a technophobe, didn't vote for Brexit, don't vote Tory, won't have a fat public service pension to look forward to and am a parent to a child who has inherited an excellent work ethic as have her friends.

Walkinginthesand · 18/06/2024 07:48

ByJoyousAquaOtter · 18/06/2024 03:57

We don't wallk down the road reading our phones or sharing our conversations with the entire street. Ditto for public transport. I mean, what is wrong with us??

We don't abuse emergency services or hospital staff. We are grateful

What ageist rants are these based on? I don’t think I’ve seen younger generations complain that older people don’t use their phones when walking, or don’t abuse hospital staff enough or are too grateful?

Whoosh

PuddlesPityParty · 18/06/2024 07:45

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 07:23

You are so determined to be offended and incorrectly accuse me of nasty intent
Such a shame you have taken the name of a fabulous singer/entertainer and made it so nasty

Are you being serious? Your intent was obvious - just because you’re being called out for it you’re now trying to change it.

Maggiethecat · 18/06/2024 07:44

VestibuleVirgin · 18/06/2024 06:44

Yep, favourite pastime because there are plenty of opportunities.
But if you'd rather come across as uneducated, fill your boots

Edited

Aah, yours too 😂

Goldenbear · 18/06/2024 07:41

Everythingiscalmfornow · 18/06/2024 07:32

Well I'm probably feeling a bit raw after my experience yesterday but I expect not to to be sworn at when I ask the children to leave my hedge alone. I expect not to be given cheek and jeered at when I ask them to clear up the mess they have left in the street right outside my house.
That type of respect.

I am mid 40s and I have a similar problem as the kids are playing tennis outside my house and keeping bashing the balls into my car but they don’t swear at me when I tell them to be careful, it is annoying but that is because my two are teenagers and find it annoying too, despite having done the same 3-5 years ago.

MariaVT65 · 18/06/2024 07:40

Everythingiscalmfornow · 18/06/2024 07:32

Well I'm probably feeling a bit raw after my experience yesterday but I expect not to to be sworn at when I ask the children to leave my hedge alone. I expect not to be given cheek and jeered at when I ask them to clear up the mess they have left in the street right outside my house.
That type of respect.

That’s not a generational thing though is it. There will be dickhead deliquent kids every year. They’d tell someone in their 30s to fuck off as well.

My mum has complained several times about ‘respect’ when kids don’t get up for her on the bus.

Startingagainandagain · 18/06/2024 07:38

A lot of bizarre beliefs about older women on Mumsnet.

I am 53 and I have never voted Tories and never will, nor was I a supporter of Brexit. I have always voted Labour and been a campaigner for animal rights, social justice and women's rights.

The pensioners in my street have Labour signs and posters in their gardens/windows.

I am working and will continue to do so until retirement age. I did not get on the housing ladder until I was almost 40 and I am the only bread winner and I certainly don't have a wealthy lifestyle.

I think it is so daft to turn on older women. I do believe that ageism at work is even more of an issue for women, so instead we should show solidarity to each other. Because all these young women will have a rude awakening when they get to 50 and employers start to ignore them or pass them over for promotion/try to get rid of them for a cheaper employee.

Just like it is silly to blame the disabled and immigrants for everything, it I equally repulsive to think it is OK to pretend all older people act and vote the same way and stereotype people based on their age.

Just ignorance really and also something that some part of the media has fuelled: the Guardian is one good example of a newspaper that has happily published ageist content.

Swipe left for the next trending thread