older people with racist and ignorant views

[x2boys]

Aibu in thinking age is not an excuse to racist and ignorant?
I was on the bus this afternoon and there was a man who appeared white but was dressed in traditional Muslim clothing and wearing a royal mail coat so presumably a postman,I,m sure like any other race religion Islam doesn't discriminate and anyone should they wish can convert to Islam
Anyway a couple got on the bus who were probably in their 70,s and started shouting very loudly that this man was white and why was he wearing clothes like that!
They continued to talk very loudly about it and then they man in in 70,s said the Muslim postman better not deliver mail to his house!! A second older lady joined in and said the postman was a white man is this a generational thing ?
My parents who are also in their 70,s have made if not racist comments certainly ignorant comments which I have told them off for?

I would like to talk to you in 45 years time when you will be the 'older person' and see what you say then.

SOME people find it very hard to integrate and still live in the past.

However, there is no excuse for rudeness.

AIBU in thinking that you are suffering from confirmation bias?

I would like to talk to you in 45 years time when you will be the 'older person' and see what you say then

No of course age is no excuse - nor is assuming that people are racist just because they are older! Which in itself becomes a generalisation about older people.

People in their 70s are half a generation younger than those who steered all the first anti-discrimination legislation through parliament, a generation younger that the generation who fought the big civil rights movements.

It isn't because they are older it is because they are ignorant and unpleasant.

Are the white supremacist thugs in their 20s and 30s marching and shouting slogans because they are young and ignorant and can therefore be excused?

To my shame polter goose nothing I was too embarrassed I just sat there cringing ,fair enough last tango its just where I live there is a fairly large very established Muslim community so it is not a rarity to see people of different races .I was more shocked at how loud they were I appreciate people of all ages can be racist but I have never seen such open racism maybe I am lucky!

It was ridiculously rude for them to start talking about him on the bus. Manners arent a generational thing and they should be ashamed of themselves.

I guess some older people have old fashioned views, but that isnt an excuse for being rude knobs.

You're not in Lancs are you? We have a white Muslim postman who wears traditional Muslim clothing. He's a great guy and is always talking about the unusual circumstances surrounding how/ why he became a Muslim.

I once askes My 87 year old uncle if he'd found a party venue ok as he'd come on the bus and we'd been a bit worried. He said 'yes, I got off a stop too early but the w** in the corner shop gave me directions'

I was really shocked and tried to explain why such terms are not acceptable but he was adamant he wasn't racist, just 'describing the black man'

Yes Finney Bolton actually I wonder if its the same man?

I think age (and depending where you live) can be an excuse for not being as right on and used to dealing with lots of different races and cultures as young people today, especially those growing up in a multi cultural area.

But that kind of racism the OP is talking of is different from folk who perhaps still feel a bit uncomfortable round people who they have never had much interaction with before and grew up in a completely different time and social climate. I grew up in a small town where almost everyone was white - speaking to people from a different race for the first time did feel a little strange TBH.

Some people might feel uncomfortable but there is no excuse for being rude and verbally assaulting someone.

Of course age is not an excuse. People currently in their 70s were born in the 1940s and early 1950s and grew up at a time when the consequences of anti-Semitism were all too stark; it was also a time when the colonies were becoming independent so we were or should have been losing any paternalistic attitude to members of the former colonies. But irrespective of that, anyone of any intelligence should know that there is no conceivable justification for racism.

That said, I've sort of given up on my DM who is almost 90 and spent too long in the colonies. She would never behave as these people did and does know that racism is out or at least pays lips service to it, but there is a degree of ingrained racism, partly fostered by reading the Daily Mail, that, despite my best efforts, I've never fully persuaded her to lose. Therefore whilst I never let any racist statement from her go unchallenged, I've reached the point where I reluctantly concede that if she hasn't got it by now she never will.

My DM is only 60 and yet she comes out with racist, homophobic or generally offensive comments. Never in public thank goodness but for example, she doesn't agree with people in mixed race relationships, and when it comes to gay people - lesbians are fine but gay men are not 'because of where it goes' she says . Her biggest bugbear is children being born out of wedlock.

When I tell her she can't and shouldn't say things like that she shrugs and says 'oh it's my age, it's the way I was brought up, I'm old fashioned.' It has absolutely nothing to do with her age at all in my opinion. I pull her up on it all the time but she sees these views as traditional not ignorant.

Yanbu in saying that age is not an excuse to be racist.
YABU if you assume all older people are racist (not saying you are)

However, I do see this type of behaviour in older people far too frequently. What you have described as happening on the bus seems very extreme, but I have heard the odd comment from my dad and pils which make my blood boil. And yes I would always pull my dad up on it (recently I had to for use of the "p" word). Pils not so much, just to keep the peace, but I would give a disapproving look and change the subject.

However, saying something doesn't change their attitude, but may make them realise it's not acceptable any more.

There are probably equal amounts of racist people of all ages, however I think the difference is younger racists know their views are not acceptable, so don't air them in public as freely.

Some old people are racist, some arent

Some young people are racist, some aren't.

My mum is racist, and she's only 51. According to her she's not a racist because, in her words, "i don't mind black's but hate p**is"

Ignorant farts come in all ages and sizes and indeed races. And both genders.

Exactly. Some older people are knobheads, most are not. A bit like young people really.

No I don't assume all older people are racist its just this couple appeared to be about the same age as my parents who are whilst not overtly racist have said things that I have had to pull them up about in fact as my dad came over from Ireland as an elevan year old in the 50,s and put up with a lot of bullying for it I have had to remind him that it wasn't acceptable than and its not acceptable now to be against somebody purely because of where they are from or the race/culture.

My mum is in her 70s but has lived a diverse, interesting life mixing with people of all cultures and ages. She still has a diverse social group although it is increasingly made up of old, white British people. She has her UKIP moments but is not racist.

My PILs are also in their 70s but have lived profoundly dull lives mixing with people of identical age, race and class to themselves. All their friends now are old, white British people. They are stonkingly racist to a degree I couldn't believe they would say out loud.

However if they'd seen your chap on the bus they would at least have been quiet as they would think it rude to talk loudly on the bus

I'm one of those "older persons" and all I would say is - old or young, it doesn't matter, those people were bloody rude and ignorant. Looking around at my siblings/acquaintances (all whom you would call old) - I can honestly say none of us would ever dream of thinking or behaving like that. Many of us "old folks" are children of the 60s - totally at ease and not at all bothered by race, religion, sexual orientation etc. We are the generation who fought for tolerance and equality - still fighting.

Yeah, I really don't understand the racist people here in the US. The entire country was founded on immigration and they're going to get upset because someone they don't like is immigrating? Hypocrites.

I know old people that are lovely with other races, and I've seen old people scowl at me and DH because we're an interracial couple. At least I assume that's why they glare at us. Can't think of any other reason. We don't show PDA and are generally polite and quiet out in public.

Hey, hey, hey, leave racism for a moment; there seems to be an awful lot of ageism going on here, not to mention a fair bit of intolerance. As Voltaire almost said, 'I don't agree with what you are saying, but I defend to the death your right to say it.'

Please don't group all us "old folks" as racist/intolerant. My generation - grew up in the 60s and we fought and demonstrated for tolerance and equality. I'm still fighting and will continue to death.
There is ignorance and intolerance in all generations.

MadAsASnake Old? Grew up in the 60s? I grew up in the 60s and I am NOT OLD!

Not racist either though