To be shocked at the ageism on here tonight

[drudgetrudy]

AIBU to be shocked at the terms used to refer to older people tonight.
We've had "old duffers", "old biddies" "old dears with nothing better to do" and this isn't a TAAT-its been on more than one thread.

If any other group were referred to in generalised and negative terms like this people would be going nuts.
People are people and come in many varieties over all age ranges.
Seriously pissed off tonight.

fruitloop I also think a generalisation that young people can't be bothered to work and waste all their money is offensive.
I don't recall reading that anyone was called ageist for wanting a change in income distribution-family poverty is a terrible thing.
Don't want to go into detail about another thread but the sort of endemic ageism I'm talking about here is a different thing.

fruitloop do let me spell it out for you in the hope that you will stop derailing the thread. Young people have higher material expectations these days because everyone does as a result of how society and it's expectations have changed.
Now kindly stop quoting my remarks out of context.

Exactly drudge
This thread is about endemic ageism.

@SconeRhymesWithGone

I really like MN and for the most part, I think that MNHQ do a good job of moderating. I do think they have become more conscious of ageism. But I have to say that I am very surprised about the "old biddies on buses" thing. I didn't know about that until today; as an American, I have never seen the book. I think an apology is due. Are you listening, MNHQ?

Hi Scone, hi everyone,

We're very much listening and taking note of the issues being raised on this thread, so please keep them coming. Justine's going to be popping on a bit later to share her thoughts.

Thank you Dawn. I'm awaiting Justine's thoughts with interest.

Good news, Dawn. I am also waiting to hear J's views.

I dont agree, you still generalising people based on their age. Sure most people do, but not all. Most older drivers are slower, but not all.

Well fruitloop I did try. It's a shame you can't understand the point made, but I don't think I could have made it any clearer.
Now do you have any thoughts on casual and endemic ageism on MN or in society in general?

Glad that we are getting a response-another one awaiting Justine's thoughts with interest.

I thought the best thread on here about bringing up children was the one that asked parents of older children what worked and what didn't. It was sound common sense and there was general agreement.
Therefore, whether or not you refer to them in derogatory terms, older women can have the best advice going-if anyone bothers to listen.
Nothing is new-all that has happened is that people now resort to jargon whereas carrying babies in slings, giving them food that isn't pureed, co sleeping etc etc are all as old as the hills and were being done in 1970, 1950, 1930 etc!!

I agree, there's not anything new really in childcare, it just seems to have a specific name these days.

Anyone can benefit from the experiences of others, agreed. And it's really the quality of the experience that's important, not the person's age.

I am continuing to read this thread with a great deal of agreement (apart from those contributions from the Trollette). Aside from that, I am delighted to read the eloquent, sensible, realistic, well-expressed and important views of those that society would like to write off.

In future I shall certainly be a lot more forthcoming in reporting posts I think are demeaning and ageist.

I shall report every time from now on- it is horrifying to go into history and find all the discussions with 'miserable old bat' etc.

Thank you to Dawn. I am greatly encouraged.

If everyone who cares about casual ageism reports it every single time HQ might take it more seriously.

YANBU. The amount of ageism IRL is quite appalling, and that is certainly reflected on MN. I will be very interested in seeing what Justine has to say.

After my father died earlier this year, I really noticed how entrenched ageism can be. My mother had to deal with a lot of official business after his death, and I was shocked by the dismissive, patronising attitudes she was met with. And why? Because she is an older woman with grey hair (though to be fair, she has had grey hair since her 20s and never felt the need to change that!). And she no longer had the "protection" of a husband. Grrr. The intersection between ageism and sexism, as others on this thread have eloquently pointed out, can be quite insidious.

My cousin calls me old and im 25. I dont understand why everyones getting so upset over christinas comments but they think they can call a lady in her 50s old?
Double standards.
Everyone is old to someone else.

At 25yrs no one is going to call you 'the old biddy on the bus'! -unless it is a very obvious joke.

Christina has made rude goady comments and no one has called women in their fifties (not "ladies" ffs) old.

CatLady25 please read the thread properly as you don't seem to have understood what the issue is.

I too am going to be much more resolute about reporting casual ageism on threads.

Where I notice it most on MN is when someone mentions having had some very minor contretemps with an older woman, and there is a chorus of remarks calling that older woman miserable/dried-up/shrivelled/an old bat etc etc etc. But, yes, in retrospect I've seen a lot of it on S&B too, where anything that is insufficiently hip is derided as granny.

Women are ladies (ffs) and no her comments werent goady whatever that means, you just cannot take someone having a different opinion to you.
Please dont tell me what my cousin calls me, people do say 25yr old are old. Like i said everyone is old to someone.

Sooty, your bully boy attitude doesnt work with me...kindly take a seat before you get blasted. You do not own this thread.