Is the whole world of middle aged people just really vacuous now?

[Sunbury1986]

Hi all, I'm no academic so I'm not talking about education in the formal sense. I just feel that everyone I meet and talk to, many are educated and hold positions of title and status, are really dull to talk to. the main conversations seem to be about property prices, their "job title", which is hardly the brightest way to introduce yourself unless you are really status anxious, or which bloody Russell Group uni their child is applying to, and obviously if their/your child doesn't make a Russell Group they are going to be lucky to get a job in a Pound Shop. AIBU? Or do I need to (re) step away from people I know? I believe many succeed with out a RG uni education.

Goodness I've not been called a harpy since about 1978. Is it because flares are back?

I've not been called a harpy since about 1978

I've never been called a harpy

I'm middle aged. I'm not offended by the OP.

As for an "ageism campaign", I'm not getting behind that until more is done to wipe out disablism on MN!

The words aren't ageist, but the generalisations are.

Exactly. And exactly as with black, jewish, muslim, chinese, disabled, blonde, girl, mentally ill, redhead, spastic, fat, and lots more.

Words as descriptors are fine. Descriptors as shorthand for a set of negative characteristics: not fine.

"
As for an "ageism campaign", I'm not getting behind that until more is done to wipe out disablism on MN!"

I suppose once you get a bit older it is hard to concentrate on more than one thing at once...

WinterBranches Insulting people should never be a general legal no-no imo, but I've seen the rules on MN cited more than once in the past week as some sort of guideline to life in general and I do think people need to think how far they truly want the law to go in shutting down dissenting voices.

Yes, its quite amusing how they fail to realise that telling people what to say and think is the job of Parliament to make laws using a democratic process, and what they are doing is far more offensive than what they are trying to shut down. Not very deep thinkers really.

YANBU OP - whenever I hear someone saying they can't do something very ordinary, like go out for a ride on their bike or travel abroad to a slightly unusual location because they have children/are too old, I want to scream "you only have one life" at them. If I want to do these things with other people, I generally ask one of my non-British friends.

But I guess society depends on a large swathe of conforming, non-adventurous people with liberal-leaning politics - if you want more interesting conversation or adventure, pick someone who has either opted out of conventional employment/society or someone entrepreneurial and rich (being rich is also virtually a criminal offence to some of the mumsnet moral guardians).

I can concentrate on many things at once Hakluyt. I just happen to think that getting rid of disablism is far more important than getting rid of ageism.

Why?

Surely both disablism and ageism are wrong. It doesn't have to be a competition.

Back to the main thread, I find the title pretty offensive in that it's damning of 'middle-aged' people, whatever your definition of this is. Surely that's an ageist comment.

Personally, as other people have said, I think vacuous conversation can be found in any age group. If you find your social situations are full of vacuous conversations, it's maybe time to expand your social horizons.

The Chandler - I thought you where still in the Big Brother house?

ghostyslovessheep The Chandler - I thought you where still in the Big Brother house?

Too busy having a life, doing stuff, than to sit in front of a tv watching CBB!

Oh I know u are busy

But not too busy to waste your life on Mumsnet I see

Nope you're right. I meet up with my dearest friends and all there is to talk about sometimes is work, kids, worries about our ageing parents, bereavements, worrying about our kids futures, grey hair, worrying about the planet, the state of the nation, all the politicians being the same, aches and pains, always being tired, and the non-delivery of online shopping. Getting the car through an MOT, decorating projects, oh and not being able to work a smartphone wearing varifocals.
At which point there's nothing to do but open the wine, put the music on and embarrass our kids.
OP, the middle aged souls who can only talk job titles, house prices and russell group unis are just seriously unnerved and trying to build their hedge against mortality, poor loves. Be gentle.