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.

i'm surprised anyone starts threads on here, it's becoming more and more hard to not offend anyone

it's like people scan mn to find posts to become offended at then enjoy hauling ops through the coals.

and an ageism campaign? lordy

I don't think it's an age thing. I see plenty of 20 somethings who are obsessed with this kind of crap and it is immensely boring.

I'm 45. Given the opportunity to steer a conversation to something of interest, I'd be having a nice chat about films and comic conventions.

So yabu OP, purely because being middle-aged doesn't equal being boring.

I'm 44 - is that middle-aged? (I don't expect to make it to 88...)
Met up with friends last night and talked about liguistics, whisky, sex, politics, travel, food, science fiction, and universities (didn't mention RG; one of us is finishing a PhD overseas). And some other stuff I don't really remember because of the whisky.

God help anyone with a real problem. MN not the place to come. Thanks to the reasonable people. Won't bother with the keyboard warriors probably with no experience of the situation. some of us have lives away from the screen so aren't as savvy about how to title our posts as succinctly as the keyboard warriors ready to pounce, as you did, on what was a genuine post.

I think many of us are a lot more anxious about our children's futures than our equivalents used to be. I'm going to check my anxious utterances as they don't help and (you are right OP!) make for rubbish conversation!

"i'm surprised anyone starts threads on here, it's becoming more and more hard to not offend anyone"

No it's not- it's easy peasy. Just don't say offensive things!

You can try and minimise it all you like, and insult me all you like. But the title of your post was still ageist.

and an ageism campaign? lordy

What's your problem with that, southeastastra?

southeastastra - really?!

I'm not sure about the validity of the 'black, Asian, Gay, women or Disabled' comparison. I'm not aware of any history of widespread oppression or harassment against the middle aged.

I see nothing wrong with campaigning to address inequality

Aren't you, ILovePud?

This might give you a bit of insight

oh well that is what makes it okay to be discriminatory or generalise about a whole group of people ... not having a history of real honest to goodness oppression

I am middle aged and I am totally allowed to find generalisation about me based on my age alone irritating - so bite my entitled unoppressed ass

ILovePud

They are all protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and all of equal importance.

Have scanned the thread and my tuppence worth about middle aged people where I live (at least) is that a lot of them are in the early stages of parenting and talk about weaning, sleepless nights and nursery places.
My partner and I are in our late forties and have uni aged children and our our peers/neighbours are not particulary interested in our kids whether we want to discuss them or not.

yes Babbity my youngest in 6 and 2 of my friends have just had babies - University is a long way off - eldest still have 6 years of school left

I couldn't give a tiny rats wank where she goes to Uni if she goes at all - and I did got to a RG Uni

When your kid is sixteen and can't be bothered to study (but needs to) it can become a focal point of attention!

Evening all. Just popping by with a bit of peace and love and also a quick reminder of our Talk Guidelines, particularly with regards to ageism. It is an issue that we think merits serious discussion.
www.mumsnet.com/info/netiquette

Thank you Iona

I think it's a bit much to compare generalisations about middle aged people to those made about groups which have and do suffer genuine oppression ghosty feel irritated if you want I won't be biting your ass (it's probably a bit saggy now ). BIWI, your link is utterly irrelevant, if you do have any evidence of hate crimes against the middle aged or political parties campaigning to restrict the civil liberties of the middle aged then please feel free to share.

Thing is ghosty, it would be nice if they showed a tiny bit of interest in our kids as some of them go on and on about their own, so it can actually be refreshing to meet people with older kids but they tend to be a lot older than us. We can't win!

ILovePud did you not take on board the fact that age is a protected characteristic?

PLEASE! The worst thing about this thread is people in their 40's claiming to be middle aged...... Words fail me. I am 54 and just approaching middle age!

I work with Russell Group universities. Nowt special.
I work with middle aged, middle class Profs, Docs, Consultants and lecturers. The most in depth conversations revolve around their teenage children getting pissed and the pressure of work at the moment. It sounds all very Gerry and Margot where you socialise Op!

Hate crimes?! Since when did it have to be about hate crimes?!

If you bother to read the link Iona posted, you'll see that ageist posts are against MN guidelines.

What is so difficult to understand about the fact that ageism is unacceptable?

Yes sooty I appreciate age is a protected characteristic under the equalities act, I do not accept that widespread discrimination, oppression or harrasment against middle aged people exists or is as much of a problem as discrimination against BME groups or the disabled.