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.

Was not a middle ageism or middle classism rant. At all. More the detail some "people" black, white, every race, culture, age, are, at certain points in the Eductaion progression of their offspring become uber sensitive , competive about where they apply. what matters is its the right course and place for the student, not the best place for the parent to discuss. no ageism intended - point totally missed. Thanks to MN HQ for reminder though.

Let's look at it another way.

Would you argue that it's OK to post things that are sexist?

Would you argue that it's OK to post things that are racist?

Would you argue that it's OK to post things that are homophobic?

Would you argue that it's OK to post things that are disablist?

I'm assuming (hopefully) that you would say 'no' to all of the above.

hmmm 45, peri menopausal, thyroid problems, join problems, grey hair, 20+ years of working, mortgage - I feel pretty middle aged to be honest - and invisible

BIWI if you persist in challenging and referencing HQ somebody will probably allege you work for them/police the boards on their instructions. That's been levelled at me today.

Ageism is very evident on mn. So many threads recently on - the disgraceful! - baby boomers, oaps getting too much money, fuel allowance, free bus passes - tsk tsk - etc etc.

Only a matter of time before the next age group down get attacked.

I've just watched Disneys Smow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

My DD is 17 and we discuss/over analyse everything.

In all Fables/Fairy tales, it isn't an accident that the Wicked Witch/Step Mother character is an older, powerful woman.

Throughout all cultures/times, older, independant and especially single woman have been demonised.

It isn't a co-incidence that the Witch trials started and was determined to wipe out single, childless women.

The Menopause was said and denied not to exist, even up to the 80's, it was thought to be purely emotional and because of a Woman's inability to accept ageing, because according to popular media and Male Doctors, the worse thing that can happen to a Woman is for her to age.

There is a wealth of information about how ageing Women are negetively targeted/harassed etc, in a way that men aren't.

Just read the comments about any ageing Celebrity, Madonna recently did topless photos, the way she was verbally attacked and name called was disgraceful.

But Hugh Hefner, well he's a God to aspire to, apperatly, not like the "sad cougars", who need to realise their past it.

Yet, for most women, sex, 35+, just gets better and better.

Hah! Well they could try. And they would get short shrift. From me, and from Justine, I imagine !

What is an RG university? I keep thinking Russel Grant.....hahaha am sooooo middleaged and boring....!

also - just to be a total wanker about it www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/middle-age

So 50 is the new 40 Tooold?
I wouls still say late 40s is middle aged.
The point I am making is that the majority of our peers/neighbours bang on about their very young children (having come to parenting in their 40s) and that is just as boring as talking about house prices and nursery places/school catchments.

Russell Group - apparently it means something to some people - it was only via MN I learned I had attended one!

wish I'd gone to a Russell Grant university !

Got short shrift from me as well. Still waiting for a retraction which I suspect will be a long time coming.

My mate is 52 and has a 6 years old - we talk about her shitty partner, the joys of being single, festivals, music, camping and curry - usually when pissed

I always call them Russell Grant universities in my head , when posters bang on about them on here.

Oh yes, I get a lot of 'shitty partner' conversations....boring too, so why did they have a relationship with them? After all, late forties is old enough to know better, or did your friend just choose him to father a child as she was getting on ghosty?

I've this week talked to my friends about how their kids University offers are going, the words "Russell Group" are never uttered though.

Also about mammograms, HRT and general menopausal irritations, (we are all 50).

About films, (Northern Soul reminding us of our youth), books, (the tedious choices of our book groups) and music, (we've heard it all before, time for something fresh).

And politics, hard times, freedom of speech versus hate crimes, and benefits bashing.

Oh yeah, and Game of Thrones.

Sage Russell Group Universities are a group of Universities who got together around 1996 and decided to be "the elite".

But mostly their criteria seem to be how much research money they rake in. So good, but smaller, universities with less money (because they are smaller) aren't part of it.

And it was formed after The 1994 Group dissolved I think?

Many very good universities like St Andrews and Dundee aren't part of it and Durham only recently joined - presumably they expanded and more money is coming in now.

And Russel Group Universities are not the best for all courses but lots of schools seem to obsess about getting pupils into one.

they had been together 10 years - baby was planned

they love their child to bits but I think having kids can shine a light on other things you may otherwise have put up with

Agree Salmo, my eldest was only interested in RG unis due to influence from his 6th form college and peers.

OP i dont really get your post if all the people you meet are boring why dont you get yourself a mirror and talk to yourself?

Obsviously don't know your friend's situation, ghosty, but when people begin to tell me about their awful partners I automatically think to myself ''if he is soawful why did you choose him''? and ''perhabs you are no great shakes yourself''.
It took you friend 10 years to realise her partner was 'shitty'? Wow!

Argh thank you salmotrutta i just though a uni was a uni and thought it was more subject matter which helped chose a career....or not as the case may be

Thought not though!

well to be fair it's in a slightly drunk moan about your man way - he's not a wife beating areswipe - he just, you know, leaves his socks on the floor and snores!

Er I have a Russell Group Uni degree does that make me dull & boring.

Not that I ever talk about it though as that would be dull & boring