To think 60 is old aged

[Goodtimes80]

And 35 Middle aged?

I am 63. I thought I was middle aged until my DD pointed out that I am in receipt of my State Pension. As the age for receiving the State pension moves up, according to her reckoning people will not become old until 67, 68 or even 70 ;)

I'm in my early 70s but talking to some 40/50 year olds they sound and act as if they are old enough to be my mother. I didn't retire until I was 70 and then only because of family circumstances outside my control. I'm a regular gym user, am learning a second foreign language and do volunteer work several days a week. Anyone who calls me old can fuck off.

(Oh, and I was out jogging with my 47 year old daughter the other week and as we approached a post box she said "excuse me" took a run and leapfrogged it).

It's a mental attitude that runs in the family.

We are still both trying to decide what we will do when we grow up

Some people, however, are born middle aged.

My dad was born "old".

His attitudes, etc just give that impression. When mum was 50, he told her that coming out with us to the heavy metal club was for younger people and she should act her age. I told dad to stop being daft, there were plenty of people there around mum's age.

But you can clearly see that difference between mum and dad now (70 and 71). They are the same age but dad just seems older in many ways.

I think your dad sounds boring. They are clearly the same age, so surely that proves attitude has nothing to do with age?

Anyone who calls me old can fuck off.

Why? Is it an insult?

As far as I'm concerned it's an insult. It's usually expressed as one.

Yes it's definitely meant as an insult. It's not going to be said in a complimentary way is it. It's not insulting to be described as old if it's said as a form of description, but it all depends on the way it's said.

Generally it is an insult - which is why I object to it.

On here we have had 'old people ' shouldn't shop at lunchtime and get in the way of the workers!! As if 'old people' have nothing to do and can easily choose their shopping time- or they can't pack their shopping quickly.

Context Gralick: it's all about context. And it is rarely a compliment.

I have objected strongly to that sort of post Mehitabel. Old should not be an insult.
We do need to be careful not to feed into that stigma by objecting that we are not old.
Its going to be a bit like gay pride.

Why people have to be categorised beats me but I can recall some extremely ageist threads on MN.

When Elvis died at 42 I was unmoved. Same with John Lennon at 40.

Bob Marley died at 36 and I thought that was reasonable and the year before, when Steve McQueen died aged 50, I marvelled at all the people saying he was taken too young.

Grace Kelly went at 52 - pfft.

I wasn't particularly distressed at the death of Princess Diana even though she was only a bit older than me.

I am middle-aged and clinging on by my fingernails.

My MIL was old at 60 but my DM wasn't, depends entirely on the individual

OK. I hear you. It's ageism, that is!

The part that's wrong & discriminatory is when people say 'old people' shouldn't shop at lunchtime and get in the way of the workers. Same as it is if they say disabled people (or even 'spaccas' for 'gimmers') should keep out of the way. Or women. Or any of the mindless othering that goes on if you're not a young, fit & healthy, white man with excellent English.

I will not be insulted by a reasonable observation about the number of years I've lived. I want to raise awareness that 'old' isn't revolting. Why does our society think old people are disgusting? It's appalling, isn't it.

Wish I could"like" your post Gralick in some cultures elders are respected for their knowledge.
That isn't required but its appalling that older people are regarded as disgusting. Even older people seem to regard it that way-look at all the I am NOT old posts.
We are all just human beings regardless of age.

We do need to be careful not to feed into that stigma by objecting that we are not old. - Yes!

Its going to be a bit like gay pride. - [like]

The LGBT people have nicked the rainbow, so what should we have?
Don't suggest grey!!

The encouraging thing is that there seem to be a lot of us 'old people' here on MN.
Probably someone will start a thread soon asking why we are on here! Threads regularly ask why people post if they have no children - probably they don't think 'old people' can use computers and so haven't realised we are here!

My fear is that the prejudice is so ingrained that it would be ridiculed - made to look like the advert for the cereal knitted by nanas!

Yes Mehitabel many of us do have children too-they just happen to be grown up-so here we are on Mumsnet.

I shall admit to being old, and be proud of it, when I feel that I am old. As far as I am concerned old age starts about 80yrs.

Exactly- I am a Mum. I am equally quite free to be on here if I was 70yrs and childless.

I have been very pleasantly surprised to find that I am not the oldest poster and there are lots of older mothers posting.

Trudi and Gralick I could kiss you both. I was getting so frustrated at the 'eww I'm not old' posts, I thought I was about to self-combust.

The gay pride analogy is an excellent one.

Gralick, Flo xxx

I think the commonly used and "correct" words of "older person" and "younger person" are better than "Old". in common parlance "old" is the opposite of "new" . The word I particularly hate is the American "senior" . I suppose really the problem is that we are all people, and individuals, "old" has so much baggage as a word it is really not useful to use it at all. It is certainly not appropriate for those of working age.