To think 60 is old aged

[Goodtimes80]

And 35 Middle aged?

I am happy to be my age. (43)

I think 'old' is a negative word.

I've never heard it used in a delightful way!

I'm with herecomesthesun
'Middle aged' has negative connotations whatever our own feelings about ageing.

But that is what I'm saying. why is it a negative word? why is it seen as wrong or bad? What is wrong with it?

Not a damned thing. Only people's perceptions.

stupid fucking baby boomers

Charming

fenella

I can see where you are coming from.

I'd like to embrace all this age is a positive thing, unfortunately society is ageist.

Particularly toward women.

Can't we just 'be' without any kind of label, description or measuring chart?

If anyone feels old, just join a C of E church. DH and I are both 50 now and we are definitely YOOF

Why are people so afraid of their age? 40 is around half of the average life span therefore it is the middle.

I am on the village hall committe.

I am a baby discussing those monthly pressing agendas.

I agree, it absolutely is. And every time we hold up our hands and cry out in rage at the very idea we might be getting older, we contribute to that.

I have only one tiny voice but I use it to say NO! Screw that.

I would love to see people view it as in my husband's culture. The older you are the more respected, the more appreciated, you are truly valued for your experience and wisdom.

Here it's all about the youth worship and you - particularly if you're a woman - have an expiry date of about 29. It's horrible.

fight fight against the dying of the light Greysanderson

fenella you are right.

Thanks for explaining your point of view. :)

I've no problem with being described as 'middle-aged' or 'old', but I think the meanings of both have changed. Look at how people in their early to mid twenties are often now seen as veritable 'babies', in part I suppose because returning home to your parents after university has become normalised, and because home ownership/independent living/first job, which used to be 'signs' of adulthood, have all become problematised for many.

I only stopped being a student at 29, so only had my first real professional job at almost 30 (though obviously working long, long before that), and had my first child just shy of 40. That probably makes me 'younger' in some ways than someone who started working fulltime at 18 and had their first child at 20, and who could potentially have a grandchild the age of my toddler.

And I think changes in the retirement age make a big difference to what we can legitimately call 'old'. The boundaries are pretty fluid, but I doubt I'd consider middle age starting below fifty or so, and 'old age' is pretty nebulous as a concept.

Numerically speaking, I think 40 is the start of middle aged. But I am 50 and don't really relate to any middle aged concept I can think of - apart from those that were part of me when I was 25, like enjoying a nice cup of tea or preferring not to stay up all night.

All those saying 35 is middle aged: you won't feel that way when you get there.

Old age - probably around 70ish but it depends on individual health and fitness. My dad is early 80s and still as vigorous as he was 20 years ago.

But that is what I'm saying. why is it a negative word? why is it seen as wrong or bad? What is wrong with it?

Context, of course. Referring to someone's age in a way that isn't really relevant can make people feel as though a generalisation or judgement is being made about them based on a factor which isn't relevant. Traditionally, older people have been marginalised, treated as lesser beings, and discriminated against, and it's pointless to pretend that this is not the case, and that there aren't certain negative connotations that have been attached to labels to do with age. Not wishing to be 'labelled' doesn't make you guilty of ageism, any more than people who don't wish to be referred to by racial slurs makes them racist - you can't simply eradicate prejudice by pretending it isn't there.

And I am not denigrating middle or old age when I set a number for each. In my mind, certain characteristics accompany the terms. Old age makes me think of someone lacking physical strength, perhaps a bit bent in body or frail of mind. When I see my dad, in his 80s but yomping over hills and up to date with modern technology, it is hard to equate that with my idea of old age even though numerically he is there.

A society where age is respected - that would be wonderful.

Sorry, I wasn't asking the question. I answered it myself in the second sentence. It was a way of stating my pov on the issue rather than asking an actual question of others, because obviously I do understand it. My apologies, I should have done a - rather than two sentences. I did not mean for it to appear like I was asking. It was more of a why do we love cake - because it is delicious thing. Rather than please tell me why we love cake. Sorry.

There is going to be a sizeable minority of people living to 100 - or more. Of course, we don't know who these are going to be, but even going by 50% of age at death, that will be over 40 for many.

Apart from mathematics, there is also the benefit of positive thinking, the idea that "you are as young as you feel" - giving yourself permission to like, do and wear youthful things can be very powerful. My mum lived one day at a time when she was dying of cancer aged 60/61 and she LIVED the last few months of her life instead of spending them dying, if that makes sense. I thought that as the way to go.

I'm nowhere near 60 (mid 30's) but feel that's a ridiculous generalisation.
Who says 60's old? You're as old as you feel and your state of mind!
You can get old codger like 30 year old's who won't go anywhere, embrace anything new, and are basically fun sucking - and then 80 year old's jumping out of planes.
Old's a state of mind.

Yabu 45 middle aged. 70 ish old age.

If you think that 60 is old aged then you think that Whoopi Goldberg, Isabelle Adjani, Sandra Bernhard, Bruce Willis, Rowan Atkinson and Kevin Costner are old aged (yes, I have googled).

35 middle aged?! Dear God.
Have a OP

My mum is 63 still working and not old my aunt is 74 and getting on a bit ive noticed her slowing down. Im 43 and i think im heading for middle age give me a few more years eh

My FIL is 80. He has unlined tanned skin, shiny hair, white teeth all his own. He loves sunbathing, dancing, gardening am-dram and watching cricket. He has form for carrying vegetables around in his cardigan pockets, and likes a daily afternoon nap, but is essentially no different from your average 40 year old.

YABU. 60 is young!