To think this is so AGEING

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Being over-specific about how you want your hot drink. Don't do it! You can choose milk and/or sugar. That's it. Any further instruction makes you sound like you buy your shoes from an insert in the Telegraph weekend supplement.

'Just dunk the bag and take it out quickly could you?'/'Not too much milk, please'/'just the one sugar, but if you could make it a smallish spoon'/'I prefer a good slug of milk'.

Urgh. Verbal varicose veins.

I have excellent attention to detail. In fact, it is those close analytical skills that make me so confident in my observation.

Confidence does not equate to intelligence or maturity I find.

Yeah, but it doesn't negate them either.

I was responding to a specific post that tried to imply I had a lack of attention to detail because I was making a point about fussy ordering.

The fact that you aren't young is worse - you are obviously trying to be goady with your ageism.

Alright, I'm keen to show that I'm not being goady.

Is there a chance that I'm right? That we do get fussier as we get older? And that this reflects on us and our perceived age?

(We might not care, of course - that's a different point.)

You can't generalise about stuff like that - I think that's the point. Being particular about things isn't a trait of the old, it's a trait of someone who is particular! Ascribing characteristics by age is lazy stereotyping.

But in this case, it isn't. Like the previous poster who worked on the OAP coach tours, this is exactly what I see.

That as people get older/more sure of their preferences this extends to the confidence/solipsism to be highly specific about their teas and coffees, regardless of whether the person who they're asking has all the time in the world to make one cup or - as in the case of the pp - is making an actual coach load.

Neanderthal
Your Bernard Manning-esque jokes about orthopedic shoes and varicose veins. Goady too.

Poor attention to detail
Dismissing precise instructions as 'fussy ordering'.
Although admittedly I am guilty myself. I was of course referring to your unreconstructed - not unreconstituted - ageism. Apologies for that.

What does solipsism mean? I can't make it fit in OP's sentences.

Floisme, look, please don't be upset about the Telegraph supplement shoe/varicose veins thing. It was a light-hearted reference that I assumed most people would get - and you did.

Tbh, I am surprised you've taken such offence when you, as you say, spend time on the S&B board. There, as you know, people often refer to things looking say, 'mumsy', 'grannyish', 'cheap', 'brassy' you get my drift. Seems a teeny bit Faux Offended and convenient to take the hump here. (Although, if you do buy your shoes from those inserts, I apologise).

I really don't know what to say about thinking varicose veins are yuck. I do really think they are yuck. But if you know how to make me love mine that would be great!

I'm not 'upset' at your neanderthal jokes, I am just very, very weary of the incessant ageism on Mumsnet.

Pisses. Me. Off.

I am tired of posters who, when called on it, start blustering about it all being light hearted and that anyone who objects is just sanctimonious/professionally offended, yada yada yada.

And I regulary kick arses on Style and Beauty. I'm quite surprised to hear I haven't kicked yours - maybe I have.

There is nothing 'faux' about my hump I promise you.

Given how analytical the OP purports to be, I'm surprised she hasn't worked out the cultural variation in ideas about ageing and its significance. Also, OP, I suggest you look up observation bias.

I bring my own teabags to meetings & conferences.

Now, getting a cup of hot water on its own is a challenge. They tend to put flasks of just tea & coffee out, and not ones of hot water. The other day my Dsis bought a takeaway tea from McDs and asked for some hot water too - they wouldn't give it to her - she had to pay for a tea.

I don't care if it is fussy - I only drink herbal teas as I don't take dairy.

I don't look at the S&B board so I can't comment on that.

I can guarantee that if you were to explain your personal situation, people could come up with several stereotypes that you might find as offensive as your Telegraph magazine comments have been to some posters.

Even the word 'fussy' is at the v least derogatory - how about 'discerning', hm?

Annoying but nothing to do with age.

Tbf, I'm not sure that 'fussy' is ageist. I've known some very discerning toddlers.