AIBU to Think MNHQ needs to tackle the ageism on this site?

[LastGoldenDaysOfSummer]

The venom and hate aimed at older people on some of the Covid threads is disgusting. If the same was aimed at disabled, TW or BAME people then the posts would be deleted immediately, and rightly so.

But because it's the elderly it's left to stand, even after being reported. This isn't new, MNHQ has always been a hotbed of ageism but it's usually dealt with when reported.

But not any more. Should they be doing more?

Agree that I don’t agree with censorship. There are of course some ageist posts but they should just be reported and taken down in the usual way. It’s very telling though that no one on this thread has been able to post an example of this supposed ageism that has to be dealt with. It seems to me that a lot of people are just objecting to comments they don’t agree with.

We should absolutely be able to discuss issues around age and generational inequality. Also we should be able to state and discuss facts (like older people are generally more at risk from Covid and older mothers are more at risk at having children with disabilities) without being censored.

@grumplass - that’s exactly what I was saying, mere,y quoting @Meuniere to express my profound disagreement

@CayrolBaaaskin

Agree that I don’t agree with censorship. There are of course some ageist posts but they should just be reported and taken down in the usual way. It’s very telling though that no one on this thread has been able to post an example of this supposed ageism that has to be dealt with. It seems to me that a lot of people are just objecting to comments they don’t agree with.

We should absolutely be able to discuss issues around age and generational inequality. Also we should be able to state and discuss facts (like older people are generally more at risk from Covid and older mothers are more at risk at having children with disabilities) without being censored.

I've posted numerous examples, all of which I've reported and which have been deleted.

I agree absolutely with your final paragraph but as those of us who are constantly (seemingly) in touch with HQ about it, there is a big difference between what you say there, and the stuff which does get deleted.

Think of the difference between saying "it's a fact that Covid affects the BAME community disproportionately" and "Covid affects n*s disproportionately"

(Or that blacks should stay indoors / shield so white people can go to the pub)

Sorry @Aridane I was mentioning you so you would see it..
@Xenia the ageist posts on coronavirus are way way past triage. It's totally fair to triage resources and true that over 70s are at risk.
In fact I was concerned about the elderly people who wouldn't accept any help during the spring and posted about it and was accused of ageism which wasn't what I meant at all - just worried people would be harmed.
The posters we are referring to would be happy for all over 50 to shield forever so they could go to the pub without a mask.
Some of the sentiments expressed towards vulnerable people in general have been sickening.

The lockdown fanatics who do not think it’s fair to enable the vulnerable to stay at home temporarily for their own safety can never explain why it’s fairer to lock everyone up and shut down the economy instead.

This is the kind if stuff you get on the COVID threads. Obviously vulnerable are not just elderly but pretty out of touch with reality and very poor understanding of what shielding entailed.
So much talk about mental health being affected by lockdown but clearly ok for the old and vulnerable to lockdown until a vaccine is found.
Incidentally I was also accused of being obsessed with shielding and making it about me when I was trying to explain the difference.
The most over dramatic people on here these days seem to be ones who want us to get on with as there won't be a vaccine any time soon bar the vulnerable of course.

Sorry not lockdown

"Lock themselves away"

Being Ageist and old is no joke. Being Sexist and a woman isn't. Being Racist and Bame is commonplace. In some cases it's called uncle tom-ism. In some cases it's called internalised oppression. It is virtually impossible to be entirely free of prevailing prejudice.

Someone points out a married couple, remarking one is a pilot, the other is cabin crew. Or one is a surgeon, the other a nurse. Or one is an engineer, the other an infant teacher. In each case, almost everyone's assumption will be that the first mentioned is the man. That's a self perpetuating problem, since apparently even women will declare they wouldn't feel safe on a plane with a woman pilot (??!!!)

No,problem, @grumplass - I was just mildly appalled you might think I share the same views as @Meuniere

There's another one popped up on Coronavirus topic asking who should bear the brunt ...

One poster says "The lady is selfish, at the end of the day she has lived most of her life - therefore the younger generation should be prioritised throughout all of this"

The ignorance - of the science, economy etc - is staggering.

MNHQ has deleted it:

Message from MNHQ: Hi all. We're getting a number of reports about this thread. It's not really in the spirit of the site to speculate in this way so we've taken it down now

Spirit of the site? No mention of it being ageist or ableist ...

At least it's gone. I was on it like a fly on shit and I spotted a few other pesky "anti ageist" "brigade" posters.

@Aridane

No,problem, *@grumplass - I was just mildly appalled you might think I share the same views as @Meuniere*

didn t know I could have such an effect just because I have an opinion slightly different than yours.

MN is a strange place sometimes.

I take everyone's point but I would rather people used abusive language about someone as old as I am (in my 50s) than we take posts down as I would rather freedom prevails and I can cope with having my feelings hurt that I am over the hill or that younger people think my life has been an easy bed of roses.

I take everyone's point but I would rather people used abusive language about someone as old as I am (in my 50s) than we take posts down as I would rather freedom prevails and I can cope with having my feelings hurt that I am over the hill or that younger people think my life has been an easy bed of roses

It's not about you.

@echt

I take everyone's point but I would rather people used abusive language about someone as old as I am (in my 50s) than we take posts down as I would rather freedom prevails and I can cope with having my feelings hurt that I am over the hill or that younger people think my life has been an easy bed of roses

It's not about you.

Oh but it is. Always.

God @Xenia we are hardly in our dotage! People in their 50s have the highest levels of income, professional knowledge and expertise across the country and are generally fit and I our prime with fewer caring responsibilities if we are lucky. Menopause can be crap but can also be freeing and empowering for loads of women. Don't write yourself and others off. We are the leaders, the managers, the experts and the consultants. We are the community stalwarts and champions. We are the local councillors and the volunteer coordinators. We pay our children's uni costs. We support our families.

@Xenia

I take everyone's point but I would rather people used abusive language about someone as old as I am (in my 50s) than we take posts down as I would rather freedom prevails and I can cope with having my feelings hurt that I am over the hill or that younger people think my life has been an easy bed of roses.

Absolutely no way!

Apart from the fact that I am by no means to be written off (I'm in my 60s, just retired, and really enjoying my life), by not dealing with things like that it just perpetuates that ageism is acceptable.

It's not about having anyone's feelings hurt.

@TheSeedsOfADream - if you’ve reported them and they’ve been taken down then it would seem to me mn are dealing with any issues.

@bumpyknuckles

I particularly dislike threads about having a baby over 40 where lots of posters pile on to shout about how selfish women are to have babies in their 40s, and how they will inevitably have disabled babies and will embarrass their children with their decrepitude before dying before their children are 18. It's quite unpleasant.

It may be unpleasant but it is true. If you have a baby at 45 the risks of the child having a disability ARE much higher.

And it isn't much fun having a very elderly parent or parents when you are in your teens/20s. I do think people should consider this.

People may not like having the truth pointed out to them but it doesn't mean they are being ageist or unpleasant.

As for being written off (I am 48 so have about 18 months before I join the over 50s who should be locked away so the young can party) I am more than happy to challenge anyone who says the over 50s are elderly! I can also cope with having my feelings "hurt" - actually it doesn't hurt my feelings, I just think it's funny that someone who is likely in their 30s thinks that the over 50s are "elderly". I think the over 80s are elderly! And my mum is 81 and complains about "old" people who are probably younger than her in many cases ;)

[quote CayrolBaaaskin]@TheSeedsOfADream - if you’ve reported them and they’ve been taken down then it would seem to me mn are dealing with any issues.[/quote]
Yes. As I've said.

I had a baby at 42.....

She’s 14. No problems, no difficulties. 🤞🏻She’s lovely. I’d still love her even if she did...

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

I had a baby at 42.....

She’s 14. No problems, no difficulties. 🤞🏻She’s lovely. I’d still love her even if she did...

That's great. But if you're comment is in response to @cologne4711, it's like people who state that thereis NO risk of catching covid because they don't know anyone who's had it.

A risk is not certainty and there is an increased risk of having a baby as we age. Acknowledging that is definitely not ageism.