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?

@LastGoldenDaysOfSummer

So you are not able to provide evidence of the 'venom and hate' that is you allege 'rife'?

No, you are too lazy to read the thread I suggested. Or to read the other posts confirming what I say.

But carry on pretending there's no ageism here if it makes you happy.

But carry on pretending there's no ageism here if it makes you happy.

So, again, you can't/won't quote any of the 'venom and hate' that is 'rife'.

Ok. You carry on pretending there's 'venom and hate' if it makes you happy.

Ok

So my point still stands

Anyone who doesnt read the thread is being lazy but the op is too busy to say ‘liverpool thread 11:27’

I didnt think it was a personal attack...just thought it was funny 😄

I’ll leave it now though as now i feel im really having a pop at the OP by repeating myself

Sorry golden i do agree with your OP though!

Be very careful about posting this kind of stuff

You carry on pretending there's 'venom and hate' if it makes you happy

This is very like telling black people that there's no racism because you don't see it.

If someone is telling you they have experienced prejudice (or any kind of -ism), then listen to them.

I dislike the posts that assume that parents of anyone over around 25 brought up their children incredibly badly, using corporal punishment, feeding babies to rigid schedules, giving them brandy to stop them crying, offering dreadful nutrition to older children, and teaching them that racist/sexist/homophobic opinions are the norm. There seems to be a bit of an assumption that parents in the last century never really moved beyond the practices of caricature strict and bigoted parents of the 1930s.

@MayYouLiveinInterestingtimes the UK would never have been in the EU had the generation you are blaming for BREXIT not voted to join the EU in the first place ....

I often report ageist posts (and any other bigoted posts) when I see them. I’m sure many of us do. And I think many do get removed. But for those posters in denial, spouting on about never seeing them maybe this screencap might give you just one example.
And no I don’t have the time or the willpower to screencap them generally. But I’m glad I got this one as clearly some mumsnetters are like some outraged men who squealed in indignation when told their words and attirtudes were actually sexist. They couldn’t see it because it was so ingrained.

[[https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4051199-Are-we-sacrificing-the-young-to-save-the-elderly[[

Plenty on this thread.

I'm at the lower end of the age group, still be working for 15 years at least, mortgage, bills, support family. We've been following the rules. My business, built up successfully over the last 13 years has gone down the pan. Luckily for us DH still has a job. We don't have the time to financially rebuild if this goes on much longer but I still won't be going to house parties, crowded pubs, street parties, not wear a mask etc because I understand that this is a virus, anyone can catch it, and importantly, pass it on to someone far more vulnerable. We're both pretty fit and healthy, so hopefully won't succomb if we catch the virus, but I have caring responsibilities for older relatives and I'm sorry, but I will not shorten their time on this earth by risking bringing Covid into their homes.

I have no idea how younger, vulnerable people must feel. I'm guessing written off (more so than usual).

One thing this whole situation has brought home to me is there is a real lack of humanity among certain people. Clap for the NHS, but don't give a damn about the vulnerable on our society.

That generation would have been the people steadily dismantling the public sector since the 80s. Steadily dismantling employment rights. Cashing in on Right to Buy and privatisations of publicly-owned utilities. The generation that oversaw the great leap back into private renting and buy-to-let that had been dismantled by the earlier generations, which is causing widespread poverty everywhere. The generation that has welcomed huge levels of immigration from everywhere, which reduces wages and increases our population and pressure on the infrastructure they have dismantled.

The generation who have lived through three significant recessions, were coming to a housing market with 15% interest rates, the generation who saw an improvement in employment rights right across the board (which are now being dismantled by a Tory government via Brexit).

It’s in this governments interest to divide and conquer - issues around immigration, economy, Brexit, are all driven by the idea that others cause austerity and hardship which nearly removes responsibility from the shit show that is our government (which a sizeable proportion of under 50s voted for too). If they can get generations blaming each other too, all the better.

People over 60 were being blamed for even going to the shops during lockdown! It was absolutely ridiculous. I think that was the period when I saw the most blatant generalisation and ageism going on here. It was infuriating. Every second post seemed to be about some bewildered or casual old person in the supermarket.

*I am talking about that group as a generation. Let's see. That generation would have been the people steadily dismantling the public sector since the 80s. Steadily dismantling employment rights. Cashing in on Right to Buy and privatisations of publicly-owned utilities. The generation that oversaw the great leap back into private renting and buy-to-let that had been dismantled by the earlier generations, which is causing widespread poverty everywhere. The generation that has welcomed huge levels of immigration from everywhere, which reduces wages and increases our population and pressure on the infrastructure they have dismantled.

And finally, that is the generation that have taken us out of the EU and removed our EU citizenship rights. So much to thank you for.*

I’m a remainer and lifelong Labour voter. As are most of my friends. Dismantling employment rights and privatising public utilities are not what I voted for. Likewise right to buy. Yet it seems you still hold me responsible for those things because of my age. And you think you’re not ageist?

Talking negatively about an entire group or generation is ageist! How can you not understand that?

I'm over 60 and didn't do any of those things, thank you very much

Agreed

you have to consistently remind yourself that women are a vast range. There are many, many different stereotypes that fit our gender, so there is no stereotypical woman. But our sex we share ~
Dame Jenni Murray (aged 70 years 5 months)

Copying and pasting this quote from another thread on ageism. We are all in this together and we mustn't let this virus and the misogynist PM and his cronies divide us.

*I am talking about that group as a generation. Let's see. That generation would have been the people steadily dismantling the public sector since the 80s. Steadily dismantling employment rights. Cashing in on Right to Buy and privatisations of publicly-owned utilities. The generation that oversaw the great leap back into private renting and buy-to-let that had been dismantled by the earlier generations, which is causing widespread poverty everywhere. The generation that has welcomed huge levels of immigration from everywhere, which reduces wages and increases our population and pressure on the infrastructure they have dismantled.

And finally, that is the generation that have taken us out of the EU and removed our EU citizenship rights. So much to thank you for.*

I think you are mistaking age for Tory supporter.

@FTMF30

Why are people getting so offended by the Gransnet section? It's useful to organise forums so that you can easily get the help you need and/or talk to like minded people. I don't see hardcore feminists complaining that they are being 'othered' because their is a feminism board, or the same with black mums complaining there's a black section, or parents with kids who have special needs complaining that there is a special needs section. It is designed to be a space where you can talk about things specific to you. Use it if you think it's useful and don't if you don't. No one is forcing any of you to do either.

Also, Gransnet will obviously be linked somewhat to age, but it's basically for anyone who is a Gran (i.e. a Grandparent). Some of you are so entitled, you've got to a point you're doing yourselves a disservice.

So let's have a Gransden topic on here. I can't be bothered to go to a whole separate forum

The same argument could be had about the disregard of the younger generation. Plenty people think it’s fine to not give two sh!ts about the youngsters or to acknowledge how it affects them and how they’re having to sacrifice a lot, but that’s allowed?!

Then the older generation predominantly voted brexit and conservative which has and will make it harder still for the younger generations who are struggling
This level of ignorance is staggering and is certainly very ageist

The generation that has welcomed huge levels of immigration from everywhere, which reduces wages and increases our population and pressure on the infrastructure they have dismantled.

The generation which welcomed immigration from everywhere, creating diverse and culturally rich communities while paying people a pittance to do jobs the indigenous population wouldn’t do for any price.

There, I fixed the inherent racism in your post, you’re welcome.

I dunno I’m torn on this. The older generation have prospered whilst younger generations have a shit time of it picking up the pieces with no opportunities. Then the older generation predominantly voted brexit and conservative which has and will make it harder still for the younger generations who are struggling and now there’s a virus that is only really affecting them and the younger generations are losing everything to protect them

What do you class as the older generation? I'm mid 50's as is my husband so you can guess the age of our parents.

We both work full time and are extremely invested in the economy, we have no choice because we still have a 15 year old child to raise. Neither us nor our parents voted for Brexit either, in fact I know very few people from my generation and above that did vote for it.

The generation that has welcomed huge levels of immigration from everywhere, which reduces wages and increases our population and pressure on the infrastructure they have dismantled.

So you want the immigrants all to go 'home' then

@turnitonagain

OP can you give a specific example? Because I’m not sure saying the vulnerable should shield is ageism worth of deletion.

There is a thread in the Coronavirus topic on how we're "sacrificing the young" to save the old, as if students not being allowed to party and older and sick people dying are equivalent things. That gives a pretty good idea of the value placed on older people by some posters on here. Posters are not saying that older people should shield, but that they have had their lives and big houses and pensions and should shuffle off and let the young enjoy themselves.

@saraclara

People over 60 were being blamed for even going to the shops during lockdown! It was absolutely ridiculous. I think that was the period when I saw the most blatant generalisation and ageism going on here. It was infuriating. Every second post seemed to be about some bewildered or casual old person in the supermarket.

It's a miracle any of the 'older generation ' was allowed out at all as most of us are clearly not capable of making our own decisions anymore and have to be protected at all costs from ourselves

@TableFlowerss

The same argument could be had about the disregard of the younger generation. Plenty people think it’s fine to not give two sh!ts about the youngsters or to acknowledge how it affects them and how they’re having to sacrifice a lot, but that’s allowed?!

It breaks my heart to think of what the younger generation and children have lost this last year. I hope their mental health can recover

According to quite a few posters it is now time for me, as a scummy boomer to have my assets and my future plundered as I have been selfishly keeping the young down.

Yes, good luck with that! I have no assets and I'm unemployed - but I should be feeling sorry for the the young because I must be wealthy and, as you said, selfishly keeping them down. From what I read on MN many young people are far more wealthy than I ever could have been - but because I am a "boomer" that can't be right, and I've had everything handed to me on a plate. Not sure where that plate got to!

There is a thread in the Coronavirus topic on how we're "sacrificing the young" to save the old, as if students not being allowed to party and older and sick people dying are equivalent things. That gives a pretty good idea of the value placed on older people by some posters on here. Posters are not saying that older people should shield, but that they have had their lives and big houses and pensions and should shuffle off and let the young enjoy themselves

@GCAcademic

But the very example you use is one that makes it sound like all the younger generation are losing out simply on is getting pissed up. It’s such a negative example and bias.

It’s such a narrow minded view that focuses solely on one age group and their needs and completely sidelines the other.

The mental health of a generation who can’t mix and socialise and make and build relationships is not a easy thing to deal with. It’s big ask to expect them to put their lives on hold.

The younger generations mental is a concern of mine but some people couldn’t card less!!!

It breaks my heart to think of what the younger generation and children have lost this last year. I hope their mental health can recover

I think everyone has had to sacrifice in their own way - no greater or less, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t suffered some form of loss or disappointment. What those losses are will differ but be no less meaningful, why does it need to be a case of which matters more, or causes more impact on mental health.