Ageism on MN

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Ok so I expect this thread to be deleted because in part it will be a thread about several threads and mainly because MN has been turning a blind eye towards ageist posts.

Today I learned from MN that over 40s are elderly.
I've also learned that over 50s have lived their lives already and need to step aside to allow the younger generation to live.
I hate the daily mail but actually hope one of their journalists pick this up as MN doesn't seem to care

They are wearing but it's just as wearing when older generations deny statistics that show younger generations have it harder these days

I was told in one thread that statistics didn’t show the reality of growing up as a Baby Boomer so my lived experience didn’t count.

I agree there are some vicious posts.

Can I refer you to The Use and Abuse of Statistics and also to How to Lie with Statistics!
Tell me the rersult you want and I'll find you the statistics to prove it.

🥱 Of course statistics can be manipulated but please feel free to show the data that says it's easier to buy a house today & that lower interest rates doesn't make saving hard.

40s isn't particularly old it's the average ago of the population.

age not ago!

One of the good things about being older is that you have done your duty by the community through the work you contributed and the taxes you paid. Therefore you have now learned not to give a flying fuck about what other people think of you!

With getting older comes greater tolerance for opinions you could find annoying coz frankly, they're allowed. I don't have to have an opinion or an emotional reaction about their opinion & I am not responsible to fix all the wrong opinions.

There was a hilarious post on another thread, someone disbelieving a poster could be elderly because they're using the internet. I think it led to the whippersnappers thread.

I remember a post on a thread commenting that 'older people don't understand how shops work'.

Yes, because shops have only been around for, er, centuries.

I'm dying (har, har) to read this thread where 40 was described as having one foot in the grave.

I know the offending posts have been removed but anyone got a link?

I am 55 and know that I'm fitter, slimmer and more attractive than an awful of women 20 years younger than me. An awful lot!
So nerrrrrr I don't care.

Maybe not against a lot of highly coiffed, gymed, golden MNers.
But against the general population I know I'm right!

I remember that comment about how older people didn’t k ow how shops work!!! It was just mind blowing.

I agree with you OP. There's been some really awful ageism. It tends to go hand in hand with ableism. I've seen some very unpleasant ageist and ableist threads.

One of the good things about being older is that you have done your duty by the community through the work you contributed and the taxes you paid.

Plenty of young & old people don't earn enough to be net contributors to the state.

Why do people see the work "old" as an insult? It is a descriptive word? People on this thread are compounding what they are complaining about.

Word not work

@shalliswim is it actually about attractiveness then rather than age? Are you more worthy if you are old but attractive rather than young and unattractive? So much tied up in the word "old"

@Tryingtryingandtrying

Why do people see the work "old" as an insult? It is a descriptive word? People on this thread are compounding what they are complaining about.

If you're happy to be called 'elderly' at 40 then that's up to you. I'm pushing 60 and none of my similarly aged mates are what I would consider elderly.

@vannyy agreed. Most people I think are net takers from the state esp if they have children.

What's so bad about elderly? Why be offended? Is it a bad thing?

Other cultures Elder is positive.

By denying your age, saying you feel young, look young, behave young you are implying that is more positive than being an elder. Which is not a bad thing.

@Butchyrestingface

I'm dying (har, har) to read this thread where 40 was described as having one foot in the grave.

I know the offending posts have been removed but anyone got a link?

I can't link using my phone, but it's in AIBU, 'to not put TV in AirBnB'. It's a long thread now but worth a read anyway, amusing and also bemusing for lots of different reasons. First comment re 40s is yesterday morning at 09:56 (I took a picture of the it to send to a non-MN friend!) The worst comment a little later was removed by MN as was my response as it quoted it, but someone else quoted it a little later and it wasn't removed so you can still see it, and further comments by the same poster.

I must stress that one poster's opinions wouldn't bother me enough to start this thread - it was that on top of many other 'older people have had their lives now' comments on other threads recently.

[quote Tryingtryingandtrying]@shalliswim is it actually about attractiveness then rather than age? Are you more worthy if you are old but attractive rather than young and unattractive? So much tied up in the word "old"[/quote]
My point was more about fitness abs health than looks but the two are often allied. But yes possibly.
Old hag and crone can't be applied so easily to an attractive older woman.

I do see good health (and good fortune perhaps) as an innoculiser against age. I have a thirty year old niece who is lovely, and clever but hugely overweight and frankly is 'older' than I am in many ways.

But I was also Bering light hearted and trying to blow a raspberry to anyone who thinks I'm 'old' and therefore on the scrap heap!

Maybe it's more that the old and elderly should step aside for the younger generations is the thing that is rather silly. Many 'old' and 'elderly' and still raising families. And if they are not, they're busy living their lives. Maybe those who want them to step aside and give it up should focus on their own lives rather than commenting on others.