Ageism on Mumsnet (and in society)

[SusanandMidge]

There's a discussion going on at the moment as to whether old people should be made move out of their family homes to free them up for younger couples (which thankfully no one on that particular thread is endorsing). However it's a topic that has come up a number of times on MN with many posters bitterly begrudging the fact that old people are 'hogging' family sized homes, or that their parents' house is now worth ten times what they paid for it in 1972.

I have also seen posters complaining about elderly people using the supermarket at weekends or being in the post office at lunchtime, because they should leave these busy times to working people; questioning why their teenagers should offer seats to elderly people who travel for free; and in many ways belittling and being unpleasant about the older generation.

I know all generations get their stereotyping but some of the ageism is really unpleasant. It's a minority of posters but their begrudging, bitter and hostile attitude towards the elderly can be really depressing to read.

It is not ageism to answer a comment about how young people don't get to enjoy union benefits by pointing out that they don't tend to join unions.

exactly - if you want union benefits you join a union - they still exist (and we pay for them!) - if your work place doesn't 'have one' (because work places aren't required to give them to you) join - encourage others to join - and you have a work place union!

That is not us millenials and below. We arrived to this and managers doing "well if you don't want to stay late, you don't care about company, eh". There is a movement against bad working conditions and work life balance amongst the younger millenials and Z.

Aren't 50% of public sector workers in a union? Hasn't stopped their wages stagnating or getting less favourable pension schemes.

That was alqays like this though. Every generation thinks the one or two below them are lazy and feckless. We shall once think it too. Circle of life

True, my dc are lazy! 😆

It is but I also think there's a lot of ageism thrown downwards too.

Yes there were unscrupulous Managers and an awful ethic instigated by Margaret Thatcher which eroded the rights of workers. But that is not the fault of the 60+ generation. It is the fault of individuals, aided and abetted by Government. Older workers, as a generation, did not in any way support this ridiculous work culture and many tried very hard to encourage millenials and below to join unions and stand up to unscrupulous managers, as they had once done. But it didn't happen and now workers have lost many hard fought for rights and benefits won by the older much disparaged on here generation, many of whom striked when they couldn't afford to and had the courage to take on their 'betters' in factories and offices across the country.
It is a shame and I hope young people realise the value of unions and once more join them in large numbers. They deserve better working lives than the ones they now have.

I'm raising young adults (15,19 and 21) - they are NOT lazy or feckless - they work and they study and they are wonderful. They have to - I can't afford to pay for their phones, Ubers, clothes etc - they have a great work ethic

I also work with teenagers who have encountered loss , trauma and awful life experiences - I want the very best for them and work hard to support them and help them recover and succeed

It's very wrong (again!) to paint all 'older' people as twats - but what struggles don't 'we' care about - I've never voted Tory in my life if that helps my defence!

@Anxioys I'm not saying it is good that things are tough. I'm saying it has always been that way. And the young find ways to cope that then stand them in good stead when later they want to save for a house.

Saying house prices are unaffordable is illogical. If they are unaffordable, how come they sell?

I lived in an unheated bedsit for four years to save a deposit on a flat. That flat was a 1950s maisonette with no heating, a 1950s bathroom and a smashed kitchen. I had no furniture but I scrounged and cobbled things together, slept on the floor in a sleeping bag. Bought a washing machine in month 7.

It was never easy. It has always been hard. I don't know anyone whose daddy bought them a house (although I'm sure they exist). It still doesn't make it impossible. Such defeatism is part of the problem.

You think thay. I am not lazy of frekless but by definition of being millenial most people would moan about me too. Unless they need opening pdf🙈

Every gen before us had the gen before them moan about something like that. That's not painting "older" peopleas twats. That's fact of life. Like that every gen moans bout next gen's music. I am not old and I am already there!

I guess I'd just like to know what struggles younger people face now that they think my generation (X) didn't face?

@ghostyslovesheets wage stagnation?

the same ratio of house prices to salaries?

high interest rates when you factor in high costs eg 15% of 100k is not better than 6% of 300k but no MIRAS?

sorry not worse

well I work in the public sector even though I am 'old' so that impacts on us too - and is not down to us but this fucking Government

House prices - see my post on building affordable homes - if a government puts profit before it's peoples well being this will not change - but that's out of my control - as it was when I purchased a house. Affordable houses exist but in shit areas or in need of repair - which is what I got

I think my mortgage rate was around 10%

Spot on. That’s it in a nutshell.

but how old are you @ghostyslovesheets? are you saying you've seen wage stagnation your whole career? Is the pension you have the same that is offered for todays new entrants?

I think my mortgage rate was around 10%

for how long & what was your mortgage?

I am 66 next Tuesday. I will then be retired 10 years, having taken early retirement. I am single no kids. Saved hard, invested wisely, didn't waste money on the latest this or that but never lived in squalor or without decent appliances. I bought my home when I was 26 and never moved from it, it suits me perfectly so why move?

I have a quiet, enjoyable life that suits me. I am not frugal, nor am I profligate. I budget well and live within my means - well I have to!

However, I am INVISIBLE (just in case you can't see me!), and TBH that suits me just fine also.

I had a builder in to quote for a job recently. When I said I wanted to get a particular design, he said "no offence love, but I wouldn't spend all that money, you probably won't live long enough to get the value of it". I knew then I was in "that cohort". But I don't care.

Some people think they will never grow old. I thought that too when in my twenties, so no judgment from me. Life though has other plans.

53 - I've worked the same job for 26 years - it improved when Labour came to power and set up Connexions - as did the services for young people - pretty stagnant since then

I am in my fifties and don’t dislike any generation. My parents worked like dogs to get where they did. My young adult kids are growing up in a world with climate worries, tuition fees and stupid property prices. Nobody has it easy. My generation included.

Yanbu