to think the ageism on here has been disgusting recently

[EverythingYouDoIsaBalloon]

Distaste for the idea of older mothers. Pesky pensioners daring to shop at weekends when they've 'got all week' to do it. Retirement-age people being lambasted for not resigning to free up jobs for younger people. A lack of comprehension as to why older people are even in the workplace at all. Calls for over-80s to be stripped of their driving licences. A solemn assertion from one pp earlier in the year that '60 isn't young. It's old.' like middle age doesn't even exist. And that’s just off the top of my head.

Some people are going to get a shock when they get older themselves, according to some of the comments I’ve seen on this forum recently.

45 isn’t young though

There's loads of dickheads on here!!

It’s middle aged, the bracket I’m in.

Agree totally. Ageism is the only acceptable form of discrimination these days.

One of the leaders in doing it is, somewhat surprisingly, the Guardian.

According the the Guardian, everything wrong with the UK is the fault of: (a) boomers, (b) Tories or (c) boomers who vote Tory.

I think mumsnet as a whole is extremely intolerant of many groups within society. Anyone different in any way, who likes/dislikes different things, who parents differently, who makes different choices, who is perceived to have more or have done more or is more successful is abused and denigrated.

There is a very unpleasant undercurrent on mumsnet that works to bring women in any of these ‘different’ groups down. It’s part of the even more unpleasant attitude that now permeates a society that is all about the self and intolerant of anyone perceived to be taking something away from the self…….so older people, children, people on benefits, people who earn more, people who own a house…….are treated like shit by people with this selfish, victim mentality who compete to be the worst off because of everyone else. It’s the total lack of personal responsibility these people have……they have to blame someone or something else for their lot in life. There’s no self awareness or personal responsibility in these people.

It’s part of the even more unpleasant attitude that now permeates a society that is all about the self and intolerant of anyone perceived to be taking something away from the self…….so older people, children, people on benefits, people who earn more, people who own a house…….are treated like shit by people with this selfish, victim mentality who compete to be the worst off because of everyone else.

You’ve covered a lot there! Who is left to fit into the selfish, victim mentality group?

No it is not. My face tells me this.

I wish it was!

they have to blame someone or something else for their lot in life.

I thought this was a big driver re Brexit, eg blame the immigrants.

I see equal ageism directed at young people too.

I’m 60. Would love to describe myself as middle aged but with the best will in the world, I’m unlikely to live to 120 😁

I don’t think 80 year olds ought to be automatically stripped of their driving licences but everyone ought to be retested at 70 and every 5 years thereafter (I’d suggest every 2 or 3 after 80) because some of our physical reactions and abilities do deteriorate. If they’re fine, no problem, you keep your licence, but dangerous drivers are taken off the road. Not ageism, pragmatism.

I very much hope that age does have a bearing on who and what you'll vote for. The older you are, the more life experience you have. I would prefer everyone to vote having considered all their life experience rather than just in some knee jerk reaction.

It would be a great shame to age and learn nothing. What I've learned as I've got older has affected how I vote. Why wouldn't it?

Why not get everyone tested every few years ? Or at least all men who make up three quarters of all accidents ?

Sure, wouldn’t have a problem with being tested every few years. But our abilities tend to deteriorate with age, no getting away from it.

You are totally right. Some of the comments about older people-older women in particular-on this site are definitely ageist and if they were voiced in a work setting for instance would be grounds for complaint/discipline. What on earth makes some people so incredibly arrogant and ignorant about age, as if youth is more valuable than age?

Regarding Brexit.

Lots of young people in the so-called 'Red Wall' areas voted for Brexit.

But of course that's just looking at generalisations. Not every older person, or everyone in the Red Wall, voted that way.

Also, it was the older generations in the UK who voted to go in to what was then the EC. So if it wasn't for the older generation , the UK wouldn't have been in what became the EU in the first place.

Also although not 'boomers', I understand that, if you want to generalise, the 'silent generation' (the one before 'boomers') statistically more voted to Remain than Leave. DH's parents are that generation and they both voted Remain. (In the original referendum in the 70s, one voted to join, one voted against).

On a related note regarding age groups. In the recent EU elections lots of young people voted for Eurosceptic parties.

Really though, every group (age, region, or whatever else) is varied, and it's ridiculous to lump them all in together.

Also it's very unhelpful to condemn people for their voting choices. If you don't like the way they voted, look at why they did and address their concerns instead of saying "you're Bad". That's relevant for any election.

It is to a 80 year old, it's all relative

I’m glad it’s not just me who feels like this then. Yes it’s rife on here OP. A few months ago someone actually started a thread suggesting that it would be better to withhold ‘unnecessary’ treatment from the elderly and offering the euthanasia instead. As someone who is in their 40s I absolutely dread getting old because I think in just a few years I will be written off and made to feel guilty for being alive. People with these attitudes need to remember that one day they and their loved ones will be old.

16 to 34 are actually the most statistically likely to be involved in car accidents. 16 24 first and the almost as many in the 24 to 24 age bracket.

Oh, and if you are a middle aged woman then you can’t be too outspoken or you will be branded a ‘Karen’ so you need to know your place and think before you voice an opinion on anything 🙄

I’m 61, run 5km in 27min, deadlift 90kg, work full time. What’s old about that?

If people want Brexit generalisations, then let's not only look at age and also look at the breakdown by region (posted below).

But of course generalisation ignores the many people who don't fit into their age or regional box.

And it is generalisations, because the age graph someone posted above shows that a significant minority of older people voted Remain.

40% is not a small number.

Likewise a significant minority of younger people (under 45 voted Leave). Nearly 40% in the 24-35 age group, and nearly 30% in the youngest age group.

Same with the regional breakdown below. Significant minority voted to Remain even in the most Leave voting area (West Midlands).

It's almost as if people are all individuals and not solely defined by their age or region...

I didn't mean to have this emoji in my post. Somehow clicked it by mistake and can't seem to delete it!

https://www.statista.com/statistics/642636/brexit-votes-by-region/

You are totally right. Some of the comments about older people-older women in particular-on this site are definitely ageist and if they were voiced in a work setting for instance would be grounds for complaint/discipline. What on earth makes some people so incredibly arrogant and ignorant about age, as if youth is more valuable than age?

I think some of them genuinely believe it is. 😟

I've heard before about the silent generation voting to Remain, but haven't seen any stats on this. Most of the surveys and polls grouped all old people together so from 60 or 65 to 100+ all in one group. Can you show me the stats where this age group is broken down?

'60 isn't young, it's old' isn't ageism, it's a fact! What a weird example

My Mum is of the silent generation and was a passionate Remainer. She was actually really furious with those who voted Brexit, since having been a child of WW2 she understood the importance of unity. Dh is a boomer who grew up in poverty, also voted Remain. In fact I don’t know anyone in my circle who voted Brexit. Generalisations never hold any water, so they can fuck off.