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.

Almost No one needs to do the shop at a weekend when most stores are open 12 to 14 hrs a day

Go after the kids are in bed or after school if it's so much nicer to shop then

From the posts I’ve read, spot on comment, almost like we’ve all forgotten that you can actually express a difference of opinion or just an opinion without being angry

Or order online.

I have not once tried to.

You are absolutely right. There are many other awful prejudices and biases paraded in a daily basis too. I was on those threads you mention.

A couple of days ago I even saw a reference (I won’t say it was a suggestion as the poster stopped short of saying they were suggesting it, but mentioned it was an idea) that voting could be restricted in the same way as jury service (ie to ages 18 - 70). I despise this othering of a huge class of people and have contempt for those who engage in it (and all other sorts of prejudice and bias too).

Honestly there is just as much agism in the other direction that I've seen on Mumsnet. But it's like nobody gives a shit when its spouting vitriol against youngsters. I'm always reading about what greedy, lazy, entitled snowflakes they are.
And no I'm not young myself. I'm 45. So squarely in the middle!

'Police' was probably the wrong word. But you've definitely passed some judgement.

True. Although I've focused my OP on the ageism against older people, I've seen a fair bit of nastiness directed at younger people too. The 'snowflake' jibes on some threads are awful and some posters don't even use the snowflake analogy correctly.

I cannot believe that someone thinks retired people shouldn’t shop at weekends, that has to be a wind up surely? I’ve never heard anyone in RL express such a view. Going outside must be really stressful, what with all those people standing where you want to walk.

Yes and let’s not forget children, often a child will be referred to as ‘it’ or compared to dogs. Often there will be whole threads with people competing as to who can say the worst things about the most vulnerable section of society.

We had a lot of structure and opportunities that younger groups do not: every life is an effort for a particular person. To that extent, we set some of the terms of the deal: but other things, like housing, university fees, utilities, union rights, we don’t. The younger generation have not got access to those advantages. I didn’t make them myself; they were there to take advantage of.

Some of us did, some of us didn't. That's the whole reason the generalisations are ridiculous. Because it should be blatantly obvious that the opportunities, advantages and life chances of an 80 year old woman of colour, raised in a deprived area to a low income family in the days where women had very few protections under law, have nothing in common with those of a 60 year old white man born into an affluent family.
Of all the ways to group people in relation to life chances, 'old' and 'young' has to be one of the least meaningful.
Yes there were some areas of life in which some older people were more fortunate than some young people are today, but this fiction that everyone 'old' is living the life of riley on the back of house price rises and free 3rd tier education is nonsense. I'm 'only' 55 and in my year group at school, only 3% went to university. Only 10% did A levels. So the benefit of no fees didn't touch many for starters.

Doreen? Even the name😂suggests age.
Apologies to any 'young' Doreens out there!!

I can’t get over someone thinking 60 is “middle aged”

Totally agree with you. Some of the vile comments about being 'old' and especially being an older woman, are pretty vile tbh-verging on age discrimination, bullying and harassment. I really pity any older relatives of some of the commentors on this thread-they would be horrified with the disrespect and downright hostility demonstrated by some on this thread. Shame on those who think being older is a shameful and/or bad thing... and for those who are being unkind, disrespectful or downright rude-remember 2 things. Firstly if you say any of those things out loud to an older person you are potentially breaking the law where age is a protected characteristic, and secondly-if you are lucky, you'll get older too. Then watch out-karma can be a RIGHT bitch.

bombastix I don't really understand your above post. I'm tired after a long day though so perhaps it's my slow brain today.

Regarding "Every life is an effort for a particular person". Yes so true. Lone parents struggling because the other parent disappeared without paying child support, illness or disability, bereavement, domestic violence, caring for a disabled child, or whatever other Shit Happens life event.

If someone was inclined towards generalisations (which I'm not), could say those in their 40s and 50s were the first victims of the housing issues. House prices shot up in the late 90s/early to mid 2000s. At the same time as RTB meant less social housing. Yes some in that age group did well out of that... sometimes at the expense of those of the same age who were less advantaged.

But of course generalisations ignore that individual life circumstances and experiences within all age groups are varied.

I don’t think I’ve ever said older people were living the life of Riley due to housing. But housing is a really good example of how unequal things are now. Not everyone will be in a position to buy, and social housing for many years effectively removed the exploitative landlords from society. Now social housing is in short supply. Or reasonably priced private rental. Or first time buyers.When building a life, which is what the young have to do, this is just one huge structural disadvantage they have. Nobody does anything about it. The times I see older people post patronizing younger ones is depressing. It is a dividing line imo. There are plenty of others.

I see politicians making huge efforts for older people. They do a lot less for children and the young. A society that does this is on the slide; its priority should be the young. They are actually given disadvantages like being locked indoors during COVID, fines for usual socializing, cutting school budgets and refusal to pay their teachers adequately. Pensioners get the triple lock. This is what I mean about structural advantage. It drives resentment and ageism.

I see politicians making huge efforts for older people.

How many of their promises will they come good on, though?

Over 60% of over 65 voted for Brexit. Today they are the over 70s.

Utterly batshit isn't it? 😆 Because there are sooooooooooooooo many 120 year old people around! 🙄

So?

I see politicians making huge efforts for older people.

What effort are they making for these older people below? On a related note, inequalities within older generations are some of the most extreme in society.

https://www.independentage.org/hidden-renters-report
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Interesting article @Againname Thank you.

😆🙄

Need an actual bus to be able to use those.....something many rural areas lack.