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.

I'm 60

60 is old. Of course it's old, it's hardly young is it? And it certainly isn't middle age either.

If the younger folk had bothered to vote, we might not have had to endure Brexit.

I’m late 50s, so just escape being a boomer. I’ve gone increasingly to the left as I’ve aged. I can’t wait to GTTO.

Absolutely

I do not feel 70. I don't know what it's supposed to feel like, to be fair. In my head I have never aged.

@delusionalonathursday I had a surprise pregnancy at 48. Had the baby and now have a 6 year old at 56 with no problems although was difficult psychologically. Have far less freedom than most people my age. How is that selfish (especially as now politicians keep going on about there nor being enough future taxpayers?) I would say it's the opposite.

Clearly not enough younger people voted to Remain.

Mum ( Adoptive Mum) is 84 and voted Remain as did almost all her friends.

Brexit has been absolute disaster.

An idiotic, cretinous own goal.

I’d read that many who DID vote to leave lived in areas like Cornwall where large EU grants were forthcoming.

Like turkeys voting for Christmas.

Sold a lie by Farage et al.

This. ^

(I am nearly 60 too.)

I don't think so.

As many of us are living longer and going by personal observation, old age seems to kick in at 80+ these days

I'm 60 and the fittest, healthiest and most together I've ever been. I do remember my mum and granny being 60 and being so very different in their dress and attitude, but surely we should celebrate how much better things can be now when we get 'old'.
Got to admit I'm a bit pissed off that I can't retire yet, as this was what we were promised as teenagers, but then I possibly wouldn't anyway.
Ageism is rife I agree and really annoying. Every time I hear the word 'Boomer' i want to punch a wall!

'Abuse from boomers'? What are you talking about??

I'm old.

I'm still working.

I've never voted Conservative.

I voted Remain.

I like most younger people I meet. I agree that they face real difficulties and struggles, particularly with housing. I don't remember abusing them and I don't expect them to refer to me as "boomer" and direct disparaging comments at me.

So 79 year olds are young then?

"young" isn't the opposite of "old age".

But this is the problem.

If a post breaches talk guidelines, then just one report should be enough for MNHQ to remove it.

The trouble is, moderation seems really sketchy in this area.

It's as though the mods aren't on the same page, and whether it gets removed will depend on who reads the report.

“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.”

Well unless you live to 120, 60 is not middle aged (however at 44 I am definitely middle aged, much as I deny it!).

Being "old" varies a lot from person to person though. My parents have been old since their early 60's, both retired early immediately began a life of pottering and village gossip. A very good friend of mine is mid 70's, runs a pub, has an active social life, she has more energy than me (mostly because I'm one of those older mothers who had my kids at 39 and 40!).

YANBU

Yes it is. "Young" is literally the opposite of "Old".

Brexit was by and large voted for by people uneducated about the consequences, xenophobes and racists. None of these are specifically inherent in any age category.
Yes ageism is rife on MN and irl as is ableism and fatism.
Racism and homophobia are not so tolerated but if you are fifty plus, disabled and fat expect a lot of prejudice and ignorance. Not for one moment saying racism or homophobia are not abhorrent but the other issues have never received the same press and support so the terminally thick continue with their narrow minded nastiness unchecked.

It’s so true. I’m dreading being stuck in a care home and being plonked in front of a Dolly Parton tribute act (no offence) when I want to hear the Clash, The Cure and Oasis!

Ffs why do some people have to relate everything to politics? Not voting Tory or Brexit isn't a sign of being morally right or youthful! I voted tory in my 30s but absolutely wouldn't now in my 50s - so what???. And some people believed they were voting brexit to benefit the youth (I'm not getting in an argument about that either). Alot of people I meet in real life also seem to think being a lefty makes them some kind of radical/rebel- these people are mostly older and wealthy - it doesn't!!!!

Ridiculous comment. If an 80 year old was involved in an accident with a 17 year old, there is a good chance it will be the 17 year old's fault.

I'm over 60 and like other posters I am the fittest I have ever been. Had a dc at 39, (again, would have loved one earlier but it wasn't to be). I'm still working in a (very demanding) NHS job and have clocked up over 40 years service (was reading on a previous thread that older people ought to be 'giving something back to society.... I think, by the time I retire, I've probably given enough!).
Interestingly I've just googled 'what is old' and it came up with the following.

There are young (60-69) old, middle old (70-79) and then very old (80+)
As we age, we think 'old age' starts later and later. People in their 60's believe 'old' starts at 75
Life expectancy has increased dramatically - 100 years ago most of us would be old and knackered by 45

Personally, I think 'old' is 20 years older than my current age....

I've read a few threads
re shopping, driving and living in large properties etc
I'm not that young nor am I old, I'm just over 60 as is my OH

One about if I can recall correctly was, 'why do older people shop wekends' I think it was. For a moment it wound me up then I thought, you are just being silly!! I then read another thread and let them get on with it

The thread re "old..older people having it easy" makes me lol - it was never "easy" getting our first property, going to work the both of us and managing three kids - But hey, they've made their minds up, so let them carry on as I know what we had to endure as did other people of similar age and all ages for that matter

IMO, its good to see posters talk openly and then you can decide if to ignore them, educate them or just read and move on!!

I would support tightening up of the process for renewal of driving licences beyond a certain age though and I wouldn't see that as ageist and more than it's ageist that it costs my 18 year old DS several times what his car is worth to insure it for a year. If you look at the data, very elderly drivers, as a group, are at higher risk of accidents, as are new and very young drivers. But a difference is that new and young drivers are (again as a group) going to improve with time, whereas risk continues to climb quite steeply with advanced age. My DH was looking at this recently as we currently have significant concerns about his father's driving and it's not that easy to deal with. I think lots of people who have or have had parents continue to drive into their 80s will have similar stories. A system that essentially depends on self reporting by the driver isn't ideal, though it is of course cheap.I don't agree that you should lose your licence at an arbitrary age but I think some kind of objective assessment triggered by age would be reasonable. Not that different to what we expect of teenagers really. We don't give 17 year olds a licence automatically because they have reached an arbitrary age but we do say that that age qualifies them to be assessed.
It is a sad fact that for most of us, physical and cognitive abilities do decline with age to varying degrees and I don't think it is ageist to acknowledge that. It doesn't affect our intrinsic value as human beings though and that's where the problem lies.

When I was younger I never understood that and now much older just over 60, I get you

I guess is one is relatively able both mentally and physically you are never "old" in your head!!

Also, times have change the way people dress etc compared to when I was a lot younger!!

IMO, do as feel as being active, feeling young really helps IMO!!

My grandparents have all lived well into their 90s, so to me 60 is not old.

And OP is right according to my grandmother who is in her mid 90s, who says she feels exactly the same inside as she did when she was in her 20s.

She seemed old to me when she was 60, partly because I was young, but I also think that back then people of that age did come across as older, with many cutting their hair short and using curlers etc.

And I totally agree, OP. I’ve noticed it more recently.

They will all be old and decrepit soon enough.