AIBU to be irritated when women use “baby talk” to converse with other adults?

[Rainwalking]

I belong to a few casual hobby groups for retired people. I’ve now encountered separately two well groomed women in their 70’s, not shrinking violets by any means, who break out into toddler speak at any opportunity.

It’s often accompanied by rapid eyelash fluttering and lip pouting.

What’s the matter with them?

I have never encountered this!

Hmmm

The Haribo adverts are bad enough!

Yes! That’s the sort of thing I mean.

@MaryBeardsShoes
would you care to elaborate?

Cognitive decline.

Next time, gently advise them to see their GP.

I have worked with several women who do this as soon as a man enters the room over the years.

I once started a new job where I was managing a small team and was told the (40yo) woman I'd be managing was too immature and would need to be moved on. I found her excellent, really competent and efficient, then our IT guy came into the office and the twittering started. Her previous boss had been a man, so it all started to make sense.

The biggest revelation was when I started work in a primary school office. All these professional women suddenly all helpless and fluttery as soon as the caretaker appeared.

I don’t know whether it’s a case of being something that happens naturally to some people when they are in the presence of someone they find sexually attractive
. I presume that it happens to both men and women but that it generally isn’t received as well by women, when a man does this.
I could see how many men would be flattered and therefore, I can also see how some women may use this as a technique to get the attention of a male, even if it was completely put on and not genuine emotion.

You know women in their 70s who regularly talk like the haribo adverts??

Like this do you mean?

Yes I’m with you Op. I thought it was a relic from the past (love those Fast Show sketches). I’ve not seen it recently but when I did I was always tempted to say “why the hell are you talking like that?” with an ick face.

I would, quite literally, laugh out loud if somebody did this!

I have a friend who does this, not with me when we're on our own but when she's in a group. Hers isn't flirting though. It's as if she's putting herself down somehow, as she makes comments in baby talk rather than as an adult where she'd have to be taken seriously. I haven't quite worked it out.

Thank you, OP. This is one of my biggest bugbears.
One of our elderly neighbours engages 'toddler voice mode' when asking for help with something. She is otherwise completely switched on.

I have always despised Kylie Minogue for her tending to speak like a little girl when interviewed. She didn't speak like that when she was acting and/or singing.

I suppose they think it makes them appear cute. I just want to slap them.

Personally I think its a reaction to what they were taught as children and as young women. That women can't do certain things. Those are mens roles. That they need a man in their lives or they are not complete. So they infantile themselves to appear helpless and get a man to take over/do it.

Younger women do it by attempting to do a thing, looking hopeless and then looking upset/lost until a man steps in

Unfortunately yes I do. I don’t think it’s flirting.

One of them also baby talks to inanimate objects e.g. a chair which may have got in her way….”oh stop it silly chair”…. this may be accompanied with a smack to said chair.

Surely all women of 70+ (myself included) are trying to maintain some dignity and presence in the increasingly disparaging world we live in; this pathetic behaviour is dragging us all down.

Yes exactly, they make my hand itch.

I’ll be seeing one tomorrow at a board game, and at some point she’s going to win and be bouncing up and down clapping herself whilst haribo-ing away.

With respect, it is not cognitive decline (I’ve worked with plenty of that). These are fully functioning women for whom it makes up part of their personalities, possibly under the illusion that it makes them more interesting. I think they’ve always been like this; I shouldn’t have mentioned age as that’s misleading.