"boomer" thread

[Maireas]

You've hidden this evening's offensive, ageist thread, stereotyping "boomers". Will this be deleted? Can we have a robust response to ageism on MN?

I also hid that one.

It'd be interesting if HQ could comment on why, when Ofcom, for example, in 2021, added "boomer" to a list of words considered derogatory and unacceptable to be broadcast on TV and radio, a supposedly inclusive social media platform like Mumsnet thinks nothing of its use.

Oh it was awful . I stopped reading it. We should all be back in the workhouse.

I missed the 'boomer' thread but I saw the one about the terrible 'elderly' parents who didn't want solar panels, and of course that awful karen thread.

Ageism, especially misogynistic ageism, does seem to be a theme at the moment and I'm spending less time here because of it.

I'm 30s and agree with you all. I didn't see this thread but I saw the winter fuel one and it made me cross. About state pension being means tested. Why should it be? Why should someone who's paid in all through their time at work be stolen from and have those who haven't pocket more? Ageism makes sick. Another one some months ago that I was on following, after Jeremy Vine Show phone in where older people should be "made to downsize" (a caller suggested this not JV who handled it well. It makes me fizz, really it does.

I'm in book clubs, exercise classes and craft groups with wonderful older women some of whom I class as friends. My boss at work is 64 though you'd never guess.

Ageism stinks to high heaven.

I've made three reports in the last couple of days, which have been ignored by MNHQ. Or rather, I've had acknowledgement of my reports, but absolutely nothing back from MNHQ about them.

Ageism is clearly acceptable here.

Are these threads being started by established posters or newcomers, Mumsnet?

Oh I wondered where it was

A while ago there was a sudden huge flurry of threads about assisted dying. Some of the attitudes expressed towards older people, and disabled people, were absolutely terrifying.

About state pension being means tested. Why should it be?

Doesn't mean testing cost more than it saves usually? I don't think the posters who suggest this actually think it through - they just want to humiliate older people and make them beg for what they are due.

Sorry to hear this, I don't think they realise the hardships many of the Boomer generation had to deal with. Like you said, it was very different times and deprivation, racism and sexism was rife. Many babies and children of that time ended up in care and convents. Teachers could be downright evil. A lot of Boomers came from nothing. I'm not a Boomer but I appreciate there were very hard times.

I was hesitant to mention that 'Karen' thread!

But in seriousness we can't even complain now, and that particular thread was derailed (and they usually are by incel blokes). I'm sick of the ageism most of all.

I've 65, been on MN since my DC were little and it was never like this.
It's utterly depressing the amount of hatred and vitriol against a whole generation. We are all assumed to be right wing brexit voters - and actually why not - it's a democracy after all. We are all living in houses that should be given to families and according to one thread this week we are environmental vandalists.
I do think it's reflective of other social media this generational divide.
I've had enough.

I had one report ignored about ageism. I'm hoping it was just because of the bank holiday weekend.

Yes the houses the selfishness of these people daring to live in an actual house with rooms !

According to my children, if I raise my voice to complain about anything, anywhere, I am a Karen. They think it is funny. They have posted notes on the fridge for me warning me not to be a Karen when we go to London this week.
I am not amused. They think I am being a Karen because I don't find it funny. I can't win.
If I kick off, I can't take a joke. Thing is, I think they really mean it.

I've had enough

I'm here a lot and derive a lot of entertainment and instruction from the site, but if this continues I'll be off; or at least here a lot less often. Don't need the shit in my life.

My Dd who Is old enough to know better was talking about "a Karen" she works beside I was really shocked how easy it slipped off her tongue !

This. (I suspect!)

@Maireas I agree. I am pissed off to the nth degree with the vile and putrid ageism on here. Replace 'old' or 'elderly' or 'boomer' with black or Asian and the thread would be zapped and the OP banned (or the poster of any given post...)

Here are some typical insults. (All rubbish btw!)

Over privileged, all racist, all bigoted, all homophobic, all got shitloads of money (100s of 1000s of £££) stashed away, got their houses stupidly cheap, got free uni education, and anyone over 55 who is in social housing should fuck off live in a tent and give their MASSIVE 3 bed semi to a family la la la. Oh and apparently everyone over 65 has a gold plated final salary pension!

No mention of the interest rates being 12-15% when the houses were cheaper, and items like TVs, stereos, video recorders, washing machines, freezers, fridges etc being MUCH more expensive than they are now... Like 3-4 times more ... So much so that some people had to RENT them coz they couldn't afford to buy outright. AND only the select fucking few ever went to uni, the ones from the top 1 or 2 classes out of 8 in secondary school. AND I can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of people I know with a gold plated final salary pension!!! AND not all people past middle age voted for Brexit, and is racist and bigoted, and not everyone who did vote for Brexit is thick!

Anyway, just adding to the chorus here, of people who are sick and tired of the ageism on here. And I am quite far from elderly (mid 50s.)

just come on to add my disgust at the threads I've been seeing lately - the winter fuel payment made me so depressed and feel that young people seem to hate anyone over 55

You need to sort your kids out. This is your issue

The deletion message doesn't mention ageism though, just said about the thread not starting well and carrying on in the same vein. So MNHQ haven't acknowledged the problem of ageism on here 🤦‍♀️

Deletion message. No mention about ageism being unacceptable.

Come on Mumsnet, sort this out.

I feel that the derailing of the Karen thread this weekend shouldn't have been allowed to happen. Someone remarked that it had been a job well done in putting people off starting similar threads complaining about ageism and misogyny.

It would be nice if the ageism problem here could be addressed.