Page 3 | "boomer" thread

Maireas · 2023-08-28T19:29:53+00:00

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?

Original poster

Maireas · 28/08/2023 21:42

@Rosiem2808 - do not let your children treat you with such disrespect. They're being offensive, misogynistic and ageist. Put a stop to it now.

OP posts:

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:45

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 28/08/2023 21:10

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

Bit of both. There's one particular poster who finds her way to each of them I notice. I've wondered about socks on a lot of them- but maybe that's because I can't really believe so many people are so filled with hatred.

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:46

bellamountain · 28/08/2023 21:13

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.

Can we perhaps start by not using the term? It's acknowledged elsewhere to be offensive and derogatory so let's try not to repeat it 3 times in one post shall we?

Katmai · 28/08/2023 21:46

The irony is that a lot of the contemptuous vitriol appears to be towards those people of a certain age who were able to purchase their council houses very cheaply some years ago. If that's how people feel, then they should be directing their ire towards that Thatcher woman and the Conservative party who actually took that decision, not the people who were encouraged to take advantage of it.

It was also the Conservatives who privatised so many nationalised industries such as the utilities and BT. Existing customers were actively encouraged to buy shares at a ridiculously low price, which then shot up, so many people did very well out of it.

A widowed elderly person still living in their 3-bedroomed ex-council house is not to blame for the current housing situation. The blame lies squarely at the door of No 10.

Original poster

Maireas · 28/08/2023 21:48

It's even on baby name and S&B threads. Names are "dowdy Boomer names" .
Clothes which are ugly and unstylish are "gran clothes" or "mumsy" or worse - "for Karens".
It's just relentless.

OP posts:

Mrsjayy · 28/08/2023 21:49

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:46

Can we perhaps start by not using the term? It's acknowledged elsewhere to be offensive and derogatory so let's try not to repeat it 3 times in one post shall we?

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Well exactly, but I do think that post was a total wind up probably think they are hilarious!

TheBeautifulLisette · 28/08/2023 21:50

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:46

Can we perhaps start by not using the term? It's acknowledged elsewhere to be offensive and derogatory so let's try not to repeat it 3 times in one post shall we?

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The baby boomers are a generation though, like gen x or millennials. Nothing wrong with that. It’s ‘boomer’ used as a lazy slur that’s the issue (and generally not even used for actual baby boomers these days but for anyone over about 45!)

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:50

PencilsInSpace · 28/08/2023 21:12

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.

Yes.
And then every so often there's a flurry of threads encouraging women not to get smear tests or have breast screening.
Now, call me daft, but what group of people would possibly not want women to undergo tests that could potentially save their lives....

blacksax · 28/08/2023 21:50

If anyone ever calls me a 'Karen' to my face they'll regret it. And I'll be nursing sore knuckles.

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:51

TheBeautifulLisette · 28/08/2023 21:50

The baby boomers are a generation though, like gen x or millennials. Nothing wrong with that. It’s ‘boomer’ used as a lazy slur that’s the issue (and generally not even used for actual baby boomers these days but for anyone over about 45!)

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Yes I know. That's why I asked pp to not use the offensive term.

LadyVictoriaSponge · 28/08/2023 21:52

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 28/08/2023 20:35

It's getting beyond a joke now. I've got broad shoulders but as an older woman it's depressing AF to see the dislike and sheer vitriol from other women aimed at women like me. We're verging on senile, if not already there, selfish, taking up properties families can make better use of, daring to take the pensions we worked for and according to the meno board, lucky not to have collapsed into a heap of bone dust by the time we're 70. And living too long, of course.

I don't think I've ever seen a site as bad as this for ageism.

Agree it’s horrendous on here, the venom for being 50 plus is off the scale, the pension thread was a particular low point, I honestly think they would have over 50’s either in a workhouse or put down.

Socrateswasrightaboutvoting · 28/08/2023 21:52

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 28/08/2023 21:27

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.)

Edited

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Actually racism is allowed to allowed to flow freely on MN. Any mention of the issues that Black and Brown women face is shouted down by The White Supremist faction because these days racists and their facilitators are just as likely to wear heels as hoods. Black and Brown women face all the issues that White women face and more so maybe get your facts right.

TheBeautifulLisette · 28/08/2023 21:52

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:50

Yes.
And then every so often there's a flurry of threads encouraging women not to get smear tests or have breast screening.
Now, call me daft, but what group of people would possibly not want women to undergo tests that could potentially save their lives....

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What on Earth is the rationale used in the posts though? How bizarre.

TheAverageJoanne · 28/08/2023 21:53

TheBeautifulLisette · 28/08/2023 21:52

What on Earth is the rationale used in the posts though? How bizarre.

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There are some seriously strange people on here by the look of it.

blahblahblah1654 · 28/08/2023 21:54

I'm 38 and I can't stand the ageist posts on here. Don't these people realise they will old one day if they're lucky and I'm sure wouldn't like to be thought of and spoken to with these disgusting attitudes.

PencilsInSpace · 28/08/2023 21:55

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:50

Yes.
And then every so often there's a flurry of threads encouraging women not to get smear tests or have breast screening.
Now, call me daft, but what group of people would possibly not want women to undergo tests that could potentially save their lives....

Show quote history

There are pros and cons for every screening test but that's for a different thread.

Rosiem2808 · 28/08/2023 21:55

To those who say sort my children out they are missing the point I am attempting to make. Yes they are being ageist and the rest, I know that. They say they are having a laugh (at my expense), but it's the reasoning and the attitude behind it that is becoming more and more the norm.
Oh I can handle them alright - obviously I have to tell them to shut up, and they will, but The term Karen is here to stay and that is what I find offensive and immoral. 'Karen' is now a 'thing'. It's an antisocial snowball

boilingstormyseas · 28/08/2023 21:55

The ageism on Mumsnet is unbelievable and completely unacceptable but it seems to be the last -ism that appears to be ok to go for - the boomer threads, the vitriolic MIL threads, the Karen threads, the frumpy mumsy threads. Who are these people who think it's acceptable to behave this way. Would you say this to someone's face? No? Then why is it acceptable to do so on this forum. Mumsnet needs to crack down on ageism.

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 21:55

TheBeautifulLisette · 28/08/2023 21:52

What on Earth is the rationale used in the posts though? How bizarre.

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It is. Truly. But check any thread saying something like "shall I go for a smear/are smears worth it" etc and they are full of posters saying no, don't bother, the testing has now changed, you are completely within your rights not to have such a terrible thing done to you.

They're nuts.

ZolaBudd · 28/08/2023 21:57

In the same way I never let my kids say chav.
Karen is not a thing

LadyVictoriaSponge · 28/08/2023 21:57

PencilsInSpace · 28/08/2023 21:55

There are pros and cons for every screening test but that's for a different thread.

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Agree.

endofthelinefinally · 28/08/2023 21:57

Yes, the hatred expressed on here towards anyone over 60 would not be tolerated against any other group.

GailBlancheViola · 28/08/2023 22:00

It's long past time for MNHQ to do one of their pinned notices and say they will not tolerate ageism and misogyny. Those who start such threads should be at the very least suspended if not outright banned as should the posters who join in the ageism and misogyny.

caringcarer · 28/08/2023 22:01

I didn't see the thread but just glad it is now deleted.

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 28/08/2023 22:03

GailBlancheViola · 28/08/2023 22:00

It's long past time for MNHQ to do one of their pinned notices and say they will not tolerate ageism and misogyny. Those who start such threads should be at the very least suspended if not outright banned as should the posters who join in the ageism and misogyny.

Absolutely.