Mumsnet paused a “boomer” thread this morning, and…

[CurlewKate]

…just for a second I thought ageism was being taken seriously. Sadly, no.

It's definitely not taken as seriously as other 'isms'

You're right. It's nasty, goady, offensive and ageist. I reported it and was told that it "didn't break talk guidelines", which I thought was astonishing. The language and tone throughout have been vile.

They specifically give "ageist" as a reason for deletion in the talk guidelines.

Have you not read posts about young people.
Type mumsnet young people of today into Google and pages of derogatory threads appear. Ageisim goes both ways.

I'm neither young nor boomer btw

Was it an ageist post or did it just have the word boomer?

I hate the word boomer and the fact that it's most people apply it randomly - if you're going to be insulting the very least you can do is apply it to someone who was born in the correct generation. If someone said it to my dad I would take great delight in saying: "No, he's not a boomer, he's just a grumpy old silent generation chap actually!" To be fair he is fairly grumpy at present, that's not an observation of him all the time, but currently he is slightly taking the biscuit.

The term boomer is ageist

The term boomer is never used in a pleasant or even neutral manner. It is always derogatory. Used to write off a whole swathe of people. If I had been born 3 years earlier, I’d be part of that demographic, so I know loads of people who are. And guess what? They’re all different.

I think I know the thread you mean OP as I left a comment on it myself. Perhaps the fact the OP claimed to be 63 herself - so a ‘boomer’ - made a difference. It shouldn’t have though.

Didn't see the thread but I find the boomer term irritating as although technically I seem to just fall into it, the stereotype isn't my life at all.

Our kids call us “boomers” and we’re only mid 50s. When I explained boomers are significantly older they looked slightly pitifully as if there were any material difference between 55 and 80.

It is the "ism" that is allowed and it is infuriating

I wish people would stop using it. I find it extremely offensive, and its use is always followed by some contemptuous remark.

The only thing I liked about the thread was discovering Generation Jones (i still identify as Gen X tho)

Don’t like those either. This thread is about ageism.

I agree. The moderating on here is wildly inconsistent. It’s disappointing that it’s not taken seriously.

tbh I never realised it was a derogatory term. I assumed it was the same as Gen Z etc?

wont this be deleted though as it’s a Thread about a thread?!

That's like saying you've found loads of posts by disabled people making derogatory comments about the able-bodied.

My honest and probably very unpopular opinion is that ageism doesn’t exist and it’s just something people whip themselves into a froth about.

Yes, of course in a work situation or other contexts ageism can exist but an internet chat forum?

It's a rage bait ageist thread.

MNHQ don't seem to mind those sort of threads though. Lots of clicks.

What a stupid post.

I acknowledged it would be unpopular but honestly, what do people think will happen if someone aged over seventy is described as an elderly lady?

That's not what happened on the thread being discussed here though.

Fair enough, I’m probably being grumpy as a lot of threads do go a bit chaotic if someone who is, well, old, is described as such!

If you see anyone “whipping themselves into a froth” do please let me know.

@aspirationalferret "tbh I never realised it was a derogatory term. I assumed it was the same as Gen Z etc?"

Unfortunately not. It's almost invariably used as a derogatory term. You instantly know that if a post contains the word "boomers" it's going to be negative and even offensive.