Are old people anti-social?

Question

I am 62, yet I find many older people are anti-social and use their age as an excuse for bad manners.
Most of my friends are my age and find the same.
As a rule, I find younger people have better manners.

I was brought up to respect all people, regardless of age - race - gender - religion - social standing.
This is still my yardstick for good social behaviour.
Because of these old-fashioned values,
I've been accused of being too 'soft'.

I live an extremly active social life. Produce a free monthly magazine. Travel quite a lot and entertain regularly.
I continue to life the life I lived 40 years ago. I'm in perfect health and biologically 15 years younger than my cronological age.

Answer 1

I find the same. I'm in my early 20's and I was always brought up to do things like hold doors open and give up my seat on the bus if the person needed it more than me, regardless of the persons age. Some older people have been really nasty about it, making comments like 'I'm not an invalid' and the like, even though I would, say, hold the door open for anyone coming behind me regardless. It makes me think that some of them are just ungrateful, yet they complain about the younger generation having no manners!

Answer 2

Old people become more self absorbed as their bodies deteriorate. They tend not to care any more when make-up doesn't help, their knees prevent them from playing sports, and food becomes the most important luxury in life. However, the solution is to not let yourself deteriorate and challenge those that still have a choice from doing so. 62 is not the age that this should be happening, maybe 162. Maybe that is just a number and not a limitation. Too many people retire from life as well as their job.
Do you look 162? Walk with a shuffle? Take a nap instead of exercising? Why not organize the ones that do into a massive political force? Stand up and be counted! Contribute computer time to the World Community Grid, that doesn't require any expense or effort or social skills! Get out and vote! Ask more relevant questions! Provide intelligent answers!
Oops, meal time, gotta go.

Answer 3

Some of those answers are pathetic...why do people even bother writing an opinion when its not even an intelligent one, even if its THEIR opinion, I have always found the older generation only too happy to stop and talk etc, I find that many of them find it a scary world now, its certainly changed greatly since they were young and young peoples morals do not fit into their way of being brought up etc, all you ever hear about are murders, drugs and wars worldwide...no wonder the older generation get depressed and feel lonely, its not a happy world...maybe their bad manners are a front, I work out in the community and know that many old people are often in pain, depressed and/or lonely, even when they have family they are often neglected, in some cases, badly, bullying doesnt start or end at the school gates or abuse...we will be in their shoes one day...

Answer 4

I guess it all depends. I know some very polite people who are older. I am 33. I can talk to a whole group of older people and feel like I belong. But I also know some older people that are fiercely bitter. The way they talk and act is completely unacceptable.
But our age group I think is even worse than the older generation. We have some very disturbed monsters walking around and causing trouble because they know nothing else.
Kids down my street that are around 12 and 13 give me the bird for no reason and act like they are going to jump out in front of my vehicle when I'm going home.
I'd much rather deal with an anti-social aged person than a confused and dangerous adolescent.

Answer 5

I think alot of times older people feel left out or forgotten, and many times they are. It makes me sad to see so many older people being put in nursing homes and left there with no visitation from family or friends. I guess this would make them bitter and I can't really blame them. I enjoy talking to older people. They have led interesting lives and been through so much, we can learn alot from our seniors if we just ask and give them a chance to talk. I know what you mean though about them sometimes being rude to others. I kind of feel like this is in response to how they have been treated by the younger generation.I'm not making excuses for them, but I know that our society doesn't care for and respect their seniors the way they should be treated.

Answer 6

I lived in Torquay where their are few people between the ages of 20/40 because the jobs are elsewhere and there are few children. The population of pensioners is well over the national average because its a place to retire!

Its the most miserable place on this earth. Moan, whinge, moan! They complain about everything and seem to hate youth! Even worse they egg each other on!

I was so glad to return to 'normal' society where the age groups are more balanced.

Answer 7

Fear, loneliness, bitterness and life in general, there is never an excuse for it but some of the older people seem to think they have the right to be like that, we have a lovely Irish guy next door but one to us, hes 81 and I have never seen anything but good manners and respect for others from him, at the other end of the street we have an old lady who for some reason thinks its her god given right to be anti social to everyone, even those who go out of their way to be nice to her, she lost her husband very suddenly, her only child lives abroad and couldn't give up his life to move back home to be with her, she is very bitter about most things in life and never joins in anything, she barges past people and tuts at them like its their fault and not hers, basically she is pretty mean and the older she gets the worst she becomes, we have tried on several occasions to bring her to tea but to no avail because she seems to think we want something from her or that were just been nosey, I think loneliness hit her badly and she is blaming everyone for it, its such a shame because her life could be so different and with no form of anti social behaviour off her too.

Answer 8

I think alot of older people think that they deserve respect and they do. I was brought up to respect old people and this was easy because i had good grandparents. But i wouldnt say that all younger people have better manners. You never hear foul language from old people like you do from teenagers. The bible says that you should treat all people respectfully whether they are young or old, but seeing as we are talking about the older generation Proverbs 16.20 says 'Gray-headedness is a crown of beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness' and 20;29..The beauty of young men is their power, and the splendor of old men is their gray-headedness. Keep up your good manners. age 33

Answer 9

It's hard to generalise like that because young people are rude or anti social too. My Nan is very miserable and anti social, she never seems happy and there's always something wrong. However my elderly neighbour upstairs is fantastic company... I love going up on a rainy afternoon like today and hearing about all the things she got up to- It's fascinating stuff!

Answer 10

I think it depends on the person. I'm 32 and I know many 32-year-olds with large egos and bad manners.

If you are a nice person, I believe you will always be a nice person.

If it is your true nature to be an *ss, then that is what you will be.

People don't change all that much. I think as we get older, we are just less concerned with what others think.