Why are the ederly so rude nowadays It seems they have all forgotten please & thank you?

Question

only last saturday I was waiting for the bus and an elderly fella arrived laden down with various bags of shopping the bus arrived so I offered to help him to which he replied F*** off sonny so I let him get on with it why cant these elderly people learn some good manners ?

I am myself over 40 years old so the teen mugger is out of the window my ma herself is now 70 yrs old and elderly people never say thanks to her when she holds the door open for them !

Answer 1

Quite true, but do not generise. I am 78 and sometimes I am ashamed of my own age group. There is no excuse - manners maketh man. Same goes for smiling, so many folk go around these days grim-faced. As my friend says: faces like a tram shelter!

Answer 2

I don't know how much contact you have with elderly people in your day to day life,but I think the incident you quote is not the norm. The behaviour you describe is disgraceful from a person of any age.I really don't think you can say the majority of older folk are not polite and respectful. I hold doors open for young mums with kids and buggies, also for other old peop;le like me and invariably I get a smile and a thank you.Similarly I would thank anybody who helped or made way for me.Like everything else you can't generalise because of one unfortunate incident. It is like old people think all youngsters are drug taking louts because of the actions of a few.I don't classify all youngsters the same,as I have some smashing grandchildren who prove the misconception to be absolutely wrong. Please don't stop offering assistance to all elderly people. I am sure you will be thanked and your help appreciated in most cases.

Answer 3

Some people are rude no matter what their age
The problem is most elderly people don't trust young people these days and with good reason
So when a genuine person want to help them they think they are going to be robbed or mugged
Its a sad world we live in ,but don't give up on being helpful to the elderly

Answer 4

Sorry you had such an ungrateful experience; but don't paint all seniors with the same brush. Most are gentle, respectful and cheerful [even in the midst of aches, pains, slower gait, low energy, and sometimes abject lonliness etc]

Perhaps one of the reasons some are not too 'cheerful' has to do with the declination in civility amongst many of our young and in our general society also.

Too many of today's younger people [under 40] seem to know little about 'respecting one's elders' and they persist in public profanity; rudeness; crassness and lack good manners.

Answer 5

Hello,

I am getting up there too in age. The elderly should always do their best to set a good example for the younger generations.
Good manners are certainly contageous!

Regards,

Michael Kelly

Answer 6

That is all well and good, that you offered to help that man...but think of it from his point of view. Here is a strange man, "offering to help" him with his bags (which he has probably just spent the last of this month's old age security cheque on). What is to say that this man won't just take off with his groceries when the old guy's back is turned. Here in Toronto, that is precisely one of the ruses that older teens use to steal from elderlies.

I myself was approached just this way by one of a group of 6 older teens waiting at a bus stop. They ended up shadowing me half way home, until I managed to duck out of their sight at the school my grandson's attend. And you can bet that MY heart was racing, although I am well aware that I am capable of "taking care of myself" as well.

If you want to help a senior, talk to them for awhile first. Make general statements, and get their opinions on politics or the weather or whatever. Don't EVER ask them personal questions, and don't EVER touch their packages. You can make an observation such as "Since we seem to be going in the same direction, I'd be happy to help you with your bags." But don't be at all surprised when they say no.

Seniors are very in touch with their surroundings. They have to be to survive. And they are very aware that they have become the new "preferred target" for punks and others looking to make an easy dollar, or to have the fun of beating up on someone.

If you are sincere in wanting to help, that will come across in your demeanour. When next you meet with a curmudgeon such as the one you described in your question why don't you try saying "Yes, I'm well aware that seniors have become targets for the unscrupulous. But I REALLY DO just want to help." If he still says no, then just accept it.

Answer 7

its true for some older people not all, my mother is 76 now and she has 14 children, when we were younger we must have been a nightmare to live beside. we kicked footballs into peoples gardens, were very noisey, both inside and outside the house, but if anyone complained my mother would just smile and say kids will be kids, now we have all grown and moved away and omg the new young couple that live next door are sick of her, she keeps the kids footballs if they kick it into her garden, complains constantly about the noise they make, tells me they are rude to her, i know they are not, and just goes on and on. when i remind her about us as kids she really believes we were angels, so it must be something to do with selective memory ,

Answer 8

I held a door open for a group of people yesterday, 2 teenagers went through chattering to each other stopped and thanked me, 2 little old ladies when through, not a word. Loudly I told them manners cost nothing!

Answer 9

I don't know of any elderly people that are rude, all that i've met have been really nice. Maybe he doesn't want to accept the fact that he's elderly and wants to do things on his own, but don't judge them all on just one person you met that has been an a-hole

Answer 10

i'm glad its not just me that has noticed. I always look behind me before i let go of a door when around the shops, as i wouldn't want to let the door go in someones face. But i have noticed how old people mostly let go of the doors without looking and walk out, leaving the door to shut in my face. No manners at all or thought for other people.