Are senior citizens ageist?

Question

Roxy to clarify a bit do you think older people discriminate against the younger in any way?

Answer 1

Some might be We are all different. Age doesn't worry me(I am 76) in my relations with people . I would just as easily chat with a young person as an older person... You have to talk to young people to understand their ;aspirations and how they would like their lives to be... Much as you hear about youth problems etc. there are many sensible, intelligent youngsters who respect older people and society in general .I find that if I show them respect they will respect me in return.

Answer 2

Ageist,that's an interesting term. Is that a word that you created, or just one I've never heard? Anyway, I personally feel that after an adult has their own children raised, that we become less critical about other peoples ages. We have learned many lessons throughout our lives, and we realize that criticizing gets a person nowhere. I realized that age should not be a determining factor on the makeup of a person. I know how tough it is to be young.
Believe me, if I had to go back to high school now, I could not do the school work that young people are doing today. I could go on and on....but to answer your question.
No. I don't believe we are ageist. I love the times that I have with my oldest grand daughter (she is 14) , we have the most wonderful friendship.
Young people are a gift to society.

Answer 3

I'm 52 and love people of all ages but we all have faults. Like last week I took the grand kids swimming when a rather large woman was trying to manoeuvre the steps to get out of the pool. She and the steps went under water. I lunged for her to help and glanced at the young female lifeguard who was laughing at the whole thing. The poor woman was so embarrassed.
I hate it when teenagers are crossing the street and see me coming and they slow down and glare at me.Like 'what are YOU going to do about it?' I don't know these kids.
I hate loud foul language used in public places.
I don't like being at a mall or grocery store and see 2 or 3 women walking side by side with no regards to who needs to get around them.
I try to be tolerant but if not accepting rude and cruel behaviour makes me an ageist then I guess I am.

Answer 4

I have a degree in Gerontology and Worked in the field for 15 years and I can tell you that most of the Senior Citizens I knew enjoyed young people, especially kids!

A large number of people who are in their 20's - 30's are "Ageist" because they don't want to think that they themselves will get old. This line of thought usually leads to a Mid- Life Crisis when these Ageist reach their 40's and they realize that they are getting old and there is nothing they can do to stop it. So they go out an buy sports cars, get plastic surgery and many other futile attempts to recapture their youth.

Answer 5

people who are ageist discriminate against people who are not the same age group as them. Older can discriminate against younger!
I'm sure some senior citizens are ageist but I think that nowadays many of them have a fear of young people fuelled by the media.

Answer 6

Yes, we can be but remember that the young and the old can be afflicted with the same traits. Bigotry, ignorance, arrogance, elitism, rudeness and lack of empathy know no age limitation.
Not 45 minutes ago a great nephew, talking about his experience this morning shooting an M1 and a Turkish Mauser, asked me about the weapons I carried in "my" war," What one was that Korea, Vietnem"? Mildly amused at his not being able to figure it out, my initial reaction was to give him a history lesson but a quick second thought just had me chuckle and say Vietnam.
Whether I'm 60 or 80, to him I'm just old. What seems like just yesterday to me is ancient history to him. What is important or relevant to each of us is not to the other. Even the most benign statement can be misconstrued as arrogant and patronizing. Not too long ago I asked what "bling" meant and got a look of disbelief.
"Hey, I'm old. What can I tell ya" usually works for me.

Answer 7

You can't lump us together in one group. Each of us are individuals, and have our individual reactions.

Are senior citizens as a whole ageist? NO!

Are SOME senior citizens ageist in their beliefs? YES.

Are young people as a whole ageist? NO

Are SOME young people ageist in their beliefs? YES.

You can't make blanket statements about a group when individual dynamics come in to play.

Answer 8

No... we've just been there first... and made all the mistakes we can sometimes see you making... so our moans are likely coming out that way when in fact we are trying to warn your generation about the pitfalls... only for it to fall on deaf ears... because... just like you... we had a young life once... we did sex and all the stuff you do... and some of us still do!

We do get a little annoyed when the young think they have all the answers... because we already know that we got to be old... by thinking that same way... we just want to save you lots of needless pain!

Just like young executives at the top of their professions... whose agendas for the newbies in their midst... is to train them well... maybe... just maybe... we figure sometimes we can share that hard earned knowledge with the young and save you all a lot of grief... and... if a knowing look unnerves the young... it isn't meant to threaten them at all... and fear of our intentions (thinking that we judge you) merely shows how very young and insecure you really are.

I'm 62... an oldie here... yet... I love every age... it would be an odd and unfriendly world without us all across the age groups in it... wouldn't it?

I'd say a question like this means you feel insecure around us oldies... so sorry to hear that... may I suggest that next time you feel 'judged' by an oldie... you 'up front' the situation and merely ASK them if you have offfended them... and they'll likely surprise you and be amazed themselves and say something like... "I was just wishing I'd been brave enough to wear that little number when I was your age... and grimacing just thinking how my dad would have chained me up if I had!"

That disapproving look you think you see as we pass by... is very likely a memory of something they can't share... but would love to!

And for the record... though I always smile at others... some old people don't smile a lot because they are in pain on a daily basis for most of their lives... trust me... arthritis hurts every single day... I should know... I suffer from it... so... if the pain is once day far too bad... and I can't smile your way either... please... don't think I'm glaring at you disapprovingly... I'm not!

;-)

Answer 9

In what aspect are you asking? please be a bit more clear.

Thanks Trish, I guess it really depends on the situation, But I find a lot of youngsters think they know it all, they're always right, and older people are a pain in the ***. That attitude annoys me a lot. So I'll let you judge if you think I'm ageist.

Answer 10

I don't regard myself as ageist whatever that means . I am very fond of children in the nicest possible way and with my wife will be visiting my old neighbours next week just to see the children and catch up on their progress.They adopted us as their Nan and Grandad when we lived next door as they didn't have any of their own.We moved away three years ago and still miss them like mad.