I can only say I am disgusted with the Americans who call their pensioners old farts.?

Question

I am a uk citizen and I have nothing but respect for the (old farts) as you call them.
These brave men and woman came to the UK, and flew planes over Germany during the last war. They helped us to win the war against Nazi Germany, and gave their lives in doing so. Old Farts, indeed you should hand your heads in shame.

Answer 1

Oh my God...I love you...like
really! That was my mother who came and fought the war, but I know some old guys who were in Germany and the Phillipines.
I must tell you this story. She recently died, but a woman I knew was working in the islands when the Japanese attacked. All the women were put in concentration camps for 4 years under cruel conditions. Her husband was up on a remote hill and
broadcasting to the Allies.
He got a sub out but she had
to wait till he went back to join
the forces on their way. He
actually personally freed those women in that concentration
camp. She lived to be 95 yrs.old. There was a movie about it awhile back.

Answer 2

First of all, I've never heard anyone call an elderly person,
by that term, unless it was spoken by another elderly person.
And it was said with affection. I don't think that younger
people think to use that term toward us. And if they do, well
we've earned that affectionate title. And so will the generation
beneath us. I remember when I first called my hubby that in
joking. And he wasn't a senior then. I used it because he was
showing a lack of memory on something and I was teasing
him about that. I hate to say it, but I thought the term originally
came from me. No one had said it before, to my knowlege.
But there may have been another or two who thought they
originated it as well. It's been around for a very long while.
So don't get into an uproar or get your knickers in a wad.
We can call each other seniors by that term, but
if you young whippersnappers call us that, you'd better be
smiling mister! LOL.

Answer 3

Not all Americans are so disrespectful... Most of the time "old fart" is used as an edearing term among family and close friends, and in jest. As several other people have suggested, it's similar to the term "Kiddo".

It would be very rude if we just refered to everyone as an "old fart" in passing or in a serious manner, but that's not normally the case. No need to take offense.

Answer 4

I am a WWII vet. I call myself an old fart. I do not mind others doing it dependent on the context they use it in. If it is used as a put down, then it upsets me. Many folks use it as a term of endearment. That this old fart likes. I think it's just we tend to be a bit more informal than Europeans do.

i do recall the English of my generation saying of us, "The problem with the Yanks is, they are over fed, over dressed, over paid, over sexed, and worst of all, over here." A sentiment I could not entirely disagree with.

Answer 5

I have an elderly neighbor who has a small wooden sign on his front porch that reads "One old fart lives here". I smile every time I see it. When, I was 20, I thought 40 was an old fart. When I was 40, I thought anybody over 60 was an old fart. So, now that I am 56, who am I to determine what is old? Respect them and know that they have probably been there, done that. Your turn is coming!

Answer 6

Firstly, it's never OK to purposely insult or be rude to the elderly, that's just disrespectful and wrong. You're getting awful excited over a simple expression. I really believe when when most ppl call someone an old fart, it is meant in a fun or joking way. for example, I'd never say to an old lady in front of me in the grocery store "move it, ya old fart!" But if my dad is going slow getting his tackle together for our next fishin trip, I might say somethin like "c'mon ya old fart, we're burnin daylight" and he knows it's all in good fun. So maybe you should do a little more research on our American culture and lexicon before you decide to wag your finger, look down your nose at U.S. and act all condescending.

Answer 7

Thank you for thinking of us, perhaps young people don't realize how the kids of America, (us old farts) were affected by ww2. Food and other items were rationed, our relatives were in Europe or the Pacific defending all countries against the Nazis and the Japanese. Home life was tense. The profligate America we see now; the warmongers in Washington are an embarrassment on the world stage. For that, us old farts apologize. A sad legacy for those defenders who suffered and died.

Answer 8

The expression "old fart" isn't just used in America it is also used in the UK....Tc calls me an old fart (amongst other things lol) and I call him one too (amongst other things too). I do not think he is being disrespectful to me and he doesn't think I am being with him. There are a lot of different ways to say the same thing.....eg old fogie, wrinklies, crinkly wrinklies....you will find that most people have terms of endearment for each other that are similar to "old fart". We have respect for people no matter what their age.

Answer 9

That's an affectionate "Old Fart" if you please (and now I are one) -- as is geeser and the like. For my own good I've learned not to take myself too seriously and hope others have as well.

It's a warm feeling for the praise of our Yanks that you express and by no means was any ofense intended -- on the contrary. The men and women from a lot of nations that gave their all for the world is by no means underappreciated, nor forgotten. Nor is that of my brothers and sisters in Viet Nam and Iraq.

My sincere apology for any offense you have been subjected to by me or any of my countrymen.

Answer 10

I don't agree with calling old people old farts but I would not be surprised if some young English also used the term