Yes! The internet needs more old people posting to it! No society is complete without people of all ages - people of all wisdoms you might say - sharing their knowledge and opinions. Our blogs are noticeably lacking the voice of the elderly, undoubtedly b/c the elderly use the tech less for sure, but it's unfortunate for us. Maybe in 50 years the internet will be a much more temperate place ;)
The Insults of Age
41–50 of 51 posts
Re: The Insults of Age
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
> although I'm still glad that I married young because I'd imagine that the dating pool shrinks considerably. it actually doesn't, in fact it grows continuously, but you'll just be shamed by older women and married men for dating younger women.
Shame on them for being so concerned about with what consenting adults do. Select every argument about why it is none of their business to outlaw/shame homosexuality, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-P.
as soon as you start talking about what people are actually attracted to (not what they say they are), the shit starts to fly. my comment has swung up/down in votes throughout the day.
Re: The Insults of Age
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I wish more elderly people would decouple their loss of youth from their self regard. I think Garner's point is that we live in a society in which other people's regard for your worth is a function of your age.
The society where "elders" were regarded as wells of wisdom probably never existed. In every society but our own, women after 40 were considered very old. Helen Garner, born Nov. 1942, is 73 years old. She appears to be really full of herself, which is maybe how old people are. She should be happy to be alive instead of complaining about young people being young.
Your first paragraph assumes its conclusion. The rest is just mean. Please do not post uncivil and unsubstantive comments to Hacker News.
Re: The Insults of Age
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Age is a weird prejudice because it depends so much on environment. In most companies, you're viewed negatively before age 30: you're expected to work the worst hours because the assumption is that you have nothing "better" to do and would just be out drinking. In Silicon Valley, you're viewed negatively after 30. Some doors close and others open. I do find, strangely, that I'm way more attractive to women now that I…
>I'm still glad that I married young because I'd imagine that the dating pool shrinks considerably. Why would it? If anything the number of single adults keeps growing each year.
But the number of single adults interested in people my age does not.
Re: The Insults of Age
#45"In two strides I was behind the schoolgirl. I reached up, seized her ponytail at the roots and gave it a sharp downward yank. Her head snapped back. In a voice I didn’t recognise I snarled, “Give it a rest, darling.” She twisted to look behind her. Her eyes were bulging, her mouth agape. I let go and she bolted away to her friends. The three of them set off at a run. Their white ribbons went bobbing through the crowd all the way along the City Square and up the steps of the Melbourne Town Hall, where a famous private school was holding its speech night. The whole thing happened so fast that when I fell into step beside my friend she hadn’t even noticed I was gone."
The city is Melbourne, the author Helen Garner [0] and the casual racism is pretty accurate. Yet the response should not be condoned. If you switch a 70 year old woman, to a 70 year old man, the man would be detailed and assault charges laid.
As ugly as the racism is, using this kind of force shows a level of entitlement you often see with people who have had authority. [1]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Garner
[1] Garner was a High School teacher till '72.
Re: The Insults of Age
#46Older people used to be considered wiser and respected. The baby-boomer generation basically invented ageism when they were young in the 70's, it's ironic to see it bite them back now.
> The baby-boomer generation basically invented ageism when they were young in the 70's I am Not an American. Can you point me to any more info on this.
Much of it had to do with adaptation of advertising to television in the 1960s. That's where "the youth culture" started.
"The Hidden Persuaders" - Vance Packard ISBN-13: 978-0978843106 is a good start. He's a bit crazy but it's a good read.
Re: The Insults of Age
#47Older people used to be considered wiser and respected. The baby-boomer generation basically invented ageism when they were young in the 70's, it's ironic to see it bite them back now.
It is about how you get old. Keep in shape and your brain sharp and you will be fine.
Round is a shape.
Re: The Insults of Age
#48"In two strides I was behind the schoolgirl. I reached up, seized her ponytail at the roots and gave it a sharp downward yank. Her head snapped back. In a voice I didn’t recognise I snarled, “Give it a rest, darling.” She twisted to look behind her. Her eyes were bulging, her mouth agape. I let go and she bolted away to her friends. The three of them set off at a run. Their white ribbons went bobbing through the crow…
"If you switch a 70 year old woman, to a 70 year old man"
Or pretty much anybody other than an elderly white woman (in a "western" country). Anyway, I don't think the physical violence was necessary but I do admire her intervention on behalf of a stranger against an obnoxious (probably racist) act.
Re: The Insults of Age
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
The society where "elders" were regarded as wells of wisdom probably never existed. In every society but our own, women after 40 were considered very old. Helen Garner, born Nov. 1942, is 73 years old. She appears to be really full of herself, which is maybe how old people are. She should be happy to be alive instead of complaining about young people being young.
Your first paragraph assumes its conclusion. The rest is just mean. Please do not post uncivil and unsubstantive comments to Hacker News.
The article was mean and generally aggressive towards young people (of which, unfortunately, and for the record, I'm not a part of); she brags that she goes around pulling pony tails from young girls and "technically" (sic!) assaulting them, and nobody should respond?
It's unclear what this article is even doing on HN but since it it's there, why counterpoints to it should be frowned upon? Maybe "how old people are" is a bad generalization, but after reading the article would you disagree that she sounds full of herself?
Re: The Insults of Age
#50It's interesting that I've had the complete opposite experience as a white man. The older I get the more respect I get in public, for no apparent reason. The painting example was so apt. No one would dare step between me and a painting. It's a very odd thing, as I don't feel like I deserve any more respect than I did 20 years ago.
Same here. I grew a beard and look quite a bit older with it, seems to get me a lot more respect. Terrorist jokes aside. Said respect tends to disappear once I tell people I'm only 24, so I stopped doing that.
I've also started wearing a beard in the last 3 years. Maybe the beard is responsible!