Posts and comments on a blog hosted by Ronni Bennett (www.timegoesby.net) frequently bemoan
thoughtless or derogatory attitudes and labels related to people in my age
group. Ms. Bennett goes to war with those who would call us geezers, old folks,
or seniors, or ignore us altogether. I agree that “elders” is a nicer term, and
we do not deserve to be depicted as useless fools by those less experienced in
the ways of the world.
Obviously, I don’t mind being called a “geezer.” And I think
“fully mature adult” might be even more positive than “elder,” although that whimsical
label suffers from a lack of brevity. Despite those minor differences, I agree
with Ms. Bennett that we older people don’t get all the respect in the public
arena that we deserve.
One of those annoying pop-ups perhaps is (or is not) an
example. An unwanted e-ad lately has been interrupting my screen-viewing
pleasure by saying people can make connections with single members of the
opposite sex in the small town nearest my home. They can choose from four age categories:
20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50+.
“Fifty+” covers a lot of territory. Is there an insinuation
that we elders all morph into the same social and sexual condition after
50? Is there an assumption that single
elders have little interest in new contacts with available members of the
opposite sex? Or am I an old geezer over-reacting?
4 comments:
Probably they're just defining their desired "demographic," GG.
Similarly, my wife and I often note how ads, sales, television shows, and lord knows what else, are all pitched to (and designed for) less mature age groups. The conventional wisdom is they want the younger folks who "have money to spend" but in fact, geezers tend to have more disposable income.
I think it's more that they want to pitch to the trendy ... if a young good-looking 20-something is using an iPad, that's positive publicity; if I'm shown using it, who cares? But "that's life."
I don't have time or energy anymore to worry about what other people think. Younger folks at work never saw me as "one of them" and thought I was the same age as their parents. So what.
I like being a senior. When I was 15 I could hardly wait to be a senior.
As for dating services, I don't understand. Even if I was single i would not do it. Too many crazy people like my EX out there. He prefers to hit on young girls, however (according to my daughter) and his new younger (stupid?) wife "took his computer away from him."
Dianne
I'm just happy being an 'old git'. :-)
I agree. That said, I've noticed that 'fully mature adults' are pretty rare. :)
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