Guide for the Perplexed on Ageist Language

[BurtWorm]

Personally, I'm glad to see the ridiculous phrase "80 years young" coming under fire. :applause:

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/goodbye-spry-codgers-so-long-feisty-crones/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Goodbye, Spry Codgers. So Long, Feisty Crones
By Jane Gross

Comparable to racism and sexism, “ageism” refers to stereotyping and prejudice directed at individuals and groups because of their age. The term is believed to have been coined in 1969 by gerontologist Dr. Robert N. Butler, the founder of the International Longevity Center in New York City, which as recently as two years ago published a comprehensive report on the problem.

Now the center, along with Aging Services of California, has put together a stylebook to guide media professionals through the minefield of politically correct and politically incorrect ways of identifying and portraying the elderly.

...In the glossary of the new stylebook, “Media Takes: On Aging,’’ the authors state their case against “elderly” as follows.

Use this word carefully and sparingly. The term is appropriate only in generic phrases that do not refer to specific individuals, such as concern for the elderly, a home for the elderly, etc. In other words, describing a person as elderly is bad form, although the generalized category “elderly” might not be offensive. (Suggested substitutions include “older adult” or simply “man’’ or “woman” with the age inserted, if relevant.)

Also to be avoided are “senior citizen” (we don’t refer to people under age 50 as “junior citizens,” the guide notes) and “golden years” (euphemisms are probably not the best way to go, we learn). “Feisty,” “spry,” “feeble,” “eccentric,” “senile” and “grandmotherly” are also unwelcome terms, patronizing and demeaning, as is calling someone “80 years young.”

...

The guide’s other “obviously ageist words and phrases to avoid” seem far less ambiguous. Among them are “biddy,” “codger,” “coot,” “crone,” “fogy,” “fossil,” “geezer,” “hag,” “old fart,” “old goat,” “prune,” “senile old fool” and “vegetable.” None of these — whew! — have appeared in The New Old Age. (Until now.)

[MineralMan]

1. As an old coot myself,

I think I can speak for many of the codgers out there. We old farts are quite tired of the youngsters trying to figure out what the fogies want to be called. I know that this old goat doesn't give a rusty pile of crap. Call me whatever you want. Since I'm a senile old fool, I'll forget about it five minutes later. Of course, as a man, I can't say what the old crones, hags, and biddies out there want to be called, but crusty old geezers like me aren't paying much attention to them anyhow. There are so many decorative young things to look at that we don't care any more.

[BurtWorm]

2. You feisty old bastid!

:toast:

[MineralMan]

3. Watch it, or I'll strike you with my

cane, dadblast it!

[aquart]

18. I'm going to remind you of one small thing:

God or nature's only gift to the aging: rotten near vision.

With someone of your own age, she can no more see your decay in intimate moments than you can see hers. But take home a sweet young thing...and you get to miss the perfection of her best bits...but she can see every single wrinkle and sag on you.

Have a nice day.

[MineralMan]

21. I have no doubt you are correct, but it's amazing

how well green folding paper smooths out the wrinkles, eh? Heh-heh-heh.

[aquart]

22. No, dear. That's only what they tell you.

[MineralMan]

4. And for another thing...

GET OFF MY DAMN LAWN!

[cosmik debris]

6. If it's too old, you're too loud!

Or something like that.

[MineralMan]

8. You'll have to speak up a little, young fella!

You needn't mumble when you talk to me.

[cosmik debris]

12. I'm a "mature gentleman"

But I prefer "crusty old geezer"

And I never figured out why they call it the golden years when all my hair turned silver.

[MineralMan]

13. Yeah...that never made any sense. Besides...

I'm right out of gold these days.

[Kaleva]

5. Thankfully, "Smelly Old Fuck" is not on the list.

[asjr]

7. As a senile old biddy I take exception

to the word "hag." A "hag" doesn't necessarily pertain to an older woman. When I hear "hag" it brings up a picture of the old witch in Snow White. I do not look like a hag and refrain from calling my fellow senile old biddies that word.

[MineralMan]

9. Oh, go forward some useless email to your

grandchildren, why don't you...:evilgrin:

[BurtWorm]

10. Do you object to the phrase Grande Dame?

[MineralMan]

11. I think she'd prefer

mince Madame instead. (just checking your French, there)

[asjr]

14. No, I rather like that. I am a great dame.

[MineralMan]

16. Moms Mabley was on the Johnny Carson show many years ago.

She sat down there in a somewhat unladylike way, with her knees considerably too far apart. The audience noticed and laughed. Moms said, "It may be old, but it's clean."

One of the funniest things I've ever heard in my life. I peed my pants, if I remember correctly.

[The2ndWheel]

15. Only when everyone is able to do everything they want

with no interaction with other people, will there be a moment's peace. Until then, we're gonna need a bigger guidebook.

[TygrBright]

17. Huh. I resemble those terms.

Speaking as a feisty biddy, or maybe a spry crone, and DEFINITELY an eccentric old fart, I can authoritatively say:

It's like the "n" word. It's okay if WE say it. But we better'n hell not catch it crossin' you young whippersnappers' keyboards!

senilely,
Bright

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. My God How Dumb. Can't Say Someone's Elderly? What A Hoot!

:rofl:

[MineralMan]

20. I prefer "old" to elderly.

But then, I prefer "wizened" to "wise", too.

[ContinentalOp]

23. I just prefer to call them...

Soylent Green.