NationStates Jolt Archive

I've noticed lately that there seem to be a lot of threads which illustrate a type of agism. One thread had a wide selection of hair color/eye color combinations, but no option for gray hair. Another thread thought it was hilarious that there were 70-year-old prostitutes. There are other examples.

Sometimes I think that, even in this age of "political correctness," it's ok to make fun of older people. Are older people the new "n****rs?"

Is this a type of sub-rosa agism, or just a sort of cluelessness among younger posters?

I've noticed lately that there seem to be a lot of threads which illustrate a type of agism. One thread had a wide selection of hair color/eye color combinations, but no option for gray hair. Another thread thought it was hilarious that there were 70-year-old prostitutes. There are other examples.

Sometimes I think that, even in this age of "political correctness," it's ok to make fun of older people. Are older people the new "n****rs?"

Is this a type of sub-rosa agism, or just a sort of cluelessness among younger posters?
1) posters on this site or on average young
2)the hair collor thing I can see ... they typicaly want to know the hair collor genetics gave you
NOT age, or store bought die's

(unless they were polling prefferences ... if so I have no idea why they did not)

I've noticed lately that there seem to be a lot of threads which illustrate a type of agism. One thread had a wide selection of hair color/eye color combinations, but no option for gray hair. Another thread thought it was hilarious that there were 70-year-old prostitutes. There are other examples.

Sometimes I think that, even in this age of "political correctness," it's ok to make fun of older people. Are older people the new "n****rs?"

Is this a type of sub-rosa agism, or just a sort of cluelessness among younger posters?
I think it's an assumption based on the fact that many older people do not use computers.

And how is an old whore not funny?

1) posters on this site or on average young
2)the hair collor thing I can see ... they typicaly want to know the hair collor genetics gave you
NOT age, or store bought die's

(unless they were polling prefferences ... if so I have no idea why they did not)
Yes, they were polling preferences. I'm not upset about any of this by any stretch, just honestly curious.

I think it's an assumption based on the fact that many older people do not use computers.

And how is an old whore not funny?
You don't find it sad that someone the age of your grandmother has to resort to sex for pay? :(

And your stats for proving that "many older people do not use computers?" I'd really be interested in seeing those.

They're kids, Eut. Of course they're clueless. Weren't you just as clueless when you were their age?

It's just the current manifestation of an age-old (pardon the pun) situation: kids just don't think very much about people who aren't their own age. It probably never crosses their minds that we "old guys" might possibly be using the Internet, because we're so, well, old.

Someday they'll be old enough to know better. If they're lucky enough to live that long.

:p

NOT age, or store bought die's

Why did you put an apostrophe before the s?

Why did you put an apostrophe before the s?
For the same reason he misspelled "dye", of course. :rolleyes:

For the same reason he misspelled "dye", of course. :rolleyes:

Yes, but misspelling "dye" is not such an unusual error. If one cannot recall the correct spelling, it is only to be expected he will use the most logical option: Die.

I see no reason for the apostrophe though. Asian, maybe?

They're kids, Eut. Of course they're clueless. Weren't you just as clueless when you were their age?

It's just the current manifestation of an age-old (pardon the pun) situation: kids just don't think very much about people who aren't their own age. It probably never crosses their minds that we "old guys" might possibly be using the Internet, because we're so, well, old.

Someday they'll be old enough to know better. If they're lucky enough to live that long.

:p
Heh! Some of us almost didn't! :D

It's so strange to think of myself as "old." I don't feel old. I don't even look old, to myself ( well, other than the gray hair ), and I have real problems trying to understand what significance the fact has to me that the earth has made 62 circuits around its star since I was born. I suppose having been raised by my grandparents gave me a somewhat different perspective on "old" people.

Yes, they were polling preferences.
nope

Why did you put an apostrophe before the s?
I have no idea lol ...

You don't find it sad that someone the age of your grandmother has to resort to sex for pay? :(

And your stats for proving that "many older people do not use computers?" I'd really be interested in seeing those.
a little. It's more funny though.

It's not really stats.... Just personal experience

Yes, but misspelling "dye" is not such an unusual error. If one cannot recall the correct spelling, it is only to be expected he will use the most logical option: Die.

I see no reason for the apostrophe though. Asian, maybe?
some people just don't know how to use the apostrophe, so they just throw it in everywhere. listen people, if you don't know how to use it, just leave it out, and we grammer nazis won't get as upset.

Heh! Some of us almost didn't! :D

It's so strange to think of myself as "old." I don't feel old. I don't even look old, to myself ( well, other than the gray hair ), and I have real problems trying to understand what significance the fact has to me that the earth has made 62 circuits around its star since I was born. I suppose having been raised by my grandparents gave me a somewhat different perspective on "old" people.

Not to say I agree with it, but I guess the general idea is that when you're old you get all sorts of mental illnesses which render you incapable of logical thought. It's probably just another case of high-profile minority members saturating public opinion.

You don't find it sad that someone the age of your grandmother has to resort to sex for pay? :(

And your stats for proving that "many older people do not use computers?" I'd really be interested in seeing those.
I don't know about "many" but certainly a smaller percentage of older people--people in your age group especially--use computers, especially this sort of use, than younger people, simply because of a familiarity with them. My generation was the first to grow up with home computers. I didn't have one, but I had some limited access to one, and now I've had one nonstop for the last 10 years or so. I'd be lost without one. But my parents have never owned one, nor do they plan to get one. They both used them with limited function when they worked, but never for fun. On the other side of the age gap, I've got college students who have never known a time when they didn't have computers in their homes.

some people just don't know how to use the apostrophe, so they just throw it in everywhere. listen people, if you don't know how to use it, just leave it out, and we grammer nazis won't get as upset.

From my experience, anyone who has read one page of gramatically correct English material per month is almost completely incapable of misusing an apostrophe, except on purpose. Maybe I'm not the psychologist I think I am.

You don't find it sad that someone the age of your grandmother has to resort to sex for pay? :(

And your stats for proving that "many older people do not use computers?" I'd really be interested in seeing those.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p23-207.pdf

Got some intresting statistics ... such as over 65 years of age of householder the percentage that own computers drop

As well as access to computer stats

I guess it depends on your deffinition of old
Also that page does not show actual usage ... just ownership vs age usualy
Which makes sense ... while kids may use computers more (suposedly) they would be less likly financialy to owning one as say someone 45 years old (which coincedently may have kids, which if anything like our household, used the computer WAY more then the "owner" of the computer and household)

Intresting we covered this in stats class ... I am going to have to ask my prof for a copy of that survey

I don't know about "many" but certainly a smaller percentage of older people--people in your age group especially--use computers, especially this sort of use, than younger people, simply because of a familiarity with them. My generation was the first to grow up with home computers. I didn't have one, but I had some limited access to one, and now I've had one nonstop for the last 10 years or so. I'd be lost without one. But my parents have never owned one, nor do they plan to get one. They both used them with limited function when they worked, but never for fun. On the other side of the age gap, I've got college students who have never known a time when they didn't have computers in their homes.
I've had my own PC since about 1988, and have been online for almost as long. I know there are many in my age-group who feel uncomfortable with computers, and many more who don't use them very often, but there are also many who feel very much at ease with them.

I try very hard to not be sensitive about derogatory references to my age, but sometimes it just mystifies me.

From my experience, anyone who has read one page of gramatically correct English material per month is almost completely incapable of misusing an apostrophe, except on purpose. Maybe I'm not the psychologist I think I am.
Hijacking this thread only serves to prove my point, not to mention being unacceptable practice. Stop it.

1) posters on this site or on average young
2)the hair collor thing I can see ... they typicaly want to know the hair collor genetics gave you
NOT age, or store bought die's

(unless they were polling prefferences ... if so I have no idea why they did not)Yes, they were polling preferences. I'm not upset about any of this by any stretch, just honestly curious.
This is false.
What Hair color/Eye color do you have?

Pick on the thread.

Please put your natural color ONLY.
Bolding mine.
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=10009967
This sort of dishonesty fouls the whole bit.

Intresting we covered this in stats class ... I am going to have to ask my prof for a copy of that survey
Please do. I think it would be interesting. :)

This is false.

Bolding mine.
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=10009967
This sort of dishonesty fouls the whole bit.
Hey, young phoole! Gray IS my "natural hair color!" :p

You surely don't think I DYED it gray, do you???

Hey, young phoole! Gray IS my "natural hair color!" :p

You surely don't think I DYED it gray, do you???
Doesn't address the post, or the dishonesty now does it? You claimed it was a thread for preference when it clearly wasn't. How does grey being your natural hair color relate?

Please do. I think it would be interesting. :)
It was ... when I started looking for it after your question about stats, I find it amazing that usage statistics are hard to find

Their is that ownership breakdown for computer and internet access ... but no real USAGE statistics

Though even if I do find it I dont remember what year it was from (as we were only using it as an example) ... computers and associated gadgets are so high paced right now a year or two could make a big difference

Doesn't address the post, or the dishonesty now does it? You claimed it was a thread for preference when it clearly wasn't. How does grey being your natural hair color relate?
So you didn't make this statement, or put it in bold: "Please put your natural color ONLY."

It was ... when I started looking for it after your question about stats, I find it amazing that usage statistics are hard to find

Their is that ownership breakdown for computer and internet access ... but no real USAGE statistics

Though even if I do find it I dont remember what year it was from (as we were only using it as an example) ... computers and associated gadgets are so high paced right now a year or two could make a big difference
That's true. I'm not too surprised at the derth of "usage" stats, since I suspect that would be difficult to track, but they would be highly interesting.

So you didn't make this statement, or put it in bold: "Please put your natural color ONLY."
I bolded that part of the original post of the original thread as counterpoint to your claim-
Yes, they were polling preferences.
After Upward Thrust had suggested-
2)the hair collor thing I can see ... they typicaly want to know the hair collor genetics gave you
NOT age, or store bought die's

(unless they were polling prefferences
More bolding to show relevance.
So again, your grey being natural doesn't relate to your misrepresentation of the thread.

I bolded that part of the original post of the original thread as counterpoint to your claim-

After Upward Thrust had suggested-

More bolding to show relevance.
So again, your grey being natural doesn't relate to your misrepresentation of the thread.
Hmm. Well, if I misunderstood what you were asking/driving at, I apologize. However, the fact remains that the thrread made no allowances for age, which was precisely my point.

Hmm. Well, if I misunderstood what you were asking/driving at, I apologize. However, the fact remains that the thrread made no allowances for age, which was precisely my point.
I wasn't asking anything, just pointing out a blatent misrepresentation.

The thread was about you(the poster), not preferences and it's resonable to assume it was for genetic, pre-grey hair. When you consider that it had to combine red hair and all eye colors to fit the ten option limit the omission of grey is understandable.

And your stats for proving that "many older people do not use computers?" I'd really be interested in seeing those.
i think LP meant "based on the perception that older people don't use computers"

in the UK they do (the "silver surfers" account for a huge amount of PC World's (*spits* evil store!!) custom)

no i don't have figures but its often reported in the press


that said, older people tend not to use internet forums quite as much i should think. no data, but based on my own experiences on many net forums like this one... i mean there are those 'what is your age' threads all the time and the consistant trend is 17 to 24 year olds (roughly) come out tops round here


as to whether that's ageist: i'm not sure. leaving out the older people from a poll completely (especially when one of the most liked and respected (not to mention prolific!) posters is an older gent ;) ) could be ageist if not done deliberatley i think. i'll shut up now cos i'm waffling...

One thread had a wide selection of hair color/eye color combinations, but no option for gray hair.
You were born with grey hair?

That's pretty cool.

You were born with grey hair?

That's pretty cool.
Very funny. Ha. Ha.

Hmm. Well, if I misunderstood what you were asking/driving at, I apologize. However, the fact remains that the thrread made no allowances for age, which was precisely my point.
With 10 poll options ... our abilities to cover all possibilities are severly limited

Amazing. Eut starts a thread on agism and by page 2 there are charges of dishonesty and misrepresentation. Do you people ever lighten up and just have fun? Jeez

Anyway, as for the ORIGINAL topic of the thread, I get a hoot out of the threads asking for musical preferences. A vast majority of the people who post name groups and songs that I have never heard of. Even after I look them up and listen to clips I find myself asking "This is music?". I like to post to those threads with the names of R/B, blues, jazz, soul, and rockabilly artists and throw in a bone once in a while. My posts are almost always met with total silence....I can just see a bunch of teenagers sitting in front of the puters, mouth gaping and thinking "Huh?".:p

Amazing. Eut starts a thread on agism and by page 2 there are charges of dishonesty and misrepresentation. Do you people ever lighten up and just have fun? Jeez
( shrug ) I'm use to it. What sacres me is that I think I'm starting to get a kick out of it! :eek:



Anyway, as for the ORIGINAL topic of the thread, I get a hoot out of the threads asking for musical preferences. A vast majority of the people who post name groups and songs that I have never heard of. Even after I look them up and listen to clips I find myself asking "This is music?". I like to post to those threads with the names of R/B, blues, jazz, soul, and rockabilly artists and throw in a bone once in a while. My posts are almost always met with total silence....I can just see a bunch of teenagers sitting in front of the puters, mouth gaping and thinking "Huh?".:p
ROFL! It's called "cultural myopia." :D

( shrug ) I'm use to it. What sacres me is that I think I'm starting to get a kick out of it! :eek: That is scary.

ROFL! It's called "cultural myopia." :D I call it lack of musical perspective...and I do not classify some of what I hear today as "music". Maybe noise with rhythm? Augh...I sound like my mother criticizing the Stones.

I can just see a bunch of teenagers sitting in front of the puters, mouth gaping and thinking "Huh?".:p
Sounds like what you're doing too when you read the names of half the bands :p

Sounds like what you're doing too when you read the names of half the bands :p

Uh, that was the point I was trying to make.

Uh, that was the point I was trying to make.
Well, maybe, but it wasn't the way it came across. No matter :)

I would like to quote from Proverbs in the Bible:

"Grey hair is a crown of splendour, attained by a righteous life."

:D

I would like to quote from Proverbs in the Bible:

"Grey hair is a crown of splendour, attained by a righteous life."

:D

And wrinkles are really laugh lines. Just to put things straight, though, I don't have grey hair like some people on here. I have dark brown hair with a sexy white streak in the front.

Well, maybe, but it wasn't the way it came across. No matter :)

I was trying to say that I do that as a way to get even for confusing me. :cool:

I would like to quote from Proverbs in the Bible:

"Grey hair is a crown of splendour, attained by a righteous life."

:D
Well, there you have it. Nobody here is going to argue with the Bible, right? :p

I can't claim that my gray hairs are the result of a righteous life, but I can claim that I earned every one of them. I'm not the least bit concerned about my hair turning gray. (Actually it's turning pure white, which is kind of cool.)

Want to know something funny? My wife got her first gray hair at the age of 38. And she had the nerve to complain about it. I replied with, "I had more gray hair than that 20 years ago!" :D