NationStates Jolt Archive

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

If you don't respect them, then they'll be stressed and tough and which means they'll taste terrible.

If you don't respect them, then they'll be stressed and tough and which means they'll taste terrible.
See, that’s why I prefer babies. Nice and tender.

Perhaps we should respect them because 85% of them have more wisdom, knowledge and experience than us? Of course there's always the idiot, but in general, they're smarter. At least around here and all the places I've been.

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

I can see where someone could get your view, but I think there is more to it than just "living to be 65"... People who are now in their 80s and early 90s fought in World War 2, without those generations taking a stand for some things we would have no world today.. Just think, African Americans looked up to Rosa Parks, who died not too long ago. She was a groundbreaker in civil rights, and was elderly at the time of her untimely death. Without her, civil rights may not have moved as quickly as it did. There is alot of wisdom you can draw from old people, and they have alot of "life lessons'' through experience, like anyone that was alive during the great depression... None of us younger generations has seen anything like that time period.

I agree. I also don't get the concept of "ageism". To me there's a fundamental difference between discriminating against someone because they're old and something like sexism or racism. The difference is that old people already had their chance when they where young. Old people aren't born old. They knew it was coming. They shoulda known how useless and stupid they'd be.

*smacks Udelia with his cane*

Seriously you're wrong. Some of the most radical liberals are those of us that cut our teeth during the seventies.

Problem is that we're offset by a whole batch of yuppie conservatives that came up behind us in the eighties.

I can see where someone could get your view, but I think there is more to it than just "living to be 65"... People who are now in their 80s and early 90s fought in World War 2, without those generations taking a stand for some things we would have no world today.
Eh? I assure you, I'd be just fine, as would most Americans.
Just think, African Americans looked up to Rosa Parks, who died not too long ago. She was a groundbreaker in civil rights, and was elderly at the time of her untimely death. Without her, civil rights may not have moved as quickly as it did.
The actions of a few are not the actions of a whole.
None of us younger generations has seen anything like that time period.
Bullshit. We are staving of fasism in our own country as we speak.

If you want young brats to respect you when you are old and bent you need to start the precedent now.

I think its more of a guilt thing. They seem to be all alone in life, friends dieing, lonly days sitting bored as hell.

So for me, its more guilt than respect. Make sense?

I think its more of a guilt thing. They seem to be all alone in life, friends dieing, lonly days sitting bored as hell.

So for me, its more guilt than respect. Make sense?
You can’t truly respect someone you feel sorry for.

There is alot of wisdom you can draw from old people, and they have alot of "life lessons'' through experience...

I want to introduce you to a marvelous invention. It allows us to gain wisdom without having to do it ourselves or be told about it by old people. it's called the written word.

Did you respond to my post?

Wisdom deserves respect. Intelligence deserves respect. Age does not.

Perhaps we should respect them because 85% of them have more wisdom, knowledge and experience than us? Of course there's always the idiot, but in general, they're smarter. At least around here and all the places I've been.
I have never seen any evidence of the elderly being more “wise” than anyone else. As someone else said, just read a book.

Um... seriously, I've read more books than all the elderly people I know and they're STILL smarter than I am. (I read encyclopedias, BTW).

You can’t truly respect someone you feel sorry for.
Can act it tho! :P

Since they have experienced life for longer then we have they will have more knowledge then any of us young people. For the most part that means they will have advice that we should listen to. Those that still have their wits about them that is. ;)

Bullshit. We are staving of fasism in our own country as we speak.

Fasism huh??? Have to love that firm grasp on the english language... Go ahead and explain to all of us how this "Fasism" exists in the US....

also, how old are you, if I may ask?? (just curious)

Then most elderly have their wits about them.

Um... seriously, I've read more books than all the elderly people I know and they're STILL smarter than I am. (I read encyclopedias, BTW).
Most of the elderly people I know are quite daft and short-sighted. More importantly, however, they are past the point at which they can provide anything of value to society in return for society's providing for them. As such, the concept of elderly wisdom and respect is created so that we don't simply throw them all off cliffs and let them rot in the gutters.
(I prefer dictionaries, the pacing is faster and they provide a better view of the general attitudes from the year that they emerged.)

I can't wait to see if Eut. comments. (gets out popcorn sits to watch the action)

When I need to do laundry, I go toss my clothes into my washing machine-it does all the work for me. Unlike some of the elderly who lived in a time where they had to lug their clothes down to the creek, beat it and scrub it until their hands were sore, squeeze them out, lug them back then hang them to dry.

When I need to build a house, I contact a contractor and pay them to do the work for me with their heavy machinery which reduces their pysical labor. Elderly people grew up in a time where they had to use a hammer and nails and build a house piece by piece.

When I had my children, I was admitted to a hospital that monitored both me and my childs vital signs before, during and after the entire process. They also had pain medications and medical procedures available to me,that could minimize the pain, and also decrease the risk of me or my child dying during the birth process. Elderly people lived in a time where they had their children in their beds and a lot of them died during child birth.

They also lived through The Depression, walked to school and worked in the fields. They appreciate things because they worked harder than any of us have ever had to just to get through the day.

However,you should respect every human being -man, woman, child, black, white, old young....that is until they give you a reason not to respect them.

Thats my opinion.

i have to say age does not presuppose respect. respect has to be earned through actions. much as i love my gran (my only living elderly relative) i would not ask her advice on anything but horticultrue and ornithology. politically she is ridiculously naive: votes green, reads the telegraph; romantically she has been taken advantage of: married someone who took her savings and her property; in terms of family she is also being taken advantage of: my cousin has been living with her rent free and not paying for food for 6 months already while he has a well paid finance job in london. any other elderly person i have met has been so set in their ways that they are incapable of accepting alternative points of view (which to me denies wisdom). and its not as if they all have the same point of view - if they did one might think it was wisdom but as it is its just that the opinions of their youth have been reinforced by repeated subjective interpretation of their life experiences - not accumulated knowledge objectively analysed to come up with answers to all the great problems facing humankind.

When I need to do laundry, I go toss my clothes into my washing machine-it does all the work for me. Unlike some of the elderly who lived in a time where they had to lug their clothes down to the creek, beat it and scrub it until their hands were sore, squeeze them out, lug them back then hang them to dry.

When I need to build a house, I contact a contractor and pay them to do the work for me with their heavy machinery which reduces their pysical labor. Elderly people grew up in a time where they had to use a hammer and nails and build a house piece by piece.

When I had my children, I was admitted to a hospital that monitored both me and my childs vital signs before, during and after the entire process. They also had pain medications and medical procedures available to me,that could minimize the pain, and also decrease the risk of me or my child dying during the birth process. Elderly people lived in a time where they had their children in their beds and a lot of them died during child birth.

They also lived through The Depression, walked to school and worked in the fields. They appreciate things because they worked harder than any of us have ever had to just to get through the day.

However,you should respect every human being -man, woman, child, black, white, old young....that is until they give you a reason not to respect them.

Thats my opinion.


well spoken Peech...

...you should respect every human being -man, woman, child, black, white, old young....that is until they give you a reason not to respect them.

Thats my opinion.

I agree completely. Couldn't have said it better.

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

Lessee, at 65, you would have to have been born in, oh, 1941. That generation pretty much lived and ran the country through the Cold War. The simple fact that we had the power to turn the world into a floating green ball of radioactivity and did not use it tells me that they did something right.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

Ah, here is your main gripe, it seems. Of course they attempt to hold onto old values. They grew up with those values and lived by them. Of course they'll try to enforce it, it's what they believe. Times change, though, and as much as they will try to hold onto their morals, those will likely change and give way to the younger generation's morality.

Besides, why shouldn't we respect people that try to get their voice heard? This is a country based on free speech and the freedom to pick your representative. Just because the elderly tend to vote for politicians you don't agree with is no reason to stop respecting them.

Finally, remember that, barring an early death or unfortunate accident, you will too be "elderly". Don't be so quick to disrespect what you will one day become.

I don't respect a goddamn person for anything unless they've earmed it.

One word.

Disinheritance.

One word.

Disinheritance.
That's probably the most convincing reason I've heard in this thread yet :p

When I need to do laundry, I go toss my clothes into my washing machine-it does all the work for me. Unlike some of the elderly who lived in a time where they had to lug their clothes down to the creek, beat it and scrub it until their hands were sore, squeeze them out, lug them back then hang them to dry.

When I need to build a house, I contact a contractor and pay them to do the work for me with their heavy machinery which reduces their pysical labor. Elderly people grew up in a time where they had to use a hammer and nails and build a house piece by piece.

When I had my children, I was admitted to a hospital that monitored both me and my childs vital signs before, during and after the entire process. They also had pain medications and medical procedures available to me,that could minimize the pain, and also decrease the risk of me or my child dying during the birth process. Elderly people lived in a time where they had their children in their beds and a lot of them died during child birth.

They also lived through The Depression, walked to school and worked in the fields. They appreciate things because they worked harder than any of us have ever had to just to get through the day.

However,you should respect every human being -man, woman, child, black, white, old young....that is until they give you a reason not to respect them.

Thats my opinion.

Very well put. I'm guessing most of the posters opposed to the eldery are under 25. Your opinion quicly changes as you see your parents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and others close to you become eldery and you realize that you're next. It's human nature.

And Undelia, if (as you say) you truly believe the world is going to revert to the way things were hundreds of years ago in the next few years due to peak oil, I suggest you listen to, learn from, and pay great respect to the eldery. They know how to survive in a much harder world without electricity, convience foods, modern medicine, and indoor plumbing. You don't. If you want to survive, it's time to suck up to the old folk.

And for those who don't believe the world is ending, it's just good form to show everyone basic respect. No one will respect you otherwise.

I noticed the original poster hasn't commented in quite a while... interesting.

I noticed the original poster hasn't commented in quite a while... interesting.
I hit him with my cane, he's still unconcious.:p

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

I am predicting this guy is 17, and that his grandparents made him mad today.

I observe the fact that the average age of the current United States Congress is 56 years (House 55, Senate 60) (http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS22007.pdf) and the idea that wisdom comes with age goes flying out the window. But then, my skepticism regarding the intellectual capacity of the average homo sapiens sapiens does not discriminate on the basis of age or any other demographic factor. The surface of this planet is infested with idiots undeserving of respect of all ages.

As such, I try to avoid gross generalizations about "respect" or "wisdom" and instead make judgements on an individual basis.

But then, my skepticism regarding the intellectual capacity of the average homo sapiens sapiens does not discriminate on the basis of age or any other demographic factor. The surface of this planet is infested with idiots undeserving of respect of all ages.

this is why I have introduced a second subspecies to Homo sapiens... enter Homo sapiens insapiens.

this is why I have introduced a second subspecies to Homo sapiens... enter Homo sapiens insapiens.

Not to be confused with dummers, who are Homo sapiens sabians.

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.
You don't respect them for being old. You respect those of them who are wise from experience, or those who made sacrifices that enable us to live a better life today, such as WWII veterans.

You don't respect them for being old. You respect those of them who are wise from experience, or those who made sacrifices that enable us to live a better life today, such as WWII veterans.

Yes, you know, that's right. Then again, every last senior citizen I've ever met qualifies as what you said.

Eh? I assure you, I'd be just fine, as would most Americans.
Not really. If the Japanese, Nazis or USSR didn't end up taking over, you would be forced to trade in a world economy at best dominated by them, or at worst destroyed by them. America's economic powerhouse would not have materialised.

Bullshit. We are staving of fasism in our own country as we speak.
I give you exhibit A. It's thanks to the elderly that you never have to know what real fascism is. To think you used to support the current "fascist" (take that with a truckload of salt) US Government.

Because when you disrespect them, they get all fidgity, break a hip and then their younger children have to waste time taking them to the hospital.

Seriously though, because they are elderly. It's just respectful, to be respectful. :p

Old people make the best pies. If that alone isn't enough reason to respect them, I don't know what is. :D

I'm guessing most of the posters opposed to the eldery are under 25. Your opinion quicly changes as you see your parents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and others close to you become eldery and you realize that you're next. It's human nature.
I'm 20 years old, and I am pretty annoyed with old people. Their time is over, they are the ones who got us into this mess (Consumer generation, hey? Throw-Away Society, hey? Baby Boomers, hey?), and not only that - they will be the ones who then want to get paid by us younger, working people.

Not to forget that no one over 55 should be allowed to drive on public streets.

As for the "wisdom", I know that my parents, and their parents have seen more than I have. And I can tell you honestly that they are still shallow people. Seriously, my mother watches Australian Idol!!! That's not wisdom, that's senility.
I can respect people of any age for some achievement of theirs - but simply living through the best time humanity's had and destroying the planet while they're at it doesn't count.

I am predicting this guy is 17, and that his grandparents made him mad today.
I say 15, and the whole world hates him, doesn't it? He's just too intelligent for this world, no one understands, no one has feelings like he does, me me me teenage rant etc.

Because if you don't they won't give you chocolates or pull quarters out from behind your ears when they visit...


(How many times has this joke been made?)

"Human beings are kind of interesting from birth until they reach the age of a year and a half. Then they are boring until they reach fifty. By that time they're either completely defeated and fucked up, which makes them interesting again, or they've learned how to beat the game, and that makes them interesting too. "-George Carlin

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

One day you'll be old and well your kids will leave you in a nursing home to die slowly with that kind of attitude (if they copy you).

Why respect the elderly?
Because they've already been better at this game than you'll ever be.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

If they can get with the freakin times, then maybe.

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.
In current "modernized" nations, it really isn't so much of an accomplishment to reach old age. However, you should remember that in many times and many places reaching old age is a pretty damn amazing trick. For that alone, some people deserve a bit of a hat-tip.

However, in modernized nations, it is less amazing. I know that I don't automatically respect a person any more (or less) simply because they are old. I respect expertise, talent, wisdom, and experience, and older people TEND to have these things more often than younger people, but there are also plenty of people who simply got old without getting any wiser. I tend to respect those individuals even LESS than younger people, because at least the young have the excuse of not having had as much time to grow up.

More often then not, there's a lot to learn from an older person. You should respect them the same way you would respect a learned person, such as a professor, or such.

I mean, when someone is nice enough to grant you access to 50+ years of life experience, you should listen. Part of being an intelligent person is understanding that you don't know all there is to know, and that knowledge tends to come with years of thought of and inflection.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

Do you not think that at one point in their lives many older people thought and believed in the same things you do? Many of the ideas you hold dear are probably decades or even centuries old in concept. They have, as a group, far more knowledge and first hand experience than many of us. Older people vote more than younger people. They understand the choices we make affect the future. That alone makes them more competent than younger people.

By discounting the wisdom of those before us, you must be suggesting that we embrace idiocy.

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.
Every human being deserves a modicum of respect just for being human. This applies to "old people" as well. Anything beyond the minimum, however, should be earned. Some "old people" ( I might even say "most" ) should be entitled to a higher degree of respect because of what they have been through and what they have done, even if it's having successfully raised a family and worked faithfully at a decent job.

Seriously, what’s the big deal about old people?
I mean god, “congratulations, you managed to live sixty-five years in the modern world.”
Big deal.

The elderly do not deserve our respect. They hold us back by electing politicians who enforce morality that should have died out centuries ago.

The only elderly people I can't stand are politicans, liberal and conservative. But that's just because I hate politicians overall, can't trust em'.

However, the elderly have much to share with us. Everytime you chat with a WWII veteran, you are opening a door into history. These people have experience in life, they are wise. They know what is a smart thing to do. I would trust my grandfather on anything. He was a machine gunner in the Marshall Islands, god bless him, and he and his other 4 brothers in the war all survived. One of his brothers was bombed the Germans on D-Day from above. Its amazing what you can learn from them if you just listen.

More often then not, there's a lot to learn from an older person. You should respect them the same way you would respect a learned person, such as a professor, or such.

I mean, when someone is nice enough to grant you access to 50+ years of life experience, you should listen. Part of being an intelligent person is understanding that you don't know all there is to know, and that knowledge tends to come with years of thought of and inflection.



Do you not think that at one point in their lives many older people thought and believed in the same things you do? Many of the ideas you hold dear are probably decades or even centuries old in concept. They have, as a group, far more knowledge and first hand experience than many of us. Older people vote more than younger people. They understand the choices we make affect the future. That alone makes them more competent than younger people.

By discounting the wisdom of those before us, you must be suggesting that we embrace idiocy.

Indeed, democracy and the republic was technically founded 2000 years ago or so.

More often then not, there's a lot to learn from an older person. You should respect them the same way you would respect a learned person, such as a professor, or such.
Every human over the age of 40 is a walking book, and all of the stories are diffierent. You just have the patience to "read" them by drawing them out.

Hey, Eutrusca, please share any stories you have with me on the veterans thread I made. Sorry to butt into this thread, but I wanted to get you on my thread.

Since they have experienced life for longer then we have they will have more knowledge then any of us young people. For the most part that means they will have advice that we should listen to. Those that still have their wits about them that is. ;)
Old people cant work computers... at least, not my grandma sandy... but we should respect the old people who can adjust quickly to the new technology. My grandpa Gene knows more about a computer than I do.I-I guess I just dont know very much.

Every human being deserves a modicum of respect just for being human. This applies to "old people" as well. Anything beyond the minimum, however, should be earned. Some "old people" ( I might even say "most" ) should be entitled to a higher degree of respect because of what they have been through and what they have done, even if it's having successfully raised a family and worked faithfully at a decent job.
exactly.


Then again when I think of elderly people I am thinking of people over 70. 50 hardly qualifies as old, 60 is getting there. I don't see how someone couldn't have respect for someone who sacrificed so much just so that we can run around and bad mouth whoever we want.

why respect old people? Because they went through alot. They had the very real threat of a Hitler-run Nazi America. If he didn't make the mistake of bombing London instead of the RAF, then that would likely be our reality. They had fears of a nuclear holocaust during the Cold War. they lived through McCarthyism. They survived the oil embargo. What do we young people have? Terrorism. Big wooptydoo. We now have one single thing to worry about. You can learn more by listening to a person who lived it than by reading the same stuff in a book.

As for us paying them, why not? They already put money into the system. They payed the price. They learned to be self-sufficient, even though, for many, it's impossible now. We have lasers and computers. Their computer? A weak monstrosity called ENIAC, which was as strong as a small calculator. We have it easy. Our computers have all but replaced the pencil and paper method of yesteryear. We have tiny portable phones. We have gps. If our oil supply suddenly ran out, we'd be doomed by our own incompetence. How many of us can plan ahead without the weather channel? How many of us can entertain ourselves without tv's, computers, or video games? I've seen people who'd rather drive a mile than walk it. Me? I walk that half mile to the convenience store. I'd go the whole mile and half to the grocery store if I had enough time to spare.

You learn more with sweaty arms than tired fingers. Doing teaches you more than just the basics.