What makes people consider those 60 years old and over finished and washed up?

1. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 9 years ago

   What makes people consider those 60 years old and over finished and washed up?
   
   Why this hatred of older people in our society?  Don't people realize that age is just a number and that each day regardless of age is a new beginning, never the end?   Someone can write a hub on this!
   
   

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2. 74

   capncrunchposted 9 years ago

   I like this question.  I agree that there is an unfair view of what people consider old or older.  I did write a hub about my great-grandmother but you have me considering doing one on this subject.  It isn't just a discrimination on the elderly; it's the whole fascination about what doesn't fit in this discriminatory society we have found ourselves living in.  Too much hair.  Not enough hair.  Too old.  Not old enough.  Too heavy.  Too thin.  The media definitely helps feed this junk into the willing mouths of this hateful attitude.

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3. 81

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   In the U.S. we tend to fight old age tooth and nail. Even marketers are mostly concerned with getting the attention of those in the 18-49 age range. It makes little sense because seniors have more money!
   "Baby Boomers" have more than any previous generation made it an occupation to stay young minded and active as they age. They're in no rush to retire, play checkers, and wait for "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" to be come on the TV while sitting in their nursing home.
   They're going to work out in gyms, taking Viagra, having various plastic surgeries, and refuse to consider themselves as being "old". Phrases such as "40 is the new 30" and "50 is the new 40" and "Life begins at 60" were all coined by "Baby Boomers" as they reached those milestones.
   With the decline of birthrates and people living longer in the U.S. there will be a point where "Baby Boomers" will actually outnumber all other age groups for a while. It's unlikely "the majority" will hate seniors.
   Even now I don't believe people hate seniors as much as they consider them to be a drain on resources with various medical/health issues, unprepared financially for retirement, and becoming dependent on their adult children. Unlike a lot of other cultures around the world the U.S. doesn't embrace having "grandma and grandpa" living with their adult children and grandchildren. Dating a single adult who lives with their parents is seen as a "red flag" in the U.S.
   However the same could be said the other way around during the era I grew up in. My mother told us that at age 18 we had to be gone. That meant go to college or get a job and move out. Many of the "Baby Boomers" and younger generations never put that pressure on their kids to be self-reliant adults. The nest was never emptied! And yet their children still resent having to help take care of them.

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4. 68

   danicoleposted 9 years ago

   I would say, its not so much hatred but misunderstanding and bad stereotypes for older people. You see America idolizes youth and demoralizes old age. You see those commercials with the old people that fallen and can't get up. They make old people look like pathetic victims that can't take care of themselves and whose only real value comes after death when their family members can cash in the deceased insurance policies. That sounds really evil, but those damn commercials are really disrespectful to older people.
   America is very capitalistic and there is a market for everyone, and older people get the short end of the stick because they don't have much spending power (not as much as younger people). Older adults are retired and don't have much income, so companies market their age as a way to make $ from them.
   Moving on no-one wants to age (even though it is seen as a blessing and a privilege).  The older you get the closer to death you are. People fear the unknown (aka change and death). I guess older people can be seen as reminders of death and just like sad people, people don't want to be around death either.
   Lastly older people are isolated from society. The newer generations are in control and older people are often put aside because oftentimes people view them as useless, non-contributing members of society. Isolated by sickness and the fact that they can't relate to the newer generations. Older adults don't watch the same shows movies, don't listen to the music, don't understand technology as the newer generations. There is a real disconnect and not much in common.
   I would say some older people can be cynical, bitter, and resentful and they think a lot of young people don't know anything. While young people think they are invincible. Most of that is stereotypes BUT knowledge is power. Older people have experience and younger generations have technology, both are  KNOWLEDGE AND POWER!!! Both members are the opposite ends of the age spectrum should appreciate and listen to each others knowledge.
   Anyway aging is special and that people are useful and valuable at whatever age! Hopefully businesses, advertisers/marketers will lay off that old people bashing commercials

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      EXACTLY, old people are often demonized in our youth oriented society.  Being young is akin to being a god/goddess. Youth=beauty, strength, femininity, masculinity, virility, smarts, & other positive characteristics while being old= senility etc.

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