Philos
Veteran Member
Folks ,
As an old man I am well placed to experience ageism, and fortunately it is rare for me. However, it does happen and allows an insight into the prejudiced mind.
A few years back I was attending university as a mature student. The lecture hall was quite full and there were just two seats left, next to me. A young Asian student and his friend came along and the Asian pushed his friend into the seat next to me, saying .. “I am not sitting next to a mature”. That was a nasty surprise, but gave me an insight into the feelings prejudice brings to us.
More normally I have found that ageism is expressed in silent behaviour, either being studiously avoided by the young or just invisible to them. This is in stark contrast to the open hearted, who treat us just like anyone else. I find that ageism is mostly absent in the very young and is something that grows in some people. Maybe it is to do with fear, I don’t know.
I will claim that I have never been ageist in my life, either towards the old or the young, and I think that (like all prejudice) it is a characteristic that people are better without. However, that raises a broader discussion, morally and politically, which seems apposite to the present day.
What are your feelings?
A.
As an old man I am well placed to experience ageism, and fortunately it is rare for me. However, it does happen and allows an insight into the prejudiced mind.
A few years back I was attending university as a mature student. The lecture hall was quite full and there were just two seats left, next to me. A young Asian student and his friend came along and the Asian pushed his friend into the seat next to me, saying .. “I am not sitting next to a mature”. That was a nasty surprise, but gave me an insight into the feelings prejudice brings to us.
More normally I have found that ageism is expressed in silent behaviour, either being studiously avoided by the young or just invisible to them. This is in stark contrast to the open hearted, who treat us just like anyone else. I find that ageism is mostly absent in the very young and is something that grows in some people. Maybe it is to do with fear, I don’t know.
I will claim that I have never been ageist in my life, either towards the old or the young, and I think that (like all prejudice) it is a characteristic that people are better without. However, that raises a broader discussion, morally and politically, which seems apposite to the present day.
What are your feelings?
A.