A currently running TV commercial shows two teens arriving at their grandparents home. Instead of hugs for the kids, Grandma and Grandpa shove a handful of tech gadgets with dangling wires into the hands of the teens and greet them with, ” We are so happy to see you. None of this works.”
The commercial perpetuates the myth that old people are incapable of learning anything new.
I’m tired of seeing old people portrayed as brain dead morons, not capable of much more than cutting flowers in the garden (in slow motion, of course) or drinking tea with the help of a caregiver, discussing funeral options. How about portraying them as competent problem solvers once in a while? How about showing them in positions of responsibility which would accurately represent many older people who are still productive?
Yes, some older people are mentally incompetent. That’s different issue.
The assumption that old people can’t learn what young people learn is a crock; the result of outdated cultural norms, as well as negative social conditioning and beliefs of old people and about old people that are not recognized as false. For example:
Competent old people often don’t realize that they are responsible for much of the condescension and disrespect with which they are treated because they think it’s okay to denigrate themselves because of their age. I watched a UTube video made by a couple of self proclaimed “Geezers”. The content was interesting and even encouraging but why do old people think they need to disrespect themselves by adopting cutsey disdainful names to describe themselves?
I realize that in our culture everything and everybody gets categorized: millennials, gen Xers , boomers, greatest generation, etc. Being classified may not bother younger people but when retired people think it’s okay to demean themselves with unflattering names that suggest they are less competent than they are, that smacks of self loathing.
Think about how you project yourself to others. What they see and hear from you determines how they treat and interact with you which in turn affects how you value yourself. If you think it’s cute to behave like a mindless teenager or demean yourself with unattractive names, you are sending a message that it’s okay to assume you are not fully competent.
Value who you are and your stage of life. Be assertive and proud of who you are, apart from your age, which is just a meaningless number unless you attach significance to it. Appreciate yourself and dare to be the most competent growth oriented person you can be, regardless of, or in spite of your chronological age. It’s beyond liberating.
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I haven't seen the ad but I do agree that it would contribute to ageism. In my job center the other day I was told that "old people" (meaning me) "don't use the internet."
This from a mature man who lived, that day, to regret his words! "What do you mean we don't use the internet? - don't you know that we invented the internet? And that was before we made it user-friendly with cool graphics so that people like you would be able to understand it!"
I think he was a little bit embarrassed so I will continue to counter ageism wherever I find it.
Hi Maddy,
Thanks so much for commenting. You "get it"!
The response you got from the man just goes to show how difficult it is to change outdated stereotypical thinking. It is so deeply ingrained in our culture. All we can do is be great role models and try to change things one person at a time.
Thanks again, Maddy. I appreciate you!
Barbara Morris