OAPs as a demographic group
 

Prompted by Accymans "old Dear" comment in the ciggy thread.

I'm not young, I'm 55 and in a few years time, will be an "OAP" myself. So this is not me being ageist in anyway. My question is about how we see this group of people, and why we lump them together in a certain way

It just seems to me that once people hit the mark, they become part of a supposed cozy, cuddly group in society, as if all older people suddenly become worthy, and we dare not say a word against them for fear of giving offence.

For instance, a lot of OAPs, feckless in their own time, gave birth to the slack parents we have today, who's immoral offspring are making life hell for many people.

Lots of pensioners have committed crimes in the past, and some still do in their older years.

I will not give respect to a person, simply because of their age. As I said in a previous post, I respect my elders if they warrant it

Re: OAPs as a demographic group
 

Put that way it is ironic that many of the old folk of today who moan on about how it was better years ago have actually caused today's problems

I agree with the respect where due comment.

Re: OAPs as a demographic group
 

Exactly!!!

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I am 77 and so an OAP. I also must be thick as I cant understand what the hell you are on about. Explain yourself

Re: OAPs as a demographic group
 

What is there to explain? :confused:

Unless you mean the word "demographic" as in a portion of the population

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Your having a laugh.......todays peoples problems have been brought on by todays people. :rolleyes:

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And the feral section of our youth today just sprouted from nowhere?

Re: OAPs as a demographic group
 

Lear: "How old art thou"?

Kent: "Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back sixty-three."

I agree that respect should be earned. Perhaps we used to have more respect for them because they earned it .... (what am I saying, "they" ... shoot, I'm only two years away) .... but I do think the elderly should be given some breaks if they are frail and less active than they used to be ... see nothing wrong with giving up my seat to someone who is not as physically active and able as I am, or letting them go ahead in the supermarket line up. But as far as a general respect for grey hair, it is not on the cards for me.

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I am 69 and didn't breed one of them....I am a grandfather of two children who are not ferel as you call it....My two daughters both highly educated would take exception to your claims as do I.....sounds like you have had a bad experience and want to shift the blame?:confused:

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I don't agree that people suddenly become worthy just because they've reached a certain age.

If someone doesn't deserve respect at 50 then they probably won't at 60.

They'll still be the same, just older.

Re: OAPs as a demographic group
 

Are they in their mid teens? If so what do they do for entertainment if they are not out with their friends?

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I fall into the OAP category, but do not see myself as such......I am, relatively speaking, fit and well, I have worked all of my life......I do not consider myself to have been either reckless or feckless. I have been married to the same chap for 42 years(though sometimes I think that is more good luck than good management)...have one daughter....who is currently at University doing a degree as a mature student......and I would not expect to be respected purely for my age.

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Did I include you in this? NO!! The point I am making is that there are just as many bad apples in the older age groups as there are in the younger ones. I have kids and grandchildren myself and non of them are feral. so no, I don't want to shift the blame on anyone, thankyou very much. They were my responsibility as a parent. Something dare I say it, that even way back when some people didn't take too seriously.

Bad parenting isn't just an issue of today.

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I turned 66 last month and don't anyone dare call me an "old dear". ;)

I'm part of no cosy, cuddly group. I'm the same person I was 40 years ago, just a bit more arthritic, and I object to being "lumped together" with anyone for chronological reasons. I detest the term OAP and the patronising way the over-60s are referred to, before anything else, as Pensioners (implying, more often then not, frailty of body and mind).

I don't demand respect because of my age. I hope I earn it by my actions. :)

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Shut up. You whingeing old biddy.:D:D

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I still think there is something to be said for a belt behind the ear.....never did me any harm.
No they are not teenagers but my daughters were once and we managed to bring them up to respect what they had.....and before you jump on my belt behind the ear statement never have I had to check my children in this way.

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Watch it, you little gobsh!te. :tongueout

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don't matter a rats wether yer 18 or 80 as others have said respect is earned.n theres always been scumbag parents only a fool would think owt else, OAPS in the main i regard as no different from any other section of society, good n bad in all sections.

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Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age.

We only have to look at Accy Web for that.

Wisdom comes through having worked hard for it, just as respect is similarly earned.

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Hear hear, Garinda.

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Respect is earned not issued with a bus pass.

Having said that I always respect my elders, when I see Mick, Less and Cashy down town I'm always polite with them :D

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:d:d:d:d

erm, why aren't my smilies showing!

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I think it's a fact that people are if not getting younger, are certainly a younger acting generation than we've ever had before.

People who are now of pensionable age were the first generation to have a 'teen age'. The first generation to have their own youth culture, and not be just younger versions of their parents.

Hell, I know someone who's just qualified for their pension who was a hippy. Smoked dope, popped happy pills, wore a kaftan, rioted against the war in Vietnam in Grosvenor Square, the lot.

They were the first generation who weren't conscripted to go to war. Many now drawing their pension were too young to do National Service.

Today's pensioners are more likely to be at the gym, than sat in the hairdressers, having their grey hair set in rollers.

When you look back at old photographs, and work out how old the people in them are, some of them 'old' people are younger than me, and I'm still going clubbing and dancing on podiums, given the opportunity.:D

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To be quite honest I bet most people over the age of sixty don't think as themselves as being old, I certainly don't, that is until I look in the mirror every morning and see this old git looking back at me:D

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Yes, and it's so refreshing having one so young who was obviously dragged up rather than brought up being able to act in this manner.

http://planetsmilies.net/ill-violate...miley-5383.gif

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I come from the other side of the coin.

The older generation deserves automatic respect until shown that it is not deserved.

The youth problems of today are caused by a minority and that means that only a minority of pensioners could possibly be held responsible – if at all, especially for the way their grand children turned out.

What you are doing is tarring all pensioners with the same brush and that is grossly unfair. In the same way that in general people tar all the teenagers with the same disruptive brush.

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No I am not "tarring all pensioners with the same brush".

Merely pointing out that they are often grouped together as a cozy bunch, that the mention of the word pensioner inspires in some people the vision of a sweet siver haired granny, when in fact, some people are the same as they have always been, be it criminal, abuser or whatever, and don't become any different with a coming of age, and therefore don't deserve the respect.
I would give a pensioner the same respect I would any other human being, regardless of age, if I think they deserve it. They won't get it purely on showing me a buspass. If I think someone is more infirm than I am I would give up my seat or my place in a queue. Not necessarily just because they might be older...and sometimes quite honestly you can't always tell anyway..there is that flip side to the coin too! Also some people feel patronised to be bundled together in a group just because of their age. I know that will certainly apply with me.

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Some of them should be tarred and feathered.