Why Is Ageism Still Acceptable?

One can get away with saying "I don't like kids" or generally treat kids rudely in other ways or even condescendingly and get away with it. At worst you'll get a few people(probably the parents) calling you out, but nothing is ever really made of it. Similarly, you can degrade older people and it's not taken remotely seriously. For example, you can pretty much brush off anything someone over 60 years old says by claiming that they're "out of touch" or even worse "senile", even if there's no real reason to believe they are, in fact, going senile. If you did these kind of things to other groups of people down gender or racial lines, you'd be chewed out to no end and maybe even lose your job.

Why?

"by claiming that they're "out of touch" or even worse "senile", even if there's no real reason to believe they are, in fact, going senile."

Yes! there F8ken is. When you get older your bones shrink and become more brittle bones making it harder to move. Your body becomes delicate and your mind starts to wander and slowly lose touch with your surroundings, reality. etc.

My dads 66, he was a great driver and now whenever im with him in the car I fear for my life. He has lost a lot of weight over time and looks more skinnier then before, he tends to forget where he leaves things and gets upset when he can't seem to find them. But everyone ages differently, just a matter of time.

Because it's reality.

Kids tend to be retarded, inexperienced little shits, and old people tend to be out-of-touch and set in their ways. That's just life.

Stereotypes tend to have a glimmer of truth.

Only ninjas are epic at all stages of life; scientific fact, that.

Ninjas and pirates.

No age group monopolizes social or political power. Indeed people seem to consistently change their age group over time.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
No age group monopolizes social or political power. Indeed people seem to consistently change their age group over time.

I tend to think ageism would be more about denial of rights, not necessarily general perception.

And on perception, can we agree that ageism is pretty mild compared to, well, pretty much any social stereotype? Name any political, religious, or ethnic group, and I can almost guarantee they are the recipients of more vitriol than age demographics. I don't discount its existence, just its impact on the world. Most of the phrases in the OP are batted about in a vague, general sense anyway...not toward individuals. Every older person knows respectable youth, and vice-versa. Whereas I've met people that, say, dislike black people without exception, I can't say I've ever met or heard of anyone who hates the elderly under an all-encompassing blanket.

OP, where does ageism happen that would warrant firing if it was directed toward another group? I'm not outright denying that it could exist, but I've never seen such evidence.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
No age group monopolizes social or political power. Indeed people seem to consistently change their age group over time.

/this thread

Originally posted by Bardock42
That's not my perception when looking at the make up of our political leadership institutions.

I don't know about Germany but US Senators are spread from 41 to 88 and US Representatives are spread from 31 to 89 (here with at least ten people in every 10 year range). Obviously if you consider the only age categories to be "over 30" and "under 30" this seems like one group is in control. Fortunately those 50 year old senators are dividing things as "over 50" and "under 50" and the 80 year old Representatives are dividing things as "over 80" and "under 80". Everyone looks at things and sees themselves not having control.

Obviously in the US people under 30 are explicitly disenfranchised by being kept out of office but that doesn't change the argument that no specific age group holds all the power. Its hard for aegism to become as problematic as racism or sexism simply because the needed power isn't there (also people have foresight so no one will vote to enslave all people over 60 unless they want to be enslaved).

Originally posted by Dr Will Hatch
One can get away with saying "I don't like kids" or generally treat kids rudely in other ways or even condescendingly and get away with it. At worst you'll get a few people(probably the parents) calling you out, but nothing is ever really made of it. Similarly, you can degrade older people and it's not taken remotely seriously. For example, you can pretty much brush off anything someone over 60 years old says by claiming that they're "out of touch" or even worse "senile", even if there's no real reason to believe they are, in fact, going senile. If you did these kind of things to other groups of people down gender or racial lines, you'd be chewed out to no end and maybe even lose your job.

Why?

you kids sure love complain about nothing

Originally posted by Dr Will Hatch
If you did these kind of things to other groups of people down gender or racial lines, you'd be chewed out to no end and maybe even lose your job.

so, just as a legitimate question, you are arguing that all possible divisions of the human population are equal? So it is the same to divide based on gender, race, height, handedness, sport preference, age, smoker or not, hair colour, etc?

Like, if you discriminate against someone for their favorite Baseball team you are being a "teamist"?

additionally, I'm not sure anyone was ever really too worried about statements like "I don't like black people" or "I don't like women", it is the social and political establishments that refused them rights and privileges in society. FFS, at least complain about unfair insurance costs forced on good drivers under the age of 25, or something like that. Saying "I don't like kids" is hardly discrimination, and frankly, is just good sense.

Originally posted by Dr Will Hatch
One can get away with saying "I don't like kids" or generally treat kids rudely in other ways or even condescendingly and get away with it. At worst you'll get a few people(probably the parents) calling you out, but nothing is ever really made of it. Similarly, you can degrade older people and it's not taken remotely seriously. For example, you can pretty much brush off anything someone over 60 years old says by claiming that they're "out of touch" or even worse "senile", even if there's no real reason to believe they are, in fact, going senile. If you did these kind of things to other groups of people down gender or racial lines, you'd be chewed out to no end and maybe even lose your job.

Why?

The ones that don't like kids are the "over 60" crowd and the people who dismiss old people are kids.

So let the animals eat each other, god willing.

Shut up Rob, you cantankerous old man.

STFU;GTFO you retarded, inexperienced little shit.

Reported. Don't you dare take that kind of language around an old, Christian, God-fearing, man. I have morals and principles and I don't have to take that kind of language.

Originally posted by Robtard
STFU;GTFO you retarded, inexperienced little shit.

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
Don't talk to me like that. You're not my real Dad.

Because him and my Mom are both white. =O