‘“ We are all familiar with racism and sexism – but what about “ageism?”

‘“Ageism” was first defined by Dr. Robert Butler in 1968 as “a systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they are old.”

“Social scientists agree that when we meet new people, we automatically first look for three things – race, gender, and age. People do this to mentally categorize and define others. When describing people, there is a tendency to focus on gender, age, and race as well.

“We know that discrimination and bias about race and gender are generally not tolerated. If people tell a racial joke or make fun of a woman because she is a woman, they are generally not accepted and people will say “that is not funny.” But jokes about age? Well, for some reason, our society has not placed a taboo on this particular type of prejudice. We see birthday cards poking fun at older people and it is generally accepted to see television shows depicting older people in a negative and stereotypical manner.”’

SOURCE: https://www.sageminder.com/SeniorHealth/Issues/AgeDiscrimination.aspx

I have written several articles about us old codgers and yes this is another.

I’m now in my mid-70’s and have a 100% driving record with the Insurance Company. No claims and not even a parking ticket.

Someone at the Insurance Company (would you like me to name them…?) have insisted I take a medical. The medical is actually three pages long and I will have to get an eye doctor to sign me off as well.

My clean record counts for nothing with the Insurance Company. Therefore I contend that is a clear case of discrimination against an old person – ME!!

Despite the long and painful exercise in reading the Old Peoples Law to Protect Ancient Elves like me I cannot force the insurance company to actually not discriminate because the word “SHOULD” is added in front of the word “NOT”.

One would, if there was any commonsense, go on the person to be insured’s record first not their age.

In this day and age commonsense has gone.

Even at the church I have attended for 35 years I have been laid out to pasture, forgotten and “hope he will go away peacefully”.

Not even a piece of wood with some letters on it to hang over my head. Not even a handshake or a word of thanks. You’re old. Go.

And heaven forbid if you answer someone’s question why you’ve gone – “are you ill?” and you try and answer. You get reprimanded and told by the chairperson, who actually should stand up for you, that “he must draw this ‘talk’ over WhatsApp to a close because of ‘feedback’.”

Obviously the food wasn’t to their and his liking.

The young, you see, have little regard for the old.

But I have news for them.

They might actually become OLD themselves…….

So this old codger has to find somewhere new and if he can’t drive —– He’ll walk! So, as my wife likes to say, “GO AND FLY A KITE!”

And “have a nice day”. Nah. Have a hell’ve day!

PS. A new church is going to welcome me in…….. Oh dear…. For how long? Well it won’t be the 35 years I spent at the last one! Warning: Didn’t Abraham start a whole new nation at the age of 99?

I always had a vision of being St George. Now I’ve become the DRAGON!!