General Chat

We are who we are, but I so agree about being categorised and the thoughtless remarks that do hurt. One of my friends is 59 and still works (in our cafe) 18 hrs a week. Her baking and cooking is superb, her outlook on life is fantastic and she is a friend to so many people. Last year a 'throwaway' remark by a chef was enough to put her off work for 3 months, she was so upset by what he said and the way he said it. On the other side of the coin, we have a girl of 18 who has worked for us for 2 years. She is excellent at her job, and works full time. She is so competent, yet the same guy at the same time refused to work with a 'kid'. His problem was both were better at their work than he was, therefore he used the age factor as an excuse. We dispensed with his services.

*comes in to thread coz Lemon Tickes all my boxes* Sxx

What the heck - tick every box :-))))

Lemon - age is a number!! Growing old is compulsary, Growing up isn't!! You keep being the person you are and we soon to be 'old biddies' will keep treating you with the respect you deserve!! You are only as old as you feel!! xx

Lemon - if I were told: ''act your age!'' - I wouldn't know what to do!! I have no idea how one is supposed to act at any age. I am me - I say I am 36; that is in fun; I am really 58, a strange looking number to me. Hope no one has upset you. Keep being you, please...... Lemon.... :-)

Lemon if it's anything to do with me saying they're all 'oldies' in here at Annes birthday party I was having a dig at myself for turning 40! It certainly wasn't mean to be offensive and I sincerely apologise if I did offend anyone. I've never thought of how old any of us are when talking on here. I'm really sorry! Julie xxx

Hi Lemon I would tick my box if I could find it a good read to start the day off enjoy your swim xxxxxFrom your ageless mate xxxHowie

Lemon - you'e not THAT old lol and people DO judge people by other categories as well as age... weight, sex, sexual orientation, colour... No doubt the comment was made light heartedly... I wouldn't take it to heart Paul xx

xxx

Every day you come across little boxes which ask you to tick what age you are, and immediatley you place your tick in that box you become a part of a group, you are a young person, a middle aged person or an elderly person. One of the few places that did not seem to exist was here on the board, I found people of all ages intereacting as one, talking on a level to people in real life they would not bother with, because they would be in a different age box, so appear too different to bother with, it was hard to guess how old someone was, and i thought it was great. I loved the ageless feeling of the board because instead of just classifying people as 'an age' everyone sees only who you are inside. It allows younger people to have their views respected in a way that doesn't always happen outside. It allows more mature people to laugh and talk to the younger groups and realise that they are people too, with all the emotions that they have. I could come on the board and be any age I wanted, talk to people younger or older than myself, or my peirs, and I love that aspect of the board. But sometimes something is said which makes you stand back and think, hey wait a minute......I need to act my age, for example jokey references to 'old biddies' , I immediatly jump back and think......wow maybe I need to grow up. One thing for sure we will all age, every single one of us, but inside we are the same, and we are who we are, but as we do societys box for us will change . What a shame if the referals to age make people think twice about acting the age they feel that day rather than the box society places us in, young or old....or inbetweenies. We would never dream of calling people fat, or ugly or stupid, but it is ok to be ageist, and to segregate ages in life, I hope that the 'old biddies' continue to have fun and the young ones here feel comfortable enough to treat them on a level, this is one of the few places we see not a category, but a person like ourselves be they 16 or 90. So try to think before you shut anyone in to a little ticked box.....inside they are just like me. This is long winded and a bit phylisophical, and not very lemony, but maybe its because I woke up this morning feeling my box is ticked and I should act my age, wear sensible flat shoes with closed toes, and sip tea while I rake through a knitting pattern ( er I can't knit so that wont work) or send away for a Saga holiday, instead of tottering round on my stilletos and flirting disgracefully. Anyway enough already this 'old biddie' needs to go swim her 40 lengths and start the day. For the younger ladies....think about it....one day it will be you....for the more mature, in age, if hopefully not outlook....keep in mind you have been there and struggled you have a lot to offer to the younger people you come across, so respect their views and see them only as people. I don't need to come back to this thread as it is not a debate as such, just a personal view.....now this 'old biddie' needs to get her backside in gear, she will probably get to about her 20th length and think 'oh I wish I had kept my thoughts to myself' have a lovely day you all, whichever box they shove you in XXXXX and :-)

Tick them but don't let it blind you to the person inside XX