Crazy Old Man

slepyhed · 12-12-2006, 08:58 AM

Do men go slowly insane starting around age 50 and go downhill from there? Is there a name for this phenomenon? Are there any good websites to observe this behaviour? Because it seems to happen frequently and I'm fascinated by it.

The craziness takes many forms. In fact, it can take any form. The common themes I see are closed-mindedness, fixation and some kind of desire to change things and/or bitter resentment towards the way things are. In most cases that come to my mind, this "Crazy Old Man Attitude" usually does not lead to real action.

Open the paper and look at the letters to the editor - the best ones are written by crazy old men.

Stop into the coffee shop at 9 am on a tuesday - you might spot a gathering of old cranks sitting around complaining.

I'm wondering if I should plan on going crazy when I get older? Of course I won't realize what I've become - because I'll just be muttering about how "This Country has gone downhill!" BTW, I'm planning on retiring to a different country, but I won't let that stop me.

Maybe I'm halfway there already. I ought to teach my wife to re-balance the portfolio so that if I loose grip with reality, at least there will be money comming in for food and heat.

Does anyone have any examples of old men who didn't become unhinged in late life?

**Martha** · 12-12-2006, 09:20 AM

Embrace the curmudgeon. Resistance is futile.

MasterBlaster · 12-12-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Do men go slowly insane starting around age 50 and go downhill from there ?

Well yes they do show their life experience...Crazy/downhill ? - Well I wouldn't call it that. I would call it seasoned !

Quote:

The common themes I see are closed-mindedness, fixation and some kind of desire to change things and/or bitter resentment towards the way things are.

Well yes... Are you suggesting that this is a bad thing ?

The way I see it is that older guys overcome youth with it's persistance/enthusiasm by using cynicism and grumpyness.

TromboneAl · 12-12-2006, 09:27 AM

What a lot of crap! Just bullshit like everything else in this stupid country!

**Rich_in_Tampa** · 12-12-2006, 09:28 AM

It's posts like this that really get me riled up. In my day, we'd never post craplike that. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can see that noboday gives a sh#% any more. God d&*@ kids think they can run the nation. Ain't gonna convince me. Everyone's a comedian. Well let me tell you something, wise-guy...

Huh? What's that? Oh - yeah. Coming dear...

I gotta go.

TromboneAl · 12-12-2006, 09:29 AM

I beat you to it, Rich.

slepyhed · 12-12-2006, 09:39 AM

You guys crack me up. Thanks! I needed it.

**Rich_in_Tampa** · 12-12-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

I beat you to it, Rich.

As usual, you miserable #$%^.

Andre1969 · 12-12-2006, 10:20 AM

One of these days you're going to hear one gigantic flush. And that's gonna be the good old U S of A goin' down the terlet.

REWahoo · 12-12-2006, 10:30 AM

Nothing drives me up the wall like a bunch of old curmudgeons complaining about every damn thing under the sun and whining about the country going to Hell in a hand basket! Why don't you old b*****ds cut our your grousing and try looking on the f***ing bright side for a change!!! Cheer up, dammit!

Sheesh...

slepyhed · 12-12-2006, 10:46 AM

In my house (I pay the mortgage, so I make the rules!!!), we have a simple rule:

If you have a complaint, you must do something about it. Not just jibber-jabber. Action!

If my plan backfires, I'll end up with a house full of politicians...

MikeD · 12-12-2006, 10:51 AM

I grew up in the country. About a mile from our house was a gas station that I hung around and did odd jobs. When I was about 15 or 16 an old man, about 85 or 90 would often stop by and shoot the breeze. A frequent refrain of his was all about how Hoover had ruined the country. He would explain in careful detail to us all the bad things Hoover had done. I thought it was interesting but was more concerned about the Viet Nam war.

Mike D.

MasterBlaster · 12-12-2006, 10:55 AM

So it was Hoover...

I was a wonderin' bout that. So now I know. Thanks for setting me straight !

You should've asked him for tips to meet chicks !

ladelfina · 12-12-2006, 11:42 AM

Hey you kids geddoff my lawn!!

I dunno, I think I've met a few older guys who aren't curmudgeonly (and a few younger ones who are).

Maybe it has to do with men, in particular, aging and feeling increasingly less powerful? They no longer have the world by the tail. Old ladies can get batty, but maybe they are less likely to be true cranks since they mostly never had the same power issues/hangups/preconceptions to begin with.

Remember SNL and Dana Carvey's Grumpy Old Man?
".. that's the way it was, and we LIKED it!!"

ladelfina · 12-12-2006, 11:45 AM

"Grumpy Old Man: I'm oooooold! And I'm not happy! And I don't like things now compared to the way they used to be. All this progress -- phooey! In my day, we didn't have these cash machines that would give you money when you needed it. There was only one bank in each state -- it was open only one hour a year. And you'd get in line, seventeen miles long, and the line became an angry mob of people -- fornicators and thieves, mutant children and circus freaks -- and you waited for years and by the time you got to the teller, you were senile and arthritic and you couldn't remember your own name. You were born, got in line, and ya died! And that's the way it was and we liked it!

Life was simpler then. There wasn't all this concern about hy-giene! It my days, we didn't have Kleenex. When you turned seventeen, you were given the family handkerchief. ... It hadn't been washed in generations and it stood on its own ... filled with diseases and swarmin' with flies. ... If you tried to blow your nose, you'd get an infection and your head would swell up and turn green and children would burst into tears at the sight o' ya! And that's the way it was and we liked it!

Life was a carnival! We entertained ourselves! We didn't need moooovin' pitchurrrres. In my day, there was only one show in town -- it was called "Stare at the sun!" ... That's right! You'd sit in the middle of an open field and stare up at the sun till your eyeballs burst into flames! And you thought, "Oh, no! Maybe I shouldn't've stared directly into the burning sun with my eyes wide open." But it was too late! Your head was on fire and people were roastin' chickens over it. ... And that's the way it was and we liked it!

Progress?! Flobble-de-flee! In my day, when we were angry and frustrated, we just said, "Flobble-de-flee!" 'cause we were idiots and we didn't know what else to say! Just a bunch o' illiterate Cro-Magnons, blowin' on crusty handkerchiefs, waitin' in lines for our head to burst into flame and that's the way it was and we liked it! "

HFWR · 12-12-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterBlaster

So it was Hoover...

Was not!!

Nords · 12-12-2006, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slepyhed

The craziness takes many forms. In fact, it can take any form. The common themes I see are closed-mindedness, fixation and some kind of desire to change things and/or bitter resentment towards the way things are. In most cases that come to my mind, this "Crazy Old Man Attitude" usually does not lead to real action.
Open the paper and look at the letters to the editor - the best ones are written by crazy old men.
Stop into the coffee shop at 9 am on a tuesday - you might spot a gathering of old cranks sitting around complaining.
I'm wondering if I should plan on going crazy when I get older? Of course I won't realize what I've become - because I'll just be muttering about how "This Country has gone downhill!" BTW, I'm planning on retiring to a different country, but I won't let that stop me.

I'm not so sure that it's a gender-specific phenomenon-- I'd be happy to introduce all of these guys to my mother in law.

Elderhostels must be a never-ending party!

Lazarus · 12-12-2006, 04:10 PM

Well I am 49, I plan to go crazy sometime in August next year. Don't try and stop me I have earned it!

Caroline · 12-12-2006, 05:00 PM

ladelfina, I can barely type this through the tears rolling down my cheeks.

that's a real TALENT you've got there! If you ever need another j...j...job...

farmerEd · 12-12-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

..All I know is that before I die I'm gonna get my gun and kill me some liberals....

An actual quote from a crazy old man I am related to....

12-12-2006, 08:58 AM	#1
slepyhed Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 116	Crazy Old Man Do men go slowly insane starting around age 50 and go downhill from there? Is there a name for this phenomenon? Are there any good websites to observe this behaviour? Because it seems to happen frequently and I'm fascinated by it. The craziness takes many forms. In fact, it can take any form. The common themes I see are closed-mindedness, fixation and some kind of desire to change things and/or bitter resentment towards the way things are. In most cases that come to my mind, this "Crazy Old Man Attitude" usually does not lead to real action. Open the paper and look at the letters to the editor - the best ones are written by crazy old men. Stop into the coffee shop at 9 am on a tuesday - you might spot a gathering of old cranks sitting around complaining. I'm wondering if I should plan on going crazy when I get older? Of course I won't realize what I've become - because I'll just be muttering about how "This Country has gone downhill!" BTW, I'm planning on retiring to a different country, but I won't let that stop me. Maybe I'm halfway there already. I ought to teach my wife to re-balance the portfolio so that if I loose grip with reality, at least there will be money comming in for food and heat. Does anyone have any examples of old men who didn't become unhinged in late life?

12-12-2006, 09:20 AM	#2
Martha Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: minnesota Posts: 8,828	Re: Crazy Old Man Embrace the curmudgeon. Resistance is futile. __________________ . Do not rely on the information provided--my posts are not to be taken as legal advice. Needless to say you must consult with your legal representative. I am not responsible for errors. If I offended you with cya I apologize. If I did not, I tried.

12-12-2006, 09:27 AM	#4
TromboneAl Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,669	Re: Crazy Old Man What a lot of crap! Just bullshit like everything else in this stupid country! __________________ - Al -- Always serious, never joking. No, wait. Never serious... Always... I forget.

12-12-2006, 09:28 AM	#5
Rich_in_Tampa Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 5,286	Re: Crazy Old Man It's posts like this that really get me riled up. In my day, we'd never post craplike that. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can see that noboday gives a sh#% any more. God d&@ kids think they can run the nation. Ain't gonna convince me. Everyone's a comedian. Well let me tell you something, wise-guy... Huh? What's that? Oh - yeah. Coming dear... I gotta go. __________________ Rich Tampa, FL (10% retired) As if you didn't know..If the above message happens to contain medical content, it's NOT* intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any medical purpose whatsoever. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.

12-12-2006, 09:29 AM	#6
TromboneAl Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,669	Re: Crazy Old Man I beat you to it, Rich. __________________ - Al -- Always serious, never joking. No, wait. Never serious... Always... I forget.

12-12-2006, 09:39 AM	#7
slepyhed Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 116	Re: Crazy Old Man You guys crack me up. Thanks! I needed it.

12-12-2006, 10:20 AM	#9
Andre1969 Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 839	Re: Crazy Old Man One of these days you're going to hear one gigantic flush. And that's gonna be the good old U S of A goin' down the terlet.

12-12-2006, 10:30 AM	#10
REWahoo Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 10,191	Re: Crazy Old Man Nothing drives me up the wall like a bunch of old curmudgeons complaining about every damn thing under the sun and whining about the country going to Hell in a hand basket! Why don't you old b***ds cut our your grousing and try looking on the f*ing bright side for a change!!! Cheer up, dammit! Sheesh... __________________ Some claim to have a crystal ball when it comes to investing in stocks and real estate. Me, I've got a disco ball... Retired in 2005 at age 58 - better FIREd late than never.

12-12-2006, 10:46 AM	#11
slepyhed Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 116	Re: Crazy Old Man In my house (I pay the mortgage, so I make the rules!!!), we have a simple rule: If you have a complaint, you must do something about it. Not just jibber-jabber. Action! If my plan backfires, I'll end up with a house full of politicians...

12-12-2006, 10:51 AM	#12
MikeD Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 473	Re: Crazy Old Man I grew up in the country. About a mile from our house was a gas station that I hung around and did odd jobs. When I was about 15 or 16 an old man, about 85 or 90 would often stop by and shoot the breeze. A frequent refrain of his was all about how Hoover had ruined the country. He would explain in careful detail to us all the bad things Hoover had done. I thought it was interesting but was more concerned about the Viet Nam war. Mike D.

12-12-2006, 10:55 AM	#13
MasterBlaster Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,690	Re: Crazy Old Man So it was Hoover... I was a wonderin' bout that. So now I know. Thanks for setting me straight ! You should've asked him for tips to meet chicks !

12-12-2006, 11:42 AM	#14
ladelfina Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,196	Re: Crazy Old Man *Hey you kids geddoff my lawn!!* I dunno, I think I've met a few older guys who aren't curmudgeonly (and a few younger ones who are). Maybe it has to do with men, in particular, aging and feeling increasingly less powerful? They no longer have the world by the tail. Old ladies can get batty, but maybe they are less likely to be true cranks since they mostly never had the same power issues/hangups/preconceptions to begin with. Remember SNL and Dana Carvey's Grumpy Old Man? ".. that's the way it was, and we LIKED it!!"

12-12-2006, 11:45 AM	#15
ladelfina Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,196	Re: Crazy Old Man "Grumpy Old Man: I'm oooooold! And I'm not happy! And I don't like things now compared to the way they used to be. All this progress -- phooey! In my day, we didn't have these cash machines that would give you money when you needed it. There was only one bank in each state -- it was open only one hour a year. And you'd get in line, seventeen miles long, and the line became an angry mob of people -- fornicators and thieves, mutant children and circus freaks -- and you waited for years and by the time you got to the teller, you were senile and arthritic and you couldn't remember your own name. You were born, got in line, and ya died! And that's the way it was and we liked it! Life was simpler then. There wasn't all this concern about hy-giene! It my days, we didn't have Kleenex. When you turned seventeen, you were given the family handkerchief. ... It hadn't been washed in generations and it stood on its own ... filled with diseases and swarmin' with flies. ... If you tried to blow your nose, you'd get an infection and your head would swell up and turn green and children would burst into tears at the sight o' ya! And that's the way it was and we liked it! Life was a carnival! We entertained ourselves! We didn't need moooovin' pitchurrrres. In my day, there was only one show in town -- it was called "Stare at the sun!" ... That's right! You'd sit in the middle of an open field and stare up at the sun till your eyeballs burst into flames! And you thought, "Oh, no! Maybe I shouldn't've stared directly into the burning sun with my eyes wide open." But it was too late! Your head was on fire and people were roastin' chickens over it. ... And that's the way it was and we liked it! Progress?! Flobble-de-flee! In my day, when we were angry and frustrated, we just said, "Flobble-de-flee!" 'cause we were idiots and we didn't know what else to say! Just a bunch o' illiterate Cro-Magnons, blowin' on crusty handkerchiefs, waitin' in lines for our head to burst into flame and that's the way it was and we liked it! "

12-12-2006, 04:10 PM	#18
Lazarus Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 397	Re: Crazy Old Man Well I am 49, I plan to go crazy sometime in August next year. Don't try and stop me I have earned it! __________________ My Dog eats dryer sheets.

12-12-2006, 05:00 PM	#19
Caroline Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 885	Re: Crazy Old Man ladelfina, I can barely type this through the tears rolling down my cheeks. that's a real TALENT you've got there! If you ever need another j...j...job...