What is meant when people say an old person "becomes irrelevant"?

[Bestwifeever]

On Wednesday I overheard a table of people my age (on the cusp of 70) talking about today’s education systems and one said, “When I was in high school....” I have to say, I thought about just who would find her thoughts relevant? Not even the people she was talking to seemed at all interested.

 

[HFWR]

“I’ve got your irrelevant right here!”

 

[Bamaman]

The millennials that are my grandchildren will profit from my relevance. It's my money that will allow them to take a more positive direction in life than they ever will without their inheritance.

And if they take a big detour or go backwards in life, we can always make our moneys take a big detour--to other heirs.

 

[NoMoreJob]

I only care about being relevant to the people I care about.

 

[nancyfrank232]

What is meant when people say an old person "becomes irrelevant"?

On Wednesday I overheard a table of people my age (on the cusp of 70) talking about today’s education systems and one said, “When I was in high school....” I have to say, I thought about just who would find her thoughts relevant? Not even the people she was talking to seemed at all interested.

Seniors think that their opinions are supposed to be important. They like to give their opinion despite not being asked

Seniors are stereotypically grumpy, anti-social, and dismissive of any generation but their own. They prove this over and over

 

[Gumby]

Irony is dead.

 

[Calico]

Irony is dead.

Indeed it is.

 

[audreyh1]

Irony is dead.

Looks like it’s alive and well to me!

 

[Nemo2]

Looks like it’s alive and well to me!

Pining for the fjords.

 

[scottpush]

Agree.

+1


Although interesting how being a 'boomer' seems to have such negative connotation. I'm a 'young boomer' and can make my way around computers, software, and believe I keep up with the times socially and politically. Well, as best I can. I listen to my old Rock tunes as well as tunes from this generation - as an example.

I'm a landlord now and notice some of my young tenants couldn't care less how to fix anything in the house. Maybe that's everyone of all ages but I find it interesting. Being interested in fixing things will help anyone in the houses they own later on. And it seems quite hard these days to find a decent handyman I can depend on. And maybe that's always been like that, I don't know. But it seems to me we'll have to import more skilled labor in the future since not many here are interested in that path. Society changes I guess.

 

[Turbo29]

I have noticed this on several forums also. Usually the age of those saying it is in their 40's (like one of the prolific posters above). They realize that they themselves are rapidly becoming irrelevant and think that by criticizing those even older than them they can signal, "Look at me, even though I am 47, I am not like all the others." But they are. In fact, they may be worse.

 

[pj.mask]

As you age, you do take on personality/brain changes. There were some studies about this on susceptibility to fraud/scams (though those changes maybe not relevant to this topic). I can attest to my personal experience with my parents.

I have a few friends who are twice my age. One of them got me into computers 20+ years ago - I never said all old people are bad with computers, just gave one specific example where someone was complaining that current generation didn’t learn a low/no demand skill when in reality that learning time was likely replaced with learning a high demand skill.

I never generalized that all old people are ‘irrelevant’ but I think at some point as you age, they are more forceful and open about sharing their experience. Maybe when younger people do that, their experience is always more recent (aka relevant) just because of their age. So it would make sense that someone saying “when I was in high school” is more relevant from a 20 year old than it is from a 70 year old - even though they are doing the same thing.

 

[target2019]

This thread reminds me how easy it is to label one another. A very long time ago I recall sitting in a training room, discussing the labelling issue with the training manager. Since we were there trying to enable new technology, I thought the training would be well received. The manager was quite wiser, and explained to me how everyone working for the company was quick to categorize others. When we came across an instance, we'd motion to our head as if stamping a label on our forehead.

 

[Bir48die]

Seniors think that their opinions are supposed to be important. They like to give their opinion despite not being asked

Seniors are stereotypically grumpy, anti-social, and dismissive of any generation but their own. They prove this over and over

Hmmmmm

 

[scottpush]

Hmmmmm

+1

 

[Maidensong]

I wonder if by "irrelevant," they mean "not easily persuaded by flimsy argument."

I hated seeing my favorite detective show, Major Crimes, cancelled a few years ago. Most of the main characters were Boomers, and still sharp, active and involved in full romantic lives. It was the network's top rated show, but they cancelled it because they wanted something "edgier."

Turns out, they wanted something that draws viewer who are more likely to respond to their advertisers. While Boomers have plenty of discretionary spending power, we're less likely to be influenced than younger viewers.

No wonder TV has become such a mindless wasteland.

 

[nancyfrank232]

As you age, you do take on personality/brain changes. There were some studies about this on susceptibility to fraud/scams (though those changes maybe not relevant to this topic). I can attest to my personal experience with my parents.

I have a few friends who are twice my age. One of them got me into computers 20+ years ago - I never said all old people are bad with computers, just gave one specific example where someone was complaining that current generation didn’t learn a low/no demand skill when in reality that learning time was likely replaced with learning a high demand skill.

I never generalized that all old people are ‘irrelevant’ but I think at some point as you age, they are more forceful and open about sharing their experience. Maybe when younger people do that, their experience is always more recent (aka relevant) just because of their age. So it would make sense that someone saying “when I was in high school” is more relevant from a 20 year old than it is from a 70 year old - even though they are doing the same thing.

+10

Exactly

Many seniors don’t have the wisdom to recognize this. That’s why they keep doing it

 

[Bestwifeever]

As you age, you do take on personality/brain changes. There were some studies about this on susceptibility to fraud/scams (though those changes maybe not relevant to this topic). I can attest to my personal experience with my parents.

I have a few friends who are twice my age. One of them got me into computers 20+ years ago - I never said all old people are bad with computers, just gave one specific example where someone was complaining that current generation didn’t learn a low/no demand skill when in reality that learning time was likely replaced with learning a high demand skill.

I never generalized that all old people are ‘irrelevant’ but I think at some point as you age, they are more forceful and open about sharing their experience. Maybe when younger people do that, their experience is always more recent (aka relevant) just because of their age. So it would make sense that someone saying “when I was in high school” is more relevant from a 20 year old than it is from a 70 year old - even though they are doing the same thing.

I don't mind the reminiscing and may indulge in it myself at times ; being relevant imo means being able to relate the olden days to today, to listen and interpret something through the lens of experience rather than holding a mirror up to one's self as if that is the end all, and to pick up on social cues. This potential "irrelevance" is certainly not limited to seniors as has been somewhat rudely put forth and ironically exemplified elsewhere on this thread (not by you). But not all of us are interested in being relevant at whatever age--sitting back quietly while listening might be a good thing. I rarely learn something when I am the one talking.

Speaking of listening--I was seated a couple of months ago in a noisy restaurant next to someone a couple years older than I who pretty much dominated our conversation. As the dinner wound down, he mentioned that his hearing aids were not working properly. I think in some cases "seniors" with hearing loss might come across as irrelevant when actually there is a simple communication problem.

 

[aja8888]

Seniors think that their opinions are supposed to be important. They like to give their opinion despite not being asked

Seniors are stereotypically grumpy, anti-social, and dismissive of any generation but their own. They prove this over and over

It seems you are repeating yourself quite a bit. (like a s_____r person would)

 

[Calico]

I don't mind the reminiscing and may indulge in it myself at times ; being relevant imo means being able to relate the olden days to today, to listen and interpret something through the lens of experience rather than holding a mirror up to one's self as if that is the end all, and to pick up on social cues. This potential "irrelevance" is certainly not limited to seniors as has been somewhat rudely put forth and ironically exemplified elsewhere on this thread (not by you). But not all of us are interested in being relevant at whatever age--sitting back quietly while listening might be a good thing. I rarely learn something when I am the one talking.

Speaking of listening--I was seated a couple of months ago in a noisy restaurant next to someone a couple years older than I who pretty much dominated our conversation. As the dinner wound down, he mentioned that his hearing aids were not working properly. I think in some cases "seniors" with hearing loss might come across as irrelevant when actually there is a simple communication problem.

While reading this thread I once again gave silent thanks to whomever decided the forum should have an "ignore" feature. It's a wonderful little button.

 

[Lakewood90712]

I did a Google search of my full name and date of birth. Guess what came up as the top result ? This thread.

 

[mcbraemer]

Seniors think that their opinions are supposed to be important. They like to give their opinion despite not being asked

Seniors are stereotypically grumpy, anti-social, and dismissive of any generation but their own. They prove this over and over

I recall feeling this exact same way about my elders. At a certain point in my life I was sure that I had all the answers, was awesome if just misunderstood, and dismissed anyone a generation or more older than my dazzling self. Once I entered my later twenties I began to acquire some maturity and wisdom and slowly grew out of my childish phase. This growth rate apparently varies considerably person to person, and occasionally fails to launch.

 

[Lcountz]

I don't worry about being irrelevant.


I am more depressed that, at age 63, I am invisible.

 

[Calico]

I recall feeling this exact same way about my elders. At a certain point in my life I was sure that I had all the answers, was awesome if just misunderstood, and dismissed anyone a generation or more older than my dazzling self. Once I entered my later twenties I began to acquire some maturity and wisdom and slowly grew out of my childish phase. This growth rate apparently varies considerably person to person, and occasionally fails to launch.

 

[Nemo2]

I am more depressed that, at age 63, I am invisible.

"Who said that?"..."Hullo, hullo..is anyone there?"