Amethyst
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2008
- Messages
- 12,686
In discussion fora and comments sections, I see references to old people becoming irrelevant. Young ones invoke it as a threat to the older generation, which they blame for society's ills. Old people mention "staying relevant" as a concern they have.
But what is "relevance," why is it the province of youth, and why should anyone concern themselves with it?
If it means "no longer able to influence the course of events," well, how many of us ever could, other than by our votes? Age does not disenfranchise us.
If it means "people don't care what you think any more," I submit that very few people ever did.
If it means "no longer working at a job," I am far freer to engage with the world than I was when seated at a desk behind closed doors and a giant parking lot.
It certainly can't mean "no longer a goods consumer." I have more money to spend than when I was young. When I was really young I didn't have any money to speak of.
If it means "no longer sexually attractive," then that means relevance evaporates once the eyes of men or women no longer follow us as we walk down the street.
If it means "age-related illnesses and disabilities," then that means anyone with a physical or mental disability is irrelevant.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I would find yours...relevant
But what is "relevance," why is it the province of youth, and why should anyone concern themselves with it?
If it means "no longer able to influence the course of events," well, how many of us ever could, other than by our votes? Age does not disenfranchise us.
If it means "people don't care what you think any more," I submit that very few people ever did.
If it means "no longer working at a job," I am far freer to engage with the world than I was when seated at a desk behind closed doors and a giant parking lot.
It certainly can't mean "no longer a goods consumer." I have more money to spend than when I was young. When I was really young I didn't have any money to speak of.
If it means "no longer sexually attractive," then that means relevance evaporates once the eyes of men or women no longer follow us as we walk down the street.
If it means "age-related illnesses and disabilities," then that means anyone with a physical or mental disability is irrelevant.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I would find yours...relevant