Beware of Ageism

[Tekward]

"Everyday ageism is part of American culture and one of the most common and socially condoned forms of prejudice and discrimination. There is no doubt that it harms the health and wellbeing of older adults..."

But in spite of this, the poll suggests that most older adults hold positive attitudes toward aging—including 88% who say that they have become more comfortable being themselves, and 80% who have a strong sense of purpose. Two-thirds said life over 50 is better than they thought it would be.

https://news.umich.edu/most-older-a...m-still-hold-positive-attitudes-toward-aging/

 

[njhowie]

The saving grace is that those who do discriminate will certainly get a dose of what they hand out when their time comes.

"Karma is a bitch"

 

[braumeister]

Whippersnappers vs Codgers

I think ageism goes in both directions.

 

[timo2]

I think ageism goes in both directions.

Yes it does. And it's not just in the workplace. One example is the bickering over coronavirus. First it was blame the old people from having to protect them from the virus for the shutdowns, now it is blame the youngsters for not taking the virus seriously enough.

 

[Dtail]

The saving grace is that those who do discriminate will certainly get a dose of what they hand out when their time comes.

"Karma is a bitch"

Absolutely.
I faced this concept while looking for work at age 55 which is aged on Wall Street.
I was even told by 2 prospective employers in which I had an inside source that effectively ageism was in play.

 

[Chuckanut]

I've discovered that as I age I become more 'invisible'.

I've also discovered that being invisible can help one avoid a lot of stress, get more done, and have more fun.

 

[Markola]

Two of the wisest sayings I ever heard were bird-related:

An emeritus professor once said to me as we were having a beer and he was having a cigarette, “It’s been my observation in life that birds of a feather flock together.” To me, that comment explained every form of prejudice succinctly and indicates that we humans or our society will never fully get away from it, as much as we should work toward it and would ideally like to.

Second, I read that Ross Perot had a framed poster in his office, “Eagles don’t flock. You have to find them one by one”. To me, that comment indicated that it was better to think of myself as a lone eagle with regard to the employment market and find ways to pursue my own basic needs and wants independently of the flock’s needs and wants.

 

[Nemo2]

“Eagles don’t flock. You have to find them one by one”.

I recall, in Vancouver years ago, seeing a whole bunch of non-flocking eagles very close together.

 

[REWahoo]

^ Turkey vultures.

Easy mistake for an old geezer to make.

 

[Nemo2]

^ Turkey vultures.

Easy mistake for an old geezer to make.

https://www.vancourier.com/news/vid...-bald-eagles-at-vancouver-landfill-1.23591595

 

[travelover]

I recall, in Vancouver years ago, seeing a whole bunch of non-flocking eagles very close together.

I've see flocks of eagles in Haines, Alaska.

 

[audreyh1]

I recall, in Vancouver years ago, seeing a whole bunch of non-flocking eagles very close together.

A “flock” or group of eagles even has a name - it is called a convocation. Associated with food resources.

 

[Nemo2]

it is called a convocation.

So that's why all those clergymen were there!

 

[audreyh1]

So that's why all those clergymen were there!

Or academics.

I always loved a parliament of owls. You don’t normally such a thing, except for Burrowing Owls hanging out at a prairie dog town. We once saw a huge number gathered at a prairie dog town along the highway in Oklahoma.

 

[Nemo2]

Or academics.

I always loved a parliament of owls. You don’t normally such a thing, except for Burrowing Owls hanging out at a prairie dog town. We once saw a huge number gathered at a prairie dog town along the highway in Oklahoma.

Wow...owls I have only ever seen, (and then very rarely), one at a time.

Being a birder, these are probably all very familiar to you, (if they are all authentic that is):
https://baltimorebirdclub.org/gnlist.html

Added: Now I'm looking stuff up......having seen 'earthbound' vultures in Africa, apparently awaiting thermals so they can soar, I came up with this:

A group of vultures is called a committee, venue, or volt. In flight, a flock of vultures is a kettle, and when the birds are feeding together at a carcass, the group is called a wake.

 

[audreyh1]

We see lots of vultures. Home is in a major migration path, and vultures migrate in groups along with hawks as well as wood storks and anhingas. During peak migration we go out to the hawk tower early morning, and once it gets warm enough for thermals to develop, you can get a giant lift off. The birds spiral up and up and up (that’s what we call kettles) until they get to the top, then stream out, north or south depending on migration direction, to the next thermal in the distance. It’s really something to witness.

A kettle refers to any group of birds climbing a thermal.

 

[Markola]

All y’all want to call Ross Perot WRONG that’s on you. Somewhere, I hear a great big sucking sound.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

So this is a committee of old buzzards?

 

[aja8888]

So this is a committee of old buzzards?

It's more like a parliament of old owls.

 

[Nemo2]

It's more like a parliament of old owls.

With the occasional wisp of snipe.

 

[Amethyst]

It's fine to say "beware of ageism," but what the heck is one supposed to do about it? Other than what old people do anyway, which is to try not to let it bother them?

Somehow I don't envision gangs of old people rioting and burning down cities to get people to stop ignoring them.

Or wait, I do, but it's in the form of a Gary Larson cartoon.

"Everyday ageism is part of American culture and one of the most common and socially condoned forms of prejudice and discrimination. There is no doubt that it harms the health and wellbeing of older adults..."

 

[travelover]

........A kettle refers to any group of birds climbing a thermal.

So, would just a small group of hummingbirds circling be a saucepan?

 

[Chuckanut]

I've see flocks of eagles in Haines, Alaska.

Several years ago I witnessed an immature eagle being seriously harassed by a huge flock of crows. Several mature eagles came to the rescue and finally convinced the crows that the cost of success was too high.

I guess eagles are like humans, we come to the aid of the young ones.

I still like being invisible. I would not like being in the position some of my friends were in a few years ago: 50-something, unemployed, nobody would hire them.

 

[Dtail]

^ Turkey vultures.

Easy mistake for an old geezer to make.

We have them in my complex. First time I saw them, it was like out of the movie "Birds".

 

[Dtail]

So, would just a small group of hummingbirds circling be a saucepan?

Nice one.