Old People on DU

[StandUpGuy]

In our consumer culture we have been segregated into nice neat categories.

Tween, teen, gen x, 20 somethings, 30 somethings, 18-34,middle-agers,prim of their lives,and seniors are but a few names used to divide u.s.

Although I do not posses the specialized jargon to accurately describe this phenomenon I truly believe that we have been disconnected from our ancestors.

I could write a 5000+ word essay on the Corporate Media and Ageism but thats not really the point of this thread.
Rather I'm writing this thread as a 'Hats Off' type thank you thread.

I've been lurking for about a year reading posts from the widest cross section of people I have even seen before in one place on the Internet. One of the most inspiring and optimistic things about DU for me is the connection I have come to feel with my elders.

While I have a healthy, active political family my interaction and discussion with a variety of age groups is often limited to family functions.

The Media is a write off for another 5000+ reasons

So DU is a place that I can get a window into the recent past without an obvious agenda.

Before coming to DU I was a political news junkie not a political history junkie... While having put most of my MIHOP/LIHOP ideas together before coming here. I thought that the government corruption and complicity required was unprecedented. When I come here I learn otherwise from people that have seen it all before and some who have lived through much much worse.

The older members of DU are what make this site credible and very threatening to the corporate power structure.

The largest Media Machine in history has tried to silence and marginalize you while rewriting history. Billions of dollars are spent making sure people hear Britney Spears and the like tell us daily that war is grand instead of holding televised nation wide town hall discussions.

There is much more but I'll end my rant and Rave here.

Thank you to the old folks for putting up with us younger punks.


:yourock:

[jbfam4]

1. well said and ditto

I was wondering the other day just how DU breaks down in age groups.

OUR hope is in the young.

[NMDemDist2]

2. define "old" - over 40? over 50? 60? thanks n/t

[StandUpGuy]

3. anything over 22

Just kidding.

"Old people" was just a controversial term to get people to read. I think I'm referring to anyone that has a depth of experience and understanding of issues in a historical context.

While that may include 30+ people, from my experience here is seems this includes 40-50 +.

But if you feel young and take offense to your inclusion in my old group please don't .

[NMDemDist2]

5. i have no trouble with "old"

i worked hard for these wrinkles and grey hair, but ZW made me change my sig line

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=1061230#1063288

[Solly Mack]

12. 40 is old? Ouch!! lol Thank you! I would have never made it past

my 3th birthday without learning respect for my elders. It's a lesson I carry with me always. Respect and appreciation of them.

[TahitiNut]

14. I have fillings in my teeth that're older than 40.

:eyes:

[Solly Mack]

18. Yeah but can they carry a tune?

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

32. Yup. Motown only.

[frankly_fedup2]

27. The older I get, the term "old" seems to always apply to

people that are 20 years older than me. I'm 45 now so 65 would be old. When I was 35 then 55 was old. When I was 25 then 45 was old.

Can you see how my theory works for me???

[StandUpGuy]

30. Totally

Being called "Mister" and "sir" take some getting used to !

[young_at_heart]

36. I guess I'm "old"................going on 65, but feel 45!

I still don't feel like a "senior citizen", but I guess I am. It goes by too fast.

[Kukesa]

39. Indeed it does, YAH. n/t

[gpandas]

43. way too fast n/t

[achtung_circus]

35. I'm 48

and about half the time I feel like I'm 17 years old. Do I have to leave now?

[oscar111]

6. LIHOP? Moorehouse of CIPA, age 75

please define, plus MIHOP.

I second your ideas! Swinny just got my thanks in a post, for his great analogies that i suspect were common palaver back in the thirties. {picket fence vs stepladder distribution}.

Great thumbnail history of US from LW view, can be found , written by 75 yr old Moorehouse of Unitarian Universalist.. not moonies.. church... and CIPA.. at http://www.poclad.org i think... look for the interview with Kellman, about 2001. poclad is a branch of Moorehouse's CIPA. Moorehouse has led the investigati9on of among other things, Bophal chem gas leak in india, years back. Moorehouse is a third generation Political Economics prof. wow. Or was, till he quit to go full time activist.

Any other oldies , please post some good terms from the past! thanks.

[NMDemDist2]

11. great glossary here

http://dug.seattleactivist.org/

[StandUpGuy]

52. LIHOP/MIHOP

let it happen on purpose
made it happen on purpose

[nofurylike]

4. thank you! n/t

[surfermaw]

7. Been around since Roosevelt

Harding, Coolidge and Hoover, policies much like Bush Administration.

[MarLopez2]

8. Aha!

Ah, an interesting notion. My solution is, being twenty-seven, not to date any women under forty....okay, okay it's just a weird fetish that's become a "lifestyle." But darn it, I'm connected!

[readmylips]

9. Old People? Have some Respect....

How about using the word Seniors, Matured in Age. Old? Most of us here (olds) are baby boomers. We made you. What you enjoy today, we fought for....and now you call us old folks as we're an old shoe..

Don't you dare call us old.

[LittleApple81]

15. I like old! Senior? that is just PC. I have gained my wrinkles with

a lot of effort, sweat of my brow, love in my heart, heartbreaks, illusions, delusions, disillusion, hopes, despair, disgust, happiness. You don't only need to be a SENIOR; you need to be old to achieve that level of experience. I think some cultures respect OLD because of experience and knowledge that age (sometimes) brings with it. Why not call a spade a spade? We are the swinging oldies, and proud of it. PC talk sometimes makes us lose a sense of ownership and perspective.

My .02 cents.

[TacticalPeek]

20. I have no problem with 'old'.

"Old" is the logical consequence of survival (a generally desired thing).

But if someone prefers reference as senior, mature, graybeard, etc., I don't mind accommodating.

:)

[hansolsen]

56. Old is good. The only thing better than old, is ancient.

And don't forget what Churchill said:

"If a man isn't a liberal in his youth, he has no heart.
If he isn't a conservative in his old age, he has no brains"

That may not be exactly right -- I'm going from memory, but it will do.

So right now, I'm a conservative liberal, enjoying his second childhood. Life is good.

[Octafish]

10. Young men think old men fools.

Old men know young men are fools.

[Mz Pip]

13. I qualify for senior discounts

so I guess "old" sort of describes me. Scary thought.

THe mainstream media was pretty much all we had back in the "old days" of Vietnam. Maybe that's why it took so long for people to become disillusioned with that war. There was no Internet or Breaking News to give a sense of immmediacy to it.

The mainstream media may still be pro Bush but drip, drip, drip that is slowly changing. If the Press Corps turns on him, it will be all over. It's not happening fast enough to suit me, though.

MzPip
:dem:

[StandUpGuy]

17. Agreed but...

Kerry's media will still recomend extra ketchup with my fries.

:headbang:

[Ernesto]

22. French fries?

[StandUpGuy]

29. Yes n/t

[merh]

16. Ditto and thanks! Thanks too to the wisdom of all on DU, young, old,

mature, whatever. Wisdom and life experiences that are shared make this a wonderful site.

[Jim Warren]

19. I resemble that remark

As another real old timer, Groucho Marx, once said: 'You're only as old as the person you feel.' rimshot

Seriously, yours is a very nice post. A well thought and articulated reach out across artificial barriers and I believe heart felt.

It seems you are well on your way along the path of discovery. Best of luck.

[Nite Owl]

21. As I seem to fall into the old folks

category let me say thanks and we're not 'putting up' with all the younger folk. It's an inspiration that you are all so active and want what is good for the country. You are our future, all our hopes are in you and for you. If you guys don't carry the message it's over.

[Poiuyt]

23. You young whipper snappers!

I don't mind your long hair...as long as you keep it clean!

Remember how we used to say, "don't trust anyone over 30?"

[tnlefty]

31. Are we "the people our parents warned us about" that Jimmy Buffett

referenced? And when the hangovers start to feel like recovering from major surgery. I laughed when I read that in A Pirate Looks at 50. It's just not so funny anymore....

[Ernesto]

33. THAT my friend, is a great book!

I just re-read some of it the other day. Young DUers would do well to check it out. They would learn about the nation's mood during our Asian quagmire period.

[Kukesa]

24. Hey! I pushed VolcanoJen in a stroller

and passed out information on recycling (no, it isn't a new concept) and saving the Great Lakes from pollution by big business.

I cried when Vietnam was brought into my living room each evening. Opposing that war was not a popular idea, but I did it.

Remember Equal Rights? Yep, I marched for those, too.

How about Pro Choice? That was me back there somewhere. I remember back-street abortion docs and coat hangers.

Nixon? We watched the Watergate hearings on TV and knew we were right about him all along.

I had to keep my mouth shut while working for a software company while everyone around me was praising Reagan; there were 5 of us in that company who KNEW what he was doing to our country. Pass the KETCHUP, the kids need some Vitamin C.

It's up to you younger folks now, but there's still a little life left in us oldsters.

Carry on! We'll be watching.

[VolcanoJen]

47. Not only that, but she made me wear McGovern buttons to 1st Grade.

Awesome post, mom... I figured some of it out myself, but I've really got you to thank for my enlightened political ideology!

I can remember being a punk junior high school student who wanted to join the Young Republicans Club at school. When I told mom, she rolled her eyes and said "Honey, there's no such thing as a young Republican!"

:D :D :D

[Kukesa]

25. Dupe! Sorry. Mods, please delete.

and passed out information on recycling (no, it isn't a new concept) and saving the Great Lakes from pollution by big business.

I cried when Vietnam was brought into my living room each evening. Opposing that war was not a popular idea, but I did it.

Remember Equal Rights? Yep, I marched for those, too.

How about Pro Choice? That was me back there somewhere. I remember back-street abortion docs and coat hangers.

Nixon? We watched the Watergate hearings on TV and knew we were right about him all along.

I had to keep my mouth shut while working for a software company while everyone around me was praising Reagan; there were 5 of us in that company who KNEW what he was doing to our country. Pass the KETCHUP, the kids need some Vitamin C.

It's up to you younger folks now, but there's still a little life left in us oldsters.

Carry on! We'll be watching.

[Ernesto]

26. Don't forget the DU's Viet-vet batallion

We know more about war than any of the PHD piss-ant neocon chicken hawk flock that tells the chimp what to do.....

[SpiritsDad]

28. I appreciate your way with words...eom

[tigereye]

34. well those of you "younger people"

I guess under 30? under 25? seem to have some pretty cool attitudes as well! I am inspired by the fact that we "older" folks/boomers do not have to carry on liberal/lefty/progressive values all by ourselves. We can all learn from each other. And that is very good. Good for you guys! And thanks from this lefty-punk-feminist mom!

[shraby]

38. I have a theory about what old is

the first 5 years of life we are learning to talk and walk and about our environment (home, yard, playmates).

from 5-18 we are learning about the world around us, our country and the world as taught to us at school.

from 18-26 we are learning to question the world around us and where our place is in it.

after 26 we participate in one way or another, so actually at age 60, we are really only about 34 years old.

That makes me 35. :bounce:

[tigereye]

58. that's a good way to look at it...

[Kimber Scott]

37. Did you watch CNN's "Arab Pulse" "European Pulse" and "American

Pulse" shows? It was fascinating to see the intellectual interaction, particularly among the Arabs, regarding Iraq, and the problems in the Middle East, in general. Almost as scintillating and thought provoking was the conversation embarked on by the Europeans regarding the same issues. When it came time for the American's show, the conversation was stunted with retorts like, "I'd like to ask the lady in the purple dress if she's ever been in combat. If she hasn't, she shouldn't be talking."

I am a PROUD American and I hate when people belittle me and my fellow countrymen here on DU and elsewhere, but as I watched the intimidation tactic employed by this gentleman (from the VFW) to get this woman from speaking her point of view, I must say I was more than saddened. Not only for the woman, who graciously stood up for herself, but for the man, as well. This is how we discuss our problems. We yell. We intimidate and we manipulate. Most honestly, I wonder, if many of us even know another way. It seemed so, "American" for him to do that. So... normal.

We need to learn to talk to each other and to listen. Town hall meetings would be a good place to start.

[StandUpGuy]

42. Also

The first half of the Arab pulse program had no audio (presumably until the lunchtime crowd was back at work :tinfoilhat: )


"I'd like to ask the lady in the purple dress if she's ever been in combat. If she hasn't, she shouldn't be talking."

Plant? :tinfoilhat:

A reasonable person would have said...

"I'd like to ask the lady in the purple dress if she's ever been in combat. ( waits for response )

[Kimber Scott]

44. They were hit by lightening. Didn't you know?

And they replayed the show at 4 a.m. eastern. Hmmmm? Actually, that was 7 a.m. here, but I forgot to turn it on.

I dont' think the old guy was a plant. I've heard too many comments like that from too many people in too many places... If you haven't done what I've done, and you don't agree with me, you have no right to say anything about anything. Period.

This is why Michael Moore used Lila Lipscomb in his movie. Who has more right to disagree with the war in Iraq than a mother who has had her child sacrificed to it? But, even still, he also showed us how, even if you have the "credentials" to have an opinion and move on to the next level of "permission to speak" you can still be shot down by the simple pig headedness and meanness of the other side.

[StandUpGuy]

45. Excellent

"even if you have the "credentials" to have an opinion and move on to the next level of "permission to speak""

Very sad but a great line !:thumbsup:

[DrBB]

40. Greetings, young punk, from an old punk

A lot of us who were in on the ground floor of that movement are getting a little gray around the edges. But we're still punks.

[welshTerrier2]

41. divide and conquer

we on the left have been divided and weakened ... we were divided by sex, sexual preference, race, religion, nationality, geography, economic class and, of course, age ...

"you young people should support republicans because the democrats are letting old people and baby boomers bankrupt social security ... you'll pay into it forever and will never see a penny" ... sound familiar ?? the truth is that the social security fund is likely to be solvent for many, many years to come ...

for me it is truly the saddest thing to see young people who so proudly proclaim themselves republican ... somehow, someone stole the idealism of youth away from them ...

in response to your post, speaking as an "older" DU'er, I would say that while it's nice of you to respect the experience of age, there are far too many of us old folks who are not necessarily worthy of that respect ... and there are just as many young folks who are very worthy of respect ... experience is a great teacher if you're not too blind to learn from it ...

for progressive change to really take hold in this country, we must all realize that we are all spokes of the same wheel ... there's nothing wrong with putting emphasis on one issue or another, but all such views must always be subjugated to the unity of the left ... when progressives take control of the levers of power, the differences that divide us can be battled over without paying so devastating a price as we do now ...

[Seabiscuit]

46. Closer to 55 than 65

and I get *some* "senior discounts", such as paying less to see F9/11.

Does that make me "old"???

Most of the time I feel young, and look younger than most people 10 years younger, but when I was 18 I thought of people my age as "old".

Oh, well. It's been a very full life so far. I have every intention of being a very spry 100.

[Individualist]

48. By cracky, young'un

You're a sweetie. Thanks for the post.

[mike1963]

49. Well, I'm 62 and a certified cynical old phart and I think you've said

something important. My own epiphany was in the 60s during the Vietnam debacle (had been, as much as I hate to admit it, a wingnut before...I voted for Goldwater in my first eligible election but mostly and actually because I kind of "knew" him through amateur radio...had several "contacts" with him...)

Anyway nice rant. :D

[DancingBear]

50. Thanks - from an old guy!

I am grateful for the fact that I have been around long enough (50+ years) to experience much, if not all, of what the "youngsters" on here sometimes think they invented.

I recall when I felt like that, too - and I remember how gratifying it was to the "old folks" when I (on rare occasions) took their wisdom to heart.

I feel that gratification today - from the old side of the equation, of course - and wring my hands when the angry voice of youth speaks without thinking.

I then look at their vigor, and their spirit, and their focus, and thank them.

We both have much to add to the fight, and so I say to all those whose time is yet to come that those of us who have fought the battles already have much to offer.

Listen to us sometimes - think of us as parents.

With attitudes. :)

[onecitizen]

51. Well bad as I hate to admit it.......

I guess I qualify as old :-)

Your post was very nice indeed. I can't tell you what DU has meant to me either. I was alone in a world of Repuke hysteria over "libruls" and Clinton. Then I stumbled into DU. What a good day that was for me!

[Matilda]

53. Old? Never let it be said.

Baby boomer will do nicely. I'm old enough to remember JFK, and
it was my friends who were being called up for Vietnam.

Greetings from Australia.

[Kanary]

54. What this old dirtyhippiecommiepinkobum wants to impart to you,

you young whippersnapper :).......

I look back on my experiences during the Vietnam era, and wonder where all the others my age bracket (old) are.......

I remember being at one more rally in Berkeley, and hearing the same message yet again...... and hearing someone close to me saying, softly, that this was nothing more than selfish acting out, or something to that effect. I sneered to myself "how wrong you are -- you're too old to even know which direction is up", or something to that effect.

All these years later, I not only understand very fully *exactly* what that other war protester was saying... but I see it happening all over again. Most of the protests are, at basic, the things that hit us personally. For example, my generation was protesting the war, yes, and we deplored the devastation of another country. But, our big issue was to get the draft abolished. ONce we accomplished that, we drifted off..............

But, nothing of substance *really* changed....... looking back, one sees the continual, downward slide.... We thought we had done so much, and could rest and wait for the revolution.

I see so many things going on right now that are being glossed over....... they just don't fit in the picture that most are looking at.

IT takes a lot of guts, stamina, and dogged determination to keep looking at issues that don't pertain to us personally. We've lost so much of our ability to truly empathize with those very different from ourselves. But, reading between lines here at DU, one can pick up on that.

I'm glad now I heard what was said at that rally so long ago. I wish I, and the rest of my generation!, had heard it clearly, and had the openness to know how to process it. Maybe things now wouldn't be so bleak.

I hope that you are able to see it clearly, and find ways to put it into focus in your generation. Without that, it'll just be more rearranging the furniture, and applauding the "revolution".

Kanary

[StandUpGuy]

60. Now thats what I'm talking about !

Thank you for your post.

Thank everybody for all their posts.

:yourock:

[mandyky]

55. Just turned 49 on the 24th of June

Pretty good for someone who never trusted anyone over 30 LOL

[unkachuck]

57. I'm a geezer.....

....and I thank you very much. But I think it's more about your state of mind than age....

It's where you mentally start from:

A) Let be fair and let Billie keep as much of his money as he wants because I'm going to be a 'Billie' someday too...

B) Or, no thank you. I want a fair society, right here, right now, not in the hereafter.....and the Billies are sucking too much out of society to make this happen....

[Sugarbleus]

59. Thanks Stand!!

I don't want to be too sappy but your words, your sentiment is really the nicest thing I've heard from my juniors. I appreciate your words; it kinda makes my day.

Yesterday was mine, tomorrow belongs to you........we are proud of you.

Carry on.........
:yourock: