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I am glad the my posting, prompted by the weekly trip to Tesco, past the 
(well criticised) "Elderly persons crossing" sign for the 160+ time coupled 
with the American lady's reference to 'Seniors' has prompted such a lively 
debate. It is obvious from all the comments provoked by both postings that 
many see the problem as I see it is with the current widespread use of the 
word elderly in a pejorative sense. Am I being over sensitive? The way it is 
used always seems to imply to me that the user sees stupidity, Vick vapour 
rub and dried wee? The tabloids of the Murdoch group are major culprits, we 
still read of the 'poor old soul who has to go to the Post Office to draw 
their pension (and risk getting mugged) because they can't cope with bank 
accounts. I wonder if Rupert classes himself as elderly?



Someone suggested Thirdagers, following on from teenagers an idea I toyed 
with. But talking to some younger people about the University of the Third 
Age I was asked what were the first and second ages? As one said, "It is 
like the Third World, at 25 I still don't know what constitutes the first 
and second world". Thinking about his comment later, I realised that at 76 
neither do I. Is that age or a gap in education? Can't blame Hitler don't 
remember that classification being used until we bailed out of Africa.



We have babies, toddlers, school children, students then a forty year jump 
to the current group definition elderly. I still like seniors.



My old Mum (she died at 90) used to say "Old is ten years older than you 
are" which rather ties in with Bill's analogous room.



Bob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Megan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 10:16 PM
Subject: Re: [MASSOBS] Age


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>
> Seniors is also a common term in Australia. We have a Seniors' Card for 
> anyone over 55 not in fulltime work. This allows us various concessions eg 
> at cinemas and on public transport.
>
> I have a theory that the crossover between seniors, aged 55 and aged 
> pension 65,  reduces any stigma caused by the word.
>
> We have never used the expression OAP here and instead refered to 
> Pensioners but this category includes anyone on government support. The 
> pension's correct title rather strangely is Aged Pension, sounds like wine 
> or cheese. Many of us with superannuation also get a part government 
> pension.
>
> Much adverising here is aimed at Seniors and we have a Seniors' Week.
>
> At 65 I am happy to be a Senior but I am certainly not elderly!
>
> Megan Peniston-Bird
> Melbourne
> Australia.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob Rust" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2010 10:25 PM
> Subject: [MASSOBS] Age
>
>
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>
> Sometime ago I posted a question about people's feelings about being 
> catagorised as "the elderly". Something I detest because of its negative 
> conotations. I recently heard and interview with some Americans who 
> consistently used the phrase "our seniors" or "the seniors". In the way 
> the words were used describing the place of older people in the community. 
> I llike it! What do others think? More importantly how do we get it used?
>
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