This is annoying me. Why is old a bad word?
Why is it so common to think that old is bad and young is good?
It is more annoying because of the attitude of westerners to old, Its almost like a swear word or a cuss word and causes great deal of offence!
I have respect for old/older people. Where as young people below 25 are arrogant, clueless and mostly stupid. I like myself better as I get older! 40 year old me is so much more awesome than the 25 year old me. I would never trade being 40 for being 25. Am I missing something?
Thinking that 25 is awesome because of having a sexier/stronger body or whatever is so superficial.
Has this always been like this? In the hierarchical world, may be 50 years ago when age automatically meant respect and lot more powers than younger was age still a bad word? Did people want to be older then? I would imagine so.
I also feel this kind of ageism is( was ) not so common in India, probably because of the hierarchy thing. Where as in the west the emphasis on outward looks/beauty/appearance is immense (may be due to the rise of advertising and capitalism in 1800s)
Or Is it same like beauty/sexy thing which others feel but I am missing being wired differently? Is it that, in-spite of all that respect for elders etc Indians also would love to be 25 ?
Also One thing I am ignoring is old is getting closer to death and decay, it also implies gradual degradation. Fear of death is apparently one of the biggest fears.
I am also afraid of growing old. Its a time of great change and I am afraid of how I cope. I ( I realise I am some how very optimistic and believe that I will live a long life, ha ha! ;) find myself thinking about preparing for old age, not just with pension and money, but things like I need to be more in control of emotions in adversity and pain, I need to have self respect and identity even when I am retired and not having a job, I need to have spirituality to occupy me in old age, I need equanimity to deal with the world which will be probably moving ahead of me etc etc. yes mostly preparing my mind because if mind if strong we can deal with anything and yes body as well but that is not in our control that much.
Why is it so common to think that old is bad and young is good?
It is more annoying because of the attitude of westerners to old, Its almost like a swear word or a cuss word and causes great deal of offence!
I have respect for old/older people. Where as young people below 25 are arrogant, clueless and mostly stupid. I like myself better as I get older! 40 year old me is so much more awesome than the 25 year old me. I would never trade being 40 for being 25. Am I missing something?
Thinking that 25 is awesome because of having a sexier/stronger body or whatever is so superficial.
Has this always been like this? In the hierarchical world, may be 50 years ago when age automatically meant respect and lot more powers than younger was age still a bad word? Did people want to be older then? I would imagine so.
I also feel this kind of ageism is( was ) not so common in India, probably because of the hierarchy thing. Where as in the west the emphasis on outward looks/beauty/appearance is immense (may be due to the rise of advertising and capitalism in 1800s)
Or Is it same like beauty/sexy thing which others feel but I am missing being wired differently? Is it that, in-spite of all that respect for elders etc Indians also would love to be 25 ?
Also One thing I am ignoring is old is getting closer to death and decay, it also implies gradual degradation. Fear of death is apparently one of the biggest fears.
I am also afraid of growing old. Its a time of great change and I am afraid of how I cope. I ( I realise I am some how very optimistic and believe that I will live a long life, ha ha! ;) find myself thinking about preparing for old age, not just with pension and money, but things like I need to be more in control of emotions in adversity and pain, I need to have self respect and identity even when I am retired and not having a job, I need to have spirituality to occupy me in old age, I need equanimity to deal with the world which will be probably moving ahead of me etc etc. yes mostly preparing my mind because if mind if strong we can deal with anything and yes body as well but that is not in our control that much.
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