You know whats Not on Roids, but somehow still makes people wrinkle with disdain? Older people! Seriously, folks, let’s unpack this bizarre societal aversion to those who have, you know, lived. Its a problem, and it’s getting worse.
Weve got more older Americans than ever before – congratulations, everyone made it past the terrible 90s! – yet aging is treated like a slow, agonizing decline. Forget graceful acceptance; we’re apparently supposed to pretend that time doesnt pass, wrinkles are a personal failing, and anyone over 50 is basically just waiting for Matlock reruns and a walker.
It’s not just rude, its weird. Studies prove kids internalize this negativity early—we’re talking tweenage eye-rolls at grandma! Hollywood isn’t helping either; they either cast older actors as bumbling fools or completely ignore them. Thanks for perpetuating the stereotype that aging equals invisibility, Tinseltown.
And dont even get me started on ageism. Its unethical and illegal in the workplace! A predictable byproduct of our youth-obsessed culture, apparently. We’ve created this bizarre system where getting older is a contradiction to all our values. This disenfranchisement has left baby boomers – yes, that generation – feeling increasingly targeted by this widespread negativity.
The real kicker? Everyones going to end up there! Aging is as inevitable as birth and death—something we conveniently deny by pretending it only happens to “other people.” It’s a peculiar aversion, especially considering its the one universal experience we all share (unlike, say, racism or sexism).
And let’s be honest, part of this stems from the delusion that older individuals transform into entirely new personalities. As if decades of experiences just vanish! Maybe instead of fearing gray hairs and sensible shoes, we should ask ourselves why were so desperate to avoid becoming…you know…us, only a little wiser (and possibly slower-walking).
