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IS AGISM/AGEISM A PROBLEM IN CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIA?

In Pre-Colonial Times the aged were revered by social groups. These were seen as the Elders, the Wise Ones and the Sages. This high status was afforded to them based on their accumulation of wisdom that was associated with their experience and was passed down to the younger generations through story-telling and teaching.

In the Colonial Era old age continued to have connotations of honour and esteem.

The change began occurring during the Industrial Era when aging was seen to have connotations of poverty, isolation and illness.

In today's Technological Era older people in the workforce with more experience are sacrificed to make way for companies to bring in 'new blood' and new ideas.

People today are living longer and are retaining their health due to advances in health care and living standards.

Of all the 'isms', for example, sexism, racism, and agism, it is only the last 'ism' that every person in society will face if they live long enough. Is age prejudice one of the most socially condoned and institutionalised forms of prejudice in Australia today?

We have all heard reports of aged people living on the streets, being physically abused by strangers and their families.

I look forward to hearing your views and participating in some lively discussion.

Kind regards

Caroline

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 5, 2012 at 7:21pm

A big BOO for tomorrow :-) :-} (the last one is my 'older lips smiling IMHO). How is my shorthand blog-speak going...Am I a good student?

The 'crumblers' is a new term to me but some days I do feel a bit that way.

Fond regards and another big BOO

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 5, 2012 at 8:07pm

Hi Ebony it is nice to be in touch again with a new Discussion Topic.

Kind regards

Caroline

Ebony Jackson said:

"Ageism" is alive and well in modern society.
Sadly, the elderly are marginalised and isolated.
They become invisible - something to be discarded and seen as unimportant - nothing to offer.

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Permalink Reply by Colin J Ely on July 5, 2012 at 8:34pm

Many happy returns, I am going to the dinner for Donna La Framboise tomorrow night, so I will have a wee nip in honour of your birthday. Ran into an old Army Reserve acquaintance the other day at the Reserve Forces Day March, he said he had just turned 80 and had gone back to his old trade of house painter. Also another acquaintance who is 69 and imparting his tree felling skills, learned over a lifetime with the likes of the CFA and SES. They think he's great, he will actually run classes on weekends, which the 'professional' wont do, having worked all week. He thinks they are all great for wanting classes on weekends, gives him the rest of the week to pursue his relaxations. Same guy is going to the US soon to ride a Harley along Route 66, he is most upset that a celebrity had done it before him!

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 5, 2012 at 10:20pm

A couple of older legends there Colin.

Alan it turns out that both you and I are born under the Cancer star sign if you believe in such things.

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on July 6, 2012 at 6:45am

Me too Caroline. June 28 and in reverse order at 82 on that date. An earth shattering phenomenon that only occurs when one turns 82 on the 28th. A bit like the event when the Earth transited Venus, and look what happened after that?

But to actually know of someone of equal dimension is indeed more shattering. But I am happy to be a "crumbler" for it sets me apart from the common herd who appear to be more common as the years go by.

Cheers Caroline n Bro Al et al.

Dr Caroline Wright said:

A couple of older legends there Colin.

Alan it turns out that both you and I are born under the Cancer star sign if you believe in such thing and in reverse order at 82s.

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 6, 2012 at 8:36am

How about that Bob as my birthday is the 28th June as well!! I am a 'Crumbler' as well as being polite according to Alan who would know. Wow! 82 on the 28th should mean something important and I wished I had known as we could have celebrated together via the blog-sphere and raised a glass as 'Cancer Crumblers'!

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on July 6, 2012 at 9:02am

It was important Caroline. Most of my contemp(t)oraries have gone and in reflection as to the reasons why I have survived unscathed thus far, I think it is because I was never caught or it was his fault. But they came and got me to go with them down to the local sherbetorium. As that was your day too then yes, we did celebrate.

Cheers from Bob

Dr Caroline Wright said:

How about that Bob as my birthday is the 28th June as well!! I am a 'Crumbler' as well as being polite according to Alan who would know. Wow! 82 on the 28th should mean something important and I wished I had known as we could have celebrated together via the blog-sphere and raised a glass as 'Cancer Crumblers'!

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Jan Courtney on July 6, 2012 at 11:27am

Hi Eb., you are so right about becoming invisible, some time ago I was waiting my turn at a well known bakery, as the young attendant kept passing me by and attending to customers who had come along after me, I turned to the lady standing next to me and asked, rather loudly, "I beg your pardon, but can you see me", she looked a little puzzled as she said "yes" until I said, "Oh that's good, I thought I had become invisible". I was served immediately. On the other hand, I have found the opposite as well, particularly among the younger shop attendants, where they cannot do enough for you. So I suppose we must take the good with the bad.

Ebony Jackson said:

"Ageism" is alive and well in modern society.
Sadly, the elderly are marginalised and isolated.
They become invisible - something to be discarded and seen as unimportant - nothing to offer.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on July 6, 2012 at 11:57am

About to enter the building, standing for a moment to transfer my case to the left hand to push the big door "IN" a middle aged fat women barged in front of me and charged through the door which slammed back at me and knocked me to a kneeling position. "Arrogant bitch!, I shouted after her which created public attention at which she came back, I thought to say ,Sorry, but no. "You are too slow and probably drunk" At which point I remembered Winston Churchill being harassed by a woman in the gallery telling him he was drunk.

" In a very loud voice I replied, " I may be drunk but you are an ugly bad mannered ignorant bitch and I will be OK in the morning". I thought I heard some applause in the distance as she stormed off ahead of me. I felt good all day after that adrenaline rush.

Jan Courtney said:

Hi Eb., you are so right about becoming invisible, some time ago I was waiting my turn at a well known bakery, as the young attendant kept passing me by and attending to customers who had come along after me, I turned to the lady standing next to me and asked, rather loudly, "I beg your pardon, but can you see me", she looked a little puzzled as she said "yes" until I said, "Oh that's good, I thought I had become invisible". I was served immediately. On the other hand, I have found the opposite as well, particularly among the younger shop attendants, where they cannot do enough for you. So I suppose we must take the good with the bad.

Ebony Jackson said:

"Ageism" is alive and well in modern society.
Sadly, the elderly are marginalised and isolated.
They become invisible - something to be discarded and seen as unimportant - nothing to offer.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Courtney on July 6, 2012 at 12:18pm

Bob, I would have been one of those applauding Loud and Long.

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 6, 2012 at 12:58pm

Alan...Why did I yell out 'Grab it!!!' as he was falling and 'I want Morphine!!!' during the surgery? Excellent animation. But trust a man to climb a ladder that high when the great artist himself used trestles. I know because I saw it in a movie so it must be right.

Fond regards

Caroline