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Calling Someone the ”S” Word

Using the "S" Word

  • Now that I'm getting older I'm realizing this term should probably be re-evaluated

    Votes: 1 16.7%
  • It is perfectly acceptable to use this term whether or not it puts someone into a category.

    Votes: 5 83.3%

  • Total voters
    6

Benjamin

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
A couple months ago when checking out at Ace Hardware I, …yes me, …for the first time, was asked if was eligible for a “senior discount”! I was like, What, do I look like a senior citizen! The clerk couldn’t tell if I was being serious or not, and frankly, I was a little bit in shock and wasn’t sure if I was being serious or not either. Anyway, she said, well, you never know. I thought well thanks a lot, and asked well how old do you have to be to get the discount? She said 55, and I frowned and said sarcastically, do I look like I’m 55!? (I’m actually 60, but people are usually surprised to find that out so I play it for all it’s worth.) She says, well, you never know and starts to defend her action by saying people get mad at her for not giving them the discount. At this point I thought I should let her know I was just playing and with a wink and a smile said, Well, I might as well start taking advantage of senior citizen discounts then, shaking my head in disgust, and said, you can be the first to give it to me! I actually saved a couple bucks but honestly I felt a little insulted and couldn’t wait to get back home to take a look in the gym mirror and assess what this woman was seeing that made me look like I could possibly be a senior citizen.!

That said, I just came across this article:

Push to stop using the term 'senior' for someone over 50

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- You may want to take a second before you use the 's' word: senior, or senior citizen when referring to someone over 50.

There is a push to get rid of this term, because some argue its dehumanizing.

Deb is a 60 something year old with 42 years in a career in sales. Call her professional, boss, the life of the party but you better not call her a senior citizen.

"For ages, we had a stigma. In reality, aging gives us experience. At AARP, we don't think we should be defined by age," says Alex Juarez with AARP. "For a couple of years we have been using the term 50 plus. That's important because we don't want people to be identified as seniors."

Some say it creates barriers, especially in the workplace with many people not even realizing their doing it.

"The way that the brain works is interesting. Human beings get so much sensory input that we try to label things to make it easier for us. When you have a term like senior citizen, what people are doing is trying to make a short cut to understand that person by putting them in a category," says Jennifer Ward, president of the Arizona Employer's Council. "There is no way for us to turn that off, it's going to exist because that is the way our brains work."

"We are in a period of transition, many people are changing jobs, finding new ways to live and today we are living longer," says Juarez.

The Journal of the American Geriatrics looked at the way people talk about seniors, encouraging authors submitting research to change their style and words when referring to people over 50.



This article is based off a scholastically vetted association: The Journal of the American Geriatrics research:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jgs.14941


So what do you think about calling someone or being called a “Senior”?
 

Benjamin

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I don’t know. If one becomes over-insouciant about their appearance and abilities as they age it seems a sure sign they have chosen to let things go. If the 60s are supposed to be the new 40s then with that wouldn’t there be certain expectations to at least try to maintain a more youthful persona? As a measure of how we're doing wouldn't you be concerned about people dropping you in that "S" category on a regular basis rather than expressing their surprise at your age-defiant nature. Hmm?
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Being called old??? doesent bother me in the least bit.
I see it as much ado about nothing

If that bothers you - you need to get a life.

FWIW 0= what bugs me is when someone (especially someone younger) calls me young man -
BUT, I dont make a big deal out of it.
 

RighteousnessTemperance&

Well-Known Member
There are several "S" words/phrases I could find offensive. So far, "senior" is not one of them.

In the OP context, it's to get a better deal. It should have the same positive effect as "Sale!" or "Shopping!"

But if you need a youthful boost, maybe try buying some booze where they card everyone.
 

Benjamin

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
If that bothers you - you need to get a life.
...or maybe dye your hair? :D

FWIW 0= what bugs me is when someone (especially someone younger) calls me young man -
I'll take that...especially if they believe it. :Thumbsup
But if you need a youthful boost, maybe try buying some booze where they card everyone.
I'd say for youthfulness boosting some iron on a regular basis will help set one apart from the pack of those willingly looked upon as pococurante Seniors. :)
 

HankD

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Hmm, its not being called the "S" word that bugs me but being the "S" word.

It happened suddenly (or so it seems).

The house we had before this one (in my 60's) had a second story and I could take the stairs 2 or 3 at a time.
Now (in my 70's) I would need to stop and rest at least once before getting to the top.

One thing, no one cares that I don't ever ask "Can I help?" anymore. :Roflmao
 

Roy

<img src=/0710.gif>
Site Supporter
When I was in my 40s, I would often get senior discount offers. It just amused me.

Let me tell you what did make me feel old. About 12 years ago , prior to taking a long trip, I bought "traveler's checks," remembering how convenient they were to have during the 70s. Most businesses were afraid to accept them, and unless there was an older store clerk around, who remembered what they were, no one knew what they were. A bank even refused to cash them out for me. I was told to take them back where I got them and cash them.
 

Iconoclast

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The S word?=synergist

The cashier obviously read some of your posts in the archives. She knew at once a senior discount was in order:Roflmao:Roflmao:Roflmao:Thumbsup:eek:

Hope all is well with you Benjamin:Wink
 
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