It’s “Only” About Old People

A lot of cultural ageism is unintentional, the product of conditioning from childhood similar to the racism - use of the N word, as a mild example - before the civil rights movement.

Children grow up hearing adults make negative references to old people in general, their appearance and behavior, and then repeat it throughout their lives, never questioning the prejudice involved. It is embedded in the culture to abhor old age.

That belief is so taken for granted than many people (most?) accept such comments as “You don’t look your age” as compliments and cannot, even when it is pointed out, see the ageism attached to it because almost everyone believes that to get old, look old and to be old is bad.

It is this belief that allows age discrimination in the workplace, substandard health care and general dismissal of elders from mainstream of life to continue unchallenged and even unnoticed.

Everyday ageism is so common (and often subtle) that most people don’t recognize, let alone question it. Sometimes, however, something comes along that makes it shockingly evident that ageism is as normal as breathing.

One instance came to my attention from Elaine Franconis who blogs at Kalilily Time. It is (supposedly) a comedy sketch. I’ve wrestled with myself about posting it and decided in favor of doing so because it’s impossible to discuss this without a viewing.

Titled Old People News, it was posted three days ago at atom.com, written, produced and directed by Kevin Maher. [3:24 minutes]

Old People News

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Spoofs | TV & Movie Spoofs

Make no mistake, this is deliberate hate speech. When someone says, “You don’t look that old,” it is a kneejerk response conditioned from the cradle which takes no thought. A three-minute sketch, however, takes a lot of thought: it must first be conceived, then a script written, actors hired, costumes found, a studio arranged for, a set decorated, the TelePrompTer and lighting tweaked and then it can be recorded, possibly through many takes.

All that is several days’ work. Is it possible in that time and the number of people involved that no one said, “Hey, wait a minute. This is bigotry and it’s not funny.”

If a similar “comedy” sketch were done based on stereotypes of African Americans and titled Black People News, it would be the lead story all day on CNN. But no one notices when it is “only” about elders.

[At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Old Woman has something to say about Food and Life.]

Comments

[Kay Dennison]

Ronni, we do it to each other. Last night at the grocery, I ran into a former neighbor who I hadn't seen in probably 10 years. She asked me if I had dipped myself in plastic. I wasn't sure what to say so I just laughed.

I always thought Gloria Steinem had the best line when on her 50th birthday, someone from the press told her she didn't look 50, she replied, "This is what 50 looks like on me." I 'borrow' that line sometimes.

We are all products of our genetics. I look like my dad.

The good news is that my former neighbor and I are going to get together for dinner soon.

[kenju]

It's not funny, either. I tend to forgive things like this if they are humorous - but this is a dud.

[Anne]

Hmm, not exactly roll-on-the-floor funny, maybe a little bit cute at best. If we lived in a culture of respect for all ages (colours, persuasions, etc) it might be a little bit cute, but when you've been effectively sidelined from mainstream culture because of your age, then it's not cute at all.

[Genie]

And today it is featured on the New York Times humor (??) page on the internet. Blah!

[doctafill]

I think this ad is disgusting. There is absolutely nothing comedic about it, and Id like to kick the people who made it, square in their collective asses with a size 12 Canadian lumberjack boot. Dorks, all of them.

I've learned so much from seniors in the last 2 summers, as I garden for them. They are the ones who know everything about who to call for repairs, house renos, everything you need to know, yet the world tries to stifle them.

WHY IS THAT?

When I want solid advice, I go to a senior. End of story.

[Claire Jean]

Not at all funny...
I don't mind saying my age when asked or the topic seems appropriate. However, it does cause people to have that all too common response of "you don't look your age." Also, when running into someone I haven't seen for quite some time, similar responses many times are made such as--you haven't changed in 20 years...For me, such remarks tend to make me feel 106 instead of 66 and disappointed that anyone feels the need to say them.

[Laura]

Ugh! I didn't make it through watching; as soon as I got to the first forwarded email quote, I had to stop it as the disgust factor was too high. (Since when is that "old people" anyway? Two of the worst offenders I know, as far as forwarded emails that can be debunked by Snopes in no time, are not yet 35! My Dad, who would qualify as an elder if he were still alive, used to respond to emails of that type with aggravated explanations of why anything you are told to forward ought to be checked carefully, and how, and where. That problem's all about common sense and knowledge of how chain letters work, not age.)

I'm not sure if there was other comment. *shudders* That bit was icky enough, as was the entire concept of "Old People News". Ew.

[Kate]

Aarrrrrggggghhhh! Them's fightin' words, matey!

I went to the NYT posting and left my comment. I suggest that to as many of you who will.

Now, shake it off and have a great day.

[Kate]

Google 'NYT humor' and click on the link to the Laughlines page. It was first in my search.
or try this:
http://laughlines.blogs.nytimes.com/
2nd item

[Alan G]

I live to laugh….but for me there is no humor at all in your subject video. Usually, as in a commercial for example, I can sometimes find humor in one portrayed incident. But this video goes on and on. Just simply too much! And I think it will be getting much, much worse in the very near future.

With the Baby Boomer generation (excuse my use of one of your favorite terms) coming of age for entry into the elder population, I believe this type of perceived humor is going to explode. One of your commenter’s noted this video appearing in the on-line version of the New York Times. That is just exactly what I am speaking about. You ain’t seen nothing yet!

Another major point to make on this issue, I think, is that these attempts at humor are perhaps psychological in nature. These type attempts at humor are perceived as ways to make something that is unpleasant and dreaded more palatable and bearable. Which, of course, gets back to your long held position that the general population, in a generic sense, sees getting older as a bad thing.

What do we tend to do in those circumstances which weigh heavy on our psyche? We try to inject humor into it so that it will go down easier and be easier to bear.

No doubt that much of the perceived humor in your subject video can be categorized as ridicule and demeaning in nature, but I also believe a large portion of this type perceived humor, especially that which we will see in the near future, will be trying to disguise the utter contempt a large portion of the general population has for getting older.

[mary walker]

I didn't watch the video. I have been irritated enough by a series of ads on our local TV for the Room Place. They start off with young couples obviously very much into each other and then an older woman glares at them and screeches "Why don't you get a room?" Maybe the producers and the Room Place thought they were going for humor here but I am not amused.

[emwrites]

obviously, the "good humor" man didn't stop by this comedy writer. i wonder why no one is faulting the two "old" people who acted in this atom feature. shouldn't they have read the script and walked out FIRST?

i used to sit with a group of "older" janitors who took care of eight buildings each and the youngest one was mid-50's. when i tried to help out on one of their buildings while one was on vacation, i was in my late 30's, physically fit and like to killed myself.

age is relative but i hope the comedy writer of this feature seeks help.

[Darlene]

'Taint funny McGee." Now if you are old enough to know where that quote came from you will know that comedies about aging are not new.

Our awareness of the harm done by stereotyping elders is new. Please keep on pointing this our, Ronni.

[Genie]

I figured the actors must have been really hard up for work.

[Julie Ann Boelter]

I could not make it through the entire video...it was purely horrible in every sense of the word.

Over the years, since I first hit the virtual world when it first came out, I have endured comments about this being a false reality and I should live in the real world.

The longer I live, the more I wish in many ways this WAS the real world and here is why...

In the real world, I am 57 years old and very busy. I (as I have written here before) attend college and am nearly finished getting my BA in Graphic Design.

I’m out and about, not sequestered in my home watching the world go by the way some think I should be.

But that is getting off track, I use it to explain that while I am an active busy part of the "real world" there is a stereo-type prejudice set by whatever reason in the minds of society here in the states that places me in the “you don’t matter anymore” catagory.

It doesn't matter how it got to be this way, it just matters that it IS this way.

Media hype, marketing, etc., etc. is predominately geared toward the young and vibrant when talking sports equipment, clothing, video games, music, etc...

Us that actively use iPod, computers, play MMORP games, video games, sports equipment and wear clothing over the age of 40 are fading in the focus of the advertising world.

We are the forgotten people in many senses. People are shocked when we buy cd's of Fall Out Boy, Pink, Daughtry, James Blunt,Fergie, etc...etc...

But we have the ability to make changes and not accept these assigned roles that others try to give.

Is it any wonder that we can find comfort in the virtual world where people see only names or text and can’t judge us based on our looks, our color or our age?

How can we change the way society views us? How can we get jobs or interviews once our year of birth is placed on the resume?

I don’t know all the answers, but I do know that I refuse to accept that I am a “has been” or too old to be vibrant in today’s world!

Refuse to give attention to those that try to label us and clump us all together.

I refuse to believe I have nothing to offer in the world force or society outside of the family.

Quite the contrary, I don’t have young children to have family issues with needing time off or other things needed when raising a young family (been there, happily done that); I don’t come in late, I don’t miss deadlines, I take work seriously and do over and beyond what is expected and I am great at problem solving and anticipating possible issues before they arise.

All things that get enhanced every year that I am alive.

Life experience can’t be bought, it is something we earn and work hard to learn every day we open our eyes.

I resent videos like this one that seem to allow us to be what society pigeonholes us to be, not what really is or can be out there.

Blog on people over 40 and let the world know that we might slow down but we're still alive, kicking and screaming to be heard.

Life is just beginning!!!!!!!

[joel carothers]

Gee, I don't feel 68.

[Deejay]

Ageism on TV and in its advertising has become so pervasive I've given up trying to fight it, just ignore it as best I can. Example: the series of commercials in which a young man jauntily sings about the bad things that happened to him because he didn't get a free credit report. In each of these otherwise well-done ads, there is a shot of an older woman glaring at him. What is she supposed to mean? That older people disapprove of credit reports? Was she inserted as some sort lame attempt at humor? We can't win.

[Anne Gibert]

Gosh, was that supposed to be funny? I didn't even smile. It was so badly done I guess it must have been done by a young person

[Sophronia]

". . .see the ageism attached to it because almost everyone believes that to get old, look old and to be old is bad.

It is this belief that allows age discrimination in the workplace, substandard health care and general dismissal of elders from mainstream of life to continue unchallenged and even unnoticed."

I believe there is discrimination against elders, continually. However, I think employers discriminate against elders because they fear increased health costs or they think elders cannot possibly be as productive or knowledgable as younger employees.

[b!X]

And yet two old people agreed of their own free will to star in the sketch. Much like (contrary to what this post would have people believe) black comedians have parodied and satirized their own stereotypes for decades.

[Elaine of Kalilily]

This sketch was put together by young people. If older people had written the script, it would have been much different. In this case, it's the same as a white guy writing the script for a black comedian. It's not as though that can't work, but writer has to have a deep understanding of his/her subject. As for the actors, maybe they had nothing better to do or maybe they're just not deep thinkers. Feh!

[b!X]

You skip right past my point: The sketch stars two old people. Were they drugged and forced to participate? Maybe they saw themselves in it and found it funny. Or are you calling them the elderly equivalent of Uncle Toms?

[b!X]

Sorry, didn't mean skip right past it. I meant dismiss it with trivialities and nonsense.

[Elaine of Kalilily]

No,the actors are not Uncle Toms. But they might be somewhat clueless as to what's funny. Actually, this sketch is just not funny. It's insulting to the intelligence of most older folk. It's like the offensive Steppin Fetchit (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0275297/) routine from the 30s and 40s.

[Rain]

I cannot relate to the attitude so many express about the disrespect shown to elders today. I grew up with old people part of my life, have always had them around and always respected them. My kids are the same way now. Out here in the country, when we went through some recent bad weather, we and others were out there to see if the elders up the road needed help and someone called me to see both how we were and they were. Maybe it's country living that makes the difference?

As for the elders who did the skit. Perhaps it earned them money. Maybe they had gotten those kind of emails and thought it was funny to poke fun of it. Satire is based on what is partly true but ridiculed to make funny and that's what Monty Python did all the time and some viciously. Their humor wasn't mine because I am not into slapstick, but my family loved it even when it made fun of the handicapped or many other things that literally weren't true but had an element of truth in them. I think today we live in a culture where this is done a lot and with great cruelty and not just about one group or another-- but about anyone who is different or seen as weak.

[David]

I'm torn by this post, because 1, I believe that ageism is rampant in our white, European-based, culture, and 2, I think this sketch is funny.

It's a comedy of manners, and as such I think you and many of your commentators are rushing to defend something that isn't being attacked. Mr. Maher is lampooning a type of action, the bumpkin-type character of old in the big city. Is he saying all old people are like this? Obviously not. To say otherwise is be willfully ignorant of comedic tropes.

Is he acting on a stereotype? Sure. Should all stereotype-based humor be banned? No, that's just silly.

If there were absolutely no basis to this particular one, Mr. Maher would not get any traction with a piece like this. But that spam continues to be forwarded on to their friends and family by people who don't understand the technology of email -- i.e., the people who don't understand the "manners" of our electronic culture, and thus we have the comedy of manners -- is a certainty. Just last night, I got a forwarded email from my mother, a woman in her middle 60s, which said that if the email was forwarded to 7 people, a "very funny video" would appear. Mom had sent it to more than 7 people when it got to me, so I asked her if a video appeared (as promised) or, had she again forwarded on someone else's agenda? Of course there was no video. And Bill Gates is not sharing his fortune by tracking email. And yet I typically get sent the same something-for-nothing emails from "older people", people who should know better, at least according to their knowledge and experience. And I know quite a few people in same boat. And to make fun of that isn't racist or ageist. It's mannerist.

[brockstar]

This video is HILARIOUS and BRILLIANT. Why?

1) This video makes fun of stereotypes and in no way, shape, or form does it really believe in those ageist stereotypes. It's a type of humor that makes fun of people who actually think/feel this way about a certain issue.

2) It's prompted such an emotional response from so many of you. Hurray!

3) Did any of you realize that the actor in this video, Arthur Anderson, is a classically-trained actor working in theatre, radio, and has even worked with Orson Wells? He is competent, talented, and participated in this project knowing exactly the type of humor he was getting himself in to.

lolz ftw

lighten up people, it's funny. These comments remind me of when generation x-er's complain about no one taking them seriously either.

[Paul]

Ronnie, since you've written that:

"If a similar 'comedy' sketch were done based on stereotypes of African Americans and titled Black People News, it would be the lead story all day on CNN."

...I want to point you to the new Comedy Central Show Chocolate News:

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/chocolate_news/index.jhtml

It's exactly what you described, without the hype and sensationalism you've all given to Old People News.

[Paul]

Also, the true humor here is that Old People News is being forwarded along...

...by old people.