Captain49,914 posts
16 Jul 2013, 17:09
#1
16 Jul 2013, 17:09#1
Despite all that is written about hate speech on this Board, the most abused group are older posters. "You old.."...fill in your favourite derogatory word. It's pretty universal......but I take no offence, old age is not for sissies as they say. But it is an interesting new thing in life, in my grandfather's day old people were really respected.
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And the "condition" does have some advantages. For example I can remember seeing Hennie Van Zyl's two tries to beat the ABs at Ellis Park in 1960....although the last one was partially spoiled by elders leaping up and blocking my view.
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Still it's mostly down side. When I explained to my five year old grandaughter that a family dog had died of old age, she replied: "that's why you have to be so careful not to get old". Sophocles could have said that!
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Oddly enough there is no word I can find for people who hate old people. Which just shows you what a poorly represented group we golden oldies are. So I have just coined the word "geraphobia".....from the Greek word "geras" which apparently means old age. If you have geriatrics, geraphobia fits rather well.
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So perhaps this is the first step in a new Maginot line for old folks. I use the term Maginot line because any defences we offer will easily be bypassed. Us golden oldies can no longer defend the adroit jink.....but run dead on into us and we still pack a mean punch.
