Don't say Old
By bhanusb
@bhanusb (5709)
India
August 30, 2010 2:08am CST
Don't say a blind as blind, a dumb as dumb, a deaf as deaf and a lame as lame. Because the get hurt. Also don't say an old person as old. Because the person also get hurt. An old person don't feel himself or herself as helpless or useless. When someone says an old person as old then he or she feels embarrassed and thinks is becoming useless. An old person feels disregard when he or she is called so. So we should tackle an old person in other way so that he or she does not feel disregarded.
1 person likes this
9 responses
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
30 Aug 10
What you say is true but the tone an d tenor makes all the difference--"He is quite old. Let us hear his views becasue he is experienced." would be welcomed with a beaming smile from the old person in contrast to "[/b]He is quite old.[b]His views would be outdated. THey would not be of use to us."
Both the sentiments can be expressed in the above meanings just by the tone and tenor of "He is old".
@Tonton01 (235)
• Philippines
30 Aug 10
Seasoned Individual in case of not wanting to be called "Old".
@vandana7 (100545)
• India
30 Aug 10
Hi bhanusb, it depends on the tone and the intent. I am old. I dont have any complex about it. But if somebody tried to tease me about it, then I would feel bad. But normally, if they said she is old, and she cant see properly, or cant hear properly, or doesnt remember, I am ok with that. But she cant have children because she is old, now that is true but it doesnt need to be rubbed in, does it?
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Aug 10
Yes you are right, we should not say old, rather we can say more experienced, more matured, wiser, it will be kind of respect to his/her age..
Thanks for sharing.
Welcome always. 
Cheers. 
Professor
Cheers.
Professor
@jhyan007 (467)
• Philippines
30 Aug 10
...i agree, it takes good choice of words to do that..every word you utter has its impact to the person you are saying those words to...so before we say what we think, it would be better to think twice if it worth it and if we will hurt someone's feeling or not..
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
You are right. An old person must not be introduced as old. You must use other terms as elderly or some other adjective:). I used to use this term before, But my husband pointed it out to me and since then, I use the world Elderly.
@liweiwei0909 (403)
• China
30 Aug 10
Everyone have some defects. And most of us would feel inferior on our defect. Talk about the defect to sb just like to expose his scars.
@shearry18 (118)
• Davao, Philippines
30 Aug 10
I agree. In other words , people should shut up their mouths and zip it if there are no good words coming out from it. Be sensitive enough to the feelings of others or you can basically think it this way, what if you are the one being embarrassed? Will it hurt yourself? Will it hurt your feelings? Ofcourse YES. AGAIN just be sensitive enough =)
