Old People or Senior Citizens? I Refuse to be Politically Correct
By josefina
@josie_ (10037)
Philippines
April 11, 2016 8:22pm CST
I'm sick and tired of all this political correctness B.S. I will be getting my "senior citizen" card but don't call me a senior citizen. What's wrong with "old people"? Senior citizen sounds so impersonal. But "old people" brings back fond memories of the old hometown, visit to grandparents, children playfully pulling on grandpa's whiskers, the smell of grandma's home-cooking.
"Senior" should be use to define a class, rank, or length of tenure and service. NOT human beings.
What comes to mind when you hear the word "old"? Tradition, vintage wine, Golden oldies (not the noise being popularize today as music), lifelong friendship, wisdom that only come with age, skills gain from experience, anything that is authentic and honest to goodness.
No, I won't be offended if you call me "old". I jog regularly and I would probably leave you behind eating my dust.
18 people like this
18 responses
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@Lucky15 but i thought 'manang' is like 'ate' (older sister) in ilocano, unlike here in metro manila where 'manang' has a negative connotation.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
My husband and I could not wait till we reach sixty but we have to wait for few months more. Age is only a number, if you know how to take care of yourself you won't even feel you are old. I wonder why so many people are embarrassed to be called seniors when it carries a lot of benefit. For us, it means we will start receiving our monthly pension from SSS, we will get 20 percent discount on selected purchases, we can avail of the priority lanes and the respect and love that we get from people around.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@salonga _Don't forget free pass to movie theaters (although I haven't been in one for over a decade) Actually some people get irritated when the person in front of them in a check out counter is a "senior citizen", paper work process slows down the lane's movement. No need to be embarrass about aging. Old people still contribute a lot to society.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
12 Apr 16
I'm an old woman and kind of proud of it. Not every woman attains that! I do use the term "senior citizen" when writing certain things because people expect one to be PC, but I never refer to myself as one and don't refer to anyone else that way any other time.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@JudyEv _We are overly cautious of offending "Old people" but as you commented, it really does not matter. Young people may be surprise at the thick skin we have acquired that protects us from the sling and arrows of outrageous rudeness. Besides we bring with us a bagful of clever comebacks to shoot back.
1 person likes this
@badpenny (741)
• Lancaster, Texas
13 Apr 16
I'm not old. I'm just from another era, where people treated each other with respect for the most part, but times were turbulent. I'll be 59 this fall, and the only part I regret is that my beloved Earl couldn't be here with me to celebrate. We had a last thanksgiving, Christmas and valentine's day together. And we spent most of every waking moment side by side his last months after the doctors said there was no hope for survival. We were told he needed to go home and wait to die. We chose to keep living life till the very end. His last day we spent on our deck in the sunshine, and we remained there long after sunset, until it got too cool for him. Then we came in, and we watched TV together till bedtime, curled up together and kissed each other and said goodnight, I love you, as we did every night. The next morning he was gone.
My point is that there is no old as long as one has a fresh young mind. And the term senior citizen is supposed to be one of respect and honor. It's not demeaning in any way.....
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
13 Apr 16
@badpenny _Thank you for sharing with us this very personal and obviously painful event in your life. I had a lump in my throat reading how you spend your final moments together. To be honest, I felt like an intruder to your privacy, and yet came out of it feeling touch by the love and affection you and your beloved Earl had for each other.
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
I apologise in advance, i won't call you an old person or even a senior citizen...i'll address you as an elderly! How's that? Just kidding.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@josie_ True! Laughter is the best medicine and i'm glad i could give them to you! Cheers!
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@toniganzon _No apology needed. I like to kid around too. Keeps me from becoming a "senior citizen"
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@toniganzon _That's one medicine I don't mind taking daily. But we should only take small dosages at a time, unless you want a bellyache.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
i think for others 'senior' means more experienced, possesses more knowledge/wisdom, like a veteran of a certain career, skill or life as a whole, while 'old' is just advanced in age.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@josie_ same - more experienced, knowledgeable, wiser.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
12 Apr 16
i'm lucky if'n i can walk most days, so'll leave that joggin' up to ya, lol. i don't give a flip what folks call me - old, senior, ancient... but i reckon if'n i was forced into a choice, it'd be 'well seasoned' :D
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@crazyhorseladycx _ What a great alternative word for old people. "Well seasoned", tempered with age, flavored with a pinch of saltiness and just peppery enough to spice things up.
1 person likes this
@Yar_Joey (3271)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
Being misconstrued as a senior citizen somehow affects the adults especially if they are called as such because they have white hair showing, or baldness starts. I don't think the senior citizens should also be referred to as old people, because eventually, all of us will pass that stage. Besides, there are senior citizens who are more productive than the young adults now.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
30 Aug 16
Some people think it is so polite to use the term, but it can be offending sometimes, as if being old has a negative meaning. Don't they think seniors are lucky for reaching that age? Life is short, they should think about it.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
1 Sep 16
@josie_ yes, it could be so hurting to be called such.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
1 Sep 16
@acelawrites _ I don't mind being called "old" as long as they don't include the word "senile"
1 person likes this
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
12 Apr 16
You probably would outrun me if we went jogging!
Your post makes me laugh. It's nice to not worry about being offended. Age is rather relative anyway. Sometimes my eighty-five year old grandmother will describe someone as a "little old lady/man," when I know the person she's referring to must me ten years younger than she is.
1 person likes this
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
12 Apr 16
@josie_ Haha, if you kept it at a brisk walk, that would be great. You're right, I do adore my grandmother. She's a big part of my life; and really turns the idea of being old on its head. Old lady is a compliment for her.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@puddleglum _More power to your grandma.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@puddleglum _I could slow down my pace?. I believe you adore your grandma. The way your grandmother use "little old lady/man" to my mind is a term of endearment.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32644)
• Calgary, Alberta
18 Apr 16
My dad is a cheater, he managed to have a senior citzen card at age 45. Well he is a real senior citezen now but he managed to get his card early because he had full white hair at age 33.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51896)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
Nothing wrong with being old, it's just part of the growing process. I used to think of the things i could be when i grow up but now I just do my best to live day by day. Sometimes It makes me look older the more i worry about it.
my mom never had a problem being called senior, how ever, if you the store DARES to deny her senior citizen benefit, she would go berserk!
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10037)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
@Letranknight2015 _ Some consider old age the dying process while others continue living life to the fullest. It's the difference between depression and contentment. The choice is ours.
1 person likes this