Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Frail and doddery










There's a plethora of stereotypes about older people, most of which are nonsense - or at least they apply to some oldies but not to others. For example:

  • We're dripping with wealth
  • We're frail and doddery
  • We're overwhelming the NHS
  • We don't like young people
  • We're living in the past
  • We're intolerant right-wingers
  • We're terrified we'll be mugged - or burgled
  • We drone on about our medical problems
Well, let me see now. How many of these stereotypes apply to myself?

  • Dripping with wealth? I'm well-off but not wealthy
  • Frail and doddery? Not yet. Still pretty healthy
  • Overwhelming the NHS? I hardly ever need a doctor
  • Don't like young people? Only if they're stupid or nasty
  • Living in the past? I've been on the internet for decades
  • Intolerant right-winger? I'm a dyed-in-the-wool leftie
  • Terrified I'll be mugged? Not in this low-crime neighbourhood
  • Medical droning? I never mention my health issues to others
Stereotypes are just that, aren't they? One-sided clichés that never give you the full picture of anything. Stereotypes of young people are just as one-sided and incomplete as the stereotypes of oldies.

The stereotype that really annoys me is the idea that we oldies are overwhelming the NHS. If the NHS was properly funded, properly staffed, and properly equipped with up-to-date machines and technology, then it would cope very well, oldies and all.

Well, we can dream....

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10 comments:

  1. Bijoux19 February 2025 at 20:14

    The only stereotype that I notice to be true is the constant talk of medical problems. My friends began doing it in their 50's and while I'm empathetic, it gets old quickly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nick20 February 2025 at 07:52

      Bijoux: Yes, we're old, yes, we have a few health issues. And now for something more interesting....

      Delete
  2. Joanne Noragon20 February 2025 at 01:10

    Some folks just drone on -- and on and on and on. Any subject, their version. I tend to wander off.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nick20 February 2025 at 07:53

      Joanne: A sensible response. Some people just like the sound of their own voices.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous20 February 2025 at 05:57

    My dad called those medical dronings "organ concerts".
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ms Scarlet20 February 2025 at 12:02

    I have some friends who are very poorly right now. I think they do their best not to drone on.
    To be fair, getting older is sometimes like watching some awful horror film!
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nick20 February 2025 at 17:05

      Ms Scarlet: If you have some really serious illness, it seems fair enough to talk about it.

      Delete
  5. Sandra20 February 2025 at 16:35

    Age hit me four years ago. I will complain at times, how can I not? Drone on, I hope not. Otherwise, none of that fits me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nick20 February 2025 at 17:09

      Sandra: It's hard not to talk about things that are very much on your mind. But of course other people have different concerns.

      Delete

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