Ageism Called Out
I often joke that 100 years from now I hope people are saying, ‘Dang, she looks good for her age!’
~Dolly Parton
Aging in Place
Have you ever had this experience? You are in a conversation and you say something—suddenly a conversation participant abruptly interjects: “You’re dating yourself!” And it is usually followed by light chuckles. Hell, I have even caught myself preempting a statement with “this will probably date me but…”
This seems to be a baby boomer phenomenon because to “date oneself” might sound strange to younger cohorts. They might misinterpret the meaning and think you took yourself out to dinner and a movie!
When in actuality, a prerequisite to date oneself is having lived long enough to have created historical context.
Several humorous suggestions That I found:
“Dating myself” means that I am saying something that reveals my age and makes me look old. My remark inadvertently indicates what “date” I belong to.
Like asking a clerk at the store, “Does that come in VHS?” VHS have not been popular in a very long time. Only older people would even think about getting something in VHS.
The other day a coworker nurse told me her patient commented to her; “Hey, that guy (me) has 80’s hair!”
My first thought was I must look dated…LOL!
We are aged by culture. Don’t buy in.
I’m calling myself out here…
See