How do you feel about the term "senior"?

[ellenrr]

I hate it!
I remember some 20 years ago, when I was in my 40's, a friend who was around 70 at the time, told me how she hated the term.
I heard her, and I tried to comprehend, but at the time it didn't mean much.
Now I understand.

I prefer the term "elder".

What are your thots?

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I'm the opposite. I'm fine with 'senior', but don't like 'elder'.

[classof56]

5. I'm with you.

Pretty much resent being called "elder" or "elderly", even though it's accurate, I suppose, since I'm now in my 70s. But "senior" is fine with me, especially when it comes to those "senior discounts". Never turn them down, and no one's asked me for ID in quite awhile now.

Cheers!

[No Vested Interest]

18. I agree with sinkingfeeling.

Last edited Fri Apr 10, 2015, 02:24 PM - Edit history (1)

I've noticed that newspaper writers, when speaking of people past ca 65, often refer to them as elderly:
" An elderly driver crashed..."
" An elderly woman is missing..."
"Elderly" conjures up frailty, a person bent over by age, etc.

[ellenrr]

25. "elder" is what I said, not "elderly"

Indigenous tribes often call their elders, elders.
It connotes wisdom, respect.

"Senior" is a brand manufactured by consumer society so they call sell things to "seniors".

There is a perfectly good use for the word "senior" --
someone in their last year of high school or college.

[Turbineguy]

2. I prefer

"Old Dude" as in.... "yeah, I got this Old Dude in the store and he has a question!"

[marble falls]

3. Geezer works for me.

[left-of-center2012]

4. I am what I am

I have no problem with being called a senior citizen.

[RebelOne]

6. I prefe the term "senior" rather than "old lady" or "old woman." n/t

[elleng]

7. I prefer 'senior' to elder.

I appreciated it when the cardiologist I met with this week called to tell me my heart's in fine shape, and noted the expected 'changes' that occur as we age. Sorry, I don't recall the word he used, but he apologized for mentioning the issue. (I suspect he's not very far from my age, but just guessing.) I thanked him, and told him it's better than the alternative.

[No Vested Interest]

8. "Senior" doesn't bother me. "Elderly" would be worse, though true.

My hair has be "colored" for half my age, as the grey I was getting didn't do well in job interviews at the time with HR much younger than I.
Luckily, few facial wrinkles (though the neck is looking not so great) leads most to think I'm younger than I am.

But the body is slower and ungraceful, combined with poor vision (cataracts that will be removed likely in the spring).

So I often tell people my age, but not on a forum such as DU, where many would automatically discount the thoughts of a "senior".

[Crewleader]

9. I prefer years young

[SheilaT]

10. I'm fine with it.

I'm 66, and I still sometimes call myself middle aged, which really isn't true.

I truly despise it when someone says, "I'm x number of years young." Really? Really? If you're ten years old then you're fifty years old, then 80 years old. You are NEVER so many years young.

[Crewleader]

11. I say years young in good humor

I am 60 and I'm OK with being called a Senior....

[SheilaT]

12. Sometimes I get more annoyed than I should.

I look approximately my age, plus or minus a few years, and I am NOT flattered when someone tries to pretend I'm 25. I AM flattered when they think I'm a bit younger than I am.

Gotta stop being so crabby.

[No Vested Interest]

13. I had to laugh yesterday when I stopped at the mini-nurse station in Kroger

and asked obliquely about a flu shot.
The sweet young thing said "For people over 65 we recommend going to the pharmacy because they give a stronger dose there."

Well, I'm unknown in the mini-nurse station, but, obviously I'm no longer fooling anyone about my age anymore.
I'm well past 65, but have felt pretty good that people usually have said when they know I'm well past 70, "You don't look it".

I guess even that phase is ending.

[Smarmie Doofus]

14. I prefer "senior" to "senior citizen".... which drips with euphemism and patronization.

I look a little younger than my actual age ( 60) and really don't get called either yet.

Some one called me "young man" a few months ago. That was the first of, I guess, many more of those to come.

Occasionally I've gotten a "pops" from some of the younger... usually Latino... guys around here.

Think it's because it's close to "popi." It's said in a friendly tone, so I don't mind it.

[ImaPolitico]

17. I look much younger that I am.

My mother, when she was 85 yrs. old, looked 65 yrs old. She absolutely look great for her age. She still had her girlish figure. I was so proud of her. When we were out in public together, people were absolutely amazed when for some reason her age came up in conversation. They never could believe her real age when told. I am very lucky that I have inherited my dear mother's genes. I, too get the same treatment as my mom did. (Lucky me.)

It is very disrespectful to call a senior "old Timer" or "young man."
I would never, ever say that to an older man. I was taught to respect my elders and that I do.

[SheilaT]

15. Some years back (twenty, now that I think of it)

I was getting a cup of coffee at a McDonald's, and the 16 year old behind the counter said, "That will be twenty-seven cents." I said, "I thought it was fifty-three cents." She responded, "Oh, senior discount," and then actually looked at me and suddenly looked horrified as she realized I wasn't really quite as old as she'd thought. I was 46 at the time.

When I'd tell the story back then, friends would ask, "Weren't you offended?" No, I wasn't, because I remember being not very much older than that girl, and in a job where we could offer a senior discount, and invariably offending people because I was too young to see much difference between 46 and 66. I actually thought it hilarious when it happened, and put the extra quarter I'd thought I'd be spending on the coffee into the Ronald McDonald box.

[ellenrr]

24. I agree. I had a neighbor, young man around 20 yrs old,

we were friendly. He was an immigrant from China. One day he told me I reminded him of his grandmother.
When I told someone that, they said, "oh were't you offended?"

Not at all.
first, I could be the grandmother of someone who is 20, easily.

but more so - he had told me how he misses his grandmother (who is in China) and I took it as a compliment that I reminded him of someone he obviously likes.

[ImaPolitico]

16. *My Pet Peeve*

More and more especially in the super mart, cashiers refer to me as "Dear" or "Honey." People tell me that is an endearment. To me it is NOT. I resent that. It makes my blood boil.
To me that is just talking down to me and shows no respect. What is a nice way to let them know.

[No Vested Interest]

21. Sorry, I would likely offend you, as I have developed the habit

of calling many people, male and female, of all ages, "honey".

I believe it has something to do with my memory for names being somewhat compromised in my later years, as well as my general articularization (is that a word)? being slower than it once was.

[ellenrr]

23. to me, it depends. Sometimes for sure as you say, it comes with condencension,

but most of the time, It feels to me like an affectionate term, and I don't mind it.

there is so much unfriendliness and incivility, that I don't mind this term.

How to let them know?
Just say you prefer not to be addressed as dear or honey.

(Usually when it is from a woman, who is over 50, I don't mind.
from young men, I always mind.)

[ImaPolitico]

19. It's called "Elderspeak." I don't like it!

http://patients.about.com/b/2010/08/26/dont-call-me-honey.htm

[ImaPolitico]

20. The term is ELDERSPEAK

So many articles out there on aging/belittling senior citizens. It is called "Elderspeak."

This article below sums it up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/us/07aging.html?_r=0

People who use these phrases really need to get their act together. They must know seniors do not like to be belittled withe their *elderspeak *. That's exactly what it is.

[blackcrow]

22. I hate elderly and young woman

Although the latter is usually from well intentioned men of a certain age, so I take it as it's intended.

Senior to me means benefits like a discount at RiteAid. I am all for discounts.

[Hekate]

26. Senior discount, please! It's just kind of a generic term, and I don't mind. Don't call me ...

...an old lady, though.

[mopinko]

27. just dont call me young lady or any of that crap.

obviously i am not young. obviously for this to be a joke, i must obviously not be young. get it? dont make obvious jokes. we all know how old we are.

[olddots]

28. I still can't get used to being called sir or mister

Being called grandpa annoys me even though I love being a grandpa .
Hey what was the question again .......?

[Silver Gaia]

29. If the term "elder" was being used in the sense you described,

then I would be OK with that. But as someone else pointed out, it generally calls up visions of being frail, etc., so I don't care for it. I'm a senior. That's fine. And I'm also a wise elder. But I'm not frail, and I don't feel elderly. I just dug up and transplanted five rose bushes taller than I am today, all by myself. There's nothing frail about me. Thank goodness!

[LiberalElite]

30. Senior doesn't bother me - elder seems a bit forced - we don't value elders in this society

I noticed as I aged that gradually the term strangers (e.g., cashiers) used to address me evolved from "Miss" 100% of the time to
- Miss/Ma'am 75/25% then
- half and half Miss/Ma'am, to
- 75/25 Ma'am/Miss, then
-100% Ma'am and
now finally I've gone beyond Miss/Ma'am to: Sweetie, Hon or Dear. Sometimes it annoys me and I respond with "I must look old today." Hispanics tend to call me "Mami" but I like that.