3 ms·

Not that I don't know some great older folks, but I've also encountered my fair share of racist, narrow-minded old farts.

jakebasile 9y ago
I'm trying to understand what value you thought this anecdote added to the conversation.
- gggdvnkhmbgjvbn 9y ago
  On hn your reply must oppose its parent comment or at least be snarky (like this comment of mine)
- TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
  It's a counter to the idea that old people would be great mentors to the younger generation. If a bunch of them are racist old farts, then they won't exactly be good mentors. As an aside, I've been seeing a lot of people use the term "racist" as a phrase for those who prefer certain cultural values. There is a difference between race and culture.
  - jakebasile 9y ago
    OP never said all older people would be good mentors, they said older people would be good mentors. Leaving out the all means the reply bringing racism into the conversation is completely unnecessary, adds nothing to the conversation, and just shows closed mindedness with just a hair of ironic ageism.
    - TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
      Here we go with more -isms. Noting that older generations tend to be more racist is not ageism, it's just a trend. Just like how noting that Asian Americans make more money on average than whites isn't racism, it's just the way things are. You are right about me saying "all" when OP didn't actually say that. I've edited my comment, thank you for the constructive criticism.
3131s 9y ago
I wonder if the benefit of interaction between young and old works both ways. Where I live now and in many countries, older people are much more integrated into society than in the US (e.g. extended families living together, grandmas cooking food around the market, grandparents monitoring the younger kids while the parents are working). I used to hardly ever interact with old people, but now I do every day. Some of the friendliest people in my neighborhood include a very elderly lady who counts the money and makes change where I buy coffee every morning (she has tremors, and has maybe had a stroke, but still has a function in society) and another older women who rides in on a bicycle carrying a large basket of really excellent fruit. I definitely think having a purpose, even if it's because poverty requires everyone to pitch in regardless of their limited abilities, does tend to keep people happier and more social as they age.

jakebasile 9y ago

I'm trying to understand what value you thought this anecdote added to the conversation.

gggdvnkhmbgjvbn 9y ago
On hn your reply must oppose its parent comment or at least be snarky (like this comment of mine)
TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
It's a counter to the idea that old people would be great mentors to the younger generation. If a bunch of them are racist old farts, then they won't exactly be good mentors. As an aside, I've been seeing a lot of people use the term "racist" as a phrase for those who prefer certain cultural values. There is a difference between race and culture.
- jakebasile 9y ago
  OP never said all older people would be good mentors, they said older people would be good mentors. Leaving out the all means the reply bringing racism into the conversation is completely unnecessary, adds nothing to the conversation, and just shows closed mindedness with just a hair of ironic ageism.
  - TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
    Here we go with more -isms. Noting that older generations tend to be more racist is not ageism, it's just a trend. Just like how noting that Asian Americans make more money on average than whites isn't racism, it's just the way things are. You are right about me saying "all" when OP didn't actually say that. I've edited my comment, thank you for the constructive criticism.

3131s 9y ago

I wonder if the benefit of interaction between young and old works both ways. Where I live now and in many countries, older people are much more integrated into society than in the US (e.g. extended families living together, grandmas cooking food around the market, grandparents monitoring the younger kids while the parents are working). I used to hardly ever interact with old people, but now I do every day. Some of the friendliest people in my neighborhood include a very elderly lady who counts the money and makes change where I buy coffee every morning (she has tremors, and has maybe had a stroke, but still has a function in society) and another older women who rides in on a bicycle carrying a large basket of really excellent fruit. I definitely think having a purpose, even if it's because poverty requires everyone to pitch in regardless of their limited abilities, does tend to keep people happier and more social as they age.