Verbal abuse of elderly people - is it ever justified? I think it is.

[02GF74]

In this modern PC world, abuse should be hurled out equally at all ages otherwsie it is discrimination.

You were 100% in being abusive, it does not take an Einstein to realsie shoving a stick into traffic may end in tears.


..... and whilst we are on this topic, why do pensiors clutter the town centre post offices and banks to collect their pension money timed to perfection to clash with those who are in full time employment and are only able to get to the aformentioned places in that time slot?

Can't wait till I get old, I'll get a wheelchair whether I need it or not and drive it into the ankles of unsuspecting pedestrians, clog up the post office and be a general nuisnace. Oh happy days to come!

that's me that is!! >>>>

 

[punkypossum]

It pivoted upwards in an arc and missed my head by a hair's breadth only because I saw it coming at the very last moment and ducked slightly. Had I been wearing a helmet, his stick would have connected.

There, that finally proves it - helmets are clearly dangerous!!!

 

[MickL]

I much prefer to say " I say old bean, steady on!" :-)

 

[hackbike 666]

Only one problem here Betty.You will be an old fart one day.

 

[PaulB]

Everyone makes the odd mistake regardless of age - some trivial and some serious but they are mistakes. Why do some people have to resort to abuse?

BECAUSE THEY JUST F***ING DO, ALRIGHT!!!!!

 

[Maz]

He sounds like a dottled old f***er to me.

Yeah, but what about the old boy walkin his dog?

 

[Globalti]

It's absolutely unforgivable to abuse an elderly person. Generally they still live in an era when people trusted each other and were civilised and polite, no matter how false that may have been. Shouting at them will shock them and may cause them considerable concern, which may bother them for a long time. In any case they deserve your respect because they have been around longer than you; you will demand respect from young people when you reach their age, even when you make mistakes.

Unless they are abusive towards you (as some are without doubt) the best way to deal with a mistake like that is a laughing "Whoops! Nearly got me there Sir/Madam". I'm sure you'll receive a profuse apology.

 

[col]

It's absolutely unforgivable to abuse an elderly person. Generally they still live in an era when people trusted each other and were civilised and polite, no matter how false that may have been. Shouting at them will shock them and may cause them considerable concern, which may bother them for a long time. In any case they deserve your respect because they have been around longer than you; you will demand respect from young people when you reach their age, even when you make mistakes.

Unless they are abusive towards you (as some are without doubt) the best way to deal with a mistake like that is a laughing "Whoops! Nearly got me there Sir/Madam". I'm sure you'll receive a profuse apology.

Well said, they have been through allsorts in their lives and have come out of it a grand age, they should be respected and treat accordingly. And anyone mistreating the elderly wants hung up by their tender bits and soundly thrashed.

 

[Hover Fly]

Personally, I hope the old geezer and some of his cronies are waiting for Sweaty to pass that way again. They will give him one good swipe across the back, which will cause Sweaty to accelerate, but, seriously winded, he won't get far before the pack falls on him and tear him from his bike, then they will mercilessly thrash him as he cowers on the ground, while the fattest of the gang dances up and down on his bike wheels.

 

[User482]

It's absolutely unforgivable to abuse an elderly person. Generally they still live in an era when people trusted each other and were civilised and polite, no matter how false that may have been. Shouting at them will shock them and may cause them considerable concern, which may bother them for a long time. In any case they deserve your respect because they have been around longer than you; you will demand respect from young people when you reach their age, even when you make mistakes.

Unless they are abusive towards you (as some are without doubt) the best way to deal with a mistake like that is a laughing "Whoops! Nearly got me there Sir/Madam". I'm sure you'll receive a profuse apology.

Oh, I don't know, isn't that a sweeping generalisation? It's not exactly unknown for old people to be extremely rude...

I would say that reacting to the stupidity mentioned in the OP, in the heat of the moment, is perfectly forgivable. Not so if the abuse is pre-meditated.

 

[col]

Oh, I don't know, isn't that a sweeping generalisation? It's not exactly unknown for old people to be extremely rude...

I would say that reacting to the stupidity mentioned in the OP, in the heat of the moment, is perfectly forgivable. Not so if the abuse is pre-meditated.

Anyone who has a knee jerk reaction of being abusive to the elderly making a mistake should not be forgiven.
And if an elderly person wants to be rude to me, they can be, they have earned a lot more than that right.

 

[Dayvo]

You could have just said, "please be more carefull.

Please be more fukkin' careful would have sufficed!

 

[User482]

Anyone who has a knee jerk reaction of being abusive to the elderly making a mistake should not be forgiven.
And if an elderly person wants to be rude to me, they can be, they have earned a lot more than that right.

It's perfectly reasonable in the circumstances quoted in the OP. The OP reacted verbally to being put in danger by a stupid act. And I don't understand why an elderly person is worthy of special treatment because of their age. People earn the right to respect because of what they do, not how old they are. Now, in many cases, with age comes wisdom and politeness, both things to respect, but this isn't a given.

 

[betty swollocks]

It's absolutely unforgivable to abuse an elderly person. Generally they still live in an era when people trusted each other and were civilised and polite, no matter how false that may have been. Shouting at them will shock them and may cause them considerable concern, which may bother them for a long time. In any case they deserve your respect because they have been around longer than you; you will demand respect from young people when you reach their age, even when you make mistakes.

Unless they are abusive towards you (as some are without doubt) the best way to deal with a mistake like that is a laughing "Whoops! Nearly got me there Sir/Madam". I'm sure you'll receive a profuse apology.

Ahhh: between being clonked by the stick and my natural instinct to abuse my assailant, I should have paused to ask for proof of age, in order to find out first whether they qualified for the forthcoming tirade?
BTW I'm elderly too.

Were you being ironic?

 

[ComedyPilot]

You get respect by your actions, not your age. Thoughtlessly flaying a stick around is deserving of at least a mild rebuke.