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

[col]

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.

How do you know what they have and havnt done? To point out a mistake in a polite way is one thing, but if you wont or cant make allowances for the elderly and still give them a telling off then something is extremely wrong with your attitude. A lot of elderly have problems which are not apparent, but dont you worry about that, its obvious you dont anyway.

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

That may have just been the case, thoughtlessly, but hey they still deserve a telling off dont they, my god what is the world coming to?

 

[oxbob]

PMSL, i have this problem every week taking my mother to tesco/lidl

 

[ComedyPilot]

That may have just been the case, thoughtlessly, but hey they still deserve a telling off dont they, my god what is the world coming to?

Well, a little bit of thought went into it. They saw a person they knew driving a passing car. They then thought, 'Hey, that's Joe Bloggs, I'll wave my stick at them in acknowledgement'

Where the lack of thought (and any risk assessment) came in was about the length of the stick, its arcing radius when waved, and the proximity of what might be hit in the ensuing waving motion, i.e the passing cyclist.

I said mild rebuke, you said telling off. Potato/potarto/tomato/tomarto.

In life we gain experience and learn things. If the old person has got to this point in life without understanding the physics of moving objects and their affect on obejcts in their proximity, then yes, they should be told. How else will they learn?

People in general (not just old people) give little hindsight to their movements. For example Col, how many times have you gone to pass someone in the street/supermarket etc, and they've just turned in front of you without looking? I do them all the time, they're called life-savers, a quick glance over the shoulder before you go. Obviously not as critical in the street, but symptomatic of someone with no spacial awareness, or aforthought to their actions impeding someone else.

I do them all the time, was taught to when I learnt to ride a bike/motorbike/fly/ski/skydive. You are about to go in a certain direction - how about LOOKING to see if it's clear? Same principle with waving a stick IMO.

If you've got to the ripe old age you got to last week without this happening, then you've been lucky.

This is exactly what's happened. The old bloke has not looked at all and just waved the stick. If he had looked, seen the cyclist and still done it, then perhaps a shower of juice from a drinks bottle might have been more appropriate.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Doddering old bastard deserves eveything you can throw at him.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Doddering old bastard deserves eveything you can throw at him.

RT, can you get off the fence and tell us what you think?

 

[Speicher]

I criticised an elderly relative once about his driving, so much so that he ended up nearly in tears. I consider it was justified criticism, as he had driven into the back of a stationary double decker bright red bus. My concern was that the next thing he would drive into, might be someone's young child.

 

[Headgardener]

I criticised an elderly relative once about his driving, so much so that he ended up nearly in tears. I consider it was justified criticism, as he had driven into the back of a stationary double decker bright red bus. My concern was that the next thing he would drive into, might be someone's young child.

Was it a Midland Red bus. Seriously though "oi! careful mate" should be all that is required.

 

[betty swollocks]

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.

Gee Hoverfly: thanks for your kind message overflowing with sym and em-pathy.

 

[Hover Fly]

Get a headcam, I want to see it on youtube.

 

[col]

Well, a little bit of thought went into it. They saw a person they knew driving a passing car. They then thought, 'Hey, that's Joe Bloggs, I'll wave my stick at them in acknowledgement'

Where the lack of thought (and any risk assessment) came in was about the length of the stick, its arcing radius when waved, and the proximity of what might be hit in the ensuing waving motion, i.e the passing cyclist.

I said mild rebuke, you said telling off. Potato/potarto/tomato/tomarto.

In life we gain experience and learn things. If the old person has got to this point in life without understanding the physics of moving objects and their affect on obejcts in their proximity, then yes, they should be told. How else will they learn?

People in general (not just old people) give little hindsight to their movements. For example Col, how many times have you gone to pass someone in the street/supermarket etc, and they've just turned in front of you without looking? I do them all the time, they're called life-savers, a quick glance over the shoulder before you go. Obviously not as critical in the street, but symptomatic of someone with no spacial awareness, or aforthought to their actions impeding someone else.

I do them all the time, was taught to when I learnt to ride a bike/motorbike/fly/ski/skydive. You are about to go in a certain direction - how about LOOKING to see if it's clear? Same principle with waving a stick IMO.

If you've got to the ripe old age you got to last week without this happening, then you've been lucky.

This is exactly what's happened. The old bloke has not looked at all and just waved the stick. If he had looked, seen the cyclist and still done it, then perhaps a shower of juice from a drinks bottle might have been more appropriate.

I criticised an elderly relative once about his driving, so much so that he ended up nearly in tears. I consider it was justified criticism, as he had driven into the back of a stationary double decker bright red bus. My concern was that the next thing he would drive into, might be someone's young child.

They deserve more than your willing to give it seems, what if he didnt see the cyclist as he was concentrating on the car?, but then hey its an elderly person, they should know better eh? And all that explaining doesnt excuse your attitude to the aged either, believe it or not most people dont go into so much detail about what they have accidentally done while doing it, they are not as pedantic as that and just make mistakes.

Speicher, I wholeheartedly agree when its needed, but we are on about reacting to the elderly when they make a mistake on the street that involves a cyclist like the op. Which is beyond excuse, its absolutely abhorent.

 

[Ashtrayhead]

Well, a little bit of thought went into it. They saw a person they knew driving a passing car. They then thought, 'Hey, that's Joe Bloggs, I'll wave my stick at them in acknowledgement'

Where the lack of thought (and any risk assessment) came in was about the length of the stick, its arcing radius when waved, and the proximity of what might be hit in the ensuing waving motion, i.e the passing cyclist.

I said mild rebuke, you said telling off. Potato/potarto/tomato/tomarto.

In life we gain experience and learn things. If the old person has got to this point in life without understanding the physics of moving objects and their affect on obejcts in their proximity, then yes, they should be told. How else will they learn?

People in general (not just old people) give little hindsight to their movements. For example Col, how many times have you gone to pass someone in the street/supermarket etc, and they've just turned in front of you without looking? I do them all the time, they're called life-savers, a quick glance over the shoulder before you go. Obviously not as critical in the street, but symptomatic of someone with no spacial awareness, or aforthought to their actions impeding someone else.

I do them all the time, was taught to when I learnt to ride a bike/motorbike/fly/ski/skydive. You are about to go in a certain direction - how about LOOKING to see if it's clear? Same principle with waving a stick IMO.

If you've got to the ripe old age you got to last week without this happening, then you've been lucky.

This is exactly what's happened. The old bloke has not looked at all and just waved the stick. If he had looked, seen the cyclist and still done it, then perhaps a shower of juice from a drinks bottle might have been more appropriate.

Can you get stick waving lessons and risk assessment forms?
Or do we just accept that everybody, not just the elderly, will at some time or another probably act in an impulsive manner that causes mild inconvenience.

 

[ComedyPilot]

They deserve more than your willing to give it seems, what if he didnt see the cyclist as he was concentrating on the car?, but then hey its an elderly person, they should know better eh? And all that explaining doesnt excuse your attitude to the aged either, believe it or not most people dont go into so much detail about what they have accidentally done while doing it, they are not as pedantic as that and just make mistakes.

My attitude to old people?

All I wrote was mild rebuke and spray them with drink if the stick was deliberately swung. Quite a few posts were more damning of the elderly than I was.

Unless I am missing something???

All's well though, Betty Swollocks still has a head on his shoulders, and no-one was hurt.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Can you get stick waving lessons and risk assessment forms?
Or do we just accept that everybody, not just the elderly, will at some time or another probably act in an impulsive manner that causes mild inconvenience.

Don't be silly, you know exactly what I meant.

If you re-read my post you will see that I stated 'people in general, NOT JUST OLD PEOPLE, give little hindsight to their movements'

 

[col]

My attitude to old people?

All I wrote was mild rebuke and spray them with drink if the stick was deliberately swung. Quite a few posts were more damning of the elderly than I was.

Unless I am missing something???

All's well though, Betty Swollocks still has a head on his shoulders, and no-one was hurt.

What is a mild rebuke? just the fact rebuke is there seems to give the impression of more than a smile and a wave, and if I witnessed anyone spraying an elderly person with their drink because they made a mistake someone didnt like, Id get the bottle as far up the persons arse they wouldnt need a straw to drink it with.

And that would apply to someone thinking they can raise their voice to an elderly person telling them off in public too.

 

[ComedyPilot]

What is a mild rebuke? just the fact rebuke is there seems to give the impression of more than a smile and a wave, and if I witnessed anyone spraying an elderly person with their drink because they made a mistake someone didnt like, Id get the bottle as far up the persons arse they wouldnt need a straw to drink it with.

And if you re-read my post, I wrote that if the stick was deliberately swung, then a splash of juice would be justifiable.

What you are saying is that any mistake would be squirted on, which is not what I wrote.