Why do "some" older people think they can do anything they want?

[Papa Deuce]

I don't think it has anything to do with age. Bad manners come in all ages. Why did she bother asking if you were watching it if she wasn't going to pay any attention to your answer?

Oh, and va32h, my waiting room has cable, too. But I don't keep patients waiting long enough for them to really care. Nobody would get to see a whole episode of Law and Order, that's for sure.

This was a special case. They are USUALLY great about keeping things moving. But also, her treatment takes an hour so I would have waited at least that long anyway. I was in there 2.5 hours, or close.

 

[Papa Deuce]

My own grandma kind of has the attitude that she can do whatever she wants. She comments on whatever anybody eats (Oh, goodeats you had icecream? That's very fattening!), comments on people's gaining and losing weight, uses extremely politically incorrect language at times, etc. Of course I love her and respect her, but she sure can be a witch sometimes. I'm pretty sure she hasn't always been that way. I should ask my Dad!

I think you can get to the point where you just don't care what other people think anymore. And maybe they have gained that right?

Reminds me of the time my wife's mom was in the hospital. My wife's sister flew in from Charlotte to be there. My wife's aunt, who was about 80, was also in the hospital visiting my wife's mom.

My wife's sister is leaning over the hospital bed, talking to her mom, when "Aunt Jenny", who was sharp as a tack, says "Jo, I never knew your ( butt ) was so ( Gosh Dang ) big!"

 

[Twinkles6892]

I know an elderly person who is like this. I just don't understand it, so I mostly try to avoid her if at all possible. She'll say horrible things about people's weight, and she is in no way thin by any means. We were going into a restaurant one time and there was this bigger man coming out and she poked me and said "I certainly hope that he left some for us" Or she'll make a comment about people in our family, including me. Excuse me, we're all built like this, if you have a problem, then take it up with God, cause this is the way we're built. It drives me to no end

 

[mommaU4]

Good point. However you must have heard, at least once "I'm "x" years old and I damned well am going to do "x" if I want to"....

Like I said, it has happened in my family and my wife's family.

Oh yeah, I have heard that. My first job ever (16 and in high school) was as a waitress in a retirement home. UGH!! Some of them were so mean. There was one lady who made me cry. Don't remember what she said now, but I do remember the other waitresses telling me to spit in her soup!!

I'm not sure why some are like that. Alot of them were probably like that growing up, just mean from birth.

Maybe others have been treated badly. Our society doesn't hold the highest regard for the elderly the way others do, like China for example.

All I know is if I have to get older at least I have something to look forward to cause Lord knows I am going to be one mean old lady. The little whipper-snappers will all run when they see me coming! LOL

J/K

 

[Nana Annie]

Your mother's doctor's waiting room has cable? I am already too jealous to offer you any sympathy.

I do think when people get older they lose their ability to self-censor. Both my parents have said some incredibly insensitive things in public, much to my embarassment. I don't know if it's physiological, or if they just don't care how they are perceived anymore.

Not too long ago, I read a very interesting article on just that subject. That when people age, the part of the brain that controls inhibition deteriorates faster than other parts of the brain. That is why so many older folks "say what they feel", much to the chagrin of their children.

I will have to find the article and post the link.

 

[cardaway]

Not too long ago, I read a very interesting article on just that subject. That when people age, the part of the brain that controls inhibition deteriorates faster than other parts of the brain. That is why so many older folks "say what they feel", much to the chagrin of their children.

I will have to find the article and post the link.

Interesting. So there is a reason old guys think they can pinch young girls butts and get away with it.

 

[LoveWDW]

She was rude. I can't quite go along with the threat, but I wonder if she'll think twice next time instead of assuming that she is entitled.

 

[Michie]

Maybe she was feeling bad and was cranky? She was at the doctors office.

 

[angelam]

I can't believe the number of people who said she should have been allowed to change the channel! If I had been in a similar situation, I would have told her she was being rude. Why should her T.V watching needs be any more important than somebody elses? If you are watching a T.V. show in your home, would you allow your spouse, mother, or grandmother to come in and change the channel just because he/she wanted to watch something else? That is just disrespectful, no matter how old you are.

Angie

 

[Planogirl]

I had no idea that some of the crankiness was due to a physical cause. Luckily, my grandmothers and now, aunts seem as crankly as they ever were.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Hope I die before I get old....


Another one today!

I pull up to a gas pump at the Wawa. There are 12 pumps. If you pay cash you pay inside. As I get out of my car to go in and pay, a car pulls up right behind me. I think that is odd becasue there are at least 3 or 4 open pumps.

The line is long inside. I come out and I hear a horn blaring. As I get closer to my car I see it is an elderly lady leaning on the horn and she is in the car behind mine. She is the passenger. I don't see a driver. I look at her and she galres at me. I glare back.

I get to pumping my gas and I hear a voice behind me. It is obviously the man driving the car. He's about 70ish. He says "Thanks for making me wait jerk. Next time do it the right way"! Um, excuse me, but I did exactly what the sign on the pump says to do.

Now I was about ready to let loose a verbal tirade but I didn't. I took a deep breath and said, "Mister when you came in there were other pumps you could have gone to that were open and you chose to get in behind me" He starts to say somethiong back and I interupt him and say "You and your wife have a nice day now". Then I get back to pumping my gas, ignoring anything else he may have said.

As I pull off, he shoots me a final extended beep on the horn.

Besides acting like an idiot, how does he know that I'm not some lunatic that might have reached out and beat him up?

I swear, if I'm gonna be like that, just shoot me.

 

[eyeoreismyhero]

I can't believe the number of people who said she should have been allowed to change the channel!
Angie

I can!

 

[VSL]

My own grandma kind of has the attitude that she can do whatever she wants. She comments on whatever anybody eats (Oh, goodeats you had icecream? That's very fattening!), comments on people's gaining and losing weight, uses extremely politically incorrect language at times, etc.

That's exactly like my BF's nan!

She has said some truly shocking things, but the worst include:
- Saying to her GD (BF's cousin - about 6yrs old) while watching some ethnic dancers: 'Look ********! Look at the [insert racist word for black person here] dancers!'
- Saying to a boy who was playing with his mobile on a bus after 7/7 (while laughing and joking): 'I hope you're not a suicide bomber' (luckily, he took it in good faith... but I did later point out that he could have had relatives who were killed in the bombings, but she disagreed, claiming that he wouldn't have had relatives living in London, and then I pointed out that I do!)

She's a wild one. I think she's great (apart from the above!) but I think that the above are really a symptom of her generation (unfortunately).

It's quite funny because everyone is usually quite horrified when she says stuff, but I'm the worst.

 

[Stitchfans]

I treat people with respect who GIVE respect, not just because they are old. And, if she had asked me nicely, I probably would have said she could watch it. She NEVER asked me if she could change the channel. She just asked me if I was watching the TV. And even though I said yes, she decided that it was fine to ignore that fact.


It wasn't like I wouldda kicked her behind if she had actually changed the channel. My comment was more like a stern warning that she was being quite rude.

This is exactly how I feel. If you deserve my respect no matter what your age you will get it. But there is no reason for that woman to be so rude.

 

[Saffron]

I've never met a man in my life who has more problems with the elderly and children in public and I've lived on this planet 48 years.

That elderly woman may have been rude (I don't know, I tend to think you make up stuff to make yourself seem "cool" or "big" or something), but I can't imagine anyone in a waiting room hearing you say such things back to an elderly woman letting you get away with it. I would have gotten up and changed the channel for her at that point.

You tend to do the "two wrongs make a right" a lot.

Just my two cents. You want to post about what happened, you can expect all kinds of opinion in return.

 

[Feralpeg]

Maybe they are old and miserable. Who knows? Be the bigger person and let it go. Someday you will be old. Don't get there with an attitude or you will end up being the people you dislike so much now.

 

[LVSWL]

I can understand that you felt she was being rude, and that you didn't want to miss the end of the show, but I can't imagine speaking to an elderly person in that manner over a television show in a doctor's office or anywhere else for that matter. I would hope that you would not want someone to speak to your mom who you obviously care so much about in such a threatening way. My mom raised me to respect my elders, but most of all she stressed that just because one person is not doing the right thing that does not mean that it makes it ok for us to do the same.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I've never met a man in my life who has more problems with the elderly and children in public and I've lived on this planet 48 years. ....


Just my two cents. You want to post about what happened, you can expect all kinds of opinion in return.

I only remember one incident with kids, and to this day I feel justified. And ,as I recall, "most" agreed with what I did, though certainly not all.

People can post what they want. I didn't ever tell anyone they couldn't.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Her age had nothing to do with it. She is rude at 70 because she was rude at 30.

 

[Planogirl]

Papadeuce, maybe if you kick back and really think about it, you'll realize that there are rude people in all age groups. We tend to overlook those people who aren't rude and the rude people just stand out. I suspect that way more older people are polite and quiet but you just don't notice them. Know what I mean?