80 Years YOUNG but 8 Years OLD

Biftu · ‎02-05-2011

I always cringe when I hear a woman up in years referred to as 80 years young. I find it very demeaning. She is just 80 years old, same as the 8 year old would be referred. Maybe it's just me, but I find it rude.

PamfromCT · ‎05-22-2014

Yes, I agree with you. I am 80 years old. Yes, I was born before the end of WWII. Imagine that! I was born in Florida, where my Dad was giving physical training to would-be pilots.

I was their first child.

My husband was the third child born to an immigrant family.

Parents had left Germany right after WWI. He learned the value of hard work, and worked his way through college, then got a fellowship to grad school. First job out was working on the

backpack for the Apollo mission. He is now 83.

We raised and educated two children.

Yes, we are old. Old is not a dirty word.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

Some people prefer to say they are 80 years young.

Whatever floats their boat is okay with me.

It takes a whole lot more than that to me cringe. I don't find saying 80 years young or 80 years old as being rude.

80 years is just a measure of time. It doesn't mean anything else.

lilywhite · ‎01-17-2024

Hey, I worked on the Apollo project too. I'll be 81 in a couple of months. I remember being young. I' not young now. I;m old and I worked hard to get here.

PA Mom-mom · ‎05-27-2015

@Biftu I agree. I'm sure the people who use that expression don't mean to insult anyone, but I think it's silly. I also don't appreciate when people refer to me as "young lady." Again, I'm used to it, but it's sort of a backhanded compliment. Again, the people don't mean any harm by using that expression. They are trying to be kind. Buy it reminds me of that nursing home scene in Happy Gilmore.

Katrinka23 · ‎03-11-2010

Age is just a number. Some people appear older when they're young and some people appear younger when they're old!

Bookplate · ‎08-19-2011

I think it comes across as patronizing, but I suspect that it is more often attributable to thoughtlessness than as a deliberate slight.

rms1954 · ‎06-06-2019

I find it neither. A person can refer to themselves however they feel comfortable. "

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

Calling me a "senior citizen" makes me cringe. I'm not a "senior" I'm old and fine with that. I wish other people would be and not be embarrassed to encounter an old person.