Respect My Elders?

[Theophenes]

I know this is a rant. But i need to get it out of my system, and it couldn't hurt to speak up. I was quite recently at my church when I heard the following statement: "We should trust our elders to know what's best for us."

Based on the context, I don't think they were talking about the Church's elders, but rather just a group of older people lobbying for something in city hall. this bothered me. I don't know if I can really trust the generations older than my own. It wasn't the twenty-somethings and down that screwed up the economy, started wars in countries for questionable causes, failed to find the main responsible party of one of the biggest crimes against the public in American history (save for the business with treating the natives like crap, but that's a whole 'nother rant), or spent the last few months panicking about a flu with lower fatality rates than standard influenza. My generation will thank yours for the work you've attempted to do. And I'll be the first to admit it that much of what happened seemed like a great idea at the time.

But trust? Respect? My elders have burned some serious bridges here. And You'll find that I'm gonna have a hard time paying taxes to make your Social Security payments when I can't find work in this mess, which seemed to be caused by a bunch of half-brained folks twice my age and up who didn't figure out that poor people can't always pay their debts, laws or none. Now I'm not saying that we should Euthanize you, or silence you, or even put you all in homes. All I'm saying, is that experience and wisdom are two different things, and there are just as many old morons as young ones. The old ones just vote more often. So, my only plea to my elders is this:

I'll try to help with this situation. I'll do what I can. But if you nay-say me because of my age, then you can move to Mexico City and tell them to get off your lawn. I, for one, am sick of my generation being called a bunch of do-nothings and louts. People have talked for long periods about putting away racism and sexism, so let's drop the age stereotypes, for good or evil. You're a bloke, I'm a bloke. So he'res the big one, the final, simplest, measure: You learn to listen occasionally, and so will I.

 

[Leorex]

i read the last paragraph, and i think you need to print this out and stick this on the wall or somthing, because were all like 20, meaning, your respective audiance is not us.

 

[Crowser]

Respect is not gained through age, race, sex etc. but effective action.

Yep.

 

[Leorex]

Respect is not gained through age, race, sex etc. but effective action.

Yep.

yah, so effect some action, up there ass.

 

[Jeronus]

I know this is a rant. But i need to get it out of my system, and it couldn't hurt to speak up. I was quite recently at my church when I heard the following statement: "We should trust our elders to know what's best for us."

Based on the context, I don't think they were talking about the Church's elders, but rather just a group of older people lobbying for something in city hall. this bothered me. I don't know if I can really trust the generations older than my own. It wasn't the twenty-somethings and down that screwed up the economy, started wars in countries for questionable causes, failed to find the main responsible party of one of the biggest crimes against the public in American history (save for the business with treating the natives like crap, but that's a whole 'nother rant), or spent the last few months panicking about a flu with lower fatality rates than standard influenza. My generation will thank yours for the work you've attempted to do. And I'll be the first to admit it that much of what happened seemed like a great idea at the time.

But trust? Respect? My elders have burned some serious bridges here. And You'll find that I'm gonna have a hard time paying taxes to make your Social Security payments when I can't find work in this mess, which seemed to be caused by a bunch of half-brained folks twice my age and up who didn't figure out that poor people can't always pay their debts, laws or none. Now I'm not saying that we should Euthanize you, or silence you, or even put you all in homes. All I'm saying, is that experience and wisdom are two different things, and there are just as many old morons as young ones. The old ones just vote more often. So, my only plea to my elders is this:

I'll try to help with this situation. I'll do what I can. But if you nay-say me because of my age, then you can move to Mexico City and tell them to get off your lawn. I, for one, am sick of my generation being called a bunch of do-nothings and louts. People have talked for long periods about putting away racism and sexism, so let's drop the age stereotypes, for good or evil. You're a bloke, I'm a bloke. So he'res the big one, the final, simplest, measure: You learn to listen occasionally, and so will I.

I bow before your awesome wisdom. I often question the judgment of the older generation myself. I don't think being old automatically gives you the right to act like a great source of wisdom. Only when you can talk in a manner that is not condescending and truly accept your own flaws can you call yourself wise. Unfortunately, most people fail to realize this and go on calling young people out without looking at themselves first.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

Um we actually pay for our own social security, the people who are getting social security now payed for it when they worked during their life, of course we should up the age for social security but that's another issue altogether.
However I do agree with the fact that when you respect someone, it means you believe they are competent. Age does not automatically ensure competency. My mid-30 year old teacher says band aids are racists becuase they are meant for white people since they are of a white color (my teacher is white as well). I have no respect for her.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Respect is not gained through age, race, sex etc. but effective action.

Yep.

Definatly true. Idiocy is rampant throughout all races, sexes and age groups, you gotta earn your respect.

 

[Ultress]

It truly bugs me when some one pulls the age/senority card and think it gives them free rein to act like jerks.Your gonna need to earn my respect not taqke it for granted. Also don't know if this counts but why do older people feel that racism is okay. I know they grew up in a diffrent time but they need to keep it to themselves.

 

[Overlord Moo]

I know this is a rant. But i need to get it out of my system, and it couldn't hurt to speak up. I was quite recently at my church when I heard the following statement: "We should trust our elders to know what's best for us."

Based on the context, I don't think they were talking about the Church's elders, but rather just a group of older people lobbying for something in city hall. this bothered me. I don't know if I can really trust the generations older than my own. It wasn't the twenty-somethings and down that screwed up the economy, started wars in countries for questionable causes, failed to find the main responsible party of one of the biggest crimes against the public in American history (save for the business with treating the natives like crap, but that's a whole 'nother rant), or spent the last few months panicking about a flu with lower fatality rates than standard influenza. My generation will thank yours for the work you've attempted to do. And I'll be the first to admit it that much of what happened seemed like a great idea at the time.

But trust? Respect? My elders have burned some serious bridges here. And You'll find that I'm gonna have a hard time paying taxes to make your Social Security payments when I can't find work in this mess, which seemed to be caused by a bunch of half-brained folks twice my age and up who didn't figure out that poor people can't always pay their debts, laws or none. Now I'm not saying that we should Euthanize you, or silence you, or even put you all in homes. All I'm saying, is that experience and wisdom are two different things, and there are just as many old morons as young ones. The old ones just vote more often. So, my only plea to my elders is this:

I'll try to help with this situation. I'll do what I can. But if you nay-say me because of my age, then you can move to Mexico City and tell them to get off your lawn. I, for one, am sick of my generation being called a bunch of do-nothings and louts. People have talked for long periods about putting away racism and sexism, so let's drop the age stereotypes, for good or evil. You're a bloke, I'm a bloke. So he'res the big one, the final, simplest, measure: You learn to listen occasionally, and so will I.

Due to your Awsome powers of explaining the faults of an age old misconception, You shall be our co-God among Mortals, Along side Chuck Norris

 

[Sayvara]

I know this is a rant. But i need to get it out of my system, and it couldn't hurt to speak up. I was quite recently at my church when I heard the following statement: "We should trust our elders to know what's best for us."

No we shouldn't. Elders are humans just like the rest of us and sometimes they get it very wrong, just like the rest of us. Just wait until you become a parent and you'll know what I mean. Elders may be more experienced than us youngsters but they are not, in any way, perfect, mostly because they are experienced in things of which some are no longer part of our society.

Anecdote: friend of mine got into a huge falling out with her parents. Why? Because the elder generation advised her to give her infant daughter some wine. Had my parents said that to me about my kids I would have thrown courtesy to the wind and relayed to them what the exasperated chinese zookeper said to the last male panda of the world [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/645-Halo-Wars]... with emphasis.

Listening for advice is always prudent of course but in the end you must think for yourself. And when you become a parent you are also responsible for thinking for your child (until it's old enough to be released of that shackle) so it is extra important there that you do not let others think for you while you just nod and follow blindly. Plus that once your child is old enough to legally be thinking for themselves, you must then bite your tongue and realized you no longer have more say than your kid over what they do.

It truly bugs me when some one pulls the age/senority card and think it gives them free rein to act like jerks.Your gonna need to earn my respect not taqke it for granted. Also don't know if this counts but why do older people feel that racism is okay. I know they grew up in a diffrent time but they need to keep it to themselves.

Indeed... I wholeheartedly agree. Age does not beget such privileges.

/S

 

[Bofus Teefus]

Father! We, the choir, have heard your wise words. Yes, the "generation in charge" right now is full of twits. Don't worry, we'll be there one day and the twits of our generation will make us look just as bad.

Now I'm not saying that we should Euthanize you, or silence you, or even put you all in homes.

Lets keep our options open.

 

[TheDean]

respect elders? I never respect anyone unless they earn it.

 

[Baby Tea]

I'm torn on this.
You know there was a saying I once heard that has turned out to be very true for me:

"The older I get, the smarter my father gets."

Which means, basically, that I thought I knew what I was doing when I was young, and stood opposed to my dad's ideas and thoughts and ways...until I got older. The older I got the more I realized how little I knew, and how much he knew what he was talking about.

Now don't get me wrong: There are certainly morons in the older generations. The greedy people who caused this recession with their sub-prime mortgages, the ones who start knee-jerk wars, the ones who scatter their car parts on their front lawn and abuse the welfare system so I end up paying for the alcohol through taxes. Sure, they are out there.

But there is a wisdom that comes with age. Even the drunk, welfare abusing guy can offer a serious, experienced insight into something he's done or seen in his life-time. I agree that the youth are often looked down upon due to their age, but in my experiences it's justified. It isn't that the youth are stupid, not at all. I know some very smart people who are under 20, but who really don't know what 'life' is like. And they won't know until they experience it. I'm also certainly not saying I know what 'life' is like fully. I'm a young guy (25), and I have much to learn about a lot of things. The saying I mentioned above is still very much true day by day, and I've started my own similar saying: The more I learn, the less I know. It's probably been said before, but it's so very true.

The point is that we cannot be cavalier one way or the other with the advice of the older generation. Will they make mistakes? Absolutely. But they also brought us through the many great leaps in technology in the 70s, 80s and 90s. We're using that tech right now talking on this forum.

Be discerning of all advice given to you, not cynical.

 

[DeadpanLunatic]

I have removed my words from this site.

 

[Captain Blackout]

Um we actually pay for our own social security, the people who are getting social security now payed for it when they worked during their life, of course we should up the age for social security but that's another issue altogether.
However I do agree with the fact that when you respect someone, it means you believe they are competent. Age does not automatically ensure competency. My mid-30 year old teacher says band aids are racists becuase they are meant for white people since they are of a white color (my teacher is white as well). I have no respect for her.

I don't know what country you're in, but in America no one pays for their own social security. It is literally set up so that the current working group pays for the current drawing group. That's one of the reasons it is expected to run out of resources in less than 20 years.

*snip*

My parents, God bless their souls, should never have been parents. My Dad was a functional alcoholic and my mother had borderline personality disorder. After I moved out I found a mentor who helped me get what I needed.

I highly recommend listening to those older than you. They have experience you don't. I highly recommend being critical as monkey fuck of what they have to say. Most of them are nuts and will relate personal nuttery along with the wisdom and experience. Finally, my last bit of advice is twofold. Find a mentor. Take your time to find someone you trust and respect based on your needs. Be a mentor to someone. Be a counselor someone can go to without judgement or reserve.

If we all found a single personal mentor, and we all took the time to be a true mentor to someone else, humanity would grow and improve.

 

[Satki]

Of course I respect the elders, they gave us the scrolls!!

 

[Baby Tea]

Church might not be the best place to find maturity either, Im sorry if that offends but its true (If you define maturity by rationality).

Let's not go down that road. Some of the most wise people I've ever talked to came from the Church. And why even bring it up? It has nothing to do with the OP's rant. He mentioned it in passing, and you've brought it to the fore-front for what reason? A not-so-subtle slam?

Come on, now. Let's keep this flame-free please.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Everyone should have to earn respect regardless of their age.

Never trust anyone over 30; that includes me.