What do the 55 plus want to be called?

[Abraham Entin]

Those of us born in 1945 or before are not, in fact, "Boomers" and may not want to be put into that category.

Do you like any of these labels? boomer - senior - senior citizen - elder - older adult - active adult - old wise one? Or do you have a term you like that is not listed?

[Chris Dec]

I am 62... and once in a while, I would like to be called 30.

No, really, when I turned 50 I asked a bartender in the bar car of a train to card me, and he did... seriously and carefully inspecting my drivers license. The 15 people in line for a drink had a good laugh with me. But once, a very long time ago, I vowed that I would not be an agist. I would not buy those birthday cards that screamed “Another Birthday? Geez, are YOU old!”

Yet I want to be acknowledged for my experience and wisdom. “Have some respect for these gray hairs” my mother warned. I have chosen to be called simply “human” since relatively speaking, in geological terms, I am quite young. My other half, however, a mere 58... we just call “geezer.”

[Indiwren]

I don't mind being a senior when it comes to discounts! The rest of the time, I don't need a label. Boomer is such a tired cliche, and by 2019, there will be people over 55 that aren't technically boomers. People don't automatically get labels when they turn 30, 40, or 50, tho AARP starts sending out magazines then.

We call some fortunate people retirees, but they don't have to be over 55. In the hay days of the early 90s tech boom, some 30-yr olds were talking about retiring by the time they were 40. Wonder what they're doing now.
Why can't we say "Conrad is the one in the blue jacket", or use some other attribute to describe him.

[franjoy]

In Oregon they are called "Honored Citizens"

[Dixon]

People don't automatically get labels when they turn 30, 40, or 50, tho AARP starts sending out magazines then.

When I turned 50, I started receiving AARP membership stuff, card and all, in the mail. It turned out my smartass dad had ordered a membership for me to tease me about getting old. For those of you who've been wondering how I turned out to be such a smartass--you can blame it on Dick Wragg's DNA.

[Chris Dec]

Wow... of all things to blame your parents for! Why, they're the ones who probably said " Dixon, stop being such a smartass!" Try again. Take some responsibility for your smart ass.

When I turned 50, I started receiving AARP membership stuff, card and all, in the mail. It turned out my smartass dad had ordered a membership for me to tease me about getting old. For those of you who've been wondering how I turned out to be such a smartass--you can blame it on Dick Wragg's DNA.

[Gizmo]

At 64, I'm definitely a young Geezer. Or perhaps a fledgling geezer...

[Dixon]

At 64, I'm definitely a young Geezer. Or perhaps a fledgling geezer...

Protogeezer?

[haute flash Jan]

The one I dislike that you've not mentioned is "of a certain age," as in "women of a certain age." To what "certain age" are you referring? And, why use a label? If I'm in my 50's and feel it's important for someone to know that, why not just say, "I'm a woman in my 50's?"

I really liked a birthday card I bought once that said "old is always 15 years older than you are." It's so true!

[Sara S]

If I recall correctly, this term is from the Victorian era, so the term itself is "of a certain age" when English was not quite as crude as it is today.

Sara

The one I dislike that you've not mentioned is "of a certain age," as in "women of a certain age." To what "certain age" are you referring? And, why use a label? If I'm in my 50's and feel it's important for someone to know that, why not just say, "I'm a woman in my 50's?"

[Roland Jacopetti]

Those of us born in 1945 or before are not, in fact, "Boomers" and may not want to be put into that category.

Well, I could go with "Old Feller" (or Fella). How about "Gramps"? Certainly not "Late for Dinner". And I want them to stop asking me if I've taken my medication! And no more Viagra ads in my email!

Roland

[Sherry Moyse]

At 53, I'm finding the phrase "of a certain age" is really bothering me. I've had 2 doctor appointments recently where the doctor said this and it made me feel old and devalued somehow. Am I just being overly sensitive?

[soulange]

i am rather partial to the term "senior citizen" and all the implications of the word "senior".

[Dixon]

At 53, I'm finding the phrase "of a certain age" is really bothering me. I've had 2 doctor appointments recently where the doctor said this and it made me feel old and devalued somehow. Am I just being overly sensitive?

I don't think you're being oversensitive. I think that "of a certain age" is a euphemism for "old" or at least for "getting old". Of course, at 53, we are old, or at least getting there, but what's sorta offensive about using euphemism is that it tends to imply that there's something wrong with the truth that's being circumlocuted when we euphemize. So "of a certain age" instead of just saying "old" or whatever, through avoiding just saying it, implies that there's something kind of shameful about getting old. That's one reason I hate euphemism. And I think that presumed shame is what you're picking up on.

[SandBar]

We want to be called wise, beautiful, well-seasoned, young, slightly used but not used up.

I don't think you're being oversensitive. I think that "of a certain age" is a euphemism for "old" or at least for "getting old". Of course, at 53, we are old, or at least getting there, but what's sorta offensive about using euphemism is that it tends to imply that there's something wrong with the truth that's being circumlocuted when we euphemize. So "of a certain age" instead of just saying "old" or whatever, through avoiding just saying it, implies that there's something kind of shameful about getting old. That's one reason I hate euphemism. And I think that presumed shame is what you're picking up on.

[oliviathunderkitty]

I saw the poll but there were no options for "none of the above." What's up with that?

Having never identified with any group, age-based or otherwise, at any time in my life and having never followed a typical decade-by-decade progression, "hey babe" works fine for me now, just as it has all along.

[Dixon]

We want to be called wise, beautiful, well-seasoned, young, slightly used but not used up.

Oh yeah! And, as the Boy Scouts say: "Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind...cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean..." (I edited out "obedient" and "reverent"). And don't forget faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!

[Shandi]

Since the question was asked in reference to creating marketing materials, it makes me laugh to imagine seeing a brochure with some of the descriptions that have been listed, but "babe" is the funniest. It reminds me of the movie title "Guys and Dolls". There's been so much activism by feminists, mostly women, to make us aware of the (demeaning) language by which women are addressed. For example, "honey", "sweetie", etc. But you prove that many women like to be called by those endearing names. I don't think I've ever heard anyone I didn't know call me "babe", but then maybe it's because I don't think of myself that way.

A stranger called me "Red" the other day, and I chuckled because no one had called me that in years, but again this term wouldn't work for a marketing brochure.


Throughout my life, I've been part of groups with names, starting with "kindergartener" "pre-teen", "teen", "young adult", "adult", "middle-aged", and now this! I have a feeling that there's some resistance to being categorized at this age, but for those who are marketing to our generation, need a way to indicate, for topics that may only be of interest to us, and not someone in their 20's, 30's or 40's.

If we called a senior center, and "adult" center, people might come, and feel deceived, because we didn't give any indcation of the appropriate age group.

Just another perspective....

I saw the poll but there were no options for "none of the above." What's up with that?

Having never identified with any group, age-based or otherwise, at any time in my life and having never followed a typical decade-by-decade progression, "hey babe" works fine for me now, just as it has all along.

[Shandi]

Hi Kathleen,

Your thread has recently been rivived, and I'm kinda curious, after receiving the feedback you asked for, what conclusion did your group come to? I've seen so many times that members ask for feedback, help, or referrals from the group, and then we never hear anymore. Maybe this is my own desire for closure/resolution of some kind.

Thanks for all of the suggestions - keep them coming. I'm still looking for something other than boomer that sounds complimentary. I am also on the Senior Center board, and we have had this conversation with no conclusion. The Center, in the past, was called "for the frail and elderly." UGH - that's a great marketing theme.

[Abraham Entin]

If we call them "adult centers", we might get raided!!

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Not necessarily in rocking chairs, or using walkers.
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2 more characters.

[Barry]

Kathleen Shaffer has left the building, or at least this website/community. She left sometime around the election, I forget if it was before or after. So it may have something to do with her no longer serving on the council, or perhaps the lack of alignment with the majority of our users.

However her question, along with user CVS/Chase votes, are an enduring part of her legacy!

Hi Kathleen,

Your thread has recently been rivived, and I'm kinda curious, after receiving the feedback you asked for, what conclusion did your group come to? I've seen so many times that members ask for feedback, help, or referrals from the group, and then we never hear anymore. Maybe this is my own desire for closure/resolution of some kind.