Senior writer Steve Cook ponders what people do – and should – call an older adult. He examines and suggests alternative words for senior, with his tongue firmly in cheek.
From what I’m hearing, it seems that quite a few of us seniors are unhappy when we are called “seniors.” Some complain the term feels patronizing, implies frailty, and triggers negative ageist stereotypes. Wow, I’m glad someone finally clued me in. I didn’t know how offended I should have been this past decade.
You know, the word “senior” doesn’t bother me, especially when it precedes the word “discount.” But what does really get my goat is when someone condescendingly refers to me as “75 years young.” Calling me 75 years young does nothing to make me feel a day younger. Perhaps I’m too sensitive, but it makes me feel that they think I’m too senile to realize they’re being condescending.
But back to the subject at hand. Can we come up with some really cool name that replaces seniors? “Boomers” is still a popular choice, but the truth is, those who make up the oldest of the Generation X crowd are beginning to show their, well, uh, their maturity. There must be some clever word that would describe all of us who are at or who are approaching those golden Social Security years?
More alternative words for senior
There are a couple of other euphemisms for us older folk. But I’m not fond of either, especially “geezer.” Did you know that it’s a derivation of a Cockney term that means “guiser” or one who wears a mask. If I were going to choose to wear a mask, it sure wouldn’t be one that I had gotten all wrinkled.
And then there’s “old fogie.” That term appears to have roots in a Scottish word for fog, implying someone is old and stagnant. No thanks.
I saw a video clip from a local TV news program on Facebook recently. It dealt with the same subject and readers were asked for suggestions for a term to replace seniors. I didn’t care for any of the suggestions those readers came up with.
Two rather lame offerings were “vintage” and “classic”? Really? One person even suggested “Mid-century modern,” as if we are just a piece of furniture.
If you have any better ideas, I’d love to hear them. I did read one suggestion, however, that, while I wasn’t fond of it, I was inspired. Someone came up with “O.G. (Original Graduate).”
That got me to thinking. Back in my high school days, being a senior was really cool. Looking back, I now can see clearly that I was about as uncool as a high school senior could be. However, at the time, I did enjoy what I perceived to be a certain degree of prestige at having made it to the 12th grade.
So, let’s just suppose that we are in the High School of Life. Hmmm. Wouldn’t that be pretty cool? I mean, we could still be called seniors, but in a really hip sort of way. Maybe we could even have our own AARP-sponsored Senior Prom. It might be difficult finding a chaperone, but who cares. We’re seniors and we’re ready to par-tee!
The only problem I can see with being a senior in the High School of Life, is that I would be at somewhat a loss for a great reply when asked, “So, what are your plans after graduation?”
