Ageist comments often come with a disclaimer.

I get a kick out of people who say  "I'm not an ageist but..........." and then an ageist comment usually follows.  If you feel a need to make an ageist comment, just make it.  Chances are that the listener isn't any smarter than you are and may not realize you are being ageist.  If you say  "I'm not an ageist but..........." then the listener has been notified that you are probably about to make an ageist comment.  The only reason I even mention this is that people who make ageist comments tend not to have much intelligence to begin with so I thought I'd point this fact out for them. 

Here are some examples I found on the net within the last few hours.

I don't want to appear ageist - but the reality is I guess I am,

I have to vote for someone…and that someone will not be McCain. Mostly because he’s downright too old. I’m not an ageist.

I'm not being ageist here

Without wishing to be ageist, shouldn't you be whiling your time away on the golf course and fishing from a tinny?

Comments

[Jenice]

Yep. You have a point. I'm not back-peddling about this. You are right. But my time will come. One day I will be considered "old." In fact, I call myself old every day. I date men older (sometimes quite a bit older) than myself. But you saw my reasons. For president? I'm not really sure I want someone of his age. That's all. Everything else in life? Sports, models, escorts, managers, whatever...who cares. A person running the nation. Different. I make no appologies. It that makes me stupid in your eyes, well pin a tail on this donkey.

[thesavvyboomer]

Consider yourself pinned

[micky]

Hmm...
Seems like someone here has a little too much time on their hands and just cant find quite enough to complain about.
We perform millions of acts of discrimination in our life, in all forms and manners.
If I did not want to hire a gay waiter for club that caters to rednecks and bikers it does not make me homophobic or a bigot. Its just a decision based on what I think would be functional for my situation.
If I think McCain might croak before his term is up it does not mean I am an ageist.
Some people like you would apply any decision like this as some act of discrimination. So we have to be careful and cater to your bleeding heart moonbat mentallity and say we dont want to appear as an ageist/racist/sexist whatever for fear of appearing discriminatory in any way.
This mentallity is comprable to those that do not want to even describe wanted criminals by race. As in the recent case where a Mexican felon on the run could not be described as "Latino"
I also notice how the author likes to refer to intelligence a lot;

"The only reason I even mention this is that people who make ageist comments tend not to have much intelligence to begin with so I thought I'd point this fact out for them."

Now, you may think what Jenice said was lacking in intelligence, but lets back up a minute here.
You claim in a circumventive manner that you are intelligent for noticing or pointing out this little "supposed" self contradictory statement.
And then even though the real "fact" is that she was not being an ageist.
You claim by your own opinion that it is indeed a fact the she is an ageist.
Since when is an opinion fact ?
If Jenice had said in a generalized blanket statement that old people should not be placed in any position of responsability then she would definatly be an ageist. But as President she feels one individual is not suited for that job. Ant more than a 1st grader should have a license to drive does make her anti kids.
You really should be more careful when you run around and bash other peoples intelligence.
Or try to apply a lack of it to really little things of no consequence.
Its makes you look petty and as if your intelligence could not find something better to blow a few brain cells on.
Maybe actually write a post with some valuable knowledge or make a prevailing point.
I do a lot of political debate across the web. And I can confidently say that I chew up and spit out prejudgemental comtemptuous characters like you all day long.

[Jenice]

Savvy. Seriously. Why so damn bitter! Live a little. Get over it! What are your prejudices? I'm sure you have plenty but aren't really ballsy enough to air them out here? Please do tell. I'm curious. You seem to be coming from a very "I'm flawless" angle. Everyone has their prejudices. As I just said on my blog, when was the last time you heard of a racist dating the race they hate? Besides. I can find plenty of boomers who agree that someone of McCain's age should not be in office. It's just a matter of being practical.

[thesavvyboomer]

Hey Micky. thanks for your comments. See, you didn't have to use profanity.(Note-Micky tried to leave an earlier comment but resorted to profanity which is blocked by the spam monitor.) Regardless of your opinion, the original comments are still ageist and all your huffing and puffing and ad hominem attacks on me don't change that fact.

@Jenice: Yes, everyone has prejudices and yours is ageism. You think I'm not ballsy enough to air my prejudices out here? Perhaps the adjective you are looking for is "inconsiderate" or perhaps "ignorant", not "ballsy."

[micky]

First of all , you have no basis to complain about any kind of attack when you are the one did the attacking in the first place. Kapeesh.

Prejudice ?
You need to restudy the english language my friend.
Determing that you feel someone is too old for office is not "prejudice"
Its a basic form of decision making based on previous experiences.
If I refuse to hire a gay waiter to work in an environment that is unfriendly to gays am I being prejudiced ?
Of course not. Its simply intelligent decision making.
Jenice has not " pre judged " anyone.
She has done enough research and obtained enough info on McCain in order to make a decision based on knowledge before the fact.
Prejudice is a decision made based on ignorance of the facts. And constrained perceptions.
So if you take into consideration the factual merits of the word "prejudice" in the context the dictionary describes it in , it renders your accusation of her being ageist ridiculous and false.
But a good word for any application here would hypocrisy.
While you claim lesser than intelligence on the part of Jenice. It really is you who is calling the kettle black by even bothering with such an issue.
Opinions never float in any intellectual debate. But the facts do.
And your facts are wrong. And so then are you.

Ageism is stereotyping and prejudice against individuals or groups because of their age. The term was coined in 1969 by US gerontologist Robert N. Butler to describe discrimination against seniors and patterned on sexism and racism. The term has also been used to describe discrimination against teens and children, by ignoring their ideas because they're young or by assuming that they should behave a certain way because of their age.

As you can see, the dictionary points out that ageism is based on prejudice.
Jenice has prejudged nothing.
If it is the opinion of Jenice that her grandfather is too old to ride a skateboard it is because she is informed well enough to know that he is not qualified to ride it.
he probablt could ride it. But she is entitled to believe he is not fit to do so without being prejudiced.
you see the key word is "pre"
She did not "pre concieve" anything.
She did her homewok and made an educated decision.

But to approach this from another perspective lets look at all the dicriminating practices we are surrounded by on a daily basis.
Children dont get to vote because the majority feels they are not mature enough to make these decisions.
Enlistment into the service requires a certain age.
Japanese airlines require their employees to speak japanese.
These things do not make anyone a bigot or prejudiced.
But it is discrimination we must use as intelligent decision makers.
I have never had a woman in my life who was not black or brown. does that make me racist ? No. It makes me a person who simply distinguishes his preference by a discriminating thought process based on personal preferences. I like choclate ice cream. But I would never deny anyone the right or frown on them for making a vanilla choice. No more than I would blame someone for not wanting someone in office whom I thought was too old.
Once again the point you pointed out makes you look more ridiculous that the point you pointed out.
And if you had any class you would apologize for questioning a very smart amd nice womans intelligence.

[thesavvyboomer]

First of all Micky, I'm neither your friend nor do I have any intention of apologizing for a remark I made that is valid.

OK I tried to be a nice guy in my last reply to your drivel, but for some reason you seem to continue to expose your inability to communicate in writing using the English language. I doubt your ability to communicate verbally is any more impressive. As a matter of fact, you suggest I re-study the English language. Perhaps you should have taken the time to read my bio. As a retired university English professor my need to study it anymore to respond to someone with your level of comprehension, spelling, grammar, sentence structure, logic, punctuation, vocabulary along with failed innuendo and mindless cliches (moonbat? how very 90's)is definitely not necessary.

Now, perhaps English is not your first language but somehow I think the reason you have the communication level found in most grade 5 North American students is that you are simply poorly educated. Sorry to be the one to point out that which is blatantly obvious but you can thank me later when you finally decide to accept your limitations and not try to exceed your level of competence.

You stated that you do a lot of political debate across the web. With whom? Your level of logic and attempts to explain your thoughts are dreadful. Any person with high school debating skills would mop the floor with you in the first rebuttal round. Actually, the moderator would probably dismiss you after your opening statements for either lack of preparation or a profound sense of sympathy in not wanting you to embarrass yourself further.

Now run along Micky and find someone who is comfortable with your anemic level of communication. It's not difficult to understand why you feel the need to use so much profanity and so many juvenile vitriolic remarks on your blog.

Finally, I will leave your 2 insipid comments above for all to see so that they might link to your blog when they are in need of a laugh. However, since this is my blog and this kind of exchange is not something I wish to foster here and since I control the comments, chances of me letting you post here anymore are lower than your mastery of English unless of course you wish to expose yourself and your blog to even further ridicule.

I'm through with you. As you would say Kapeesh? Acually it's "capisce" so I guess we also know you can't speak Italian.

[Jenice]

I'm not even touching all that was said here because I know Micky is blocked and you censor things. But I think it's sad because I like a hot debate. However I normally do it without attacking someone. I won't keep bugging you, but I just wanted to say that I'm an open and honest person. Maybe too open. And I guess you see it ignorant to air opinions. I find it liberating. I mean, wasn't it liberating to attack me without knowing anything about me or reading my blog? It really was an innocent post about my decision to vote for Obama. Nothing more.

Best to you, Savvy.

[thesavvyboomer]

Fine that you aired your opinion but this is an ageist opinion:

"I have to vote for someone…and that someone will not be McCain. Mostly because he’s downright too old."

If you find it liberating to make ageist statements then in my opinion you are ignorant. If you want to vote for Obama wouldn't it be more enlightening to make a positive comment about him and/or a negative statement about McCain that isn't ageist in nature? The fact that you don't see your statement as ageist should be worrisome to you. Your trite comment on your blog about being politically incorrect tells me that you think ageism isn't a problem. It's a huge problem and you need to educate yourself why.
I'm sure you are more capable in following this logic than your illiterate cohort.

[Fran]

Interesting exchange. Jenice and Savvy both make some good points. I think the take away point here that Savvy is trying to make is that people don't see ageism as an issue just like racism was not seen as an issue by the general population until the 60s. Jenice is right to challenge you Savvy because she does not recognize it as a social issue-yet. She will one day. We all will. In the meantime, people will continue to wonder why they are accused of making ageist comments and how can they if they don't understand the complexities of it? Ronni Bennett has been making similar observations and calling people out on her Time Goes By blog for a few years now. She also recently had a post about peoples' ageist comments about McCain and believe me, she is no fan of Republicans.

I gave up trying to follow Micky's posts. The word troll comes to mind. You may have gone a little overboard with a couple of your comments to him but he can't say he wasn't looking for trouble. I see his kind on political discussion blogs all the time. Revolting.

[Robert A, Stewart]

I seem to recall a similar firestorm ensued the last time you wrote an article about American politics. I realize that this post really wasn't about politics but given the mood in the U.S. today, anytime you mention it, temperatures rise. Just a friendly reminder from a fellow Canadian.

[This Eclectic Life]

Wow! Remind me never to pick a fight with you! Talk about mopping the floor... I love it that you had the nerve to call them on their ageist comments. What an insidious prejudice ageism is, and it rears its ugly head in "innocent" comments. Unfortunately, even "old" people can be ageist (I saw it in my mother when she was in her 70s). Somehow, I think that Jenice and Micky will be ageist in their 70s, too. Keep on writing about it, because it's only by bringing it out in the open that any change can happen.