Patronising or what?

It does sound as if it was an unnecessarily patronising comment, cooky. Was his performance good?

I watched this with my granddaughter and I said to her 'why is it oh bless just because he is 84?'

Why not? How many 84 year old men would even dream of doing something like that. Good for him I say. Old people are relevant and instances like this hi-light that point.

Why not?

I think it is wonderful to see older people making their mark. Good for him I say

First message did not go on............... doh

I wasn't commenting about him being on the show (as you say good for him. The performance was unintentionally amusing btw)

It was the reaction when he walked on that annoyed me. "Oh bless" simply because of his age is unbelievably patronising. They don't say that to anyone else (unless they are under 10 when it's probably fair enough because they are small and cute)

What exactly are you saying "Why not?" to, Nonnie1 ? I am a bit confused.

Was it to KatyK saying "'why is it oh bless just because he is 84?'

Or was it to him going on the programme in the first place (I agree, good for him! He should be admired, not treated like a toddler who has just achieved something brilliant, like taking two steps without falling over )

X posts, cookynan

If all of us (including Gransnetters) treated all people of all ages as equal and while deploring the patronising remarks of the presenter, otherwise completely ignore the age of the person involved. He should be treated as, and responded to in the same way we would respond to anyone else on a tv programme, including the under 10s.

I'm going to fly in the face of the common thread here. I say 'oh bless' hopefully not in a patronising way but in the same way as I might say ' oh love him' . It's meant as a term of affection and love.

Just like my Gran would have said ' bless his cotton socks' .

Sorry all, but in a world stuffed with political correctness I really can't get my head round the harm from this phrase .

But n&g you wouldn't say 'bless his cotton socks' about anyone over the age of 5, would you?
That's the point!

Whenever I have heard anyone so 'Oh bless' about an older person, it has always been said in a patronising voice.

Actually jane I would . I apply it to the situation as much as the person.

I can't say I agree with you Monica* but perhaps it's because it's a common phrase in the area that I live.

last year I had my nails done at a local salon, and the manicurist said 'aww bless' to me....now I know I must look old!

If I say "bless his cotton socks" about anyone over the age to start school I am being ironic or sarcastic, and I never the use the term "Oh bless!" about anyone at all whatever their age, because it always sounds patronising to me, implying an old twit who has no idea that he or she is making an idiot of themselves. I would certainly never use it about an old person - even if they were senile and into their second childhood.

If I heard someone use it about me I would ask who sneezed! That is if I could restrain myself from punching them in the nose and then saying "Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were the chap in a white coat from the nursing home, who wants me to take the little green and white pills when I'd rather get on with my memoirs of my fifty years as a nuclear scientist." (or whatever genuine career you would like to fill in here)

No kind of ism is acceptable,I could scream when I here an older person referred to as Dinasour.

Absolutely agree with you Elegran. 'Bless' is a horrible, patronising expression IMO.

Well said ELegran ,I find those comments very patronising, and inappropriate at any time when aimed at anyone over 5.

I'll try not to stand close enough to you Elegran to get my nose punched then!!

My aim isn't very good, NanaandGrampy and I can't put a lot of power behind a punch! Can I step on your toes or kick you in the shins instead?

It was patronising. We simply get older. We don't become little children needing to be petted, and patted on the head.

She was being ignorant.

Lol Elegran with my knees just a nudge should send me flying

It's like sales peoplle who stop you in the street and say 'Excuse me young lady'. I am obviously not a young lady, it's patronising. They think they are giving you a compliment, they are not beint intentionally offensive.!

Oh please there is so much happening in the world I really can't get worked up about a patronising comment. PC is overtaking common sense