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Ageism in unexpected places

(25 Posts)
jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 09:05:41

Ageuk is calling their radio station "The Wireless".

I think "Radio AgeUK" would be snappier. But then, it is being put out for all the old dears would still regard the radio as "wirelesses", as they are of course, still living their lives in the days of their childhoods and are all completely unable to keep up with anything at all present-day.

hmm

Riverwalk Mon 03-Feb-14 09:15:20

I agree ..... it has the whiff of Werther's Originals about it - all warm and nostalgic and so bloody outdated.

glammanana Mon 03-Feb-14 09:22:35

It certainly does seem an old fashioned name do they really think we are all past our sell by date and regress to the 50's era when in fact we are all clued up people up to date with the latest technology hmm

thatbags Mon 03-Feb-14 09:32:31

Is it ageism or just someone using an old-fashioned word? There's nothing actually wrong with calling a radio a wireless unless people aren't going to understand you. And there's nothing wrong with aiming a programme at a particular audience.

I think it's possible to be too twitchy about isms.

thatbags Mon 03-Feb-14 09:33:59

I like Werther's Originals. We have some in the car glove compartment. Do they have another name? It says Werther's Originals on the packet.

Gagagran Mon 03-Feb-14 10:02:48

I do too bags and so do my DGC who always raid the sweetie tin in the car when being picked up by Grandad's Taxis. Trouble is the wrappers always end up in unexpected places and not in the rubbish bag in the side pocket!

LizG Mon 03-Feb-14 10:16:08

Noted on my slate grin

annodomini Mon 03-Feb-14 10:53:55

I always call it a radio - never a wireless. I can't remember when this change came about but I'm sure that when I was a student 50+ years ago I bought a 'radio' for myself for the first time.

Charleygirl Mon 03-Feb-14 15:18:51

Wireless to this old bat means wifi.

rosesarered Mon 03-Feb-14 15:24:31

Exactly! Wire-less! I think they were being clever with words rather than wanting to be old-fashioned. Hope so anyway.

FlicketyB Mon 03-Feb-14 15:55:48

What sort of programmes do they intend to broadcast, other than information programmes?

I am not sure that it is possible to talk about older people in this broad way anymore. It covers an age range that runs from 60 - 100+.

Will it broadcast music from the 30s one day, Hutch and Noel Coward, followed by Elvis, Beatles and the Pet Shop Boys the next?

I must confess it sounds desperately worthy and not really very exciting.

Galen Mon 03-Feb-14 16:22:28

I like werthers and I still call it a wireless even it's a wifi one!
My gran always called the road the 'OSS road even thought it hadn't seen an oss (horse) for years. Mind you, she could remember Queen Victoris.

JessM Mon 03-Feb-14 16:59:20

Lots of adverts are ageist. Bloody Wonga (cringe) the one about M'lady buying her insurance (can't remember the brand - that tells you something - distracted by the irritating stereotype of old aristocratic duffer talking to even older obsequious butler and not quite so old m'lady running the show without any sense of humour - sexist and ageist)

JessM Mon 03-Feb-14 17:00:40

Have you ever noticed that "mothers" of young families in adverts nearly always look well into their 40s. About the age of the advertising executives own mum?

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 17:07:05

Wi fi is the modern wireless thing.

Think accumulaters. And big knobs. And crackily dials.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 17:09:35

There is no 'i' in crackly. I don't think.

Ana Mon 03-Feb-14 17:11:24

I'm saying nothing...

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 17:12:57

accumulators

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 17:13:30

Ana *grin]

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 17:14:12

Oh shite! hmm

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 17:14:37

apologies!

Ana Mon 03-Feb-14 17:17:48

grin

JessM Mon 03-Feb-14 18:08:49

focus jings focus. It is just a tad hard to follow your train of thought.

thatbags Mon 03-Feb-14 18:11:23

Nah. It's easy when you know how wink

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 03-Feb-14 22:40:16

wireless

wi fi