Ageism on TV still exists

I agree with those who've said that they didn't find Cold Feet's portrayal of the mothers offensive (I caught up last night). Jen's mum has been nothing but supportive during her cancer treatment although Karen's seems to resent motherhood I think (if you watched to the end and SPOILER ALERT!) Karen is about to have a shock and guilt!

I didn't find it offensive at all,if you remember the back story Karen and her mother always had a difficult relationship,her mother was more interested in herself than her daughter .The other family get on well with the mother and she's been a support to them.
I think you can see issues if you look for them,I wasn't looking for problems I saw a reasonable reflection of inter generational relationships.I know I could happily have gagged my mum ,much as I loved her ,she had a habit of saying awful things just within hearing distance of the folk she was saying it about

Jenny’s mum is lovely and the banter between them is warm and loving - we’ve seen what a support she’s been during Jennys illness - Jenny doesn’t do ‘soppy’. Karen’s mum otoh is awful. Her comments about Karen ‘being cured’ - trying to get her to drink again wtaf? Then the comments about her failings as a mother, and the necklace. And now poor Karen will be feeling guilty for being mad with her as deserved as that was. I’m astonished that anyone thought the portrayal of her was anything but quite an accurate picture of a certain sort of mother Nothing to do with age or ageism.

I think I am the oldest person in my company and heard one of the young engineers at the time of the general election that people over a certain age shouldn’t be allowed to vote as they have less life ahead of them so decisions made now won’t really effect them. He also thought that 16 year olds should get the vote.
I pointed out that fine but that will also mean 16 years olds must be tried as adults and he was forgetting that just being older does not mean we do not care about the future of the country and also for our families that age doesn’t mean we do not look ahead. What is sad is this young man has a first class degree but not first class reasoning.

Well I turned 60 on Monday and now I’m still the oldest at work was waiting for some derisory comments on when I was retiring but haven’t had any so far. Would retire but have no income as my pension is not available until 66 so will keep on going! Let’s keep on being young girls!,

I haven’t watched Cold Feet for ages, so I can’t comment.

I agree with the comment that Coronation street has some strong older characters. I think Tyrones Nanna is brilliant, and who could forget Blanche Hunt?

We all age differently, and it's all good.
There is no reason why we should all be youthful for our age, or portrayed as such. There's room for everyone.

I work with people of all ages, I’ve had to learn new skills in the last five years as the company has moved forward, we’re about to make more changes which will mean I’ll have to forget all that, and learn yet more new skills.

I’m a bit slower than the younger ones, but I get there in the end. My secret is having a note book I can keep referring back to.

One school holiday I showed my nine year old granddaughter how to do a few basic tasks, I told her she could check she was doing it correctly by looking at my notes. She was up and away, never once having to check anything, I was impressed, but also realised she s already way ahead of me when it comes to IT skills.

Ageism only occurs when you allow yourself to recognise it happening to you. I work in a role that involves being a subject matter expert influencing daily the young and thrusting. They need my experience and value my ‘commodity’. Treat me badly and they won’t get the wisdom.

Interesting....in CF I found one of the GMs self-centred, rude, thoughtless and intrusive. I know it's fiction but I daresay the writing is based on some sort of theory or experience.

Cold Feet was once a charming observational comedy drama. Sadly, this new series has fallen into awful cliches to try and get some humour, especially the portrayal of the older mums and their daughters. Made me wince.

I agree I felt cold feet ladies where very rude about their mothers

As long as we are not portrayed like the older ladies in Little Britain...

I agree that older people tend to be characterised in a certain way on the TV and in films.

I don't think the characterisation of the older women on Cold Feet was particularly offensive - I have seen a lot worse. That episode was a bit over the top, but many of the characters in Cold Feet aren't entirely believable, and Adam and David often come across as a bit ridiculous in the way they behave.

|Any kind of "ism" is unpleasant and unwelcome in my opinion, and that includes ageism. However, there are other sorts of "isms" that are equally annoying and offensive to other groups of people, but their feelings are often trivialised and ignored, and efforts to address them are described as "political correctness gone mad".

I am not so outraged as to stop watching Cold Feet.

I surely will Summerfly. I love writing and it keeps the brain cells active!

Good for you Lilydily9. Let us know when you’ve finished it.

I read that those who have a negative view of older people don't age well. Something to think about

I would add to the age complaint the pensioner description.

You witness an accident and are a key witness. The media report, especially papers will say 'Pensioner Joan Brown, grandmother of 5, said she saw the car come down the road as........'

Why not just 'a witness, Joan Brown, said she saw the car coming down the road.....' what has whether she draws a pension, or how many grandchildren she has got to do with it. Would she more or less reliable if she only had 3 DGC or actually had 9?

Yet strangely, adverts on TV and elsewhere for mobility scooters, stairlifts, chairlifts, electric beds etc.,all seem to have fifty something, slim looking people who don’t look at all as if they need them!?

I didn't mind it in that episode.But yes, ageism is everywhere. I looked at Age Uk's website and all the photos of staff looked under 40 (at a glance). Where are the over 50s? Lots of us are still either working or seeking work!

I didn’t even notice it which either means I don’t count myself among the old ladies (at 70) or I am inured to it. I do notice the amount of moaning my generation do though and some of the attitudes ...........!

I didn’t get an impression of ageism. Life was happening to the mums just as it was to the original cast and the mums seemed to be having more fun, initially anyway!

If you look for “isms” you’re sure to find them!

One of my favourite programmes!

Once, when a younger friend was moaning about her MIL I pointed out that with three sons herself she would one day be on the receiving end, she hadn't thought about it that way.

I must be quite lucky I worked for Apple for a time I was 69 when I got the job.Reason I was given it was because I had complained in the ‘ how did we do’ email that they only employed kids who talked so fast older customers couldn’t keep up.I had bought my husband when the first IPad came out.I got the email offering me a job 12 months later??
I also thought Apple interviewed before offering a job but
none the less I took it.Loved it my family loved as I could get discount of most things not iphones unfortunately.
At 75 my dc,dgc etc come to me if their stuff isn’t working I think it funny that at my age I am the tech go to for friends as well.My dhl’s friends think he is great as they ask him why such is not working or something he comes home asks me
I ring my pal at Apple who keeps me up to date and then he tells them, everyone is happy lol

Lizzypop I agree! Age (in brackets) is one of my pet hates!