I'm guilty of age discrimination!
 

When I as a younger man (just turned 70) I had a lot of thoughts about older people. Mostly that they knew more than me and they should be respected (until it was proven otherwise).

Did I think that older people were mentally slower and less informed about modern technology? You bet I did. Did I think they were horribly slow drivers and took too much time in any line I was in. Yep, guilty as charged. So, yes, I guess I discriminated.

But, now that I am in the latter part of my life I don't see much that affects me due to ageism.

I dislike any -ism because it does lump everyone into a homogeneous group and life doesn't work like that. Ageism must have been coined by this generation of seniors simple because they live longer and aren't afraid to speak up when something is perceived as wrong.

Nothing can prepare you for the day you look in the mirror and wonder who's the old fart staring back at you. It's already happened to me, so if others see me as an elder and have an opinion about that, then so be it; not a problem. Get in my way though, we've got a problem. LOL!

From someone still in the trenches of today's workforce
 

I am knocking on the door of turning 59. I hope to work full-time for another 6 years, then start collecting SS and work part-time. In today's workforce, most people in their 20's and 30's will stay at a job for 4 or 5 years tops, then move on to the next opportunity. This happens frequently at my current company and also happened at my previous company. Most millennials see what happened to their parents who worked for a company for 20+ years then were downsized in their 50's. At most companies, there is little to no loyalty shown by either the employer or the employee.

So what is the difference between hiring a qualified 30 year old who will probably stay with the company for 5 years then move on and hiring an equally qualified person in their late 50's who will probably stay for 6 or 7 years (maybe longer)?

Is it even wise for someone in their 20's to work at the same company for 20+ years? I don't know if that will happen any longer in today's economic environment. I stayed with one employer for 27 years. I don't know if that was a wise move or not, but that's water under the bridge at this point. At least I was there long enough to qualify for the parent company's pension plan before that was discontinued in 2014.

Finding a new job 4 years ago at age 55 was not easy. Even with today's very low unemployment rate, I don't imagine finding a good job with health insurance and the standard benefit package at age 59 would be a walk in the park.

You are spot on! And thank you for sending the "mature" applicants to these employers. I guess I should not be surprised you were told not to send some compannies any applicants over a certain age...I'm guessing that age was 45, and not more than 50.

There is a club in T.V. called ‘Under 60.’
Why would you feel the need to have a club with age attached?
When members turn 60 they’re no longer allowed in the club.

Sort of like kindergarten can’t get in over age 6. Why would you want to, anyways?

Well that is a novel way of looking at things .... so you join the club because you are younger than 59 and they tell you to go when you get to 60?

Personally, I don't care one way or the other, but what do they do with you when you are too old to club with them?

I think the Baby Boomers also have age restrictions for people who want to join.

I've heard that they fly you up north, put you on an ice floe...then wave bye-bye. :D

That may change though, given that airfare is becoming more and more expensive, because they have to keep going further north...to find any ice. :(

I needed a good laugh after fretting about that ol’ SNOOP.

Prejudice-a misused term
 

Prejudice is understood to be a negative but we all do it all the time. The word is pre (before) judice (judgement) Heck you look out on a field loaded with mosquitoes and you judge with all those bugs the fishing will be great or you judge I don't want to be here.

With people it is exactly the same. One person has a nice smile and you are drawn to the them another is in pain, frowning etc and if you don't think you reject them.

Age prejudice-a rude shock to me at Mcdonalds. The zit faced kid behind the counter told me I wanted a senior coffee. Should have at least made me prove I was old enough. If, I had a bar perhaps the sign should say due to politically correct we card everyone.

There's a bar/music venue in New Haven (Toad's) that cards everyone. They take the law literally because they'd been raided many years ago. The actual law is that everyone must be in possession of a valid ID, not just that they be 21 or older.

So if you are 50 years old, and don't have your license on your person when ordering alcohol, you are violating the law - and so is the bar if they serve you.

The New York Ren Faire has the same policy. They don't care how old you are, or how old you look. No ID, no alcohol.