When I was younger and I mean much, much younger…say about 10 years old, one of my mum’s friends was driving me somewhere and we passed one of the, ‘Elderly people’ signs. She went off on a rant. Her beef with it seemed to be, as far as I could work out from a 10 year old’s perspective, that these signs were derogatory to old people and that they stereotyped all elderly people as being bent over.
According to an article in the Telegraph last year, ‘the sign was the winning entry in a children’s contest almost 35 years ago and has indeed been widely criticised for implying all elderly people need mobility aids or are disabled’.
‘Critics of the sign’, probably my mum’s friend included, ‘have argued that the signs are unnecessary, and that people who listen to music or text as they walk are greater hazards than elderly people… Dr Ros Altmann, the pensions expert and campaigner, said the signs were redunadant and called on them to be banned. “I think we do not need a sign to warn people of older people,” she said.’
Well, I’m not so sure. I mean, don’t we all get grumpy and more openly opinionated when we get older and think that we can get away with it? Please say yes, because this is the one bit of growing old that I am looking forward to. I remember my 90 year old Nanna telling the cleaner she was fat. I whispered to Nanna, you can’t say things like that, to which my Nanna loudly replied: yes I can because I’m old and she is fat!
Back to the signs and a company called: Spring Chicken, set up a campaign to readdress the issue: “We want to change the image of ageing and bring some wit and humour, and a more accurate reflection of older people, to these signs.” their spokesperson said.
So I thought I would share with you a few of the best entries and you can choose your favourite – but only if you are over 40. No young ‘uns are getting a say in our oldies’ thang…
I was reminded of my mum’s friend and her negative reaction to the original sign, by a couple of recent events. Firstly, I am now a part of the Post-40 Bloggers group, which presumably is a stage for a blogger. Perhaps one who started out blogging about nappies and sick in their 20’s or 30’s and then finds themselves with teenagers in a post 40’s club. For me, I am a few years past the entry age, although I still had to show my ID. I have no issue with being post 40 – happier in your own skin and all that – however, it was the second recent event that really made me think: I’ve joined Gransnet! So, you’ve heard of: Mumsnet, right? The forum for parents to argue converse about such diverse subjects as: penis beakers and fat balls (calm yourselves, ladies. I’ll save those for another blog). Anyway, Gransnet is the equivalent for Grannies (and grandads). You’re not a granny! I hear you cry and mutter, ‘fraud’ under your breath. Well, I kind of stumbled (bent over) in via wishing to enter a children’s book writing competition that they are running. Someone had retweeted a tweet about it and as I have just finished my first book for 2-5 year olds (don’t worry, I curbed the swearing), I thought that I would enter. It never occurred to me that it was GRANSnet, like MUMSnet (am I slow?) and was quite happy to join this website, in order to enter. I received my username and I was in. It was only when I browsed the site that it dawned on me that the, ‘Gran’ actually stood for, ‘granny’.
So within the space of a day, I have gained entry to a post 40 blogger’s group – which I am extremely honoured to be a part of, as there is some fantastic talent in there – AND joined a group for granny’s! Partner is having a field day teasing me, as he is 3 years older than me and I’m always banging on about his age, so now is his chance for revenge. I’ll let him have his few moments of fun, but I am safe in the knowledge that I will always be, ‘the younger woman’.