A reader called the other day to complain about ageist attacks on John McCain and I must admit, I had not been bothered by what I had heard. In fact, given that I am not a fan of his politics, until I gave it more thought, I too was chuckling along with the Letterman, Kimmel and Leno audiences as the hosts poked fun at the presumptive Republican candidate's age - 71.
Some samples:
"McCain looks like the kind of guy who spends all day in the coffee shop of a municipal golf course." - Letterman
"And John McCain said that Social Security is broke and will soon run out of money. In fact, today, McCain even told reporters his Social Security number. It's eight." - Leno
He's like "the guy at the supermarket who is confused by the automatic doors." - Letterman
"John McCain spoke to the NAACP today. He went by his rap name, Ol' Cranky Bastard." - Leno
Here are some problems with perpetuating stereotypes about older people. It tends to brand every one of them as being the same - silly, stupid, confused, inferior, not worth taking seriously. Stereotyping all members of a group paints all members with the same brush, even those who do not have skills that may be eroding. It ignores new strengths and qualities that come with age, including compensating skills that allow those who may be losing abilities with age to continue to perform at a high level. It pits classes of people against each other - the deriding, mocking younger people against their elders. It tends to diminish respect for the accomplishments of the older generations, both individually and as builders of the society the young ones enjoy.
And for those who do have weaknesses associated with age - well, repeatedly mocking one man, McCain, as imbecilic and incompetent because of his age "prevent(s) people from accurately assessing and responding to social problems and conditions of older adults," as argued by the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
So those McCain jokes - they are just not funny. McCain can laugh them off but others of his generation suffer.
