Idiots: Don't call us elderly, fogey, or codger - and forget about senior, says U.S. group aiming to ban ageist language

Codger is out, and don't even think about using fogey or fossil, ageism activists in the U.S. have warned.

In fact, scrub senior and elderly while you are at it, journalists have been told in a 'dos and don'ts' of reporting people of a certain age.

Indeed 'of a certain age' may also be a no-no, with euphemisms to be avoided, it is suggested.

The advice is included in a media guide on reporting issued by the International Longevity Center and Aging Services of California.

In it, the campaign groups attempt to help journalists and advertisers represent 'older people' - its preferred term - in a 'fair contemporary and unbiased' manner.

The authors of the report state that 80 per cent of older Americans have been subjected to ageist stereotypes.

'While names and characterisations may vary, the message is the same: older men and women are incompetent and lack sufficiency,' the guide states.

To redress the bias, the pressure groups have listed a lexicon of unacceptable terms for older adults.

It includes 'biddy', 'old goat' and 'prune' - all of which should not be used.

'Old ladies' of both the 'little' and 'sweet' variety are also to be avoided.

Gone too should be the 'greedy geezer' and 'miserly old man' the report states.

Indeed the list of acceptable terms is far shorter than those that can't be used.

Journalists are advised: 'If you need to identify individuals over the age of 50, 'older adults' is preferred over 'senior' and 'elderly', which can be discriminatory in nature.

'After all, we don't refer to people under 50 as 'junior citizens'.

'Instead, say 'man' and 'woman', and give the age, if relevant to the story,' the guide states.

Euphemisms are not the best way forward, according to the guide.

So out goes 'golden years' as a description of an individual's period of life relating to the years after being deemed to be an older adult.

The guide is likely to provoke comment by the 'anti-political correct' brigade.

But in a preface to the report, Robert Butler, president of the International Longevity Centre, described the guide as 'an important step in overcoming ageist language and beliefs'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1143687/Dont-elderly-fogey-codger--forget-senior-says-U-S-group-aiming-ban-ageist-language.html

Shut up!

You geriatric fossils!

Idiots: Don't call us elderly, fogey, or codger - and forget about senior, says U.S. group aiming to ban ageist language

Idiots: Don't call us elderly, fogey, or codger - and forget about senior, says U.S. group aiming to ban ageist language

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