Let me explain again as I stated very clearly on the first place – “My friend’s mom responds: They’re seniors in denial. She said the term Elder is dated and only serves to emphasize just how old they really are. While not being in my later years myself, I am inclined to agree.”

Some of the commenters here acknowledge the respect implicit in the world elder; others miss it entirely by
1) focusing on the adjective, as in elder sibling
2) speaking as if words don’t matter

Words DO matter; names matter; connotation matters. We’re talking about blogging where words are the coin of the realm; what else is there? OK, some people use photos or illustrations, but come on! Think about it. We’ve come a long way from the days when all women, regardless of age, were called “girls,” but I still have relatives who call us “girls” and then apologize for not being “PC.” Our language is not about being politically correct; the way we use language equates to how we view the world and how we communicate that vision of the world, and in no way can we stick with denotation only: connotation defines who we are.

Ronni has pegged the crux of the word problem, and that is “ageism.” The younger you are, the less likely you are to recognize ageism, so I ask you younger folks to take our word for it. Ageism exists and it doesn’t serve anyone well, not the elders and not the–hey, shall we call you other folks “kids” since words don’t seem to matter?

I respect the fact that some people don’t care whether they’re called “senior” or “elder.” But the issue is bigger than personal preference.

“Older people” seems to sidestep the issue of grandparents at 40 years (a 42 year old elder? a 65-year old elder? is 70 the new “golden ager”? Fortunately, the “golden age” dropped nearly as fast as the advertisers created it.).

Elderblogger is good; an older person who writes about issues of concern to the elderlies.

Seriously, though, discrimination against and sterotyping of the aged or older people is serious, whether done by older or younger people, or by those in between.

As for Google — like any computer generated activity — is stupid, GIGO; which never stopped anyone from making money off of someone. Chris and other googleadders can specify which ads to accept, or not. Everyone else can complain to those running the show over at G-land.

Age was something one was proud of in those days. When the the leader of Egypt met the Father of Joseph, the first thing he asked about was his age. This account is in Genesis.

I remember reading an interview with a woman in her 70s — I can’t remember her name, I read it so long ago. Anyhow she said how funny it was that people referred to her as “African-American” and “senior citizen,” saying “Aw, heck — I’m an old black woman!”

We “Elder Bloggers” are a large, diverse group with many interests and varied talents. Many of us got acquainted by visiting Ronni Bennett’s blog and following her links. Here’s to all the “Elder Bloggers” who wear their age proudly and refuse to “go gentle into that good night” as Dylan Thomas wrote

“Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Use of the term elder can imply wisdom, but does not mean simply because someone is older they have wisdom. The term can be appropriate for those in a wide age range.

I’ve never been in denial of my age, nor am I now at age 70 yrs. I have generally just referred to myself as “older,” only because I do not like labels at any age, since so often labels are associated by too many people with inaccurate stereotypes. We’re long past due to jettison the stereotypical image and the label “senior” that goes with it.