The Elderly
The vast majority of the elderly are sure of two things: One, that they know everything, and if they don’t already know it, then it’s obviously not worth knowing. Two, they know that they’re going to die soon anyway, so they don’t have to worry about little things like “getting along with other people” and “obeying the law.”
This is, of course, a dangerous combination, as it leads to such things as old ladies driving their cars years after they should have given up their licenses. Never mind that their mere, slow, unpredictable presence on the roads poses not only a health risk to their fellow drivers, but their driving has traffic violation written all over it. But don’t try to talk to them about it. Trust me.
Disclaimer: I love my grandparents. But they frighten me when they drive. And don’t discuss politics with them. Ever.
August 25th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Your point is well taken. As wonderful as my grandparents (and most other grandparents) are, there are just some things that… well, are just downright frustrating about them. Take this article for example. We should treat our seniors with respect, but they should not be exempt from doing the same to us. It’s similar to one of my peeves… how come girls can hit dudes and then say it’s not ok for us to hit back? I’m not saying I want to hit any girls… just that hitting hurts regardless of whether it’s a male or female doing the hitting.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:03 am
Nate, I totally agree with you on this one. My gerontophobia aside, I seriously think that drivers license tests need to include a maturity/senility section where the person applying for the license would need to prove they have the basic mental prowess necessary for operating a motor vehicle.
Also, your post reminds me of Seinfeld. See here: http:// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZZnDeNkKcA about two minutes in.
September 13th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Yeah, don’t even mess with old people. They’re pretty much useless.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I don’t know about your laws but I know about European… People older than seventy are practically untouchable by law because (in many countries) the minute they receive their sentences, they walk out because they are considered too old to be imprisoned. It is true that they are not usually eager to become criminals but they are eager to do dangerous things like the one you have mentioned. I remember my grandfather when he was denied license for motorcycles. It was sad. He obeyed the law but many do not…