[2022] Poll 6 Results

[Jill]

I noticed the list says 60+. Maybe because I am British, elderly does not sound out of place. Maybe you would prefer to use someone who is in their senior years,

[Beth]

As someone in their 20s (also British), I would refer to elderly as someone who is at least 70+. My parents are mid-60s and I wouldn't describe them as elderly, in fact they might be offended by it lol. In my interpretation there is an added element of vulnerability that makes someone 'elderly' over just 'old'.

As for the prompt, if we're talking an older protagonist I think the age might be a good way to go, e.g. 'over 50' so it's clearer.

[Jill]

That's why I thought someone in their senior years might be more acceptable. Leaving to people to decide when they think the senior years are.

[Alicia]

My mom and aunts (all 69+) hate when I call them elderly or old. They remind me that “70s is different now than it used to be”. So I tease them and call them “mature”. US here

I think 50+ protagonist or 60+ protagonist still gets the spirit of the prompt and makes it clearer for us over thinkers.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

I think you should have the nearest pre-k kid tell you what age you turn "old" and let the chaos ensue. I imagine the vast majority of this group would qualify as elderly if not a miracle of medicine lol.

[Alicia]

My niece started calling me old at 24. I cried on the inside

[Chrissy]

I’m mid-40s and think of myself as old but def not elderly. Maybe because I work with lots of people in their 20s and 30s!

[Jill]

whatever you call it, I hope it gets in . I have quite a few books about older feisty women.

[Alicia]

I hope it gets in too. It sounds fun. I’ll at least be upvoting it! But it’s not in this upcoming round, right?

[Martha]

There's still one spot open.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Suggestions are open and there’s one spot remaining for Poll 7

[NancyJ]

Ask a teenager and it might be just as bad. Back in the 60's/70's, anyone over the age of 30 was considered "square" and they were not to be trusted.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Who knew this piece of the topic would generate the most discussion? I don't know how many of the books reveal the protagonist's age, but I'll give it some thought as I look at some of the books I had in mind. Some of the books with the oldest protagonists tend to have more humor and some common themes (many have up-lit tags). Other stories/themes might have more pathos.

No, it will be at least a week away.

I felt like I aged in stages, and each stage had different issues. Some of you might prefer to read a book about some aspect of aging, rather than a very old age.

[°~Amy~°]

My mother had my brother when I was 9. I remember telling her that she was WAY too old to be having a baby......she was 26. Oops lol

[Jill]

My mother had my sister when she was 32, and me when she was 42. I was not planned

[NancyJ]

Jill wrote: "My mother had my sister when she was 32, and me when she was 42. I was not planned"

They used to call that a geriatric pregnancy. Now that is an insulting term. Babies can sure surprise you. My husband's sister is 20 years older than him. She was married with kids even before he was born.

°~Amy~° wrote: "My mother had my brother when I was 9. I remember telling her that she was WAY too old to be having a baby......she was 26. Oops lol"

LOL . Oops is right.

When I was 24, I met a woman who looked 30, and she said she was a grandmother. I used the same compliment that I heard my mother's friends say when they realized she had teenagers. "Oh you must have been 12 when you had her." {{crickets}} She didn't laugh. Oops. :(

[Nancy]

Yes now they call it advanced maternal age, though you'll still hear geriatric pregnancy a lot.

[Alicia]

Nancy wrote: "Yes now they call it advanced maternal age, though you'll still hear geriatric pregnancy a lot."

I'm 34 and pregnant with my first child. I've had at least five different people tell me that if I was 35, I'd be a geriatric pregnancy. I just stare at them to make them feel uncomfortable. Hopefully that teaches them to leave pregnant women alone haha

[Nadine in NY]

Nancy wrote: "Yes now they call it advanced maternal age, though you'll still hear geriatric pregnancy a lot."



Yeah I had "Advanced Maternal Age" on my chart when I was pregnant with my second. I mis-read the scribble and thought it said "AIWA" and I had to ask my doctor what it meant.

[NancyJ]

Alicia wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Yes now they call it advanced maternal age, though you'll still hear geriatric pregnancy a lot."

I'm 34 and pregnant with my first child. I've had at least five different people tell..."

Congratulations Alicia. Do you get a lot of unsolicited advice, and people who think it's OK to put their hand on your belly? I didn't mind the advice until I realized how contradictory it all was. I hated the touching.

[Alicia]

Yes tons of touching and tons of “omg you’re so big”. I realize I probably said that before and now I know how much I hate being told that! Or being asked by everyone to constantly see pictures and being upset when I don’t send them.

But I’m a little extra grumpy normally, so I find all of it really annoying now.