http://www.jockcoats.org.uk/ageism_politics Comments for "Ageism in politics" en http://www.jockcoats.org.uk/ageism_politics#comment-1243 <p>I agree with what you have said. I am constantly being described as a young councillor even though I am in my late 30's. I would say that young was under 30! I guess it doesn't help that I don't look my age. So if I don't look my age, don't act" or feel my age, can the world please stop concentrating on age!"</p> Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:37:35 +0000 Karen comment 1243 at http://www.jockcoats.org.uk http://www.jockcoats.org.uk/ageism_politics <p>We're none of us getting any younger. In four months I reach my big four-Oh. I left school almost as long ago as I have working years left under the current rules at least. Yes, I like to think I'm still young, but I think I'd be right to object to being called "boy such-and-such". David Milliband is a full year and a half older than me and David Cameron is some months older. George Osborne is a little younger, but would have been in the fourth form when I was in my sixth, so not a lot.</p> <p>Respectively they are referred to disparagingly as the "Boy Emperor" (apparently within his department anyway), "the Boy David", and "Boy George". On the other night's Question Time there was an audience member who looked to be in his early twenties complaining that nobody in politics really represented his generation (pace <a href="http://oxfordliberal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mr Tall </a>of course, who, so far as I am aware is not referred to as "the Boy Stephen").</p> <p>Clearly referring to people nearing or past their milestone fortieth as "boy" does nothing to make them any the more representative of younger people. </p> <p>Anyway - it's just a rant. Maybe we could find some better epithets to give these people. Dislike their politics, make them out to be naive, yes, but really, can we not be more imaginative than calling them "boy" (and yes, I know I've done it too). Alexander was younger than George Osborne when he had finished conquering the known world, and that nice Mr Pitt had been Prime Minister and given up by the time he got to our age.</p> <p>Okay - maybe I am a little envious - my English/Latin A level teacher referred to me to some parents he was showing round school one day twenty two years ago as "looks like fifty but really is one of our sixth formers"...:)</p> http://www.jockcoats.org.uk/ageism_politics#comments miscellany Sun, 05 Nov 2006 05:10:22 +0000 Jock 70 at http://www.jockcoats.org.uk