Why does English culture seem to lack respect for elderly people?

[Soapsoaplady]

I noticed the difference between English speaking culture and European and Asian culture.

The respect to elders. In Czech where I come from, people over 60 are automatically respected and protected by the law.

They belong to a group of people who have special legal protections in case someone tries to hurt them.

Here in the UK, I don't see much respect to old people, and I see kids make fun of them and people treat them like they are 20 or 30.

[MisterWack]

Healthcare costs an arm and a leg in America with the proscription drugs to treat certain issues as you age, insurance companies screw over the elderly everyday too. When you say you see no respect to old people, I see it from the perspective that things are rigged against our aging population.

We have veterans still without the benefits they deserve, that suffer as they are living a long life. As more Americans do the wars of the rich and power, they deserve adequate care, compensation, and respect as they get older.

We also have elderly working in stores when they should be retired, they’re tired and weak, should be getting support, but sadly they are working to the bone after a lifetime of it.
You need a certain amount to retire comfortably and due to economic hardships or mismanagement or not investing in the right stock picks, also raising the retirement age they can’t live a comfortable life.

It sucks, we should have our backs for our elderly. They would have our backs.

[MisterWack]

*Prescription

[ohsheeT]

All younger Generations all think it's okay to act like Trump and they think they're invincible and just say one day they too will become older and not any smarter because they're still doing what they're doing and the price will be high it's really kind of sad that they can't think 2 seconds past their nose it's too bad that they were raised that way and if they weren't raised that way it's sad that they act that way but their time is coming too you know there are good ones out there that do respect and do honor and do help if they can when they see it

[4ngelic]

I don't think our cultures disrespect the elderly, like it's seen as good manners to give your seat to them, open the door for them, etc but there's not this special status or special respect, like in other parts of the world. So disrespect towards them is more common.

[Soapsoaplady]

There's definitely lot of disrespect towards the elderly in the English culture. Even lot of violence towards them.

That's what I call a disrespectful culture.

[Smileygirl2000]

Why are you judging an entire culture when you haven't met the entire culture? It's the person not an entire culture. A bit if an ignorant post

[Smileygirl2000]

Post is very trollish.

[CaptainSmartass]

It sounds very rage bait-y.

[Billlewis]

Well, one thing that tends to happen is that it's always been popular to blame older folks for the state of the world and the national debt, etc. The problem with that mindset is that it's been, overwhelmingly, millennials and Gen Z who have voted for the politicians most responsible for many of those ills.

[HawkPerception]

I'm of the belief that you should respect everyone until they prove they aren't deserving of respect. For example, I won't respect the elderly just because they're elderly. If they're an idiot and very rude, then I treat them as such. But if they're a kind and respectful person, I'll give them the same in return.

[Levin]

Well, it is a different culture.

There is more automatic respect in Asian cultures. But then again, we should not respect that which is not respect-worthy.

People do respect older people here. But in the West, it's more an indication of society falling apart.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Taking a look at Asian traditions, I see a lot more obedience and submission than what Latin and Anglo-Saxon cultures feature. Obedience towards head of the state, see China & Russia, towards head of company, see Japan. Towards principles, traditions, social rules that are heavily detailed, compared to the west, which seems much more flexible.

And elders, they are the ones incarnating traditions & rules.

[Spencer10]

Well I believe respect is earned, With that in mind most older people have earned that respect by building our society for the next generations. But social media seems to push valuing youth more than experience or wisdom. We have our priorities messed up i think.

[Bricealan]

@soapsoaplady Hopefully it is not across the board disrespect for the elderly, but SURE it is a problem here for the elderly, especially in a area where the retard teenager is running amok near a High School. All I can say is, what goes around comes around.

[RavVid]

Hmmh. Historically it was noted by Romans that Germanic people did not show nepotism i. e a son did not automatically succeed his father as chief, he had to earn his own stripes. Of course their is nepotism but it is not as strong as in Southern Europe in Northern Europe.

I think that might be related though it is hard to argue.

[TonyMetal___86]

You must respect everyone until they disrespect you but why elders are treated different, it's for simple fact than i'm not going to act tough as 40-41 year old man against a man who is 80 double my age, so i suck it and walk away but that doesn't mean that i'm still respecting him, because he doesn't deserves my respect of he's disrespectful!

[Justme1993]

Not how the way I was brought up honestly it's a generational thing think back the mid 20th century like your great grandparents generation if not great great grandparents generation

[strateguy632]

you misunderstand we just have a different meaning for respect. we do respect =speak politely. the east is "reverent" of parents as influenced by ancestor worship.

[strateguy632]

i just checked. your example of hit elder is false. in west the punishment to deter IS bigger.
facts: Attacking an older person age 60+ even a simple hit, changed from a misdemeanor type crime if age 59,
to a more severe felony type. jail
time ranging from 3 to 10 years, minimum THREE YEARS in contrast to hitting me the punishment is one year prison.

[Jackblue]

I am not sure what exactly you refer to. People over 65 get benefits and priority seating on the bus in the US. They were also the first ones for the covid vaccine. I don't really know about kids teasing them, again what are you referring to?

[Jackblue]

I have been to China. People will often give up their seats on the bus to the elderly, however I have seen that happen in the US too, and other than that their respect is not overwhelming. They don't bow to them or touch their feet like in India or parts of Africa.

[Soapsoaplady]

I am talking about protection against violence. English speaking people seem to have a thing for disrespecting and being nasty to old people

[Iron_Man]

Are you talking about England or America? Of course everybody should respect Their elders like the Indians do the American Indians respect their elders

[Soapsoaplady]

All English countries all the same

[Iron_Man]

I respect my elders

[Smileygirl2000]

@soapsoaplady have you been to all English countries or are you just trolling

[Abbycado]

I see a general lack versus the way my parents told me how it was. I certainly don’t fall into that category.

[Cidknee]

You know, I wonder why too. We have an over abundant percentage of asshats here.

[Dargil]

The older ones cling to the protocols, The younger ones repel it. Also true in American WASP culture.

[jamesgoldman]

Because the far left system in the UK will soon purge the elderly and have wanted to do so for a long time

[sage2021]

The only disrespect I get from anyone are the members on this website!! 😔

[molonski2]

I notice same in Australia, in Thailand it's completely different , I really don't know why.

[RCONFIGURATION1]

I think the generation change I don't think it was always like that

[fonduegirl]

Just elderly? i thought white people respected nobody

[FrodoSkywalker007]

@fonduegirl not at all an ignorant or racist comment

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 so you disagree?

[FrodoSkywalker007]

Obviously.

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 you are white, I take it?

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 and respectful too?

[FrodoSkywalker007]

The issue with this post is it assume ls individual actions define a culture. I would say western culture is generally respectful of elders. Many (for better or worse) have systems that support and revere elders. Most nations in the west are controlled and have entire policies dictated by those elders.

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 stereotypes are unfair, but they are based on characteristics shared by majority of the said population

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 trump?

[FrodoSkywalker007]

Trump would be am elder, for better or worse. Same with Biden. If the west ws ageist I doubt such figures could take their posts.

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 i dont even know how the orange man is still in power tbh

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 we have old ministers and such too, but we aren't masochistic

[FrodoSkywalker007]

Your perspective of policy has little to do with the topic at hand

[FrodoSkywalker007]

And the US has had many great old leaders. Once again, has nothing to do with our topic currently

[fonduegirl]

@FrodoSkywalker007 got it

[Bklynbadboy12]

I dont know where that came from its the younger generation they dont have respect for any one or anything

[Just_Ken]

Years of socialism

[_Jenny_]

I don’t think so

[DirtyOldMan777]

Communism doesn't like no productive people.

[eagle1951]

good question