Personality changes in relatives as they age

[Anonymous]

I’ve noticed several of my relatives - parents, aunts, uncles - are starting to act a bit different as they get older. Most of them are in their 60’s. Some go very extreme in terms of political beliefs (in either direction). Others become more milquetoast.

I’m not the only one in my family to see this, when I’ve spoken about this with my younger relatives they see it too. It’s just weird because people I’ve known my whole life are different people from 15-20 years ago.

Is this a normal thing that happens with aging?

[Anonymous]

Retirees are way too online these days.

[Anonymous]

Dementia + Facebook = Badly Behaving Boomers

[Anonymous]

Some are quiet until the death of a parent or other influential person in their life.
Some get their voice later in life.
Some have dementia.
Some realize they don’t have to argue everything all the time.

However, my observations are different from yours, in that those who are conservative tend to stay conservative and those that are liberal tend to stay liberal.

[Anonymous]

Leave old people alone. This is getting ridiculous and repetitive.

[Anonymous]

Has your personality changed as you’ve aged?

[Anonymous]

Everyone in my family has stayed in their lane politically. My relatives run the gamut between very conservative and communist. We all get along.

However, I've noticed that my father, who was extremely patient and emotionally controlled all his life, is a lot more impatient and moody these days. A few years ago I thought it might be cognitive decline (and it could still be). But recently he was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening, autoimmune disorder that has all kinds of physical symptoms, and now I think his disease was probably developing and making him feel ill for the last 3 years.

It's interesting because my mother has always sort of nagged/bullied him and he's never fought back. Now he is. At times, their old relationship reverses and he's the one who bullies her.

I mostly stay out of it, because I have a tenuous relationship with my mother due to her incessant nagging, so right now, I think on some level she's getting what she's been deserving for decades...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed several of my relatives - parents, aunts, uncles - are starting to act a bit different as they get older. Most of them are in their 60’s. Some go very extreme in terms of political beliefs (in either direction). Others become more milquetoast.

I’m not the only one in my family to see this, when I’ve spoken about this with my younger relatives they see it too. It’s just weird because people I’ve known my whole life are different people from 15-20 years ago.

Is this a normal thing that happens with aging?

I have noticed this, but when i think about it I am noticing some women I know in their 30s and 40s have become really extreme in their politics-militant. They were once reasonable progressive leaning with critical thinking skills are while they still considered themselves progressive, they have more in common with the extreme right than they do with most of the other democrats I know. I know that sounds sexist, but none of the men I know in this age group have become like this, even their spouses. They almost seem indoctrinated. It's only wealthy white women I know who became like this. None of my more diverse friends-financially or ethnically diverse are so extreme.

[Anonymous]

I thinks it’s one of the benefits of being that age - you no longer have to gaf what other people think and feel freer to express yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leave old people alone. This is getting ridiculous and repetitive.

Are your folks mouldering in the ground and this is your way of honoring them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leave old people alone. This is getting ridiculous and repetitive.

I stand by my comment that retirees are too online. I am not reflexively anti-boomer. There are regular mental health changes that are part and parcel of aging that I have a ton of sympathy for. I have seen Parkinson’s and depression devastate two family members. There are plenty of other examples.

But there is something else going on too with the amount of time retirees are spending online and I don’t think we can talk about it enough. My mother sees this trend of “politics as total personality” in her retiree friends which is crowding out conversation on any other subject. I hear some of the misogynistic brain rot youtube automatically serves up to my dad. I have a good relationship with my parents and luckily they are still very active but I worry what’s going to fill the vacuum when they become less mobile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave old people alone. This is getting ridiculous and repetitive.

Are your folks mouldering in the ground and this is your way of honoring them?

What an ugly thing to say.

There is no one size fits all answer to this question, some people have personality changes with aging for good or for bad and others don’t.

[Anonymous]

Blame it on Fox News

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave old people alone. This is getting ridiculous and repetitive.

Are your folks mouldering in the ground and this is your way of honoring them?

What an ugly thing to say.

There is no one size fits all answer to this question, some people have personality changes with aging for good or for bad and others don’t.

I truly don’t care.

If there are no universal answers, ridiculous PP trying to order people to not post could herself sit on her hands and let people post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed several of my relatives - parents, aunts, uncles - are starting to act a bit different as they get older. Most of them are in their 60’s. Some go very extreme in terms of political beliefs (in either direction). Others become more milquetoast.

I’m not the only one in my family to see this, when I’ve spoken about this with my younger relatives they see it too. It’s just weird because people I’ve known my whole life are different people from 15-20 years ago.

Is this a normal thing that happens with aging?

I guess.

At the same time, unless you live with someone or spend long vacations with them, you don’t know their quirks. Maybe you’re only noticing them now, now that you’re trying to.

That said, my absent minded FIL is now called forgetful due to age 75 yet he was always that way. So families like their secrets. And age helps cover the up nicely.