USA culture is very youth oriented, advice on how to navigate through it as we enter our 40s, 50s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take up shuffleboard, OP. Oh and constantly talk about how music was sooooo much better when you were younger.

Older music acts are discriminated against in the USA. In other countries older music artists are recognized but in the USA they are largely forgotten.

Not at the Grand Ole' Opry. (Which I love, BTW).

You know exactly what I am talking about. Stop it already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take up shuffleboard, OP. Oh and constantly talk about how music was sooooo much better when you were younger.

Older music acts are discriminated against in the USA. In other countries older music artists are recognized but in the USA they are largely forgotten.

You don't follow country music, do you. Ever hear of Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton and the (late, great) John Prine and Charlie Daniels? Revered

^ Country music radio does not exactly have those artist's music on regular rotation anymore.

There are literally hundreds of radio stations dedicated to oldies, classic rock, etc.

Prince is an example of an artist who was praised by 93.9 WKYS and 95.5 WPGC on the day he passed away but neither of those stations had played an entire Prince song from start to finish in YEARS. Yes I said it. YEARS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take up shuffleboard, OP. Oh and constantly talk about how music was sooooo much better when you were younger.

Older music acts are discriminated against in the USA. In other countries older music artists are recognized but in the USA they are largely forgotten.

You don't follow country music, do you. Ever hear of Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton and the (late, great) John Prine and Charlie Daniels? Revered

^ Country music radio does not exactly have those artist's music on regular rotation anymore.

There are literally hundreds of radio stations dedicated to oldies, classic rock, etc.

Those artists in many instances are still releasing new music and in most cases it is ignored by radio.

The fact that you're obsessed with "radio" is actually evidence that you're out of touch. That's simply not how people get their music anymore, even many middle-aged people. And there are plenty of older artists who are still making and selling music and concert tickets. Heck, I could go see REO Speedwagon and Gladys Knight next month if I wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I kind of understand what you are saying. I was born in the US to newly arrived immigrants. I grew up very much in their culture. In their culture, generations are way more integrated - it is common to see 3 generations of people dining together at local taverns or in plazas -- all interacting with each other. Whenever my husband and I go out to dinner in the city, we are often the oldest ones there (mid-late 40s), and you almost never see multi-generation groups. Americans tend to push older people aside and not incorporate them into daily life. I have a friend who guilt-trips me when my parents cook my family dinner or babysit the kids -- like I shouldn't put that "burden" on them because they are old. In my culture, older people who don't work anymore don't necessarily just sit around doing nothing - they cook for their families, they garden, they watch over kids when needed... they contribute to their family groups in meaningful ways and are appreciated for it. They tend to be happier and healthier than older Americans because their lives have purpose and they are included in family activities.

I think this is very much an over-generalization. Lots of retired Americans watch their grandkids, host family's for meals, etc. DC is more transient (at least the UMC folks you know). If you live far from the older generation, they can't help you out. My mom and dad in the early 70s still work because they want to, not because they have to. They can't watch my kids. We do host each other at our houses, go out to dinner together. They come to my kid's weekend activities, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take up shuffleboard, OP. Oh and constantly talk about how music was sooooo much better when you were younger.

Older music acts are discriminated against in the USA. In other countries older music artists are recognized but in the USA they are largely forgotten.

You don't follow country music, do you. Ever hear of Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton and the (late, great) John Prine and Charlie Daniels? Revered

^ Country music radio does not exactly have those artist's music on regular rotation anymore.

There are literally hundreds of radio stations dedicated to oldies, classic rock, etc.

Those artists in many instances are still releasing new music and in most cases it is ignored by radio.

The fact that you're obsessed with "radio" is actually evidence that you're out of touch. That's simply not how people get their music anymore, even many middle-aged people. And there are plenty of older artists who are still making and selling music and concert tickets. Heck, I could go see REO Speedwagon and Gladys Knight next month if I wanted.

I am not obsessed with radio. I do not listen to it.

Show me any major outlet of any kind that is promoting or pushing new releases or recent releases by REO Speedwagon or Gladys Knight. YOU CAN"T!

[Anonymous]

I like to hit people with my cane and whine about 'these young whippersnappers'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to hit people with my cane and whine about 'these young whippersnappers'.

Hit em and hit em hard.

[Anonymous]

I dive into culture, period, even though I'm older. Young, old, in the middle, I show up and never worry about the age difference. It has worked for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think our culture is "youth oriented" I think it completely caters to the baby boomers who have the money and voting power.

100% agree. If you need proof look at them closing down schools so Boomers wouldn't have to face the horror of having to bring their elderly parents home from the nursing homes during covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I kind of understand what you are saying. I was born in the US to newly arrived immigrants. I grew up very much in their culture. In their culture, generations are way more integrated - it is common to see 3 generations of people dining together at local taverns or in plazas -- all interacting with each other. Whenever my husband and I go out to dinner in the city, we are often the oldest ones there (mid-late 40s), and you almost never see multi-generation groups. Americans tend to push older people aside and not incorporate them into daily life. I have a friend who guilt-trips me when my parents cook my family dinner or babysit the kids -- like I shouldn't put that "burden" on them because they are old. In my culture, older people who don't work anymore don't necessarily just sit around doing nothing - they cook for their families, they garden, they watch over kids when needed... they contribute to their family groups in meaningful ways and are appreciated for it. They tend to be happier and healthier than older Americans because their lives have purpose and they are included in family activities.

That is not an anti-elderly thing, that is an anti-family thing. The flip side of that is shoving your 6 week baby in daycare so you can go back to work, which I bet your culture also doesn't have. Americans are also in love with moving around the country and away from their extended family to chase jobs.

[Anonymous]

I find that most people obsessed with “Americans do this,” and “Americans do that” are from very small, homogeneous countries. Our country is far too large and diverse for there to be one culture and one way of doing things.

[Anonymous]

I feel like there are a lot more activities here for seniors than there are elsewhere especially if you move to a place like Florida. My grandmother lives in a 55 plus community and also is super involved with her sneior center and she has so many friends and activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take up shuffleboard, OP. Oh and constantly talk about how music was sooooo much better when you were younger.

Older music acts are discriminated against in the USA. In other countries older music artists are recognized but in the USA they are largely forgotten.

You don't follow country music, do you. Ever hear of Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton and the (late, great) John Prine and Charlie Daniels? Revered

^ Country music radio does not exactly have those artist's music on regular rotation anymore.

There are literally hundreds of radio stations dedicated to oldies, classic rock, etc.

Those artists in many instances are still releasing new music and in most cases it is ignored by radio.

The fact that you're obsessed with "radio" is actually evidence that you're out of touch. That's simply not how people get their music anymore, even many middle-aged people. And there are plenty of older artists who are still making and selling music and concert tickets. Heck, I could go see REO Speedwagon and Gladys Knight next month if I wanted.

I am not obsessed with radio. I do not listen to it.

Show me any major outlet of any kind that is promoting or pushing new releases or recent releases by REO Speedwagon or Gladys Knight. YOU CAN"T!

Actually, kids are into vinyl again. And if you stand in line on record store day, a lot of what people are lining up to buy are limited edition reissues of classic rock albums, and 80s and 90s albums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think our culture is "youth oriented" I think it completely caters to the baby boomers who have the money and voting power.

100% agree. If you need proof look at them closing down schools so Boomers wouldn't have to face the horror of having to bring their elderly parents home from the nursing homes during covid.

I think most boomers' parents are dead by now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's just the DC area, and likely other major cities are the same. Older folks recreate by going to their second homes elsewhere or away on vacations. The expectation is that staying here for fun is lame.

Yes I think you may be right.

All the older people on my block either move to Florida/Carolinas/etc. or they spend the entire winter down there, so you have a point.