Now, how many of you feel today's OLDER generation is worse?

I hate it when you give way to the sweet old lady and let her through a door and she just barges through without a smile or thankyou, or if you reach up and get something for them in the supermarket and they just take it and walk off. Yes on the whole I think are more ignorant older people than teenagers particularly in the middle classes

I'm 75, living in a Seniors independent living complex. I've travelled all over the world and have done and accomplished many things. Seeing REAL poverty and REAL hardship tends to keep the whine factor down. I believe my open, tolerant attitude is because of my experiences. I'm still very optimistic about life, enjoy good health and have really fine friends. I meditate every day and do yoga. So much for me.....

I find most of the people in my complex are as you've described. I can't believe how small minded and grumpy they are. Having said that, I also want to point out that their lives seem very sad and limiting.

A friend once told me that most mean actions are the result of fear. So the best way to relate to a mean person is to try and figure out their fears. That way one can appreciate their behaviour much better rather than react to the meanness. So what are a lot of old people afraid of?

Fear of growing old.

Fear of not being taken seriously.

Fear of dying.

Fear of being alone.

Fear of rejection.

Fear of debilitating health.

There are probably more, but I feel I've made my point. So the way we can relate to old, grumpy people is to take to heart and perhaps address, the very fears that create the behaviour in the first place. That way, the person will feel your interest and sincerity and probably change their meanness as well.

"Every generation blames the one before and all of their frustrations come beating on your door" - The Living Years by Mike & the mechanics.

Yes I agree there are some of the older generation who are rude and demanding, as there is in all ages of people nowadays.

Everyone has a different story to tell, varying experiences that make them what they are or do what they do.

I think in some ways, we're all too quick to judge each other. There's less tolerance from everyone.

acckk...I have only been the older generation for nine days and already people hate me. I will have to practice that nasty rude stuff. We are all just people, individuals, subject to mood, experience in life and various other things that effect the way we act. A lot of older people...older than me by the way...are sick and in pain so I can excuse a lot. I don't really think bad attitude has anything to do with generations, old or young.

Not all the older folks are like that ,I think it depends on what part of the country you are in.However it does explain why I see so many being abused by the younger generation.In case you don't know most of us started at hard labor menial jobs,that paid nothing by today's standard and we worked up,As did our children,not what I am seeing with today's youth.A sad truth.That said all generations have room for improvement being old gives no one the right to forget thier raising,manners or morals.

as a person getting close to that (older generation) it reminds me of a saying in the sixty's that said don't trust anyone over 30!!! a rallying cry for the hippie movement. I guess I Can now shout don't trust anyone over 70!!! There is bad people every ware and every generation that is just human nature

Every generation is the same. There are just different issues and leaders. As well as different forms of technology.

The older generation can be

Rude

Ignorant

Stupid

Forgetfull

Cranky

Demanding

Uncaring

Selfish

short sighted

Mean

or just plain bloody minded. And I should know as I am old !!!!

I have nothing against former generations really. They kept this country free and sovereign for me, and I appreciate it. EXCEPT FOR JIMMY CARTER, I MEAN.