Weird French survey o' the day
French mag Notre Temps has polled the Plain People of France as to what older people should be called. For those of us in our early forties it is frankly terrifying that older is taken as being 50+. Focusing purely on comely ladies, 50 year olds include Sade, Susanna 'Bangles' Hoffs, Nastassja Kinski and Rosanna Arquette. Other noted 50 year olds include Morrissey, Sean Bean, Nick Griffin and - in a few months time - Charles Kennedy.
Anyway, when 50 somethings were asked what they wanted to be dubbed as a group, it was 'seniors' (that word is in the original French). 60 somethings opted for that too, while octogenarians preferred 'older people' and 'the retired'. Overall, 'les seniors' leads, followed by 'the retired', 'the elders' (Les aînés), 'older people' and 'the old'. I suppose one ought to raise a glass to the 7% who opted for 'les baby-boomers'.
As to the population in general, 'old people' and 'the retired' dominated.
Given the opportunity to have a good old moan, it was not taken, as asked 'how does the media treat the 50+?', 36% said positively, 40% neutrally and only 19% negatively.
Anyway, when 50 somethings were asked what they wanted to be dubbed as a group, it was 'seniors' (that word is in the original French). 60 somethings opted for that too, while octogenarians preferred 'older people' and 'the retired'. Overall, 'les seniors' leads, followed by 'the retired', 'the elders' (Les aînés), 'older people' and 'the old'. I suppose one ought to raise a glass to the 7% who opted for 'les baby-boomers'.
As to the population in general, 'old people' and 'the retired' dominated.
Given the opportunity to have a good old moan, it was not taken, as asked 'how does the media treat the 50+?', 36% said positively, 40% neutrally and only 19% negatively.
Labels: France, generational conflict
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on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 2:12 pm.
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