Was Brown touching on a truth that dare not speak it's name?

[sp1814]

...that old people are generally bigoted?

I grew up in South London, and my memories of the place were that there were an awful lot of people who can only be summed up thus:

http://newsimg.bbc.co...6427_tate_bbc226b.jpg

Is it true that the elderly 'lean to the right'? If so, and I'm sure the ranks of the dailymailers will agree with me - shouldn't we all be able to say, "The old are bigots"....or are they the one section of society we should keep schtum about?

[tearinghair]

Excuse me, this lady is 65 I think? I don't believe this qualifies as 'old people' or 'elderly' these days...

[DrFilth]

the one i have just seen a vido clip of was a leftie labour bigot, even our gordon said so

[R1Geezer]

It is a common belief of a spoon fed lefty that the older generation are bigoted. I don't think so, I think they use terms in a way that may be construed as bigoted because they haven't bothered to learn the new acceptable terminology. For example my grand mother used to refer to non white people as "darkies". Oddly enough even my generation are taking on those tendencies, I mean I prefer the term bandit for homosexuals and err indoors recently got into trouble for referring to someone as horrendously disabled. I just think the older we are the less likely we are to modify our speech to avoid the ever growing list of no no words.

[sp1814]

Let's simplify this - R1Geezer...what would you call a bigot?

I lump religious fanatics and those who refuse to acknowledge equality bigots.

I would actually call myself a bigot, because I despise bigots.

Circular argument.

[rowanwitch]

I have become less extreme with age.... and many of the older people in my circle are fairly open minded but there are one or two who are at the extremes of the spectrum, but then they were as 18 year olds and it doesn't seem related to issues like education and exposure to a range of different others. I suspect some of it comes with out early exposure to groups that are usually stereotyped ... if that first experience reinforces the stereotype then we are likely to believe it is valid ...and this in turn makes a person more likely to accept other stereotypes If you then find common ground with others of a similar view the behaviour is reinforced further, Parents views are also important as we usually either go along with them or rebel against them. My family were all labour voters/union people but my mum has now swung to the far right probably because she is pretty much only experiencing the world through the tv and the SUN

[R1Geezer]

It's about genuine belief of the individual. I just think that these days one word out of place can make you seem a "bigot".

[craft1948]

I must be a bigot...........I've found myself starting to agree with Richard Littlejohn which is quite worrying, and I tut a lot.

[zita-green]

Craft 1948, get help now!

[sp1814]

rowanwitch

Good points there.

R1Geezer. Nothing this woman said made her a bigot. GB was throwing one of his hissy fits.

However, generally you COULD argue that old people hold views that the younger people would describe as 'bigoted'...

[flip_flop]

Well I'm definitely a bigot - I think anybody who holds their knife like a pen should be shot.

[DrFilth]

what if it is a penknife

[lardhelmet]

Oooh I'm with you there flip-flop - drives me nuts watching them eating like that in the canteen.

[R1Geezer]

I agree flip-flop, death's too good for them!

[Davethedog]

Flip_flop you are right teeth grinding.