Since when is being old a disability? The amount of old people that feel that they are disabled because they’ve broken a hip or something amazes me… if you can stand up, see where you’re going and hear what’s being said then what’s the disability???? I love the old folk who feel the world owes them something because they have lived their life, made they mistakes but want special treatment now that they are heading towards the grave… I would tell them to get a life but they already had one, instead of bickering and wanting all they desire even though they don’t deserve it, try remembering that you are owed nothing these days. At least back in the day an elder would have the fact that they fought in a war to brandish in a youngsters face when wanting a seat on the bus or first place in a queue but today’s elder… what have they got to brandish, the fact that they survived the peace loving, drug fuelled 60’s? Give me a break…you’ve survived to be a burden on someone else, congratulations but seriously get a grip, you’ve lived and pretty soon you are going to die… at least you’re still getting your state pension, that’s more than what any of us under 55 are going to get and still you want more… shame on you!

Needless to say I am aiming my rant to those in the age bracket of 60 – 75, anyone who’s older than that still gets the war respect and let’s be honest, they seem tougher and more independent than their younger counterparts anyways. Christ even the public transport recognises that today’s elders do not warrant the same level of entitlement because their specially designated seats are now for those with disabilities only where before it used to be for the elderly and / or the disabled. It is based off the back of that fact that I am finding myself doing me nut on the subject (as well as alienating myself from the elderly loving support groups). I pay the totally disgusting and ever increasing train fares, I get no discount because I chose not to hide from the real world by remaining a student or lived long enough to be bitter to those with their own teeth, no, I pay my own way, therefore I should be entitled to what my money pays for, in this case I refer to a seat on a train. Anyone who commutes within the London area can vouch that from certain stations at certain times you’re lucky if you can get squeezed on a train let alone have the luxury of a seat. However on those rare occasions that you hit the platform at the right time, finding an empty seat and using it is just as much my right to do as anyone other paying customer. So why should I be expected to give up my seat to someone older than me? It’s nice that they now produce these walking canes (notice I did not say ‘stick’) and scream disability so they can full into the minority that public transport prioritises but honestly, are you really saying that your walking cane puts you up there with the blind, the mentally challenged or even the deaf, who miss out on all those tinny noises coming from the over volumed PERSONAL headsets (man, are they annoying or what, the whole point of headphones is so only you hear the music not the whole train… how loud do you need it to be?).

Although to be truthful, when asked, I do give up my seat to those older than me or the pregnant but you do have to ask me, the days of me jumping up to offer my seat have long gone, as I get older I become more jaded and cynical at the world and those living in it. My own kids nickname me ‘Grumpy’ whilst my wife feels I am a mixture of Victor Meldew, Ebenezer Scrooge and an extractor fan (because I can suck the air out of a room if need be)… I’m not bitter or an ageist, I’m just tired of forever seeing people who feel that they have some outstanding debt from society give the evil eye or verbal assault on those who don’t see the world in the same black or white way.

I guess we all have our pet peeves about certain aspects of the world and the people in it, whether it is religion, politics, trains, corporate, justice system, healthcare, sports the old, the young, immigrant, rich or poor. We all know of that example that we love to throw into a conversation when our topic of choice comes up… the beauty of the internet is that you no longer have to wait for that conversation to come up because you can blog it instead and if your pet peeve is bloggers then I have just given you your opening to throw in your example here…lol

Stay frosty