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This poll is amusing, and shows the difference in attitude between the sexes. As of this posting, the ratio of men to being okay with being called old vs. those that are not is roughly 4-1, whereas the ratio of women not offended is only 3-2, quite a difference. Guess we elderly gents accept aging a bit more gracefully than do the ladies? Vanity thy name is Woman??
This poll is amusing, and shows the difference in attitude between the sexes. As of this posting, the ratio of men to being okay with being called old vs. those that are not is roughly 4-1, whereas the ratio of women not offended is only 3-2, quite a difference. Guess we elderly gents accept aging a bit more gracefully than do the ladies? Vanity thy name is Woman??
BECAUSE a single 'old' guy can be bald and fat but as long as he's neat, clean and kind, with a touch of romance, he gets snapped up in no time. (I think) most older men -- say, 65+, if given the choice between a 40-year-old woman (who is very nice and very compatible) and a 65-year-old woman (who is very nice and very compatible), will choose the 40-year-old in a second. Well, unless the 65+ is very rich too.
On the other hand, I do understand why that happens. A lot of us older women are no longer willing to cater to a man. (I'm not crazy about most older women myself. LOLOL)
Also, if women are more worried about getting old, being old, and perceived as old, it is because older women are often valued much less in U.S. society.
(just another way of stating what Fran66 stated)
One need not go along with the normative beliefs held by a majority in society, but many do not buck the norm in believing that older women are less valuable and less desirable in a number of ways.
Women are judged and valued on their looks and their age more than men are.
Also, if women are more worried about getting old, being old, and perceived as old, it is because older women are often valued much less in U.S. society.
(just another way of stating what Fran66 stated)
One need not go along with the normative beliefs held by a majority in society, but many do not buck the norm in believing that older women are less valuable and less desirable in a number of ways.
Women are judged and valued on their looks and their age more than men are.
I'm in the C category. I don't mind calling myself old, if someone else calls me old, it could sting. Depends who it is and their intent.
I do realize I am old though and am preparing myself to transition.
Okay. Aha moment! Light bulb went on… How could I have been in the dark so long?
I started this poll because of something Fran66 said (thank you Fran66), and honestly, I was not expecting such a high “yes” count (64% at this posting), especially when several are younger in age than I am. Like kygman, I also said, "I am older, not old." It forced me to think deeper why I would have voted “no”.
As old_cold said, “old” "is just a label", a subjective, undefined one, filled with assumptions, expectations, and stereotyping. Like old_cold, I don’t like a label used as a limitation and that has happened. And I my guess it happens more to women than men.
Though, as BlackShoe says, it can also provide some benefits. I was in the store the other day, and asked for the “wisdom” discount. The cashier said he would never have guessed I qualified. Okay, that was nice. I was pleased by his comment. But what did that mean? It meant he had a stereotype in mind and I did not meet the requirements. I was pleased, because I had a [negative] stereotype in mind and I didn’t think I met the requirements either. Bingo! My discomfort with that label is because I am also guilty of having a stereotype and I am victim of my own bias. Wow! I never quite put it that way. I had not recognized my own “stereotyping”.
Okay. Cured. My vote is “yes”. Thanks everyone for being open.
I'm female, 77, and I AM old. I don't mind much, but it grinds my gears when people younger than I complain about an ache or a pain and say, "Don't get old." I think most people don't think about getting old until they get there, but ultimately, it is the aim of most of us to get there; we're just kind of surprised when we do.
I've survived two husbands. I've raised five sons. I've worked hard at jobs and at home. I was healthy for 69 years, despite having smoked for 55 of them. I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. I had my plumbing rearranged and again when I had colon cancer. So, yes, I'm old. And as long as I'm on the right side of the dirt, I don't mind. And my grandkids don't care, either.
P.S. I don't have to ask for the Senior Discount.
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You can even call me gramps, geezer, or ancient if you take another 10% off. 
Guess we elderly gents accept aging a bit more gracefully than do the ladies? Vanity thy name is Woman?? 
The above is a misquote from Shakespeare's Hamlet...
Wow! I never quite put it that way. I had not recognized my own “stereotyping”.
