Are You Becoming a Curmudgeon as You Get Older? (respect, best, father)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Prairieparson

Curmudgeon?

Yes, I think we do. As we get older, maybe we just get completely sick and tired of people who lie, are selfish, inconsiderate, lazy, rude, etc. We just don't have the stamina to put up with their crapola.

And a true curmudgeon never did regardless of age.

[AJBarney]

I was a curmudgeon at 25. Everything since then has been honing and polishing.

[Caladium]

Finally remembered to look for that book by Jon Winokur. Funny how the human brain works--I could recognize and remember the quote when Curmudgeon cited it, even though I had read this book a while ago. But remembering a decision to look for the book that I made just a few days ago? That's what I forgot.

Anyhoo... the beginning of the book has this definition:

Curmudgeon:

1. Archaic: a crusty, ill tempered, churlish old man

2. Modern: anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone who has the habit of pointing out unpleasant fact in an engaging and humorous manner.

I like how the modern definition does not have a gender attached. I think we can thank Dorothy Parker for that--she was the quintessential female curmudgeon.

[augiedogie]

If you want to see a few speeches that really explain why someone becomes a grouch, Watch Howard Beals speeches in the Movie, "Network" So accurate and insightful. Especially when he says< "I just ran out of bullshoot"

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by kevxu

Curmudgeon?

Curmudgeon is like the laurel wreath that was awarded to Olympian athletes: It is only for winners.

Well, then, I've won.

[brokencrayola]

I think as we get older we are not willing to put up with so much sh**. I am 59 and I know I am more secure in who I am, less willing to take a lot of garbage, and realize life is too short to put up with people that make you unhappy.

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by brokencrayola

I think as we get older we are not willing to put up with so much sh**. I am 59 and I know I am more secure in who I am, less willing to take a lot of garbage, and realize life is too short to put up with people that make you unhappy.

..

Your post, IMHO, is 100% accurate and just about exactly the way I was at age 59......................now that I am that age plus another 22 yrs, I will, (if you don't mind) add a few more descriptions of people (of all ages) & situations that occur all to frequently in our every day lives that truly "bring out the Curmudgeon in me

.....#1:......when you are "trapped" at a party, or (gathering of any kind) by one of those "SPE" that are so common:...('been there'; "done that"; etc, you know the kind)..........Oh yeah,...SPE = : Self-Proclaimed- Expert......

.....#2:..... the "new-comer" who just drove cross-country (first time ever out of N.J. or similiar state) to arrive at his "newly acquired "ranch" in Montana...(yeah, he's got "3 acres and a Pick-Up" and is wearing Cowboy boots) ...(And without qualification): ..He,... ......a/ knows the best route; b/knows the best restaurants along the way;...c/knows the best motels along the way;....d/ and "would sure like to see More Interstates in Montana.....also wants to "start a petition-drive" to get a "Trader Joe's" in Missoula.

.....#3.....the newly arrived resident (from 'the big city') who says:...."now when I go to work in the morning, I can just let my two dogs out for the day, to run free & get the exercise they need"!! Feed 'em when I get home at 6pm..
........(Yeah, and I'll "lay-money" they won't last-a-week!!. Free running dogs frequently die from Lead Poisioning.

Perhaps "these representative-type-situations" bring out the Curmudgeon in me so easily, is because I've lived several miles outside of town for a total of 60 of my 81 yrs and, due to my job for almost 40 years, had to travel over 1 3/4 million miles through 40 (lower) states, Canada & Alaska...........Loved the job by the way............and met literally thousands of people........99% of whom were great and used their "God-Given-Common-Sense" on a daily basis!
There comes a point (on the other-hand) where sometimes "you've-just-had-enough"

NOTE: No offense intended by any of the above...................................

[AnnieGetURGun]

Anyway, I am just becoming really tired of all the rudeness in every phase of life. I'm getting tired of having to contact customer service 4 or 5 times for something just because no one seems to care about taking care of a problem. I'm getting tired of rude drivers, rude shoppers, rude teenagers, rude and uncaring store workers, etc. etc. Getting tired of having to bite my tongue about things because, heaven forbid, we should actually hurt someone's feelings, even if they are acting like ignorant horse's behinds!

There comes a point (on the other-hand) where sometimes "you've-just-had-enough"

Could not say it better myself!

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Definitely.

[LauraC]

When I was younger, I pictured my future self as that wild-eyed crusty mean old lady who stands outside her scary old (haunted) house with a lot of property, overgrown grass and rickety fence, with her shotgun (and her cat), swearing at Halloween teenage trick or treaters treaters who have come to do her harm and telling them that she'd have no problem with putting them in the ground if they don't get off her property BUT now that I actually am old:

1. I live in a modern apartment complex
2. I don't own a shotgun
3. I don't have a cat.
4. I don't have property and the apartment property is very nicely landscaped
5. And most important, I haven't had a Halloween trick or treater in 15 years in 2 states.

Oh well. As far as any other curmudgeon "visions" go, I got nuthin'.