Open Thread Update: Happy Festivus!
It’s Festivus and time for the Airing of Grievances. Last time I shared my issues with how society and technology have not addressed – or outright failed – the realities of aging and asked for readers to share their issues.
Reader Sally has a hot button at the cash register.
Cashiers who say “no problem” after I say “thank you” when they give me my receipt after I’ve paid. It’s their job — it’s not as if they’re going above and beyond.
My demands: Usable pockets in all clothes. Non negotiable, safety and comfort issue, at home or around town. Readable labels. Let’s add food, meds, and museums. I hate kneeling down at the grocery store…
She’s got a great list of areas sorely in need of improvement for older people – so check out her comments and add your own!
There’s one reader without an grievance to air…
I just love your column , Virge. Hits the nail on the head every time and written beautifully.
-Katherine
Right aback at you, Katherine!
We’ll keep the comments open for a while so feel free to add your own! What do you think technology or society has not yet addressed for people as they age?
PREVIOUS COLUMN
One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes takes place at this time of year…the Festivus episode. While I”m not erecting any stainless steel poles (I like tinsel!) – I think everyone can use Frank Constanza’s catharsis: The Airing of Grievances, especially related to how society responds (or doesn’t) to the needs of older people.
Serial Numbers
Put the (%&#*%#()*%#&%!!! serial numbers on equipment someplace an older person can find without turning the damn thing over. Printers are heavy and clumsy, routers and modems are often in difficult places to move, and don’t get me started about anything cable related. And once you find them – why aren’t they readable? Such tiny little numbers and letters (is that a 3 or an 8? Is that a 6 or an 8? is that a 9 or an 8? is that a zero or letter o?) Where are my reading glasses? Grrr!
Fashion Faux Pas
I’ve tried to keep up, but I’m not as flexible as I used to be. You shouldn’t need to be a yoga master to put on a dress, but back zippers foil me. Why not a zipper on the side of a dress? I’m not a contortionist and nine times out of ten I can’t reach the damn thing. And buttons? Who on earth would put buttons on the back of a dress or blouse?
Silence Please
Now that Covid is not as prevalent as before, it’s nice to enjoy being with my friends over a nice dinner. Or it would be…if restaurants didn’t blast the sound system to eardrum shattering sound levels. I was out with friends a few weeks ago. The music was deafening and everyone at every table was shouting to be heard over the music. My normal-hearing friends could not hear what was being said at the other end of the table – and it was a two top! One in three people over 65 have hearing loss, restaurant owners, so turn it down if you want our business. After all, if there was a correlation between loud noise and a good time, parents of screaming babies would be ecstatic.
And that’s why the inventor of an app to search out quiet restaurants is Man of the Year. Learn about Soundprint here.
YOUR TURN
I know I sound like a curmudgeon, but hey, it’s Festivus. What are the petty grievances you’d like to air? Share ’em in the comments!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.
Photo: Freestocks for Unsplash
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Comments
I keep a magnifying glass in my kitchen due to small print or odd color print that I can barely read. Such as pale yellow print on light blue background. Also no cooking directions on package so I had to go online to the website to get this info. Getting a new phone is difficult also.
Pet peeves: Websites that use white text on a pastel background, electronics such as Bluetooth speakers with controls using black raised letters on black background (for On, Off, Volume up & down), credit cards with the card number in black font on dark background (& flat, not raised), tiny phone numbers on credit cards, appliances with smooth slippery knobs that are hard to turn, safety warnings that are too small to read, grocery deliveries with all heaviest items in same bag.
Being called honey or dear by people much younger than me.
Being told I can have a seat at the bar in a restaurant when I am alone – I always say no. Do they want me to fall off and break a hip? Plus, no back support.
Being ignored in a store or restaurant.
My pet peeve is finding a coffee shop or almost any quick bite type restaurant that doesn’t require scanning a qr code, as opposed to a physical menu. In the same establishments , try finding a seat other than plastic bar stools with no seat backs.
I hate hard to open stuff like the caps where you are supposed to squeeze on both sides abd twist open. My old arthritic hands struggle so to get that pepto bismol open. Once open (sometimes with the help of small pliers I keep in the kitchen drawer)! I leave it loosely capped.
Why can’t manufacturers produce senior friendly easy open products? AARP here’s a cause for you to promote for us!
Mary Katherine Reeber
Totally agree Emmy husband finds it hard to open water bottles-he had a transplant and can only drink purified water
Medication bottles
All white pills
With ting codes to tell me what it is.
Drs who do cataract surgery and don’t understand women and probably men’s need For Excellent Near Vi’sion .
Know I still where transition lenses /-At least they are less costly
Women
Need close vision to read
Ode our smart phones
Clean house wash dishes
Thread a needle
Put makeup on-
SEE WHAT I MEAN