Stay confident as you age

[LMNO]

Another reason not to build your entire self around your job.

[Suu]

I think that a lot of it comes from a position of power, which peaks right before retirement when one has the most experience in a given field and has underlings, then one retires and a lot of that confidence that revolved around those factors suddenly have no sustain.

Another reason not to build your entire self around your job.

I like this.

[Doktor Howl]

Apropos of nothing; studies indicate that, although the belief has long been that people lose influence as they get older, because people become gradually less likely to give weight to what they have to say, there is evidence that what may be happening is that as people age, their sense of confidence and self-esteem often erodes due to their reduced perception of sexual attractiveness and vitality, causing them to present themselves to others with less authority and confidence, in turn creating a self-reinforcing feedback loop wherein others respond to them according to their reduced confidence, and so on. Evidently, people who don't think people take them less seriously as they age are right, and people who do think people take them less seriously... are also right.

I buy into this.  As I grow older, I become more horrible.  My influence increases.

I have also noticed this trait among the more senior management.  Of course, they also have advanced degrees and an expectation of power.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

Maybe some of the problem for old people is misinterpreted body language? A lot of them have a hesitant way of moving because they don't see well, don't want to fall on their ass lest they break something, etc. and it probably gets mistaken for timidity.

So yeah. Doubling up on the horrible as time goes on seems like sound policy.

[The Johnny]

The only "elders" I have special consideration for in the influence exerted over me, are those in my family, or those from related professions which have shown to have great knowledge and ethics, whom i would grant some semblance of "leadership" i can legitimately follow.

Mind you, that doesn't mean i treat other elders as crap, its just an equal respect granted to every other human being which is a basic guideline of manners and dignity... but influencing me without coercion? only the first group i mentioned.

[The Johnny]

For example, a very intelligent and educated, 120 year old Randite? I'd probably tell them to fuck off by all means.

[McGrupp]

Apropos of nothing; studies indicate that, although the belief has long been that people lose influence as they get older, because people become gradually less likely to give weight to what they have to say, there is evidence that what may be happening is that as people age, their sense of confidence and self-esteem often erodes due to their reduced perception of sexual attractiveness and vitality, causing them to present themselves to others with less authority and confidence, in turn creating a self-reinforcing feedback loop wherein others respond to them according to their reduced confidence, and so on. Evidently, people who don't think people take them less seriously as they age are right, and people who do think people take them less seriously... are also right.

This is encouraging. My old plan for aging was just to hit people indiscriminately with my cane.

[Bu🤠ns]

Also, our culture has a pretty strong recurring narrative of "we don't value our elderly" that feeds into this waning confidence. I think it's important to combat that by retaining a strong and confident voice as we age.

Yes! Also it would be pretty cool to somehow integrate the concept of the village elders into our culture. We don't have elders, just old folks who we eventually export to Florida.  It seems that maybe if you've been alive for 70 years you might know something.  Or at least just a different perspective.

[Left]

I'm more worried about staying employed as I age.
Just sayin'.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm more worried about staying employed as I age.
Just sayin'.

...and you think that isn't related, why?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I think that a lot of it comes from a position of power, which peaks right before retirement when one has the most experience in a given field and has underlings, then one retires and a lot of that confidence that revolved around those factors suddenly have no sustain.

Another reason not to build your entire self around your job.

Personally, I'm simply planning to never retire.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

However, many studies that talk about the disempowerment of the elderly deal with feelings of disempowerment in the workplace.

[Doktor Howl]

I think the disconnect is this: 

People are under the idea that they either have to listen to the elderly unquestioningly, or reject their input completely.  Given that A)  primates always challenge their elders for leadership and B) living to an old age hasn't necessarily meant wisdom since about the time we stopped worrying about being eaten by leopards, most people decide to ignore their input entirely, leading to disempowerment.

The one place I don't see this happen is in the trades, where old age means experience, and experience is the single most important facet of a tradesman.

When I was doing other work, old age meant weakness.

[Suu]

I think that a lot of it comes from a position of power, which peaks right before retirement when one has the most experience in a given field and has underlings, then one retires and a lot of that confidence that revolved around those factors suddenly have no sustain.

Another reason not to build your entire self around your job.

Personally, I'm simply planning to never retire.

My grandmother is still working well into her 80s. I think the day she retires is the day she dies.

[Left]

I'm more worried about staying employed as I age.
Just sayin'.

...and you think that isn't related, why?

Oh, it is...and it's another one of those damn things I don't quite know what to do about.

Maybe some of the problem for old people is misinterpreted body language? A lot of them have a hesitant way of moving because they don't see well, don't want to fall on their ass lest they break something, etc. and it probably gets mistaken for timidity.

So yeah. Doubling up on the horrible as time goes on seems like sound policy.

This would seem to be a good point. 
I wonder if those who take measures to keep mobile and physically active are less likely to be seen as less capable.