Just when I was complaining about having to shut up, I discovered that another perfectly good and affectionate word — “codger” — is now offensive:
…now “codger” is forbidden, as an “offensive term referring to a senior citizen.”
Codger! “Offensive.” No word strikes more fear into the heart of modern journalists. “Offensive” could mean meetings and memos and warning notes and angry emails. Some journos love it; so I offend. Fine. It?s in the job description. Others fold up like a card table, horrified ? but only if the offended person hails from a designated victim group; they don’t lose a lot of sleep if they’ve offended some nutball right-winger. That is merely a sign you’re doing something right.
Charles Hill (who’s already calling himself a codger) alerted me to this outrage, and I think I’d better start calling myself a codger right now, before it’s too late.
This might take some getting used to.
But hell, there are plenty of role models.
MORE: I just received an email about this from a proud and sarcastic codger:
I think “senior” is offensive, and ageist! In fact, “citizen” is a bit offensive too, as it conotates superiority to non-citizens!
Comments
6 responses to ““There’s them that laughs, and knows better. . .””
I have had it with Political Correctness. Instead of worrying about what’s “offensive” or not we must get back to thinking in terms of what is right or wrong, just or unjust, noble or base, holy or unholy. We must take the offensive against Political Correctness.
The best defense is a good offense.
🙂
Maybe us codgers need to get together and protest this PC nonsense. Could we get T-shirts proclaiming our codgerdom?? Since many of us are retired we have plenty of time to protest in the streets and if any counter protests spring up we could just whack them with our canes…
(cackle)
My best friends and I call our band “The Coots”.
http://www.two–four.net/weblog.php?id=P1950
When they hear what we’re playing, most people understand.
Billy, “old coot” is one of my favorites!
“He could’a done more, if the hook and pull team’d been faster…”