The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
In the New Yorker...
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on January 14, 2020, 10:36:36 am ---[*googles*] Oh yeah, he is pretty old.
Sorry to hear about that piece. It's about writing, right? I've liked his previous pieces about writing.
--- End quote ---
It's his memoirs.
Front-Ranger:
My curiosity was piqued to read the McPhee memoirs. I agree that they seem flawed, with anecdotes, name-dropping, and regrets about subjects not developed into writing pieces. It's still captivating, though. I only made it through half of "Tabula Rasa" but intend to finish it. The most interesting parts, I find, are from his travels. The Princeton campus parts, not so much.
I was wondering what made you feel like McPhee was "so old". Does his writing seem antiquated or creaky?
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on January 16, 2020, 07:02:05 pm ---I was wondering what made you feel like McPhee was "so old". Does his writing seem antiquated or creaky?
--- End quote ---
It's not a matter of feeling that he is "so old." He is old. He will be 89 years old in March.
serious crayons:
I love when he writes about writing, and he's free to drop names as far as I'm concerned because i'm usually interested in those people, too.
Speaking of which, did I ever tell you Calvin Trillin came to visit the reporters in our newsroom a few years ago? He was speaking in town anyway, so he stopped by to get together with the writers for conversation.
Anyway, back to McPhee, I'll have to admit I've never been drawn to any of his books. Not because they sound creaky at all -- from what I've read they're really well written and vigorous -- but because I'm just not that into their subject matter. I feel like they're usually about something kind of nature-y, and I'm interested in more people-y stuff. But my brother, a geologist, likes him.
And whether I like his topics or not, he's an acclaimed writer so I'm interested in anything he has to say to say about the craft.
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on January 16, 2020, 07:36:16 pm ---It's not a matter of feeling that he is "so old." He is old. He will be 89 years old in March.
--- End quote ---
I wrote a newspaper story about ageism a couple of years ago. One point people made is that it's better to embrace "old" (some go with "elder") rather than deny, which stigmatizes it. Like, don't compliment people by telling them they look young. Baby boomers don't like being called seniors so they're hesitant to take the senior discount and can't imagine living in "senior housing" or going to the "senior center." And "senior" itself was initially intended as an upbeat euphemism. Any word to describe something with negative aspects gets replaced from time to time. I'm sure you can think of other examples. I don't mind ditching "senior" but we shouldn't do that with old. Instead of saying people aren't old, say they are old and that's fine because old is fine.
I'm all for that. I'm actually slightly fearful of how ageism might affect politics around Social Security, Medicare, etc., as boomers age with fewer people in the workforce.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on January 16, 2020, 09:55:54 pm ---Speaking of which, did I ever tell you Calvin Trillin came to visit the reporters in our newsroom a few years ago? He was speaking in town anyway, so he stopped by to get together with the writers for conversation.
--- End quote ---
No! I bet that was interesting. :)
--- Quote ---Anyway, back to McPhee, I'll have to admit I've never been drawn to any of his books. Not because they sound creaky at all -- from what I've read they're really well written and vigorous -- but because I'm just not that into their subject matter. I feel like they're usually about something kind of nature-y, and I'm interested in more people-y stuff. But my brother, a geologist, likes him.
--- End quote ---
I've enjoyed his nature-y stuff in TNY, but I've never read his books. I have a vague memory of some article that had to do with the growth of the Rockies or the wearing down of the Appalachians, or something like that.
--- Quote ---I wrote a newspaper story about ageism a couple of years ago. One point people made is that it's better to embrace "old" (some go with "elder") rather than deny, which stigmatizes it. Like, don't compliment people by telling them they look young. Baby boomers don't like being called seniors so they're hesitant to take the senior discount and can't imagine living in "senior housing" or going to the "senior center." And "senior" itself was initially intended as an upbeat euphemism. Any word to describe something with negative aspects gets replaced from time to time. I'm sure you can think of other examples. I don't mind ditching "senior" but we shouldn't do that with old. Instead of saying people aren't old, say they are old and that's fine because old is fine.
--- End quote ---
I used my AARP discount once. ;D But anyway, a Medicare Advantage Plan (something I need to start studying up on :( ) includes a gym membership called "Silver Sneakers." :P
--- Quote ---I'm all for that. I'm actually slightly fearful of how ageism might affect politics around Social Security, Medicare, etc., as boomers age with fewer people in the workforce.
--- End quote ---
Me, too. It's been said that "old people vote," but I guess we'll have to wait and see. Maybe it would make a difference if we Boomers get over our reluctance to admit our Boomer-ishness and stick together as a voting block.
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