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Cellar Scribblings
Jeff Wrangler:
I don't mean to hijack Chuck's blog--this discussion should perhaps be moved to my own blog--but I'm beginning to think this notion of "if you have your health, age shouldn't matter" is just another way for Boomers to deny the inevitability of death.
If you have your health I see no reason not to remain as active as you possibly can for as long as you possibly can. Bravo (brava?) to you for climbing on Everest after age 60. And good for Madonna to keep on going, too. Good for all the other rock'n'rollers who keep going, too.
To point out Madonna's age, and link it to my own, is really a way of pointing out that those of us who enjoyed her music when she first hit it big--What was it? Thirty or thirty-five years ago?--are now aging, too. To point this out is not "ageism." I prefer to think of it as bravely facing up to the fact that we are all mortal creatures and we're all going to die--some of us sooner rather than later.
Perhaps most people will find this post morbid; there's nothing I can do about that. Nobody likes to think about his or her own death, but I just wonder whether Boomers are even more reluctant to face up to that inevitability than preceding generations? Death is the ultimate denial of Boomer self-absorption.
And some of us gay men have been living with death as a companion for as long as Madonna has been a big star.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: CellarDweller on March 25, 2015, 11:44:24 am ---When I went to her last tour (MDNA in 2012) I can tell you that there were a number of younger gay men there, that you would think should be Lady Gaga fans, and they were able to quote lyrics from hits from Madonna's debut CD that came out in 1983.
--- End quote ---
Thank you, Chuck! That's very interesting to know! :-*
Front-Ranger:
Well if we want to talk about death, that's fine with me. I've stared death in the face on more than one mountain. And Chuck, with his zombies and shower curtains, might chime in too!
But that's a separate topic from ageism. After all, death can happen at any point in life. By "ageism" I define that as a preoccupation with people's chronological ages. I have some friends who will look at a new person and immediately try to guess their age. And then once that person is out of earshot, they'll turn to me and ask, "How old do you suppose that person is?" I have a pat answer for this. I always say, "I don't know; I'm a poor judge of age." I simply don't think that way, and besides, people in the mountains look older than they really are because of sun damage to their skin.
I only have a limited amount of patience with people who go on and on about ages. But for people who use their age to keep from doing something, like my mother, I have even less. I'm trying to learn understanding and patience, and feel that that's the reason why she has come under my wing. But as far as Madonna putting down her guitar and microphone...I say, you go, girl! And if I'm in denial about death, so be it. Death will come, whether I deny it or not...so why not relax and enjoy living, I say.
CellarDweller:
Please feel free to use my blog to further this discussion!!!
And I just want to point out, Jeff, that I wasn't accusing you of ageism. The point I was making that most artists, once they hit a certain age, have a very difficult time getting music played on mainstream radio.
It actually makes little to no sense.....after all, how many young kids do you know who liked the Beatles, or Led Zep, or other classic rock acts?
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: CellarDweller on March 25, 2015, 01:12:33 pm ---And I just want to point out, Jeff, that I wasn't accusing you of ageism. The point I was making that most artists, once they hit a certain age, have a very difficult time getting music played on mainstream radio.
--- End quote ---
I didn't think you were, Sweetie. I think FRiend Lee was, and by her own definition, I think she still is. I don't happen to agree with or accept her definition. My understanding of "ageism" is prejudice or discrimination against older people--and that's what I think goes on when, as you point out, radio stations don't play the Boss or Prince or U2 or Cyndi Lauper (who, by the way, is about to make another guest appearance on the TV show Bones; she and David Boreanaz are good friends, or so says TV Guide). My guess would be that somebody, whoever programs these stations, or sells their advertising, thinks the fan base for the Boss, etc., is no longer in that coveted demographic group of, I think, 18--35, or something like that.
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on March 25, 2015, 12:45:16 pm ---But as far as Madonna putting down her guitar and microphone...I say, you go, girl! And if I'm in denial about death, so be it. Death will come, whether I deny it or not...so why not relax and enjoy living, I say.
--- End quote ---
I don't disagree, as long as it doesn't lead to irresponsible behavior and more than necessary inconvenience for those who have to take care of things when death finally catches up to you. I'm sure someone who has managed the property purchases that you have is not being irresponsible, but I also bet that a lot of people "out there" are being irresponsible because they don't want to deal with the fact of their own inevitable death.
Incidentally, according to Wikipedia, Madonna was born Aug. 16, 1958, so I'm about three months older than her, and we will both turn 57 this year.
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