The Old and New at Loggerheads – Changing Lifestyle
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26192)
Singapore
May 1, 2016 12:46am CST
I was traveling in a train last month in India and was overhearing a conversation. An elderly gentleman was talking with few others, who were also his age, listening intently and even with respect. I was not with them to partake in the conversation and was more than happy to just listen with brief interjection. They were happy to have me with them.
There were pearls of wisdom from the gentleman mostly about life and state of the affairs of the country and the world. Then a young lady entered the compartment and was busy on her mobile phone talking non-stop in a low voice. She made it clear by the way she reacted that she wanted to be left alone in peace. To my dismay the conversation between the elderly died down and everyone was quiet except the lady busy on her phone.
That made me to ponder about changing lifestyle; the young and old seem to get distanced. The old revel in face-to-face conversation and even yearn for them but are mostly silenced when it is not becoming the norm. They have to bide their time to enjoy their moments of warmth they grew up with.
I have myself been told brusquely to give contact details of my social networking after a brief introduction. I am not able to come to terms with that. I even tell them I am not active on them and leave it at that.
The short lived conversation that I was fortunate to enjoy was cut short when it was gaining momentum and the silenced folks are just memories now. It was a long journey and we all would have wished in our hearts the “intruder” would alight soon but it was not to be, alas!
Do you recall similar experiences?
7 people like this
5 responses
@allknowing (130067)
• India
1 May 16
They want us out of their loop and this I am noticing all over the place. They do not need us around. Sad but true. I no longer accept invitations where I know seniors will be dumped.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26192)
• Singapore
1 May 16
I try to find out who else will be there as most are interested in topics I have nothing much to contribute. I do remember from younger days too few were closeted with "their own" and one even had the cheek to take the host away for half an hour of private conversation when I was the only other guest!
Life is richer when we can communicate with those from different backgrounds. Everyone has a story to tell but when they are brushed aside society is the loser - siva
2 people like this
@allknowing (130067)
• India
1 May 16
@Shiva49 It is a natural drift when values and thoughts differ. It is for us seniors to withdraw gracefully and depend on as few people as possible and get into activities that can keep us happily occupied.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26192)
• Singapore
1 May 16
@allknowing That should serve us and others better in the changed circumstances now - siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26192)
• Singapore
1 May 16
I have seen the elderly in Asia sort of silenced as the way they communicated has gone out the window. Another issue is the young have no time for them fixated as they are on the gadgets and no one wants to talk when others just pretend to listen! siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26192)
• Singapore
1 May 16
Yes, it is sad when their rich experience hardly merit attention.
I feel we all should switch off from modern tools of communication to really communicate in between.
I have seen parents telling their children only "one hour for computer" but they are at it 24 hours! siva
2 people like this
@jndlponti (2402)
• Philippines
1 May 16
@Shiva49 the irony...
In our place elders are more appreciated and much given attention to.. but still not everybody does it. Some still had other tradition or they just had a bad attitude.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
2 May 16
I think young people need to learn the art of conversation so many of them are used to limiting themselves on twitter etc
2 people like this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
1 May 16
I think we will learn more if we talk to elderly people and listen intently to them.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26192)
• Singapore
1 May 16
I find in Asia most elderly are left out just because they are not in the social media. They have wisdom that counts - life experiences!
I have seen some elderly, especially women, living happily with nothing other than their trust in another human being - siva
3 people like this
