MY new old PEOPLE Archives - My New Old Self

Too old to vote – says who?

Mar

12

2018

Fellow democrats of all ages, what do you think of this idea? It’s a proposal for people to lose their right to vote when they hit 70. That’s the approximate age when older people start showing less concern for the future of society. This is when they tend to focus more on protecting their immediate ...

Facebook: Repository of Aging Adults

Jan

26

2018

When Facebook was launched nearly 15 years ago it was a hangout of the youth. Older users were few and far between. But now older people are the main age group joining up. Young people not so much – in fact, many are reportedly fleeing Facebook to other social media. “Teens just want to be ...

Invisible Older Women 2

Mar

9

2017

I was sad to hear of the recent passing of South Africa’s first black woman novelist, Miriam Tlali. A loss for the country, I also felt it personally. Because I once met this world-famous author and spent a few days in her company. Unfortunately, I now realise, I failed to make the most of this experience. ...

Snowflake Generation: Insult of the Year

Jan

27

2017

I am not happy about the Insult of the Year. Not because it was hurled at me – I’m too old for it. This insult is targeted at the young. Their elders call them the “Snowflake Generation”. “Young adults of the 2010s, viewed as less resilient and more prone to taking offence than previous generations” ...

Youth tell Mandela era elders: Shut up! 1

Oct

7

2016

There’s a joke about the alumni of an elite South African boys school that poses this question: “How do you know if someone went to…?” The answer: “They tell you.” There’s a similar joke now doing the rounds: “How do you know if someone was in The Struggle?” Fighting apartheid used to be something to brag ...

Ali Aged Well 1

Jun

12

2016

A champion with his fists and his mouth, Muhammad Ali was also a champion at getting old. And a champ at living, and aging, with Parkinson’s disease. The contrast between the Ali we remember dancing like a butterfly in his gorgeous youth and the sight of him starting to lurch, slur and tremble could have ...

Same Old Same Old for Women at Cannes

May

11

2016

There are more women directors with movies in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. But in terms of older women it looks like Same Old Same Old. The Cannes 2016 main jury is headed by George Miller, director of the Mad Max action movie franchise. At 71 he is NSP (No Spring Chicken) but I haven’t ...

Face it, it’s about Face Value 3

Nov

22

2015

I just watched a movie starring some of Hollywood’s top talent and everyone was looking old. In a good way. If you think that’s not possible, read on. The movie itself doesn’t really matter. It’s the looking old part that is my focus. For the record, the film is called Homesman. The title is a reference ...

Gaga can go gray but grannies can’t go Gaga 2

Jul

17

2015

It was my niece’s 13th birthday party and about a dozen 12- and 13 year-olds were playing a party game. (How heartening that children still do, when so often they’re all just staring at their phones.) The game called “Who Am I?” starts with a name stuck on your forehead (or back), then you have a limited ...

Dylan’s new album: we’re his target 1

Feb

5

2015

Bob Dylan is marketing his new studio album, the 36th of his long and winding career, to the biggest retirees organisation in the US. His first interview in three years, the only one for his new album of Frank Sinatra covers, was not in Rolling Stone. Dylan gave the exclusive to the monthly magazine of America’s ...