"Gaming Grannies"
Posted in Silver Surfers
Judith here – one of last year’s Silver Surfer of the Year runners-up.
I think the concept of using Wii bowling as a game to unite older and younger people, and promote fitness, is wonderful (see blog post further down here), and I hope it spreads like wildfire. But the name ‘Gaming Grannies’ has pushed one of my language stereotype buttons and really annoyed me.
It’s bad enough when all older women get grouped together under the classification of ‘granny’, which clearly many of them are not. But here we have a group of women AND MEN, and still they are referred to as Gaming Grannies!!!
For goodness sake, surely Help The Aged can do better than that. Personally I would happily be called a ‘gaming oldie’, but I daresay that wouldn’t suit everybody either.
Perhaps we could coin a new word for a group of older people and just call them ‘grands‘. That doesn’t even have to imply grand ‘parents’, only that they are an age group of special significance in the generations. Grand can mean:
- Large and impressive
- Solemn, stately, or splendid
- Dignified or noble or admirable
- Having higher rank or more importance than others.
And come to think of it, I am sure I have heard the expression “My grands are coming to stay for Christmas”. I’m sure it would soon find currency.
June 24th, 2009 judithtaylor | 4 Comments »
Tags: Language of age
June 24th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Hear, hear Judith – ‘Grands’ is/are ‘good’. For others, click here to see this a great little film, with an unfortunate title.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Hello everyone
I am the guy from Help the Aged who set up the project and featured in the film – David Loveridge. The title ‘Gaming Grannies’ is the title the BBC chose and absolutely not one that i would choose for such an inspirational little film. Nevertheless, leaving that aside, i think the guys at the BBC did a marvelous job of making the film but you are right, it is not a great title. Tell them! i’ve been telling them since i became a regional development officer a few years back that i think they are becoming more ageist. E.g when was the last time you saw anyone (token member of the viewing public) over the age of 35 on Saturday kitchen???? Indicative of something larger i’m afraid, but there are some good eggs there. Glad you enjoyed the film and keep of Wiiiing!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Thanks, David – nice to know the person who madek such a good film come true. Yes, well, names, hmmm – sometimes I think we worry about them more than the people who are the subjects. But how am I going to feel when I’m ‘labelled’ a Gaming Granny (not long to go now…I can feel my wii fingers twitching and my Granny hormones are definitely out of hand, if only my offspring would spring…). Anyway, I digress. Labels, eh – I’m always surprised at how something that offends me one year, is completely ok another year. How can anyone get it right for me? Would love to hear from others – Gaming Grandads, especially.
)
July 26th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
“Once upon a time” a Granny was pictured with a black gown a cap and bent over and using a stick – lots of wrinkles everywhere- smelling of Wintergreen ointment (horrible).Well we’ve still got the wrinkles and sometimes use a stick but I think our outlook on life is much younger thanks I think to the younger generation encouraging us to keep up with them
Thank you all you younger people.