Is “old” an age or an attitude?

In a society obsessed with youthfulness and staying young, ‘old’ can feel like a dirty word.

Rather than just a simple adjective, ‘old’ has come to represent something much more than your age, and is often used as a shorthand for a certain attitude or limited worldview.

Our perceptions of ageing and old age change as we get older – at the age of 25, retirement age feels old, while those in retirement often report feeling much as they did when they were 25!

Which begs the question – is “old” an age or an attitude?

Can you avoid being old even when you’re getting on in years, or is the process of growing old a natural part of life that can’t be avoided?

How do our perceptions of being old and ageing change at each stage in our lives?

Join our debate at Speakers Corner!