Why terms like ‘fuddy duddy’, ‘codger’ and ‘over the hill’ are past it

STICKS and stones may break their bones, but words like ‘fogey’ might just hurt them.

Despite the old children’s rhyme that words are seemingly just that, new research has revealed that over-60s face a barrage of name-calling with ‘fuddy duddy’, ‘codger’ and ‘over the hill’ making the top 10 most patronising terms.

Over-60s were asked by a charity to report the most demeaning terms they’ve been called.

Over 1,000 people aged 60 and over responded to the request by charity U3A (University of the Third Age) with the number one most patronising word used to describe them being ‘geriatric’, while ‘past it’ and ‘fuddy duddy’ also made the top three.

The anonymous respondents were invited to share their stories and views regarding the language and most were less than pleased.

One woman told researchers: “I hate being called ‘young lady’ when I am 86-years-old!”

Another said: “In a shop I was addressed by an assistant who asked, ‘How are we doing so far today?’ As if I were lucky to have made it to midday.”

A third said: “I often get the comment ‘bless you’ when talking to people, giving the impression it is amazing I still have opinions.”

The British charity also quizzed the wider public and discovered more than half of them (53pc) admit using words which older people see as patronising.

A third (31pc) confess to using ‘fogey’ about an older person, while over a quarter (27pc) have used ‘biddy’ and 18pc said they’d described them as ‘past it’.

But the research also revealed that younger generations don’t view the tongue-in-cheek terms as insults.

Those surveyed said their reason for name-calling was that “it’s just banter” (43pc), they’re using it “to be friendly” (38pc) or simply because “it’s widely used language” (35pc).

The poll showed the most common reason for disliking such sayings is because “they are not an accurate representation of older people today” (69pc).

The research revealed older people are often insulted in person with 63pc saying they had been called these names in public.

But they also reported them as being commonplace in TV programmes (65pc), social media (33pc) and even used by members of their family (21pc).

The charity U3A is asking people to think twice about the language they use towards older people and help build a more inclusive society.