One should never surprise older people with sudden changes, whether in food, or morals. They don’t deal with shock well. You have to lead them along gradually. I used to have a pair of committed lesbian neighbors. My great aunt was unsure of things until she met them at my home at dinner one evening. She has no desire to be a lesbian or to know too much about the lifestyle, but as long as they’re “good neighbors” and dress more or less regularly, she doesn’t seem to mind. Older folk have 60 or more years of living their lives one way. Don’t shock them. With many families having a gay member it was known before, but not openly discussed. It’s the sudden (for them) openness that confuses or angers old folks. As Olympia Dukakis said in Steel Magnolias; “In my day you could tell by a man’s carriage and demeanor which side his bread was buttered on, but in this day and age, who knows?”
I’m not so sure about that, hawg. I’ve met some old people who were better able to accept change than people in the 35-50 range. One of my mother’s friends told me that it was because she knew she didn’t have to deal with it as long as her kids would, so it didn;t bother her as much.
rayannina about 14 years ago
Oh dear – some people are just not handling the 21st century well.
hawgowar about 14 years ago
One should never surprise older people with sudden changes, whether in food, or morals. They don’t deal with shock well. You have to lead them along gradually. I used to have a pair of committed lesbian neighbors. My great aunt was unsure of things until she met them at my home at dinner one evening. She has no desire to be a lesbian or to know too much about the lifestyle, but as long as they’re “good neighbors” and dress more or less regularly, she doesn’t seem to mind. Older folk have 60 or more years of living their lives one way. Don’t shock them. With many families having a gay member it was known before, but not openly discussed. It’s the sudden (for them) openness that confuses or angers old folks. As Olympia Dukakis said in Steel Magnolias; “In my day you could tell by a man’s carriage and demeanor which side his bread was buttered on, but in this day and age, who knows?”
runar about 14 years ago
I’m not so sure about that, hawg. I’ve met some old people who were better able to accept change than people in the 35-50 range. One of my mother’s friends told me that it was because she knew she didn’t have to deal with it as long as her kids would, so it didn;t bother her as much.
3hourtour Premium Member about 14 years ago
…come on..many Catholics are hip(or need hips;-) now-a-days..
ponytail56 about 14 years ago
I quit getting upset with homosexuality once I figured out IT’S NOT CONTAGOUS, so it is not my business