The wise, OLDER owl has pointed out, rightfully so, my careless use of the term "elderly".
These ARE the Good Older Days
Quite right. What I should have said was "Many that have lived into their 80s and 90s, when asked, report that their favorite time of life was from 50 to 70."
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11 years ago
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Actually, Hedwig did NOT miss that usage. (What are a wise owl's large and acute eyes for if not to see everything?)
And I note: it's Hedwig the Wise Owl, without reference to age of any kind. (But the Captain did get a smile out of me at "wise older owl.")
However, I applaud both usages ("geezer" and "older") in their contexts, and might have used them myself if I had thought to make each of your points. The usages added to, rather than detracting from, changing or euphemising the meaning in each case.
Here's the issue: if I want to call someone an 'old fart' (doing so at my own risk -- that old fart may still pack a powerful roundhouse right to the button), then that's what I'll call him or her, and not an elderly fart or a senior citizen fart or (my personal unfav) a golden-aged fart.
Plain speaking to make your point and sticking to specific and individual subjects, i.e., individuals or self-defined associations (such as couples), pretty much always triumphs. It's when you enter the arena of generalizing about or characterizing groups, or perceived trends of groups (unless you are a research scientist writing up your findings), that you can get into trouble; that's when the sudden urge not to offend strikes and euphemism cuts us off at the knees.
I note that the "geezer" usage was plain speaking. No euphemism there (slang yes, but I applaud slang when well-used. I hope you noticed that 1940's-ish "on the button" above).
And I also applaud the Captain's rewording of that sentence. Well done; I can now admit it's a particularly difficult thing to say without offense to anyone, but you did it, and made your point strongly.
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