Once my parents told me when I'll get older, I'll become racist.

Do you think it is true? Becoming racist while the years are passing? Do you think you become less tolerant to that point?

We say sometimes racism is often coming from a different generation, different mentality, things are changing , people know more and understand better now, do you think it is true?

Getting old and being racist from education vs getting old and racist from life experience.

I don't think that people become racist when they get older. I could imagine though that they feel more confident to express their opinion. But the attitude has been there before.

Some people are getting less flexible once their older and always want to have things their way. Get`s a bit tiring at times.

I think the older you get the less you care about what strangers think about you, so to coin a phrase, you call a spade a spade, pc do gooders would call that racist, in reality your friends and family know if you are or aren't.

some of the stuff my mum comes out with would send the pc brigade into a feeding frenzy, is she racist? not really, but I do wish she wouldn't read the daily mail.

No, you don't become racist because you grow older. That doesn't make sense.

What does happen to many people though is that they become less flexible and hence less understanding of things they don't know.

I wonder what the age structure of those who moan most on the EF is versus those who find most things OK.

I would agree with your comment, in as much as people tend to become more rigid in their beliefs the older they get. Probably less tolerant too.

As demographics seems to be the flavour of the moment, perhaps it is time for a 'tell me your age bracket' poll?

I guess old age gets the truth squeezed out from people so if they were already pretty racist throughout their younger years they simply can't hold it back anymore and out it comes, brutally.

So if you weren't a racist before I doubt one becomes one just like that when old.

I wouldnt say racist. I would say that from "Oh look how those kids play in the pool isnt it sweet ", you will become "Cant anybody make those brats shut up! Im trying to sleep!"

I like this answer.... I think so too. I never been racist and I am soooo annoyed by some comments from others. And I could have become one with all my life experiences. Nope, I am still the same old one. Ouf!

In fact I found my mom to have become much more liberal than she was in younger years. Maybe that's what you call becoming "wise".

Did you ?

Who is on your parents "Hit list" ?

Usually people become less racist as they get to know more people, but also less naive.

The older I get, the more I come to realise how revolting the human race actually is.

I guess that makes me racist, then.

No, just a misanthrope.

I think I would call that a realist.

I think you might become more intolerant (in general I mean)...

My sil and bil used to say that too. And that I would become c/Conservative too. 40 years later it ain't happened yet, so no

nope, never.

I'm just as I ever was, but more so.
I do try to keep an open mind, in fact I've become so open-minded that I seem to have fallen through the hole...........or maybe it's dementia setting in

I think if anything I've only become less tolerant of racism.

a wise woman (may she rest in peace) once told me, "people don't get more liberal as they get older; they become more conservative."

Of course this was in Washington, DC in 2006 and was in reference to a turncoat politician... but I think it holds true. But is the cause aging? Failure to adapt to an evolving society? Change in outlook? a severe case of "i don't give a f***"? Maybe one or more of these things? I don't know.

When it all boils down to it, it's all just generalizing here on a forum. Now, if someone wants to go to Google Scholar and start digging through research articles on sociology/psychology research on racism... have at it. Please post your synopsis and post-analytical assessment for the rest of us to tear apart.

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I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies. - Pietro Aretino

Racism doesn't exist among little children. Ever notice that they absolutely do not make a difference and will play with their peers without discrimination ?

Then they grow up and they start to emulate adults, they become conscious of how society is structured and they start to make a difference.

It's hard for them initially to determine what is their true opinion, and what they have absorbed through learning.

It's only when an individual reaches adulthood that he/she really forges an opinion and creates a unique identity.
If that process is a fortunate positive one, (based on a childhood in a fair, balanced and unbiaised environment) then the adult will not be racist, not will develop into one at an older age.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that racism is not natural to the human condition, it's got to be negatively acquired.

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"Il mondo è fatto a scale, chi le scende e chi le sale"

Having observed Human nature, and the ageing process .. I come to this conclusion.....

As one ages, one`s attitudes become more intense, and amplified.

So .... (from observing, again)... I see that How you want to be when you are old is how you must put into practice while awaiting that process.

If you talk a lot now, you will talk MORE when you are old.
If you only care about your own feelings, that will be amplified as you age.
If you are pessimistic now, you will definitely have NO friends when you are old.......
If you sit on your a$$ all day now, you won`t be agile when you are old.

So ... if you have an automatic negative reaction to people of other colours and races now, you wil have that MORE as you age .....

Just my opinion.