jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I know several people who work in retail, and they hate dealing with old people because they're so grouchy and grumpy. I've seen this myself, so I know what they mean. They say younger people are more polite and restrained, but the old folks fly off the handle at the slightest thing. There are exceptions, of course, but old folks tend to be nasty. Ironically, the nastier they are, they less likely they are to get their way. Thinking back, I remember the same thing when I worked at a supermarket when I was in high school.

Now we will read all the reasons why old people are allowed to be nasty and grumpy.

anotherview Loc: California

Older people may suffer from inadequate sleep affecting their mood.

As the body ages, the pineal gland secretes less melatonin to induce sound sleep, resulting in insomnia. This condition robs the body and mind of the restfulness so vital to good health, both physical and mental.

Upshot: Take melatonin as a supplement to induce sound sleep.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

And your point is . . . . ??

Seniors have always been grumpy. This 80+ year old worked in a corner Drug Store starting at age 14 (youngest age you could get a working permit back then, and at $ .50 an hour wage) and I remember well how grumpy and often rude the Seniors of that generation were. Nothing has changed.

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

Wow, I wonder how my hard working ranching grandparents did it. They were always pleasant, upbeat and kind to all. Wait, I know. They slept well since they actually were tired from chores each day. No ned for chemical supplements.

pmsc70d Loc: Post Falls, Idaho

Well! Now I know how I appear to others.

aardq

On the other hand, those of us over 70 have put up with stupid clerks for many, many years. I think that when we were young and working, we were more knowledgeable and had better manners. The people on the other side of the counter these days act like semi-intelligent automatons with no ability to think. After telling the person 3 times that I really want the blue one, or that is the size that I want, or I don't need a filter today, or my order is to go, I tend to get frustrated and let the person know it. I'm like a mirror, I reflect back the way that I am treated.

Largobob

I'm not entirely sure that "a leopard changes it's spots." I think that the crotchety old folks were likely crotchety when they were younger as well. It is true that we tend to not worry as much about what we say, or how we say it, when we get older. Frankly, I find that refreshing. But then I'm not on the receiving end of it.

ricardo7 Loc: Washington, DC - Santiago, Chile

All of these somewhat elderly people I know are nice and pleasant. They All Share three similar characteristics. Good health,. The range of interests,. and some degree of wealth.

DavidJon Loc: Ada, Oklahoma

I seriously doubt age has anything to do with it. The old people who are grouchy and grumpy now were once young people who were grouchy and grumpy then.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

In some cases it is just "old grump" but in others it is just being tired of putting up with people who don't really know what they are doing - or pretend not to know so they don't have to do anything extra.

I was raised in Kentucky - to be polite - but when I run into someone who can't or won't do something that is part of their job (esp if it is the 4th or 5th one that day) I start out polite, if it is something I know how to do (variety of jobs over the years) I will offer suggestions or ask questions designed to lead them to the correct action - then if they don't or won't get it, I will try again - but after a while I either give up and go elsewhere with my money (and often tell them I am) or I may go to "I want to talk to a supervisor." and if the supervisor warrants it "I want to talk to your boss."

So if that makes me an old grump, so be it. If they don't want to give me service there is always the internet to buy from.
My local Walmart is going down hill rapidly - shelves poorly stocked (I worked 13 years full or part time for a Super Market chain and could probably still do a good job of stocking shelves.) - Cashiers (just some of them) who don't seem to be able to outrun a glacier or know how to even scan the bar codes (I had to use a keyed register and stamp prices on things when stocking and many of us could process orders faster reading the prices and keying them in than these people can do with a scanner. So I will sometimes order from Walmart.com and get home delivery or free pick up.

alx Loc: NJ

Maybe it just proves an old suspicion... The nasty ones live longer.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Hey, I've EARNED the right to be grumpy!

Young people in a lot of stores are so busy with their phone that they can't be bothered by me asking a question like "Where do I find xxxxxx?" or "How much does this cost?" They probably call me a grump for expecting them to DO THEIR JOB.

And when is the last time you could get a clerk in a store to count back change properly?

They probably think you're crotchety for not just swiping your debit card or scanning your phone, so they can finish texting back to their boyfriend/girlfriend!

Heck, I have to watch my local coffee shop doesn't overcharge me. I bet they label me "grumpy" for asking them to charge me the correct price.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Hay! Im 88 and Im not grumpy. And if you say that again Ill slap you one along side of the head.

pbearperry Loc: Massachusetts

I am 71 and have never been referred to as grumpy. I dealt with all kinds of people as a Cop for 32 years and met lots of great elderly people.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I am 73 today and in my years in the classroom most of my students were great kids. But there were some!!! I taught in heart of Latino Gang country in East LA - I once had an LAPD Swat Team member tell me he wouldn't trade jobs with me for any amount of money.

But a lot of my kids liked me and I usually had some former students drop by on Open House nights to say hello - some of them had been the worst ones when in my class and a lot of them became teachers, career military and cops. Some of them seemed surprised at the paths they had chosen.

Well last spring while doing Day to Day substitute teaching part time while applying to Medical Schools my daughter came home one day looking rather "rode hard and put away wet", walked into the kitchen where I was making a sandwich - looked at me and said "How in hell did you last 34 years at that job? Now I know why you sometimes came home in the moods you did. I had the class from Hell today." Now understand my nicknames with the kids are "Grump O'saurus", "Grizzly Bear" and "Ol'Griz". Plus my daughter was often reluctant to tell me about trouble she had with other kids or the school because she was afraid of what her Vietnam Vet, Kentucky "stomp your own snakes" Redneck, gun loving Step-Dad (Daddy since she was 4.) would do. But as she got older she figured out that 99+% of the time I was the calm controlled parent. (You can't hit a damn thing with an automatic rifle if you lose your temper.) Mom (Born in East LA) is a different story - calm, polite and makes friends easy and her patients loved her (RN) 99+% of the time but when it comes to her kids she is a Helicopter Parent - Hell!!! My wife is an Apache Long Bow with a max load of Hellfire Missiles. I yell "Incoming" and duck for cover when she thinks someone is harming one of the kids. Then from cover I work at calming her down.