Sep 6, 2014 1 min read

I would like to admonish Boston Globe columnist Jennifer Graham for her inappropriate use of the term “geezer” in a column that appeared on the Observer-Reporter’s commentary page Aug. 31.

The point of her column was that baby boomers, with support from Hollywood, were the first generation to “turn old age into something worthy of respect,” as evidenced by more of us being accepted by younger adults in marathons, movies and video games. Unfortunately, she calls this phenomenon “geezer creep” and that just perpetuates the negative stereotype and shows her lack of sensitivity.

Dictionaries define a geezer as “an odd or eccentric person” and that can be anyone regardless of age. If there’s truth to her comment about baby boomers, then the only way to maintain that respect is for our society to view its older citizens in the same manner afforded other groups and stop using derogatory terms.

Bob Willison

Rices Landing