[caprimint]

Originally Posted by vesavius

Context and intention is everything.

You can't just ignore that.

But, that aside, I am sure if one of the younger girls called her an hysterical old woman she would rage for days. God knows she was sensitive enough about having her smile even mentioned.

Originally Posted by Lostie!

Well actually it would if he used her age against her in a derogatory way (as some older people do towards younger people).

I agree with the OP, Joe has many faults so it's pretty silly to keep bringing up the fact that he's older when you have plenty of actual character flaws to judge him for. Not to mention "old man" sounds like a ridiculously juvenile insult for a grown adult to use.

I mean sure it's possible to be patronizing to a younger person, but it still can't really be considered as 'offensive' when it's not typically an offensive word. As KT Hopkins says - you choose what you get offended by.