The BBC is openly ageist

On Monday or Tuesday gone, on BBC News At Six, there was a news item - the headliner, in fact - about a British bloke who's been convicted of gunrunning, or something like that.

I had the telly on, I was getting ready to go to work, I just wasn't paying attention.

I can't remember the guy's name but he was white (they showed his mugshot) and 60 years old. That much I recall.

Then, the female reporter, who sounded about 12, suddenly says, "The pensioner blah-blah..."

NOW I was paying attention. She said it again, and again, about 4/5 times in the space of a minute. The pensioner, the pensioner...

I thought "nah...did she say that?"

I realise that 60 isn't young, of course, and must seem very old indeed to some twentysomething upstart BBC hack, but last time I checked, 65 is the minimum age a man becomes pensionable in the UK (soon to be 66).

Then I thought, "Well, maybe he's got a private pension"; but then she wouldn't call him a 'pensioner', any more than she would describe a younger guy of 30 or 40 with a private pension.

Everyone knows that people who claim state pension are 'old' - by definition it is the Old Age Pension.

She was basically calling him 'an old git'...which is, presumably, a permissible insult for the perpetrator of this dastardly deed. The fact that he wasn't quite of pensionable age was obviously a boring detail.

So there it is - the BBC being openly discriminatory of old people, broadcast live to the nation at peak time.

I'm appalled.

This organisation which prides itself on fair and balanced reportage, this champion of anti-racism and anti-sexism. I will never again trust it to provide me with the unvarnished truth.

a reply to: CJCrawley

Not so unusual..."senior", "elderly or elder", "retired", "pensioner".....I do volunteer at the local Senior Center...all are common. Like...(Im assuming)...you are a "man", "English(?)", "Londoner"(example)...all of those.

Its a general reference...but Im sure the newcaster or copywriter of that cast couldve use a bit wider description or terms.

Acceptable though...Best

M.S.

More bothersome that she called him a pensioner instead of a suspect or in this case him having been convicted a prisoner, criminal, perpetrator or even a convict. Pensioner sounds innocent. Maybe its just me though...

a reply to: CJCrawley

Pension credit payment become payable at age 60 instead of JSA if out of work.
It reduced the official unemployment rate when the government introduced it.
So on that note, yes, 60 is officially a pensioner in the UK.

ETA
There is no requirement to 'sign on' or seek work at age 60, pension credit is means tested though.

a reply to: CJCrawley
Until recently, women became pensioners at the age of 60.
I suspect that the usage "pensioner" for somebody in their sixties developed out of that.
If he had been under twenty years old, she would undoubtedly have called him a "teenager", so I don't know that identifying him by age-group is necessarily hostile to old people.

a reply to: DISRAELI

Perhaps the OP also objects to pension credit which pays out age 60 with no requirement to look for work.
Sorry OP but the UK government deems men aged 60 to be pensioners, maybe write to the DWP and complain?

originally posted by: CJCrawley
On Monday or Tuesday gone, on BBC News At Six, there was a news item - the headliner, in fact - about a British bloke who's been convicted of gunrunning, or something like that.

I had the telly on, I was getting ready to go to work, I just wasn't paying attention.

I can't remember the guy's name but he was white (they showed his mugshot) and 60 years old. That much I recall.

Then, the female reporter, who sounded about 12, suddenly says, "The pensioner blah-blah..."

NOW I was paying attention. She said it again, and again, about 4/5 times in the space of a minute. The pensioner, the pensioner...

I thought "nah...did she say that?"

I realise that 60 isn't young, of course, and must seem very old indeed to some twentysomething upstart BBC hack, but last time I checked, 65 is the minimum age a man becomes pensionable in the UK (soon to be 66).

Then I thought, "Well, maybe he's got a private pension"; but then she wouldn't call him a 'pensioner', any more than she would describe a younger guy of 30 or 40 with a private pension.

Everyone knows that people who claim state pension are 'old' - by definition it is the Old Age Pension.

She was basically calling him 'an old git'...which is, presumably, a permissible insult for the perpetrator of this dastardly deed. The fact that he wasn't quite of pensionable age was obviously a boring detail.

So there it is - the BBC being openly discriminatory of old people, broadcast live to the nation at peak time.

I'm appalled.

This organisation which prides itself on fair and balanced reportage, this champion of anti-racism and anti-sexism. I will never again trust it to provide me with the unvarnished truth.

That's the report on a 74 year old, [pensioner] from Gillingham in Kent, who had an arsenal of weapons in his home, and it was discovered after there was a fire there. He wasn't a gun runner, 'just' his illegal collection. H e was jailed for 5 years, but I guess there will be a move to get him into a home at some time.
]

a reply to: smurfy

I think the Op is on about this case:
BBC report

A firearms dealer has been found guilty of supplying illegal handguns and home-made ammunition linked to more than 100 crime scenes, including three murders.

The 66-year-old was found guilty of conspiracy to supply firearms and ammunition by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court.

He was supplying a Dr with weapons, whom I assume was selling them on until he got caught, Dr Mohinder Surcharge who was convicted in 2015. He was 56.

a reply to: TJames

Sorry OP but the UK government deems men aged 60 to be pensioners

News to me.

If you can't claim the pension till age 65 it makes no sense calling a 60 year old a pensioner.

originally posted by: CJCrawley
a reply to: TJames

Sorry OP but the UK government deems men aged 60 to be pensioners

News to me.

If you can't claim the pension till age 65 it makes no sense calling a 60 year old a pensioner.

Most journalists will use a term to describe somebody as man sounds a bit boring.

Using pensioner or teenager or father of 3 or whatever they can makes the story sound a bit more interesting.

I do not think it is anything more than that.

a reply to: CJCrawley

Check DWP website fella, men aged 60 out of work lose entitlement to Job Seekers Allowance and are paid Pension Credit, a means tested payment with no requirement to seek work.

Sorry but DWP deem 60 year old males to be pensioners receiving Pension credit.
May be news to you but it's been that way since the 90's.

originally posted by: nonspecific

originally posted by: CJCrawley
a reply to: TJames

Sorry OP but the UK government deems men aged 60 to be pensioners

News to me.

If you can't claim the pension till age 65 it makes no sense calling a 60 year old a pensioner.

Most journalists will use a term to describe somebody as man sounds a bit boring.

Using pensioner or teenager or father of 3 or whatever they can makes the story sound a bit more interesting.

I do not think it is anything more than that.

Yes, I think that's true. But it doesn't make it right.

If someone's unmarried, they'll say, "The bachelor said..."

If someone's quiet and private, it's "The loner said..."

It's brain dead and insulting.

I would have thought better of BBC journos. They're the ones who should be leading by example.

a reply to: CJCrawley

She was being nice - the guy needed the money from gunrunning to top up his pension. Not cheap to live in Britain.

originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: CJCrawley

She was being nice - the guy needed the money from gunrunning to top up his pension. Not cheap to live in Britain.

LOL, but it depends where you go, cheap as chips in Scotland but they still whine.
I may move up there because southern England is expensive and I'll get way more for my money north of the border.

originally posted by: TJames

originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: CJCrawley

She was being nice - the guy needed the money from gunrunning to top up his pension. Not cheap to live in Britain.

LOL, but it depends where you go, cheap as chips in Scotland but they still whine.
I may move up there because southern England is expensive and I'll get way more for my money north of the border.

It might be cheaper but it is also wetter and colder.

I might head into the wales at some point as also cheaper and wetter but not quite as cold lol.

a reply to: nonspecific

South Wales valleys are cheap as chips as well, good shout, just Googled property prices mad as # how cheap it is.
May consider there as well when I turn 60 and become eligible for Pension Credit lol

a reply to: TheConstruKctionofLight

Not cheap to live in Britain.

Says the Aussie!

Very understated sense of humour, I like it.

a reply to: CJCrawley

The BBC attempts to manipulate I mean cater to all ages. I think it's quite amusing they still haven't redifined the 'TV' licence. Of course it should be abolished but then what would be left of that oh so great British institution?

a reply to: TJames

Pension credit payment become payable at age 60 instead of JSA if out of work.

No, still JSA. Soon to be replaced by Universal Credit.

60 is officially a pensioner in the UK.

No. You have to be in receipt of a pension to be a pensioner. Do you see how that works?

There is no requirement to 'sign on' or seek work at age 60

Says who? The requirement to work is exactly the same for everyone in receipt of JSA, barring disability. There's no special exemption once you've reached 60. The same thing applies when UC comes into force.

Where do you get this magical number of '60' from, by the way? Nothing special happens at age 60. Was it your attempt to derail the thread because I mentioned a 60 year old in the OP? Tsk, tsk.

Perhaps the OP also objects to pension credit

Nope. Why would I?

which pays out age 60

See above.

with no requirement to look for work.

See above.

the UK government deems men aged 60 to be pensioners

Feel free to provide evidence for this.

Check DWP website

I have.

men aged 60 out of work lose entitlement to Job Seekers Allowance and are paid Pension Credit

Wrong. You can't apply for Pension Credit before you reach pensionable age, currently 65 (soon to be 66). It's purpose is to top up your weekly income if it falls below a certain amount. It's NOT a replacement for JSA.

DWP deem 60 year old males to be pensioners receiving Pension credit.

Bollocks.



It seems strange that you advised me to check out the DWP website when you yourself don't appear to have read any of it.

But hey, thanks for dropping by.

a reply to: CJCrawley

Sorry man I take it all back, the qualifying age for Pension Credit was 60 for males in the 90's, I've since learned the government have increased the age limit...as they have with the state pension as well.

I stand corrected and again apologise for not checking up to date facts before making my assertions.



...on a side note I expect to work until I die lol