I’m 59, but I don’t look it or sound it. This is important because I work as a customer service agent, handling inbound phone calls. I guess I sound about 20 or so, judging from the response I get from the “customers” (read: whiny-assed pains in the ass).
“Get me someone with more experience. I don’t want to talk to some kid right out of high school.”
“You’ll find out how rough it is when you’re older. I’m 45, and it’s hard to handle this technical stuff.”
“I wish you were older, you’d understand how difficult life is. Maybe you’ll get it when you’re 30.”
“How old are you? Do you really believe DNA works like that?”
“Why are you working a dead end job like this? You should be in school and preparing for a REAL career!”
I have yet to have a customer be older than me and not be able to handle the software and website I support. I have lots of 30 and 40 year olds who make complete messes of their experience. And they all think I’m fresh out of high school, so they patronize me when I try to help them.
It’s kind of interesting to experience the way some older people treat younger people.
As for looks, like I said, I look about 30 or 35. Really, not lyin’ — I was out shopping with my son and someone thought we were husband and wife, not mother and son (he’s 36). REALLY bothered him. I thought it was funny.
Anyway, I’ve been told I was too young to be buying some things, too young to be in AARP and using the card for discounts (I had to show my drivers’ license to prove I was “old enough”), asked if my (real) husband and I were ever going to have children (“I know he’s a lot older than you (he’s 3 years younger but looks older) but you really should have kids before too much longer”), and perved on by old men wanting to be my “daddy”. (For some reason, they all hang out in Home Depot. I never go there without my husband now.)
I don’t envy young people one tiny bit. And sometimes I wish I looked and sounded my age!
Read other answers by Lorri Robinson on Quora:
- What are some things you should not say to someone when they are very ill?
- How do you politely tell people not to touch your laptop?
- If people treat you poorly, should you treat them badly or kindly?
from Quora http://ift.tt/2eHCKq7
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