As some of you may know, I started this website because of my passion for discovering how technology may improve the lives of older adults. However, assistive technology for the well-being of elders is a new field. Most work being done in the industry is in research labs still waiting to see the light. The few examples that are available commercially, such as accessible appliances and ergonomic homes, are just the tip of the iceberg.

A few months ago, I finished my graduate degree in biomedical engineering with research in assistive/rehabilitation technology. I decided not to continue down the academic path because I'd rather work in the industry to produce something that can be used by people instead of writing papers. Consequently, I've been looking for work all this time. It is also around that time that I started Elders Tribune as a hobby.

Over the past few months, ET has evolved into something entirely different from what I imagined. Somehow, I took on the responsibility of writing a regular column here. Frankly, I didn't like writing at all before this started, but as the days went by, writing became an enjoyable and valuable routine.

Still, I don't think I have time to write for Elders Tribune as much anymore. As I was saying, I've been looking for a job. Fortunately, I found something that I'd like to do for a few months and have already started since the new year. The problem, though, is that it has nothing to do with what I am doing here. My intention to write about independent living while I'm in the field wouldn't work anymore.

As a curator could write about paintings and a doctor could write about health, I felt comfortable writing on independent living because it is what I do. While working in the field, I had something useful to contribute and it enabled me to think about what I do from another perspective. I will continue to look for work in assistive technology research and development while I pursue another opportunity. But until then, I don't think I have much to offer in this community.

If anyone would like to take over this website, I'd be more than happy to work with you and provide technical assistance. Please contact me if you're interested in this voluntary job.

I would also like to take this oppportunity to personally thank Seniorwriter and Dem in Utah for their assistance in the past few months, as well as all the contributors, commenters, and readers for your support.

I hope each and every one of you has found something positive to take away from this website in the last few months, so that the countless hours we spent working on it weren't wasted after all.

An article in my local newspaper discovered that Organ Donation, a registered national organ donation charity, is only contributing fewer than 10% of its received donations to charitable causes. What happens to the other 90% of money, you ask? Lining the pockets of a marketing business, Xentel Incorporated, and a few individuals. Is that legal? Apparently, yes.

What this particular charity is doing is totally despicable. Organ Donation is taking credit for other charities' work, deceiving its donors about what they are doing and pitching to the emotional sense of well-intended donors. Here are a few examples from the article of what Organ Donation is doing:

1. Taking credit and reporting for entire multi-million projects when they only contributed a tiny and trivial portion of the effort. For example, paying for the shipping of another charity's million dollar goods, then associating their name prominently with the project to mislead people.  click here to continue reading »

This is the 4th part of a 5 part series on elder hate groups in Facebook. You can also view part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 5

Today, I will examine some of the more hostile groups and discussions toward elders on Facebook. I will provide uncensored quotes in this post as usual. The Elders Tribune does not promote or sanction these ideas. I say this because out of the 1.7 million webpages on this topic, The Elders Tribune is now listed as the #2 elder hate group on Google, just behind Freydblog. Ironic, isn't it? This must be because of my posts on ageism day after day recently. In a way, I think this is good because people searching for information will find these anti-ageism stories first.

After our overview of more than 20 hate groups yesterday, today I have ventured into about 10 additional groups with even more hostile headings. Here are a few samples that I would like to bring to your attention.

Severe Hostility

Group: If this group reaches 2'000 people, i will push a old lady down the stiars
Size: 161 members

Although the messages are sparse, there is actually a discussion in this group by about 5 or so people. It's obvious from reading their messages that this is a joke to them. A few new members who joined are against the idea and voiced their concern. One of them asked, “yo thats fucked why would you fuckin do that are u fucked in the fuckin head.” (see my previous post on the use of extreme language) The next day, someone replies, “... for the guy who is against pushing old ladies down the stairs...guess what....your gettin' pushed next. watch out.” This same person threatened to push another girl down the stairs too for asking the same question.

So who is their target? Surprisingly, this has been discussed. The consensus seems to be their teachers. Resentment towards the education system on Facebook is common. Earlier in July, a few high school students from Toronto are suspended for labelling a staff member a pedophile on Facebook.

From reading more about this group, I would say that this is a group of young people being rebellious and trying to impress each other. I think one of the messages captures their sense of sadistic humor and vanity very well.

"If I was an old lady, I would feel honoured to have Brandon Graham throw me down a flight of stairs. It would be magical."
-- from the same chap who threatened other people

Group: I Beat up old people
Size: 53 members

Again, members think these ideas are funny. A person wrote,

sometimes i see old people in wheelchairs and i have a strong urge to push them down the stairs.

is that wrong?

Someone replies, “lmao” (laughing my ass off)

Group: asking old people for a quarter then throwing it in there face.....hahaha!
Size: 143 members

These hate group are often formed because some people think the title is funny. This group in particular is an example where the idea did not catch on and the members are now trying to think of another name for the group.

The purpose of these elder hate groups

From my investigation in the past three days, I think the purpose with regard to the elder hate groups on Facebook is clear. They are formed for:

1. discussion of sadistic humor
2. display of vanity

Maria of small change says it better than I can, "it’s about the sense of belonging by acting up, not acting on ..."

Why target seniors?

Since many subject matters are deemed socially unacceptable, the last safe haven for lampooning and discrimination seems to be the elderly. For this, I think the media is taking full advantage of and leading this movement against older people. My reasoning? Simply because they can afford to. Who is going to complain or stop them? The advertisers don't mind because you aren't where their money is coming from. And there's no PETA for the elderly. So why not? They need some subject matter to feed our sadistic minds, which, conveniently, they helped to shape.

Sadistic minds

We are often encouraged by the media to derive pleasure from inflicting pain. In fact, there are movies such as Jack Ass which does nothing but display stupidity that results in injury. And I'm not referring to some one-off show either; many like Jack Ass are big blockbusters and are ridiculously popular among young people.

Another piece of evidence is the recent prevalence of YouTube videos on school fights and even vandalism. Hundreds of thousands of people watch them. A few are even “made for YouTube." Some school children would initiate fights and perform illegal acts just to be popular.

A sad truth

In the end, those who get hurt the most by these hate messages are not the older people but ourselves, the younger generation. Our perverted values and mindset need to be corrected soon. Otherwise, I can't imagine what kind of society I will be living in when this generation of people who like to push people down stairs for no reason or beat up people to be popular would become the fabric of the soceity. Would something such as depicted in the video (not for kids) below happen? Somebody, please help us!

This is a follow-up from a previous post of an investigation in Facebook elder hate groups.

Also see part 1 part 4, and part 5 of this series.

After browsing in 20 or so of hate groups against older adults (with more than 30 members), I have made a few more observations.  click here to continue reading »

1. People in these groups are high school or college students almost exclusively (although this is probably because Facebook are populated mostly by people in these demographics)
2. The bitterness are specifically towards driving style because they think older people drive too slow.
3. None of the groups I have seen so far have an active discussion, even groups with over 100 members. ThGenerally, there is one new message in a month or two by new members. I guess there can be only so much that can be said.
   

This article is part 2 of a 5 part series. You can also view part 1, part 3, part 4, and part 5.

Rather than ranting on myself about ageism, I decided to go straight to the source. Today, I have joined a few of the elder hate groups listed on Freydblog.

My goals for this assignment?

1. Get some answers from members in the hate groups.
2. See what these groups are really about.
3. Investigate the demographics and people behind these groups

First impressions upon joining

Group: Drive Faster Old People, You're Dieing
Size: 261 members  click here to continue reading »