Reminder: We’re still on a January break from Ranting
But to tide you over here’s a Big Announcement and a Mini-Rant!
Big Announcement: the Inaugural GUEST RANT is coming in Two Weeks!!!
Who will this Guest Ranter be? Upon what topic will this Guest Ranter rant? How can we possibly wait for two whole weeks???
Mystery abounds!
(And remember: you, too, are invited to contribute a Guest Rant...)
Now a Mini-Rant to Keep You Perky
As we enter the intellectual wasteland of a Presidential Election year, here’s a thought. Cut out the Joe-is-too-old shit. That’s just pure ageism. There’s no such thing as “senile.” That’s a loosely-used and ill-defined bit of shorthand for shoving all older people into the same box. “Senility” is not a medical condition or a psychological state.
These is such a thing, however, as Aged Heterogeneity. In simple terms: everybody ages differently—physically, psychologically, socially, cognitively, emotionally, functionally. In fact, when it comes to these kinds of individual traits, older people are far more varied than younger people. At 60, some folks, sadly, are basket cases. At 80, some folks, happily, are running marathons—or a democratic republic.
There’s also such a thing as a Well Elder and a Frail Elder. For all you Shakespeare fans out there, think of Prospero from The Tempest as opposed to Lear from King Lear.
Prospero is an old guy still very much on top of his game. With his erudite magical skills, he’s running a whole island, leading around by the nose a batch of shipwrecked politicos, and even controlling a couple of magical beings. Not bad for an old fart.
In short: Prospero is a Well Elder—like Joe.
King Lear, on the other hand, is a puffed-up, narcissistic, politically inept old guy who has been a dick his whole life. Now, to set himself up for his golden years, he’s idiotically angling to make his kids kiss his aged butt, hold onto regal power without doing any of the work or risking any of the consequences, stipulate that 100 thugs are always around him for muscle, and, as a result of all these demands, continue on his merry way of doing whatever the hell he wants. Then, when all of his stupid plans fall apart, he surrounds himself with Fools and Madmen for counselors and whines like a baby that he’s not getting his way. Oh, yeah. Lear also lapses into periods of prolonged delirium.
In short: Lear is a Frail Elder—like Trump.
Let’s not blur the two, okay?
And Finally…
Read some provocative fiction. Check out and subscribe to my other Substack newsletter, 2084 Quartet at:
While you’re at it, read some provocative social commentary. Check out and subscribe to this absolute Substack gem as well:
Bingo!