View Full Version : Ageism is alive and well in the Highlands
Thought Orgers might be interested in my recent experience when I applied to join the local part time fire service for my area and was twice turned down. No intention of trying again, the service is hopelessly bureaucratic and will probably become even more so if its rolled into one national fire and police force. I suppose the final straw was earlier this year during the fifteen mile Glencalvie Challenge race when at about mile ten I caught up with a lycra clad figure. Now usually I'm interested to discover if it is a member of the fair sex providing a welcome change of scenery (sexism!) but it turned out to be the fitness adviser to the Fire Brigade who wasn't going particularly fast so after a few words I carried on past him.
My offer to the Fire Master to settle the matter by a race up Craig Dunain still stands but he hasn't written, he hasn't e mailed he hasn't phoned........ to take it any further. Just hope the lum doesn't go up but perhaps in the words of Grouocho Marx I wouldn't want to join any club which would have me as a member! Golspie 10K Saturday look out for the T shirt with Unfit for Fire Service (perhaps).
http://heritage.scotsman.com/scotland/39Ageism39-douses-burning-ambition-of.6830054.jp (http://heritage.scotsman.com/scotland/39Ageism39-douses-burning-ambition-of.6830054.jp)
Do it. Get a T shirt made up. I would, just to prove a point.
oldmarine
08-Sep-11, 19:12
Thought Orgers might be interested in my recent experience when I applied to join the local part time fire service for my area and was twice turned down. No intention of trying again, the service is hopelessly bureaucratic and will probably become even more so if its rolled into one national fire and police force. I suppose the final straw was earlier this year during the fifteen mile Glencalvie Challenge race when at about mile ten I caught up with a lycra clad figure. Now usually I'm interested to discover if it is a member of the fair sex providing a welcome change of scenery (sexism!) but it turned out to be the fitness adviser to the Fire Brigade who wasn't going particularly fast so after a few words I carried on past him.
My offer to the Fire Master to settle the matter by a race up Craig Dunain still stands but he hasn't written, he hasn't e mailed he hasn't phoned........ to take it any further. Just hope the lum doesn't go up but perhaps in the words of Grouocho Marx I wouldn't want to join any club which would have me as a member! Golspie 10K Saturday look out for the T shirt with Unfit for Fire Service (perhaps).
http://heritage.scotsman.com/scotland/39Ageism39-douses-burning-ambition-of.6830054.jp (http://heritage.scotsman.com/scotland/39Ageism39-douses-burning-ambition-of.6830054.jp)
Age 63 years does look a little old for this type of work. It may be doing someone a favor by denying him/her a position in this type of work.
Hi Oldmarine, they're still trying to recruit and your age is only a number!
Walter Ego
08-Sep-11, 21:36
Brilliant, stick it up 'em!
Fair play to you, and I'm sure you could prove your point.
But rules are rules.
Maybe the rule could be challenged. You might have a strong case. But as a potential 'user' of the emergency services, I prefer the idea of being saved by the young AND fit.
When I was 16 I could have sworn I was mature enough to drink.
Is that ageism too?
Why did you turn down their invitation to try again?
Walter Ego
09-Sep-11, 08:09
Why did you turn down their invitation to try again?
Why shouldn't he?
He's been refused twice and I'd say he's only been offered another crack at it because he's given the FB some bad publicity.
There's no mention of upper body strength and the ability to lift perhaps that was taken into consideration, you may be an excellent runner I'm not denying that. There's an argument to be made that older people tend to be more prone to injury also.
I'm not buying it there's more to it than age.
But as a potential 'user' of the emergency services, I prefer the idea of being saved by the young AND fit.
If I were trapped in a burning bedroom I wouldn't give a damn what age of my rescuer was..........as long as they succeeded in getting me out which I am sure Errogie could do quite easily!!!
C3..............:eek::roll:;)
orkneycadian
09-Sep-11, 10:27
You could try applying to join the dog squad?
Sorry to disappoint anyone but the upper body strength is pretty good as I spend days rowing anglers up and down local lochs and cut and gather suficient wood and peat to be self sufficient in heating fuel. Must admit to having a chain saw though and getting rid of the donkey with panniers and have just picked up a little yamaha outboard motor which has been great. Every now and then you seem to take a technological step forward like three years spent on the slate at the West Public Thurso and a spoon full of cod liver oil at the door on the way out then being given first paper to write on and off course ditching the hairy tweed jacket for goretex among others.
Probably another thread here "Technical advances which have made life easier"
Can I be equal opportunities and take on your grammar? (Merely rhetoric) Plenty are quick to criticise the young for poor grammar but seem to ignore the fact that not all of our elders are perfect either. Is there a literacy and numeracy test? Maybe you failed that?
I think it is hardly fair to say that ageism is alive and well in the highlands. Firefighters retire at 55 in the uk. There are probably thousands of folk in this country that would have loved to have worked to 65 but they can't. It takes several years to be a compatent firefighter by that stage you'll be past 65. I have glasses, you could loosely say that my eye sight is disabled. I would love to be a firefighter but I can't. I could say that I am being discriminated because of a disability. It is a shame but I can live with that. I suggest that you do to.
Careful Rob you mispelt "competent" the literacy police may have noticed. Leanne, yes literacy and numeracy were tested and passed, you may not like my style of rhetoric but it's all my own and in my humble opinion reads pretty darn well, (for "off" read "of") perhaps my taste in literature is not the same as your own. Of course ageing doesn't come alone and eyesight and other faculties run down but unfortunately it may happen to much younger individuals as well.
You can be of value to the part time local firefighters fairly early on even if it is only helping to roll out a hose or fighting a moorland fire. Obviously specialised training is given but I reckoned I could have given them 6 or 7 years and remember they are short handed and have been trying to recruit new members.
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