Hey, old man! What would you like me to call you?
By Steven V. Dubin
A friend of a certain age, and similar to mine, dropped by for a cup of coffee. As he told me of his recent adventure in the wilds of Idaho, he referred to “an old coot.”
Wow. I thought and vocalized, “Hey, Geoff, at what point do you think that people might describe us as old coots?
“Here’s my guess: Maybe starting five years ago?”
We both laughed. It got me to thinking.
We old guys are often portrayed in media and everyday speech as:
- Grumpy or out-of-touch: Think of the “get off my lawn” stereotype.
- Stubborn or resistant to change: Consider complaints about technology like “I’d rather use a rotary phone than a smahhhhht phone.”
• Sexist or racist relics: Some narratives paint old men as holding onto outdated or problematic views.
This dynamic leads to a variety of nicknames people use for old men ranging from affectionate and playful to offensive.
Brings me back to when my grandson was born a year ago and I was asked which grandpa moniker I’d prefer. After some thought, I suggested Big Papi. It reflects my love for baseball, has a nice regional connection, and connects me to someone else who can’t remember anyone’s name.
But I digress. Here are some of the ways that people refer to older men.
Classic & Affectionate
• Gramps
• Grandpa
• Pop/Pops
• Old-Timer
• G-Pa
• Daddio
• Pawpaw
Funny & Playful
• Geezer
• Fogey/Old Fogey - Ancient One
• Silver Fox
• The Fossil
• The Relic
• Captain Cranky - Yoda
Cool & Respectful
• The OG
• Boss Man
• Chief
• Legend
• The Don
Gentlemen, let me know what you prefer.
Me, I prefer Steve.
If you know of a senior who is doing something interesting with their retirement, I look forward to hearing from you! Please email me at SDubin@PRWorkZone.com
Steven V. Dubin is the founder of PR Works, a lightly used public relations firm based in Plymouth which helps small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies navigate the overwhelming options of advertising. Steve lives in Plymouth with his wife, Wendy. He is a contributing author to “Get Slightly Famous” and “Tricks of the Trade,” the complete guide to succeeding in the advice business. He recently authored “PR 101,” an E-book.