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    • Sexist or racist relics: Some narratives paint old men as holding onto outdated or problematic views.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.