T'aint funny, Dave and Jay

Last week, I asked readers -- especially senior citizens -- whether they were amused or upset by the constant one-liners hurled by the three talk-show hosts at the presidential candidate because he is in his 70s, one-liners about failing memory, knowing Betsy Ross personally, driving poorly, and other stereotypes of being old.

Back via snail-mail and e-mail came strong reactions from readers:

* From an older couple in St. Ann, Missouri: "I believe no one under 30 should vote."

* From a 72-year-old man in Brooklyn, New York: "I am not at all pleased by the age-bashing indulged in by clowns and pseudo-comics. Letterman may have forgotten, but Bob Dole was a guest on 'The Late Show' and came off as being alert, fast-witted and possessed of a good humor rivaling that of his host."

* From a woman in Des Plaines, Illinois: "Mr. Dole is not our candidate; however, the jokes are uncalled for. Letterman and Leno's day will come -- unless they have an alternative to getting old."

* From a 71-year-old woman in Missouri: "Last fall, I was asked to go to Taiwan on less than a week's notice to teach an experimental course in English as a second language. One thing that struck me was the tremendous respect my junior college students had for me, especially after asking my age. There, age means experience, wisdom and the right to be respected."

* From a man in Indiana: "I'm 80 years young and so is my wife. It's been our experience that things turned over to younger people have been all screwed up; after a few years, we old-timers have to bail them out."

* From a 60-year-old Ohioan: "Jokes about age imply that the aging process makes you less of a man or woman. I find that older people have 'grown' in many ways. As people grow older, they have a wider range of experience to draw on that tempers or enhances their academic education. These oldster jokes are a carry-over from the Baby Boomers whose generation was brought up on the cult of youth."

* From a reader in Brooklyn: "Some jokes about old age might be funny, but Bob Dole's age is very unfair game for ridicule."

* From a man in Missouri: "It is quite questionable to consider jokes about old age funny. I experienced people in their eighties and nineties still quite sharp, while others not even 50 -- and here, David Letterman qualifies -- appeared to me at times lame-brained."

* From an "over-60" woman in Ohio: "Age is not fair game for jokes. I would assume the older one gets, the wiser one is."

* From a St. Louis reader who won't be 50 until next year: "A society that is hyper-sensitive about gender and impairments, and generally focussed on being politically correct should either stop making jokes about senior citizens or start making gender and handicapped jokes again."

* From an 80-year-old man in Ohio: "A person can't help wondering what we Americans are coming to. They want to laugh at any group they feel superior to. The jokes are not only bad but also in bad taste. If we could only found a society to fight the tragic prejudice that people insist on sponsoring."

But not all readers were outraged by the comedians' jokes. In my next column, I'll share some responses from readers who think one-liners about aging are fine. Thanks to all who wrote.

(07-25-96) [[In-content Ad]]