Important for older people to participate

In long lifetimes, older people have the advantage of their many and varied experiences.

This was recognised as wisdom in other ages.

If they have learnt tolerance and have broadened their minds, they have much to give to younger souls.

Yet nowadays, they are subjected to arrogant patronage and disdain by the young and too often by professionals.

There is a need to learn a balance about tolerance and it does not always apply.

I find I have become more than a little intolerant about talking heads.

We can't do too much about these on television, but we need to in the meeting places and halls in the land.

In my experience, I have formed the assumption that if you want people to listen to what you have to say, you need to allow a two-way trade.

It is particularly important for older people that they participate and stay in life, so they do not suffer the pain and inconvenience of social isolation.

Too many forums, seminars, meetings on political, health and social matters have agendas without allowing time for questions and discussion.

It is important to let the audience learn from answers to questions and to consider their own beliefs in discussion.

It is also important that the speakers learn from interaction with live audiences.

Teachers and most doctors see the need for this as people will not absorb if they are not participants in what has to be discussed.

A word of advice is that too much lecturing can become boring, and listeners will not listen.

Away with talking heads - they can put that in their pipes and smoke it, as the old saying goes - being aware of course that smoking is addictive also.

Enid Harrison, Woy Woy