Have you been on the receiving — or giving — end of ageism humor? “Over the hill,” etc? I have. But I hope to stop using such humor, and if I’m the target of that humor, I’ll find some response honoring my age. More and more, I see our ever-present jokes about aging as go-away-closer humor. Somehow, it seems to help push away our fears about aging, even as laughing about our aging helps us discover we aren’t any worse the wear. Still, it reinforces a perception of aging that just isn’t true.

One big trouble with ageist stereotypes is that they subtly wear on us until we begin to believe them. That is why I think it’s important to occasionally remind “oldsters and youngsters” alike that older adults are so much more than the stereotypes suggest.

As I prepared this column, I discovered a website that stands up strong and firm against ageism: The Radical Age Movement. It comes out of New York City and is led by a group of strongly motivated geezers-in-training (my term, not theirs). Check out the radicalagemovement.com.

One of their steering committee members is a lady whose writings I became aware of last year, Ashton Applewhite. She has two spunky blogs you might enjoy checking out: www.thischairrocks.com and www.yoisthisageist.com.

In a Huffington Post interview, she was asked to identify three things we can do to counter ageism. She was spot-on with her response:

1. Be proud of growing older. (Be grateful for who you are and the life-meaning you gain through your aging. Or as I’ve said many times: “Gray hair and wrinkles are not a fashion statement; they are a values statement.”)

2. Watch your language. (For instance, when you off-handedly say “in my day” or “when I was in my prime,” you are acknowledging a time in your past; but you could also be belittling your present. Why is not today “your day?” Why can’t you be in a new “prime” today? Our own language often reinforces ageism stereotypes.)

3. Promote intergenerational life. (Persons of all ages deserve respect at their current ages. Ageism doesn’t just target older people. Playing with, working with, living with, being together with persons of all ages are good ways to respect — to look again — at those persons.)

Part of the work of Elder Advocates is to help us learn healthier ways of relating to each other, first as persons but also as persons who are aging. If you have interest in exploring ageism with other folks (regardless of their ages), maybe we can find ways to help get that exploration started.

Like at the next Geezer Forum. Ageist stereotypes will be the topic of conversation next Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Geezer Forum. Our guest resource is Jim Healey (no, not the founder of Lead-Lok).

Our resource person, Jim, is a KRFY radio host, a retired university professor (of 19th-century American literature), and a very gentle soul with deep passion for treating all persons with respect. Please consider joining us on Dec. 13, 2:30-4 o,n, at the Community Room of Columbia Bank in Sandpoint.

Paul R. Graves, M.Div., is lead geezer-in-training of Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry on aging issues. Paul can be contacted at 208-610-4971 or elderadvocates@nctv.com.