Opinion: In Tuesday’s Letters to the editor
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
In Tuesday’s letters, The Times features more on the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips from pirates off the coast of Africa and thoughts on immigration, taxes and police pursuits, too.
Readers also react to this story about older job-seekers, wondering if The Times isn’t itself perhaps a little ageist in its approach to the topic. Writes Ventura’s Anthony Lewis:
I enjoyed reading the article regarding the difficulties in obtaining meaningful work for those of us over 50. However, the piece reinforced many of the stereotypes that the younger generation holds regarding baby boomers. We older workers too could write an article stereotyping the younger generation workforce, with generalizations regarding their lack of social and interviewing skills (unless they are on a cellphone), their inability to write a coherent memo using fully constructed sentences (not texting), and their loyalty to a workplace seldom lasting longer than two years. However, I would refrain from such over-generalizations.... I started using a computer 25 years ago. I don’t consider myself ‘technologically challenged.’
Mark O’Connell, of Irvine, makes a similar point:
Your ‘helpful hints’ counsel older job seekers to be coy about their age. Where is there any mention of our wonderful age-discrimination laws that protect older workers so they don’t have to obfuscate to apply for a job? How about The Times showing a little leadership in pushing for enforcement of discrimination laws or beefing up existing laws so they actually are enforceable?