"Bring up ageism and out comes it comes -- it's the one insult that's considered socially acceptable."<p>That and politics. I'm absolutely amazed at the hateful language that friends and talking heads use for people who are "differently politicized."<p>As for me, I "knew" I was old and irrelevant (or seen as such) the day I answered a telephone poll for local radio stations. The first question was my age, and the next statement was "Thank you for your time &#60;click&#62;."<p>I was guilty when I was young. The tables have turned, and I try not to let it bother me now, although it sometimes does.