Judge Judy: A Great Role Model For Older Women?
Author: Barbara Morris, R.Ph.

I Love Judge Judy. If every kid to had a no-nonsense Judge Judy
type mother there would be fewer problems in the world.

However, I'm not sure she's a great role model for older women.
This is why: Judge Judy was sharing her wisdom on the Larry King
show, and the conversation turned to computers. Judy and Larry
admitted they had never used a computer, and that's okay. When
you have people who can do what you don't want to do or can't do
– that's fine.

But here's the thing. Judy implied that she was too old to
learn. She didn't say so in so many words, but that was her
message, loud and clear. It should not have surprised me – on
her show, she often makes comments about "getting old" or "being
old." As smart as she is, she seems not to understand that you
are what you say you are. Chronological "old" is one thing.
Mental "old" is something else. You can't control the former but
you are in full control of the latter as long as you have your
wits about you.

Here's what really bothers me: Her comment about age being a
deterrent to learning new information compounds the widely held
myth that old (or older) people can't learn new things. Judge
Judy is an extremely influential woman – we listen to her and
accept her wisdom. While she was speaking I could just picture
older women who have given up on themselves, silently assenting
that they too are too old to learn to use a computer, thankful
to Judge Judy that she has given them permission to continue to
vegetate.

She often chastises miscreants on her show, suggesting that
they need an "epiphany." An epiphany, according the dictionary
is a sudden realization, "a sudden intuitive leap of
understanding, especially through an ordinary but striking
occurrence."

Judge Judy is not old, but her comments and demeanor make one
think that she's older than her reputed 56 years. She needs an
epiphany. Not just for herself, but for the countless women who
look to her as a role model.

That she has others who do computer work for her is great. It
frees her up to do other things. However, I suggest that she
keep her brilliant super-charged brain firing on all cylinders
as she enters her older years by learning to use a computer.
Other than doing crossword puzzles, I can think of nothing more
challenging than doing battle with a dumb machine that makes you
think far more intensely than you can imagine.

For example, remembering passwords is a major pain. I keep a
log of passwords for handy reference, but I don't refer to it
until and unless I am stumped when trying to log into a password
protected page or program. I constantly surprise myself that I
can remember so many different passwords. For me, that is a
major benefit of using a computer – the constant challenge to
remember what I want to remember.

Age be damned, Judge Judy! You are too old to learn only when
you say you are. Get a new attitude, Your Honor!


About The Author: Barbara Morris is a pharmacist and author of
Put Old on Hold. Visit her website http://www.PutOldonHold.com
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