Fuddy Duddy in Court

Google Not Amused

[tangor]

Google has been ordered by the California Supreme Court to stand trial in a lawsuit brought by a 54-year-old man, who was dubbed a “fuddy-duddy” by his Mountain View colleagues.

Brian Reid put forward enough evidence that the court agreed showed possible bias to allow a jury to consider whether he had been dismissed from Google in February 2004 due to his age.

[theregister.co.uk...]
Interesting news... ?

[Propools]

It sort of sounds like the old addage:

Whoever has the deepest pockets, gets sued first.

But I don't know the details....................so who am I to say. ;)

[tangor]

All I can say is I am a fuddy duddy (apparently companies are not interested in hiring 60+ ---by just a smidge---) because health care (er Insurance) v years of productivity just doesn't seem to make financial sense.

Meanwhile, I'll keep doing what I've been doing the last few years: taking ANY job I can get and show 'em the old warhorse still has heart! Even if he is a fuddy duddy.

If I were the fellow making this case, I'd be looking forward to those Senior Discounts at restaurants, movies, etc. instead of being offended... oh, wait, he was CANNED! and I guess that is why there's a lawsuit "I ain't too old!"

[LifeinAsia]

Since when are “slow,” “fuzzy,” “sluggish” and “lethargic” age-specific descriptions? Those could describe anyone on drugs, someone tired from a night of partying, a parent with a newborn, etc.

[ken_b]

“fuddy-duddy”

Hey, wasn't that term tossed around right here during the "Feedback" days?

I'm old, maybe my memory is failing me... :)

[tangor]

I think that was "fud", "ugly" and "doubtful" as regards the benefit of Feedback Days. :)

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I am doing what I do because of ageism here in the UK. I worked for a large corporate that went down the tubes. When I saw the first signs of its impending demise I started looking for a new job. I was late forties at the time and despite being qualified, well experienced and having a great employment record I could hardly get an interview never mind a job.

I believe that this was because of my age. Ageism is rife here in the UK and I understand that there are tighter rules in place to prevent it in the US. So if this guy did not deserve to get the bullet then more power to his elbow.

(Eventually, after being made redundant I went self employed and started doing what I am doing now. I have made a good living at this now for nine years so they did me a favour.)

[phranque]

if any of you "fuddy duddies" want to feel older, check out the PubCon demographics [pubcon.com].

[engine]

FYI Age Discrimination Lawsuit Against Google To Proceed To Trial [webmasterworld.com]

[rocknbil]

I can see that, being called a fuddy duddy. Old schoolers (like me) bucking these young new whipper snappers, it can be a destructive force in a work environment. The trick is to keep up regardless of your age, and not **be** a fuddy duddy.

I know people half my age that act and think like octogenarians. People my age tell me to act my age. Why, so you can justify being . . . a fuddy duddy? No thank you.

[tangor]

Sad thing is that when I look in the bathroom mirror I see one of two things (depending on my condition from the night before): My Dad, or the Party Animal Out To Conquer The World... Most days I see the latter. :)

[MamaDawg]

I was late forties at the time and despite being qualified, well experienced and having a great employment record I could hardly get an interview never mind a job.

I went through the same thing. Ageism definitely exists in the US, despite the laws. So does gender bias. In most cases, proving either is next to impossible.

[Old_Honky]

Way back when I had just turned 40 I was interviewed by an agency for a marketing job. The 60-65 year old guy who interviewed me said "Don't you realise Marketing is a young man's game?" I said "So is recruitment but I see you are still hanging on by your fingernails". I got up and left.
A few weeks later I was offered two jobs that were both better than that one.

Ageism is rife in the UK, even in the television programs. Yesterday I watched "Click" the IT program on the BBC News channel. There was a really patronising piece about how all the phone companies are bringing out easy to use handsets with big buttons and all the whizz bang features removed so that us oldies can just about manage to use them.

I'll bet that all the executives making these decisions are in their 20's and have a very subjective view of older people and their abilities.

Fuddy Duddy my @rse!

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Fuddy Duddy my @rse!

LOL! "I don't believe it!", says Victor Meldrew! :)

[vik_c]

The ad broker had argued that so-called “stray remarks” made by its employees were irrelevant to a discrimination lawsuit.

Interesting how Google is being described as an 'ad broker'.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Isn't that what it is? Oh no ... I forgot, it's a search engine. ;)

[Samizdata]

Interesting how Google is being described as an 'ad broker'

That is the standard description of the company in The Register.

Not one I would argue with, either.

...

[MamaDawg]

There was a really patronising piece about how all the phone companies are bringing out easy to use handsets with big buttons and all the whizz bang features removed so that us oldies can just about manage to use them.

When they transitioned from analog to digital TV signals in the US last year, one of the cable companies had an offensively patronizing series of ads, obviously targeting the 50+ crowd, suggesting that you had to sign up with them if you wanted to keep watching TV. Scare tactics, all wrapped up in warm-and-fuzzy. (Of course they didn't mention that anyone watching broadcast channels could get a convertor box for under $50 and continue watching free broadcast TV.)

They sent a bunch of equally obnoxious letters out AFTER the transition, but I don't know if those were demographically-targeted or not.

If Google IS to blame here, I hope this guy kicks some 'ad broker' ***!

[Old_Honky]

Fuddy Duddy my @rse!

LOL! "I don't believe it!", says Victor Meldrew! :)

How nice to be compared to my hero.

According to my wife he would be an improvement on me.

[LifeinAsia]

People my age tell me to act my age.

My response would be, "I *AM* acting my age. It's all the other people my age who are acting like they have one foot in the grave. Talk to THEM about acting their age!"

[Mark_A]

Employ Teenagers - when they KNOW EVERYTHING ! :-)

[Maurice]

I look'd at this when it came out and two observations as some one who isnt a civilian when it comes to this area.

1 The plaintif is not a grunt and has a lot of industry presence.
2 Googles HR director looks very inexperianced basicaly a theroetical MBA type not the real deal. - if the platiff has a good lawyer I could see google getting crucified.

theres an old joke that to be a real HR profesional you need to have delt with a case that involves violent death (suicide or murder).