Letter: The realities of coffin dodging

Sir: Mrs S. M. Padmore found extremely offensive a description of some daily inhabitants of Southwold's beach huts as 'Toothless retirees . . . sucking potted beef rolls' (letter, 2 September). She thinks that this is a fairly typical example of 'creeping ageism in our society; terms such as 'wrinklies' or 'blue-rinse and Crimplene brigade' are becoming quite common'.

Others will deplore such an example of creeping 'political correctness'. Easily offended people, who fear brushes with realities, seek to impose this creeping censorship on our spoken and written language. They cannot thus dispel the realities which, whether we like it or not, include prejudices, delusions, deceptions, misdescriptions and, no better, unwelcome truths.

Nudging 72, I could not reasonably object to being called a 'baldy', without risk of being taunted as a member of the 'blue- rinse brigade'. Cruel, malicious, even merely mocking communications reflect on the perpetrators, not on the victims.

Perhaps Mrs Padmore and some SouthwOldies are apprehensive of the appearance of literal wrinkles. If so, I would urge them to cultivate a metaphorical thick skin.

Yours faithfully,

MICHAEL RUBINSTEIN

London, WC1

3 September