From Mark Cargill, Alcester, Warwickshire, UK
I read Graham Lawton’s article on ageism with a degree of sadness (4 April, p 19).
Yes, younger people will want to take over an older person’s job because they want to get on in the world. That’s human nature. But you still need a job, of course. I worked for many years in an intense, high-tech industrial-engineering environment and made it a goal to learn a new technology each year. That accumulation of knowledge kept me employed and also helped me bring on the next generation of engineers.
My suggestion to anyone who feels they are now yesterday’s people would be to move on and find that niche in your community that suits you and your skills. Skills coupled with experience are always in demand. By doing so, you stand a significantly better chance of beating depression and, if my experience is anything to go by, you will find many like-minded people with whom you can engage.
