Many people my age don't want to be old. Boomers don't want to be called or named 'old'. - preferring 'older'. However the United Nations has agreed that 65 and older is denoted as old age. That is the age nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings. So when first world boomers think that 80 year olds should be defined as old, perhaps they are correct. In Africa, old age is defined as 55 years old. What Wikipedia does say is that it is not a biological stage and varies culturally and historically.
What if being old has a social definition to I look to our world of jokes to provide us with some signs that others might decide whether a person is old:
Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
No one expects you to run...anywhere.
People call at 9 pm and ask did I wake you?
People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
Things you buy now won't wear out.
You can eat supper at 4 pm.
You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
You sing along with elevator music.
Your eyes won't get much worse.
Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
Today's pictures illustrate my interpretation of the contrast between cat-come- when-called and dog-come-when-called. Baxter looks like he's coming over and will decide whether to hit me with that intense look. Millie wants to know if I'll still love her when she reaches me.
