This reminds me of an iconic 80's movie called "Say Anything" with John Cusak. The female lead accuses Johns character of being an ageist and having something against old people. It was the first time I'd heard the term and learned it was an actual thing.

I'm not ageist. I like and learn from children and the elderly and every age in between. Sometimes with age comes wisdom but I'm amazed by how mature some young people are. Basically I care about kindness and dislike cruelty. I tend to forgive cruelty more easily in the young but also in the old who have lived through war, the Great Depression, etc. I usually have the most in common with people close to my age but I've learned that having things in common doesn't mean you'll be compatible as friends. A persons substance is much more important than their age.