On: Gov.uk drops jQuery from their front end

[judge2020]

It was just a reference to the person in the story, not an allusion to "because he was old he didn't try to update his knowledge/continue learning".

[squiffsquiff → judge2020]

So why describe him as a "greybeard" then? It are you claiming to have met many younger and/or female 'greybeards'?

If your answer is that 'it's just part of the story'. Well that's precisely the complaint.

[capableweb → squiffsquiff]

The meaning of "greybeard" have moved from being literally, to current be figuratively. It doesn't mean that the person is A) old, B) man C) have a beard and D) that the beard is grey.

It simply means someone experienced/being at something for a long time. The greybeards at a company can be all women of the age 26, but if they been with the company for 5 years when the company got started 5 years ago, they are the greybeards of that company.

Might as well say "veteran" or "old-timer", although "old-timer" would imply actual old age, "veteran" implies nothing like that.

[avar → capableweb]

"veteran", from latin "vetus" meaning "old" :)

[capableweb → avar]

Weirdly enough, we don't speak latin no more, and the meaning of words changes over time :)

[skavi → squiffsquiff]

greybeard has always felt like a term of respect to me. personally i think of the type of person who could have been at bell labs in its heydays. definitely could exclude women though.

[jokethrowaway → squiffsquiff]

It's 2022. Men can get pregnant and women can have a beard.

Greybeards is an inclusive term and it's a well known term.

[justbaker → jokethrowaway]

I hope your username is accurate.

[jokethrowaway → justbaker]

fighting fire with their own fire

[burnished → squiffsquiff]

Because it communicates a well understood idea. It is great that we as a society are becoming more conscious about the way we speak, but I feel like your complaints here are aimed anyone who isn't achieving the proper level of 'purity'.