Attempting to immunize yourself from claims of bigotry by handwaving about virtues that offset the stereotype you're defending is the second oldest rhetorical tactic in the prejudiced debater's handbook.
The first of them would be, "but some of my best friends are older adults!"
This was a shitty way to argue; my comment above was directed at a comment on the thread, but this one feels more like it's directed at a commenter. I think the argument --- that some kinds of ageism might not be a problem, because they involve jobs old people shouldn't want --- is toxic. But I resorted to snark and sabotaged my point.
The first of them would be, "but some of my best friends are older adults!"