Why is the term "middle aged" used as an insult ?

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I always thought Middle Aged is just a neutral term used for a person who is neither young, nor old but somewhere in between. In general, I consider it to be the mid 40s and upward under 70. 70 being the start of old age and the age of maturity. If a person dies before the age of 70, I consider it pre-mature death. To some people, being called 'middle aged" is equivalent to being called "old" or even worse. Is this a social thing? For whatever reason to be referred to as middle aged is worse than being called old. In years past, being "over 35" was something people talk about a lot. But it just seems like a way to classify an age range. You will hear someone say "You're nothing but a middle aged...." something and that will be worse than anything else you could say. Why do people fear middle age?

Are you middle aged?

It implies that you're not with it anymore. What is "it"? Let grandpa Simpson explain.

Why is the term "middle aged" used as an insult ?
Because some people are natural born knobs and will employ whatever tool or method is within easy reach and requires minimal effort expenditure to employ.

Im excited about getting older in some ways, the important ways.

Because being middle-aged means you're going to be old soon. And being old means you're going to die soon.

Men who are middle-aged are known to have a mid-life crisis, where they do impulsive things to feel young again like buying a flashy sports car or cheating on their wives with a younger woman. But woman have it much worse, as usual. Men with a little grey hair and some laugh-lines are considered distinguished-looking, but if you're a women you just look old. And eventually there's the big M, as I like to call it. I think my time of month has gotten worse lately but apparently menopause is horrible and I'll be lucky not to end up in the hospital or in jail. And while I may be now be more resistant to minor illnesses like colds than I was as a kid, I have to worry more about heart disease and many more debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Whenever I have trouble remembering something I wonder is that an early sign of Alzhiemer's disease? Will I eventually no longer be able to walk up and down stairs due to the osteoarthritis in my knees? What's the point of living to old age if your body and mind are going to shut down until you're as helpless as the day you were born? It's scary.

Because we live in an asinine culture that worships youth and considers it to be the pinnacle and be-all and end-all of human experience.

No, I'm not particularly liking having my metabolism slow down and putting on weight from just looking at food I used to eat with abandon. Not particularly liking having a bit less energy, or knowing I'm just going to have less from here. Yes, there are some things about my 20s and 30s (might as well say it, as I'll be 40 in less than six months) that I miss.

But, you know, whatever man. I've stayed alive this long. My mother didn't get that lucky. On the whole, while I might want my 30s back to live in a way that didn't get entirely swallowed by anxiety, depression, pouring out my heart and soul trying to be neurotypical, poisoning myself with psychotropic meds, and accruing buckets of regret, I'd rather go forward than go back.

Soon, it will be socially acceptable for me to do things my own way, speak my mind, and no longer give a damn what is considered acceptable or what anyone thinks (at least, as long as it's helpful and kind and maybe if I'm lucky wise). I think slower metabolism, lower energy, and the onset of arthritis are a fair price to pay.

Our youth-worshipping culture can kiss my ass.

I am "middle aged". It seems like a appropriate term to describe someone of my age.

Its funny because I was called "an old has been" last week by a very nice gentleman on this very site.

The thing is I've never actually done much with my life to qualify for that title, so he got that wrong.

I don't mind the term "middle aged" really.

There are worse things to be called.

My biggest problem with becoming "middle aged" was that I really failed to achieve very many adult milestones, except for education. I had a Master's Degree, but no driver's license at age 46. (I finally got it in 2013). I have made quite a bit of progress, but I fear some important things may be forever out of reach.