[ChrisMarshallNY]

When I go to these gigs, I tend to be the oldest person there.

No one makes eye contact, and no one looks at me. I find it extremely difficult to start conversations, and I'm a fairly gregarious chap. There's usually a space around me, about a meter wide; even when it's crowded.

The good news is, I rarely have trouble finding a seat.

[gorjusborg]

I'm sorry you have had to experience that.

As much as I'd like to judge, I had a little bit of that 'elder avoidance' in my 20s, and I look back and cringe at how stupid I was.

I'm old enough now to know that 'my people' can't be determined by things I can judge easily by looks or short interactions. I'm going to hope they get it at some point.