May I correct you Miss Midgley, "You cannot satirise someone's race, gender .....". Wrong! You can satirise someone's gender as long as that gender is male.

J.MacKie, sheffield, england

Hey, you youngsters out there: If you live long enough, you'll be old, too. I'm 68 and still working full time. The younger generation (under 40) can't do the work and don't know squat! I still play basketball with my grandchildren.

Mary, Fort Worth, U.S.A.

I am sure Help the Aged and Age Concern would have a few things to say about this article. You should try meeting my mother. She is 85, but can still swing a handbag with the best of them. Elderly people can contribute a great deal if you give them the chance. Don't poke fun you naughty young woman

Boris, Belgravia, London

our culture discriminates against youngsters too. teens in a store have to leave their backpacks at the counter while a middle aged mother can bring in a huge purse. yes, teens might be more likely to steal but it is still discrimination, either enforce the rule for everyone or don't have it.

shawna, ottawa, ontario

Yep, I'm ageist when it comes to McCain and I'm not sorry. I'm sick of old white guys who refuse to get with the times ruin my country. And I agree with Tom Welsh - older people do lose their faculties as part of the aging process. I don't want a senile grandpa running my country.

Sara, Bloomfield, NJ, United States

I would not support a law against making fun of old or short people. However, I do think a taboo against making fun of groups is a great idea.

Joseph, New York City, USA

The essential point which anyone can resurrect, is that the young will be old themselves one day. Any climate they wish to prefer with respect to senior citizens will eventually bite them; unless in the meantime they get run over by some myopic octogenarian on his way to do a bit of shopping. Another point to which the present young, which may include you, have probably been desensitised by the Lottery age, is that the old people have the money.

Henry Percy, London, UK

McCain's physical problems stem from being shot down over Vietnam, and vicious beatings in a concentration camp. Letterman does not like someone he can never be like, that is, a real man.

RB, Aberdeen,

You can totally get away with homophobic quips. Totally. Maybe not in the public sector, granted, but certainly in the private sector. It's so commonplace as to be invisible.

krish, oxford, uk

We have thoroughly confused ourselves by mixing facts up with ideals. It is a fact that many old people have lost some of their faculties, and are steadily losing others. Just as it is a fact that children do not know as much as adults. But we prefer to insist that "everyone is equal" in every way.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

It is not just in America. When my car goes in for a service I cannot have a courtesy car as I am deemed too old. I can drive my own car anywhere on my own insurance but not have a car on the garage's insurance. At least the youngster telling me this had the grace to look ashamed.

Judy, Milton Keynes,

Let them laugh. I'm off to my cheap 'senior' cinema, where I get free coffee and biscuits, using my free bus/train/tube pass.

Let them joke and they commute on their congested transport or jammed roads to their stressful work.

Paul Odtaa, Richmond, UK

Aha! Something that was missing from the PM's draft queen's speech (but there's still time to add it): legislation to ban all jokes and laughter. This would protect all vulnerable people and (essential for New Labour legislation) "send a message" while being completely unenforceable.

Simon, Brussels,

It's still a (mainly) free country. So, you are free to disparage me. However, to disparage me is not free. Remember the old saying 'don't get angry, ...............'. Think about it.

Old Bill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

This type of humour simply promotes discrimination against those of us who are over 45 who are trying to find a job. The phrases 'to much experience' 'over-qualified' 'to high level' etc are all euphemisms for being to old. One is to old at 45? C'mon, you know better than that, do you not?

Graeme, Sevenoaks, England

They can laugh all they like. The US is, like most developed countries, getting older ... and Mr. McCain is likely to laugh his way to the Oval Office.

Diane, NY,

Come back Victor Meldrew - all is forgiven !!!!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

What's the word for laughing at short people? Short men are made fun of, often gratuitously. There should be a law against this.

katrina, london,