"I don't know if it's just me, but most of my problems have been with the centegenarians from the "illustrious" days of flying yore"
I fly 30-40 hours a year with UA, mostly long haul, and am around the same age as the "centagenarians" and have no problem with them. Maybe I know how to emphasize with those of similar age.
On a recent flight a pax was trying to ram his oversize carry on in the locker above me and managed to drop it on my head. It was more shock than hurt. The two young FAs nearby pretended not to see. It was the centagenarian who raced up to see I was ok and subsequently checked a number of times during the 4 hour flight.