Which do you think is worse: Elderly abuse or child abuse?

Abuse is abuse, in my opinion. Both are horrid.

However, if there has to be a worse one, it would depend on the severity of the physical abuse – not so much the age of the victim. It would also depend on the person’s ability to defend themselves and communicate the abuse to someone else.

I can’t say it any better than Plucky. I keep going back and forth between child and elder—I’d think child, no elder, no child, no elder—- I agree it has to do with ability to defend themselves. Some 3 year olds are much more able to defend themselves than some 97 year olds.

Beating an old lady with a small child would seem to be an option you left out, but rather than call false dichotomy, I will say child abuse is worse, simply because their capability to suffer is the same, but their capability to understand is deminished, and that adds a new level of cruelty to it for me.

@poisonedantidote Yes, but there are many elderly people who have a reduced ability to understand as well – the older they are, the more likely it can be. I get your point though.

Is there a third option? I mean, they’re equally terrible.

Why are we choosing?

Child….by far,

One group doesn’t have it over another.
They are both bad.

They are both equally punishable by hanging the bastards by the neck with rusty razor wire until they are dead.

I think child because they will most likely be traumatized for the rest of their lives, and perhaps ruined as far as their ability to form relationships, hold a good job, stay out of the legal system, etc.

Both are despicable but I agree with @poisonedantidote in that a child would have less ability to reason through their suffering or to be able to diminish the emotional impact than an older person who still has their faculties.

I share George Bernard Shaw’s view: be careful with young people, you do not know what they will become. Or words to that effect. I have not been able to trace the quote.

I’m sorry, this isn’t an either/or thpe answer. They are both abhorrent.

I agree with @jca. Child abuse has more far-reaching consequences on the victim’s life and future (although elder abuse is still horrible).