Not at all, Tom. I believe the term is largely complimentary. It's a nod to the awesome natural strength that retarded folks and farmers tend to have. I used to help my grandfather and the delivery guys unload hay bales when they were delivered to his farm when I was a kid, and there was an middle aged black hay farmer by the name of Leroy, and that man was my idol growing up. He could hurl those 120 pound, four-wire hay bales two stories up into the hay loft of the barn one-handed! He was probably 6'5" and every ounce of 350 pounds. Wore overalls with no shirt on underneath. No shit. And he was STTRRRRROOOOONNNGGG. At that time, his hands were as big as my torso, and I remember admiring not only his brute power but his gentlemanly, southern demeanor.
Likewise, my step-brother from my Mom's second marriage was mentally retarded, and he was one of the strongest humans I'd ever met. About 6' tall and maybe 180 or so, he was a powerhouse wrestler.
I always took the term "old-man strength" to be that deceptive, sneaky power that comes from timing and well-placed shots more than brute, ugly strength. I could be wrong. Colloquialisms are odd that way.
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