> Hiring managers don't consider themselves ageist, but

> Hiring managers don't want to be ageist, but

I classify this into the "I'm not a racist, but..." bucket.

> Hiring managers (usually fixated on 'new tech') who fear diminished learning, adoption or performance capacity in older employees

This is the textbook definition of what ageism is.

Conclusion? They are ageists, plain as that. They may not consider themselves to be, or want to be, but they still are, because ageist is as ageist does, and it matters jack what appearances they want to keep or what they think or who they perceive in a mirror.