[pinkgothic]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Ironically, the responses of some of the younger members here (well, at least younger than I) are rather depressing to me, and telling of the attitude they have on aging. It's interesting how people in their early to mid 20s (not all, but many) view getting older as debilitating, even sad

o.O If you're reading that into what I said (and only if, I do realise I'm not the only person who's responded), then maybe you should read it again...

[Maquisard]

Originally Posted by temporaryscars

Quit freaking me out! I kind of have this idea that living past 70 is unnatural and only afforded to us because of medical science, but in doing so we spread ourselves thin. Hell, in fact, at that age, you already start to decay while still being alive. The skin shrivels, your teeth go bad and start to fall out, your hair falls out...you just start to break down. If I can live to 70, i'll be happy. Anything past that will be painful.

I've seen 80 year old people who were in excellent shape, mentally and physically (and spiritually. IMO, that's what "preserved" them). I think the cool thing about being that old, and dressing up in old-fashioned clothes, is the respect and love you get from people just for being a "Veteran" of life. Those brown pants are almost like a uniform, or something. When you've got grandkinds, that must also be something worth holding onto life for. Anyway, grayheads rock.

[Melanie68]

I was walking along this big greenbelt in town (with bike/walking paths) recently and I saw this couple in their late 70's walking together. She needed a cane but they were holding hands. It was so romantic and sweet. It didn't seem like they cared how old they were.

[Fairygdmther]

I often work in Nursing homes and while many (?most) of the seniors I see are quite debilitated of either or both mind and body, it is truly the exceptions that make it fascinating. Nearly a year ago I took care of a woman who had been on the Titanic as a child - she was very interesting to talk to, and remembered a great deal of what had happened. I have taken care of many centenarians, including one last night who was 105 and completely alert and oriented. She was unsteady in her gait and had fallen a number of times and therefore could no longer live alone. She was tiny, and frail, but her eyes were bright and merry! What a neat lady! In the US we have over 100,000 centenarians and this population is growing steadily. As we baby boomers grow older, there will be even more need for nursing homes and alternatives for their care.

What I fear most as I approach this age range is the loss of respect that we give the elderly. As soon as someone retires, their status in the world plummets. Their opinions no longer count, their thoughts seem outdated to us. We live in a fast-changing world, and those who don't keep up with it will be left behind. This is especially true of the elderly. But I am seeing more and more computer and internet literate old people, and this encourages me. A few Nursing Homes have computer rooms for their residents - what a nice thing this is to see!

Lynsie

[omloflump]

Actually I'm more scared of not getting older.

[em-deecee]

At half a centrury, I already AM older. It's far too late to get scared about that now.

[Starflux]

I used to be scared of it, but that has passed. Nowadays I'm scared of not being able to do stuff anymore once I get older. Honestly, I don't mind reaching one hundred, as long as I can still grapple a keyboard or controller and play games. I just fear I'll lose the motoric control, and that's really frightening.

Fortunately, this is where cyborg enhanced technology will come into play. GO FUTURE!

[Ninth]

Years are passing by a bit too fast for my taste, and I can see myself settling in and being "stuck" with a family without having experienced a third of what youth can bring one.
So I voted yes, but that's more a question of mood than anything else, really.
In fact, getting older is cool, but the melancholy it entails is both a sweet and heavy burden.

[adventurefan]

I'm quite nervous about getting older, since my university years have almost gone now, and I'll soon have to deal with all the responsibility that comes with age... Plus I worry I'm going to end up stuck in a job I'm not happy in, since the work I want to go into, journalism, is so competitive and so far in life, I've had comparatively little experience in that field. Still, I'll hopefully be able to settle down and live a pretty peaceful life (something that doesn't really happen at uni!)

[Royal Fool]

Originally Posted by Melanie68

I was incredibly shy (but I still am), geeky, awkward and blah looking when young. I was very into school. Never went to parties, didn't date (until I was 20) and all around missed out on a lot of the experiences that go with being young. I gained some confidence at 20 and beyond (with the help of alcohol) but didn't fully come into my own until just recently. And I've been barreling through school the past 8 years and have sort of put my life on hold(schools been a lot longer than that, I just had a 3 year break working during which my life was also on hold and sucked). So I feel like my best years are coming up. I am definitely not afraid of getting old. Now I am trying to take better care of myself so I can have many more years.

Wow, that sounds like my own boring and empty life... although I'm only 20. And only the first half of your post actually applies to me, of course. But yes - don't drink, don't know anybody to go to parties with, no social life... the usual stuff.

[em-deecee]

Originally Posted by temporaryscars

Quit freaking me out! I kind of have this idea that living past 70 is unnatural and only afforded to us because of medical science, but in doing so we spread ourselves thin. Hell, in fact, at that age, you already start to decay while still being alive. The skin shrivels, your teeth go bad and start to fall out, your hair falls out...you just start to break down. If I can live to 70, i'll be happy. Anything past that will be painful.

Amen to that!

I've known plenty of people who come from families that are genetically predisposed to living long lives & remain active & alert until the end. That's great. I've also seen far too many people kept alive well past their physical usefulness. Of course whose to say when that time is.


I use to think that 55 would be long enough to live but now that's only 5 years away so I've started thinking 65 or 70 might not be so bad. Death doesn't scare me nearly as much as the thought of being trapped in a fail, worn out body for 20 years or so.

[Starflux]

I want to live out to the day that I can enhance myself with nano-tchnology and cyborg stuff.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

I look forward to the day when sex will finally stop being a goddamn priority for me.

[omloflump]

I look forward to the day when sex will finally stop being a goddamn priority for me.

So you intend to retreat back into the womb?

[Intrepid Homoludens]

No, even though I'm not claustrophobic. And there's no internet access in the womb.

[omloflump]

And there's no internet access in the womb.

I'm sure you could find a few chat-wombs.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Possibly, but I'd also need womb service.

[omloflump]

But would there be enough womb for the cart?

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Not sure, but I'd least have a womb with a view.

[Fairygdmther]

groans.........