Is the life expectancy too long nowadays?

[lonleycrowdedwest]

Around 79 years for most developed countries, hell! I'm 32 and I have already seen and done everything that interests me in life.

For most of history until the late 19th century, the average life expectancy was around 30, I know it was because people's lives were shitty and they had no basic hygiene, but still, I think 80 is way too long.

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I feel as though its a dumb move for peoples children. If i had kids I would want to die around 60-70, otherwise various health conditions would be a financial and emotional strain for them. The only reason I personally would want to live that long is if i had the money to travel indefinetly, and see everything i could. Theres decades of places to go on this earth.
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It's worth noting that the statistic about the historical average lifespan being 30 doesn't mean that people tended to die around 30. Without modern medicine and hospital facilities artificially keeping me alive, for example, I would have died within days or weeks of being born due to chronic asthma, while another person might have lived to 60 or so, hence 30 being the mean average.

But if we use the word 'expectancy' in the very different context of society expecting everyone to gladly live beyond 90 - and for young people of today, expect the norm for your generation to be 100+ unless wars or ecological calamities disrupt the statistical trends - then each individual should be free to determine for themselves what is or is not too long. This is a mature discussion that has to take place at some point, even if it makes certain people uncomfortable.

For me personally, it is about having a genuine place here - helping others, making things better, etc. If so, I could go for a long time. If not, one day is too long.

Thats a really good point actually, and something I was confused about for a while. I would read ancient literature and they would talk about people who y all accounts must have been like 80, and then you see that the life expectancy as like 25

 

[BrokenBliss]

Right. The main reason life expectancy is so high is because of advances in medical care. Hell, antibiotics alone changed everything. I've posted on here a lot about my issues with keeping people alive at all costs, however.

 

[lonleycrowdedwest]

Right. The main reason life expectancy is so high is because of advances in medical care. Hell, antibiotics alone changed everything. I've posted on here a lot about my issues with keeping people alive at all costs, however.

In the past it made more sense, recoering from serious infection hurts so so so much less than dying from serious infection. Just practial egalitarianism. But now that we are very capable of death without pain, we should consider changing the way we think about healthcare for the elderly. Maybe some kind of waiver you sign when youre 60 deciding when you would rather die then be kept alive.

 

[BrokenBliss]

In the past it made more sense, recoering from serious infection hurts so so so much less than dying from serious infection. Just practial egalitarianism. But now that we are very capable of death without pain, we should consider changing the way we think about healthcare for the elderly. Maybe some kind of waiver you sign when youre 60 deciding when you would rather die then be kept alive.

I think that we are probably on the cusp of a change in our end of life paradigms. I see it evolving in small pieces in society, tho we're a ways off from critical mass. Wouldn't it be awesome if some news outlet did a deep dive into the logic and decency of personal choice that took off the way the NYT story did? Let's have a sit-down with Ronan Farrow!

 

[VoidDesirer22]

my grandmother was 93 when she passed and all she wanted to do was die peacefully, and she ended up passing in her sleep. she had been telling the family she wanted to die since she was 80 because of health issues. but yeah they didn't want her to. it was very hard to see her suffer for as long as she d.

It is super fking crazy to me that people watch as they develop wrinkles and decay Infront of their very eyes (mirror/photography of themselves) and don't immediately decide to devise a ctb plan.

I REALLY really reeeeeaaaalllly cannot understand this. As soon as I matured it was my first big goal.

 

[lonleycrowdedwest]

I think that we are probably on the cusp of a change in our end of life paradigms. I see it evolving in small pieces in society, tho we're a ways off from critical mass. Wouldn't it be awesome if some news outlet did a deep dive into the logic of personal choice that took off the way the NYT story did? Let's have a sit-down with Ronan Farrow!

I agree. I am so happy that brilliant humans have and continue to come up with ways to heal every ailment under the sun, however I don't love society's unwillingness to let people see to their own fate. Steve jobs still gets made fun of for deciding against chemotherapy. If youre 95 and choose to keep doing to the hospital to keep living, godspeed and more power to you. If you're 80 and decide enough is enough, I hope you find your way out peacefully.

 

[Foresight]

Depends on how healthy and/or empty you are.

I've worked with many older folks. Many are living better quality lives than younger people. I don't think age alone determines quality of life.

 

[lonleycrowdedwest]

Depends on how healthy and/or empty you are.

I've worked with many older folks. Many are living better quality lives than younger people. I don't think age alone determines quality of life.

thats a great point.

 

[BrokenBliss]

Depends on how healthy and/or empty you are.

I've worked with many older folks. Many are living better quality lives than younger people. I don't think age alone determines quality of life.

Of course. And if this site tells you anything, it's the quality of our lives that brings us here.

 

[Buffy5120]

I agree. I am so happy that brilliant humans have and continue to come up with ways to heal every ailment under the sun, however I don't love society's unwillingness to let people see to their own fate. Steve jobs still gets made fun of for deciding against chemotherapy. If youre 95 and choose to keep doing to the hospital to keep living, godspeed and more power to you. If you're 80 and decide enough is enough, I hope you find your way out peacefully.

The poor man is trapped in a useless body. Yes I agree by all means if they want to live they should. But if they want to go let them choose for themselves. Its inhumane when will society wake up.

 

[Ethereal Knight]

life expetancy grew but it doesn't mean people are healthier now. quite the opposite. rates of dementia, Alzheimer's, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, chronic pain, metabolic syndrome etc are growing. the life quality of elders is actually worse now.

 

[JustAMatterOfTime]

Yes I think so, who wants to spend the last 5-10 years of their life in a nursing home anyway? Seems like hell to me.

 

[watchingthewheels]

Yes I think so, who wants to spend the last 5-10 years of their life in a nursing home anyway? Seems like hell to me.

After I read TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, I resolved to never wind up in that situation, reliant on someone to wipe my butt for me every day for the rest of my life. I'd rather not put anyone through that, even of they're getting paid, and I'd rather go out on a high note with some semblance of dignity.

 

[Rational man]

Wow! Thanks for this!

And yet just 100_Years ago, people were dying At 50 or so. Humans perceive life by the number of Years.. We worry about the future, when In fact, nothing is guaranteed. Im dying at 36 and it was hard at first to.accept it. Im okay now. I realise that tomorrow is not guaranteed, not for ANYONE. We simply have today. I have few regrets, just a few. Im looking forward to.going home, back to the soil, because one day, each and everyone must take this journey home.

 

[NormaJeane]

Yeah, life expectancy is too high in many countries. Life is too long, most people live too long - the body does not hold 90 - 100 years. Our laws try to force people to live until they look like wandering corpses so what one has to look forward to is the decay of the body, slowly tormented to death. I think that humans are not meant to live longer than 35 years because the body begins to age at 25 years of age.

 

[Lost Magic]

Yeah, life expectancy is too high in many countries. Life is too long, most people live too long - the body does not hold 90 - 100 years. Our laws try to force people to live until they look like wandering corpses so what one has to look forward to is the decay of the body, slowly tormented to death. I think that humans are not meant to live longer than 35 years because the body begins to age at 25 years of age.

lol, fucking hell. If that is the case I am the wandering corpse who should be dead already.