Why do people want to be old?

[Jozanny]

I think how we age has a lot to do with where we've been. I have always wanted to be a writer, (check), but I haven't been a successful writer on my own terms. I won't define what those terms are, but at the end of my 45 year, I am still emerging, as opposed to there; my secondary goal was to become an English professor; never made it, though now I am not sure not teaching was such a bad thing, though I enjoy critical scholarship, and lack the resources (as well as feel intimidated by the professional class) to play, and my career in social services and advocacy is over, because I never imagined both that cerebral palsy would do X to me physically, and that society in turn would take away resources which had been there during my student days. I wanted to marry someone of similar educational background, and men in my life have been nothing short of grief, if not a nightmare. Those already potty trained and cultured have wives whom I don't want to be shot by, and I know of where I speak

So I'm miserable. Long life? No thanks. I am hoping to achieve a few more things as an author, but once I do that, and have Widener University archive my work, I don't want to stick around to lose my mind and get aggressive with future caretakers. 65 to 68 years is enough for me, if that.

[blazeofglory]

I have indeed different versions of being old and I take it differently. It is really a matter of excitement and animation to age. Indeed in this long length of life you have to undergo vicissitudes or run of affairs. But you get into maturity, much more learned. You have more worries, agonies no doubt, but you have so many memories of joy and jubilation. Celebrate it. The best think you can do in age is you can keep yourself engaged and creative and letting no moments go unspent with nothing to do. Most get full of life on ageing. Indeed when you age you become physically less attractive, but intellectually or maturely you outsmart the rest. Outmaneuvering the rest you can step in newer domains of life. To live better and finer on ageing is to enable yourself to see the silver lining in floating clouds.

I will be more excited at ageing, as I will learn more, and of course if I can live actively I will have things in store for you, and I will be a reservoir for you to fill your cups of necessities. Do not fear it, and it is something not to despise but to take or accept it in joys

[Scheherazade]

The OP:

It seems like now in America everyone and their mothers keep talking about how they can live longer and all that bladderdash. But i wonder, why do people want to be old? I mean, wrinkly skin, no fun, boring clothing, failing organs and such.

All I know is that if I ever turn 70 (if i ever last that long), I'm shooting myself in the head. Before I start forgetting things.

What about quality, not quantity?

[OrphanPip]

I cry at every birthday, getting old sucks.

[Lulim]

It is not so much that people want to be older but that they want to get older, meaning, they want to live longer. That applies not to all people however, only to those who enjoy their lives -- imo.

[MystyrMystyry]

There are hidden benefits to getting old - you can largely do whatever you want if you choose to follow the path of wisdom, have money saved and stay out of trouble (I know sometimes trouble stalks you and you have no say in it, but that's rarer than getting hit by a bus, thogh no less shocking when it happens)

There's a saying that true happiness comes from within - even the most immobile will seek it because it's still preferable to the alternative.

When you're young you can be flippant about death because you think you're going to be young forever and have relatively no fear - but dumb overconfident kids still fall off bridges and trains and have fatal car accidents

If your a smart kid you become aware of your own physical limitations through other's experiences. Likewise if you're a smart oldie

Going bananas isn't inevitable, it's still as ever the minority.

But it's personal happiness that matters most, especially if you feel you've had a full life. Some of the happiest people I've met have been 'past it'

But as for going bananas - I've met a lot of young people who won't be coming back from those Elyssian Fields


B, you've just got to expand your experiences a little and learn fully what to expect - you're not the same person you were when you were 5, nor 10, nor 15. Look forward to the next change

[faithosaurus]

The only reason that I'd want to get older would be because I want to get my career started.

[Revolte]

I don't know, I'm gonna have a hell of a time when I'm old. I've got it all planned out, I'm going to get a cane and still sport the leather jacket I have now, so by then it should be pretty trashed, then of course I'm gonna get my hair died purple, assuming I'm balding that is, then I'm going to go walk around stores and try and flirt with the 19 year olds, and it's ok 'cause I'll be so old it will be cute!

[faithosaurus]

I don't know, I'm gonna have a hell of a time when I'm old. I've got it all planned out, I'm going to get a cane and still sport the leather jacket I have now, so by then it should be pretty trashed, then of course I'm gonna get my hair died purple, assuming I'm balding that is, then I'm going to go walk around stores and try and flirt with the 19 year olds, and it's ok 'cause I'll be so old it will be cute!

I love it.

[Nyu001]

I never wanted to be old. I never wanted to keep growing up in age, lol. I am like damn, I am getting older each year, I don't want to keep getting older. But it is inevitable, so concentrate in maintain yourself the better possible. :P

[MANICHAEAN]

Let me contribute an extract from an interview with the French writer & poet, Michel Houellebecq where he says; “I am persuaded that feminism is not at the root of political correctness. The actual source is much nastier and dares not speak its name, which is simply hatred for old people. The question of domination between men and women is relatively secondary—important but still secondary—which is that we are now trapped in a world of kids. Old kids. The disappearance of patrimonial transmission means that an old guy today is just a useless ruin. The thing we value most of all is youth, which means that life automatically becomes depressing, because life consists, on the whole, of getting old.”

Fortunately, I do not subscribe to those views, even though I suppose I am judged old at 67. Why? Perhaps I take refuge in that story about the American comedian, George Burns who at 96 once said words to the effect; “I know how to treat a woman. I invite her back to my mansion in Beverly Hills. The table is set for dinner, the champagne is on ice, candlelight suffuses its soft glow and the piano is being played softly in the background. So we talk and we laugh and we eat and we drink, enjoying each other’s company. Then I go to bed and leave her for the piano player!”

Here's looking at you kid.

M.

[Delta40]

I'm in my forties and enjoy life more than I ever did when I was younger. With all the worry and insecurities of youth and the bullcrap of child rearing, who the hell would sign up for that? Not me! If I woke up tomorrow with a baby, I'd put a gun to my own head...Now having a grandchild is an appealing idea. I can only assume my life education which has improved with age will continue to do so and I will get to appreciate more things in life - such as growing as a person, loving myself, giving to others - all in my own time, at my own pace and not to the beat of other people's drums. How nice to not be caught up in rush hour living any longer...

[Paulclem]

I'm happier in my forties than I was in my early twenties, and certainly as a teenager. Youth is overrated, but of course you don't know that until you are older and dissed all those aged thirty-pluses.

It seems to the young, and to me as a middle ager, that the aged are a different species. We intellectually know they are the us of the future, but i think it is difficult to accept that we will become a wrinkled, bent, incomprehensible, possibly blathering, subversive, sometimes abusive, complaining, kindly, stoic in the face of bodily adversity old person. So what do we do to different species? We treat them differently. We may be kindlier to them - some are. Quite often we are intolerant, overly abusive, dismissive and neglectful.

Yet all over the UK there are groups of older people getting on with their activities, old record clubs, tea dances, weekends away in Butlins, winter Spanish Holidays to escape the cold weather. Quite a few are enjoying their lot - if they can keep relatively fit. We just don't hear about all the fun they're having because this society is so youth obsessed.

When I get old, I'm not going to any old tea dance, but there may be 70's/ 80's music nights/ weekends and all the stuff I'll be able to do without too much jumping up and down on my already aching pins. And, of course, there'll be better technology. We may be able to inhabit sophisticated virtual worlds - World of Warcraft type things or Second Life - where we can pursue the things our bodies won't allow anymore.

With the improvements in medical tech, we'll have good joints etc. I know a bloke who's in his late seventies who was a competitive walker. He's had two hip replacements now, and is back to his morning training walk for the paper. Don't shoot yourself too soon is my advice.

[Emil Miller]

The worst thing about getting old is realising how stupid you were when you were young.

[faithosaurus]

The worst thing about getting old is realising how stupid you were when you were young.

Hah, I can see that. I'm only 17 and I'm already realizing how stupid I was a couple years back.