Is it selfish to wish to live as old as possible?

[johnxjsc1985]

Who would run Jags then.

[RYH64E]

Most of the old (80+) people I know have significant health problems that seriously affect their quality of life, and all of the very old (90+) people I know certainly have issues, and before someone cites their 100 year old gran who still plays football every Saturday, I know there will be exceptions.

Speaking for myself (and only myself), I would like to live as long as I enjoy good health and no longer. I would rather have 75 good years than 75 good years followed by another 10 of poor health.

[Halb]

12gauge said:

Maybe the NHS should only apply to under 75s. Over that age you pay your own way.

What happens if you can't pay?

[johnxjsc1985]

Halb said:

12gauge said:

Maybe the NHS should only apply to under 75s. Over that age you pay your own way.

What happens if you can't pay?

You go to the work house. I know a number of 80+ year olds and they are extremely active and have been all there lives having worked for more than 50 years. Should they not take preference over a 50 year old who hasnt worked or contributed anything in his adult life and there are plenty of them about.

[Jasandjules]

If you are enjoying life then live as long as you can....

[Halb]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Halb said:

12gauge said:

Maybe the NHS should only apply to under 75s. Over that age you pay your own way.

What happens if you can't pay?

You go to the work house. I know a number of 80+ year olds and they are extremely active and have been all there lives having worked for more than 50 years. Should they not take preference over a 50 year old who hasnt worked or contributed anything in his adult life and there are plenty of them about.

So you would have 80 year olds forced to work if they were active enough? What aboot if they were not active, infirm etc, no NHS for them, who would pay?

[12gauge]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Peoples views may differ once they reach termination age. Logans Run finished at 30 I believe.How about stopping inhereted wealth that way people will spend more and boost the economy.

Whose economy? Ours or chinas?

Trouble is we're not saving and producing. We're spending and consuming.

[johnxjsc1985]

I thought spending and consuming were good things.I was being Ironic when I suggested that the old folk who couldnt pay should be sent to the workhouse.What would everyone do with their wealth.
Isnt it starting to get towards the Nazi way of thinking if we start putting people down because they no longer contribute.If we are going down that way you need to start looking from the other end of the age scale.

[12gauge]

Halb said:

12gauge said:

Maybe the NHS should only apply to under 75s. Over that age you pay your own way.

What happens if you can't pay?

Just playing devils advocate i dont think anyone should be counted out of the NHS. But in question to the OP, maybe it is selfish. Money and resources used to keep the old and infirm alive (though perhaps 'existing' would be a more accurate term) could ultimately be spent on giving better treatment to those with illnesses who are younger.

If you value your life you have ample oppurtunity between the age of 18-75 to put money aside for your care over 75, if you make the correct sacrifices with regards to luxuries.

[12gauge]

johnxjsc1985 said:

I thought spending and consuming were good things.

Like everything, theyre good in moderation.

A lot like the university debate - of course its good for society to send *some* people to university. Its just too many people abuse that argument and use it in an open ended context, as if somehow its good for everyone to be in education, in perpetuity.

[johnxjsc1985]

12gauge said:

Halb said:

12gauge said:

Maybe the NHS should only apply to under 75s. Over that age you pay your own way.

What happens if you can't pay?

Just playing devils advocate i dont think anyone should be counted out of the NHS. But in question to the OP, maybe it is selfish. Money and resources used to keep the old and infirm alive (though perhaps 'existing' would be a more accurate term) could ultimately be spent on giving better treatment to those with illnesses who are younger.

If you value your life you have ample oppurtunity between the age of 18-75 to put money aside for your care over 75, if you make the correct sacrifices with regards to luxuries.

So if I am a tea Totaller aged 80 worked for 50 years and never claimed any benefits I should stump up for some yob who has virtually smoked and drunk himself into an early grave and hasnt worked a day in his life.

[deeps]

Shouldn't the government reduce the price of cigarettes and allow advertising again, that could help. If smoking reduces your life span by 10 years, that would seem to be ideal. All those bloody selfish non smokers are the problem

I can't see 1 in 6 people living to 100 in the near future anyway, as it currently stands at about 1 in 5000 I believe, and that would be one hell of an advancement in life span.

[WhoseGeneration]

This thread sums up the problems for the West.
Then, following, the East as it becomes richer.
Politicians follow the pyramid model.
That, in itself, will explain the problems.

[anonymous-user]

WhoseGeneration said:

This thread sums up the problems for the West.
Then, following, the East as it becomes richer.
Politicians follow the pyramid model.
That, in itself, will explain the problems.

. In the 'east' people look after the elderly. You often find three generations of a family living together. They wouldn't dream of putting their parents in a home. What's wrong in the west is how people view the elderly as a burden and the disintegration of the family.

[WhoseGeneration]

el stovey said:

In the 'east' people look after the elderly. You often find three generations of a family living together. They wouldn't dream of putting their parents in a home. What's wrong in the west is how people view the elderly as a burden and the disintegration of the family.

Why I referenced the East becoming richer.
Once, your description fitted the West.
Still does in a few countries.
Bit Sociological(not a PH well regarded discipline I know) and to generalise, as individuals become richer they tend to become more self centred.

[miniman]

thinfourth2 said:

Define living.

Sat in a puddle of your own piss in a nursing home isn't living.

I want to live as long as possible and then taken round the back and shot before i end up in the nursing home. Basically before i become expensive and miserable

This.

[gamefreaks]

Well how long do people actually want to live???

Lets face it, if you haven't seen and done everything you wanted by the time you are 60-70, then what have you been playing at???

[eharding]

gamefreaks said:

Well how long do people actually want to live???

Lets face it, if you haven't seen and done everything you wanted by the time you are 60-70, then what have you been playing at???

Video games and computer simulations...and then suddenly realising in the dotage years that all that digital substitute fodder is a load of tepid wk, and making the most of those final years doing the real thing?

[deeps]

gamefreaks said:

Well how long do people actually want to live???

Lets face it, if you haven't seen and done everything you wanted by the time you are 60-70, then what have you been playing at???

They sound like the words of a young man?

One of my mates uncle is 82, still works 5 days a week in a garage doing body repairs and spraying. I walked in the other day and he was under a transit van beating the crap out of a floor panel with a lump hammer! Still goes round the pubs in town a few times a week, and goes to lots of car meets etc, still very enthusiastic about life.

There's still lots of things he wants to see and do.

[dandarez]

All this about living longer.

The 'current getting-on a tad' generation might be living longer, but the upcoming generation are about 1 in 2 obese. They'll be 'I'm Luvin it' dead well before they reach bus-pass time.

So stop worrying.

'You're as old as you feel' is as true a statement as anything. Just don't look in the mirror!

There are so many incentives to make you wanna live to a ripe old age. Like seeing all the technological changes. To see Tony Blair swinging at the end of a rope

Edited by dandarez on Thursday 30th December 23:05