Life is ...

Max Power · Jan 2, 2003

So which is it for you? 
I'm sure most, if not all, would say "somewhere in-between" but that's a cop-out answer <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> It certainly is somewhere in-between for me, but it's still more one than the other. 
For me, life is certainly really, really long. Just look at how much time we waste! I'm not talking about semi-wasting activities like reading message boards and watching sitcoms, but I'm sure we all waste time doing things that are completely unproductive and unneccessary that, if completely removed from our lives, would not only be not missed, but we'd feel all the better for not wasting our time with them. 
So yes, I'm saying that life is awfully long.

luckiecharms · Jan 2, 2003

I think life is too short. Probably because im afraid of dying and i dont want it to end. I agree with you when you say we waste alot of time. But i think everyone should live life to the fullest because there may not be a tomorrow.

Thalia · Jan 2, 2003

When I think about getting married, it seems really long. When I think about all the things I want to accomplish and see in life (including human history), it seems to short.

GhostUser · Jan 2, 2003

I voted that life is generally too long, but I don't believe this very strongly. 
Questions like this usually just highlight the responder's general attitude about life - a subjective response. For me it is more interesting to view life objectively. 
I said that life is too long because nowadays, humans are predominantly free from predation. Major causes of death today are fatal disease, old age and accidents, but people generally live very long. So long in fact that in the last few years of life, quality of life can be severely diminished. I would never wish upon anyone an untimely death - there just isn't anything we can do except try to improve quality of life. 
If it was an option, I would vote that life is as long as it should be. 
Humans have a long life span because there is so much important information and assistance that needs to be imparted and given to the young people. Older adults pass on valuable information and assistance to their children and grand children in many ways (material resources, emotional support, learning, socializing, etc.). After all, humans are very social and that starts with having a close-knit family and its older members have traditionally been the bedrock of the family unit. 
Today we live in a youth culture which doesn't value the experience of its older citizens. There is probably good reason for this - with so much change in the way we conduct our life (even within the last few decades), it is harder to relate to the life experiences of the old. But, there are many things in life that don't change!! In these matters, the opinions, experience and assistance of someone older is, and will probably always be, important.

GhostUser · Jan 2, 2003

If my mind and body hold out as I get older and I can still independently function, I say let me live past 100. But, if I loose memory or knowledge of how to do basic things like tie by shoes, button my jacket, or if I have to be on a ton of meds to regulate my organs so that I don't die, then I say let me go when I'm still at 100%. If that's at 65 or 70 then so be it. I'm not afraid of getting old; I'm afraid of the side effects.

Skylark · Jan 13, 2003

I'd say life is too long if a person doesn't make good choices, and it's too short if there are still people to show compassion and mercy to. 
And I didn't vote. I mean, how can I really pick just ONE?!

GhostUser · Jan 13, 2003

I voted for "too short," but I'm not necessarily an optimistic person. Hopeful, but typically pretty cynical and pessimistic. 
I'm with luckiecharms in that I am terrified of death and the process of dying, not knowing if today is the day I'll die, etc. I mean, I actually sit and wonder sometimes about how long I'll live and how I will die. You know, will I die in a car accident? In my sleep? Next week? Eeeps, I know that sounds grim, but I can't keep myself from thinking like that. I could keep myself awake at night thinking about those kinds of things...so I generally avoid thinking about it. 
One of my old professors with which I was very close once told me that the people who are afraid of death are afraid of change, with death being the ultimate change. I'm definitely not slow to change or purposely avoid change, but I think what he said makes a lot of sense. 
I mean, there are so many people in my life that I genuinely, whole-heartedly LOVE. A lot. To not be with them (not necessarily physically with them, but among the living) is a scary thing for me. Death seems so lonely. And perhaps it wouldn't if I had some sort of strong religious or spiritual background... *shrugs* I dunno... 
So there you go.

GhostUser · Jan 13, 2003

And Stem is so correct when saying that we, as a culture, do not value the experiences of our old people. I work primarily with the elderly, and they are an incredibly undervalued and quite often overlooked population. Most people tell me that they're afraid of old people or don't really like to be around old people. I think I was that way before I started my job, but I adore most of the elderly people I've met. I really do. 
I'm not sure what we can do as a society to garner more appreciation and respect for our old people...

spud · Jan 13, 2003

I'm old.....<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> death doesn't worry me, I see it as an adventure. Being ill, dependent, or in an old folks home worries me a great deal.

Skylark · Jan 13, 2003

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally posted by FemmeDemonica And Stem is so correct when saying that we, as a culture, do not value the experiences of our old people. I work primarily with the elderly, and they are an incredibly undervalued and quite often overlooked population. Most people tell me that they're afraid of old people or don't really like to be around old people. I think I was that way before I started my job, but I adore most of the elderly people I've met. I really do. 
I'm not sure what we can do as a society to garner more appreciation and respect for our old people...</div>
</div>
 
I so, completely, totally agree, FD. Perhaps we need to shut down our existing Hollywood that promotes this ideal young image, or maybe the problem is deeper...

WonderRandy · Jan 14, 2003

I've always said I have every intention of jumping off a cliff on my 180th birthday... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
not kidding...

Michael · Jan 14, 2003

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">And Stem is so correct when saying that we, as a culture, do not value the experiences of our old people. I work primarily with the elderly, and they are an incredibly undervalued and quite often overlooked population. Most people tell me that they're afraid of old people or don't really like to be around old people. I think I was that way before I started my job, but I adore most of the elderly people I've met. I really do. 
I'm not sure what we can do as a society to garner more appreciation and respect for our old people...</div>
</div>
 
To some extent I think it's natural, even though that doesn't necessarily make it right. People don't want to face the fact that some day they will become "less" than what they are now. I think the way we treat our elderly is a form of subconscious denial, it's easier not to have to see it then it is to deal with it and accept it. 
That's just my theory though, I could be way off.

Skylark · Jan 14, 2003

Michael, 
But not every culture does that with the elderly. Japanese culture venerates the aged. Botswanans (as my Botswanan friend Karabo tells me) respect the elderly and wouldn't dream of putting them in nursing homes. Hispanic culture celebrates death, rejoices in those who have gone on before.

Kreeli · Jan 14, 2003

i don't really feel that any of my time is "wasted", even if i'm doing something that is considered "unproductive" or that i wouldn't neccessarily miss if i stopped doing it altogether. 
i believe we are the sum-total of our lives' experiences. no moment in time is more valuable than another; no action you take is more valuable than another. all are of equal value. just different. 
life is never too long or too short. it just is.

GhostUser · Jan 14, 2003

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally posted by Kreeli life is never too long or too short. it just is.</div>
</div>
 
ain't that the truth, so might as well make the most of it and make every day count (and when you're having a **** day, there's always another day which may be better around the corner, well, I live in hope anyway) 
and if someone has trouble with the way I live my life (like a monk actually), my view is who's life am I living, mine or theirs, and to be honest I'm quite enjoying it these days <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
The only 'but' I have is <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> ... but there is not enough time or space or peace and quiet to do my Yoga for hours on end, yet I make every minute count, and I'm quite happy/content with that <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
just my 5 cents, as we don't have 2 cent pieces in this country anymore <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

1vegan · Jan 14, 2003

uh.... 
Life is hard. 
Life is unfair. 
Life can be such a joy. 
I wish for everbody that the good times make up for the bad times. (why do I remember the bad times better than the good times ??) 
In the end: I hope that it' like : "that car is coming to me in slow-motion - black"

GhostUser · Jan 14, 2003

Michael wrote: 
=================== 
I think the way we treat our elderly is a form of subconscious denial. 
=================== 
I agree wholeheartedly! 
skylark wrote: 
=================== 
Michael, 
But not every culture does that with the elderly...Hispanic culture celebrates death, rejoices in those who have gone on before. 
==================== 
That is exactly the difference. Western culture is fearful of death and offers no means of, or approach to, dealing with it (both the fealings of fear of death and death itself). Some of this repressed fear is displaced upon the elderly - we literally abandon them as we have abandoned our feelings.

GhostUser · Jan 14, 2003

Another point worth mentioning is that the longer people live, the greater of an issue overpopulation/the effect of limited resources becomes.

Skylark · Jan 14, 2003

But the longer people live, the more experience and wisdom they tend to have, and thus having a large amount of elderly among us is an even greater resource to the younger crowd. If life at all stages were valued, would we have overpopulation problems? Should we intentionally neglect people in the name of over-population control? 
This IS the debate forum, so I am allowed to discuss overpopulation here. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

GhostUser · Jan 14, 2003

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally posted by skylark But the longer people live, the more experience and wisdom they tend to have, and thus having a large amount of elderly among us is an even greater resource to the younger crowd.</div>
</div>
 
But would the younger crowd listen? Probably not. Do they now? Not really. I appreciate older people and their wisdom and experience. And not to discount them in any way, but I'm thinking what can they relate to (technologically speaking) to be of a resource to the younger generation. We live in such an electronic, digital, whatever technologically advanced world that I believe the majority of the elderly are at a loss. My mother, although I wouldn't consider her elderly at 63, doesn't even know how to power up a PC. Our way of doing things from communicating to banking are totally different from anything they've ever known therefore creating a larger generation gap. Maybe that's why society tends to not appreciate the elderly to a greater extent because they simply can't relate to them in today's world. On the otherhand, I love to sit a talk to elderly people and hear about the old days...there is a world of wealth there we can use in hopes of avoiding repeating history. 
Oh, I'm not sure if I'm making sense....

Life is ...

Life is ...

... too long.

... too short.

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