tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275324444037113498.post3402845887536417453..comments2022-04-10T10:15:39.187+01:00Comments on Laura Lexx: If You Squint Hard There Are Still No Jokes HereGuy Patchinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10828573194856958005noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275324444037113498.post-64790467492116751062011-10-28T14:20:49.035+01:002011-10-28T14:20:49.035+01:00We have been irresponsible when it comes to live e...We have been irresponsible when it comes to live extension, in that we haven't invented any methods of life extension at all.<br /><br />People don't, on the whole, 'live longer' today. Our lives have not been extended. What we do is live longer on average, because we are healthier and can avoid many of the things that kill us earlier.<br /><br />People lived to be 80 in the fifth century; the 50 and 30 year lifespans you see mentioned are averages, weighed down by infant mortality and mortality from disease.<br /><br />It's also wrong to say that we don't get our extra years in the middle, but at the end. I am in my mid 30s and still have all my teeth. I have basically avoided any substantial effects of aging so far; a medieval peasant would not be so lucky. Nor are members of our society who smoke or have stressful jobs; I see people my age who could pass for twenty years older.<br /><br />It's not about money. You can't say money is a fiction and blame it for the situation at the same time, it just doesn't work. The problem is that shit needs doing, and people aren't doing it.<br /><br />One of the biggest reasons for this is the age-segregation of our society. Think about the age spread of your friends. School trains us to associate with people of our age; we are divided into grades; children are taught not to speak to adults on the grounds of 'stranger danger'; adults are taught to fear being seen talking to children for the same reason. Even once we're all adults, the segregation continues, young people gather in places for the young and engage in activities for the young, and the old congregate with the old.<br /><br />It's a policy which guarantees a lonely old age, when the only people who care enough about you to look after you (unless you're lucky enough to have kids who give a shit) are as frail and helpless as you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4275324444037113498.post-78647970569029838752011-10-28T14:16:13.814+01:002011-10-28T14:16:13.814+01:00Great post. I'm not sure how good an ageing po...Great post. I'm not sure how good an ageing population is for anyone, really.Leilahttp://finalbullet.comnoreply@blogger.com