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The Old.


Posts: 3882

How do you view older people?

I see some of them as an invaluable resovoir of knowledge and perspective. My best friend as a young child was a humorous sage who lost both of his legs fighting in Korea. My mother being a nurse, I frequented the nursing and veterans homes. Most of the elderly were more than willing to share their experiences and stories, in hopes that I would avoid the pitfalls that plagued them. 

With that being said, my generation concerns me with its lack of respect towards the old. I'm not saying every old prick should be worshipped but people should definitely show common courtesy to your elders. 

Posts: 290
The Old.

We would be better off without them(the retired).

Posts: 3882
The Old.

I agree with you partially.

In todays society learning knowledgeable information is not a obstacle.  But I don't believe you can pick up on life lessons the way you could from a person who has experienced them first hand, time and time again. 

I see it comparable to putting together some machine. Would you read the manual? or have someone who has experience lay it out for you?

Posts: 219
The Old.

I try not to judge people on age and gender but that said people do tend to get grouchy when getting older.

My own grandparents were so disconnected from reality that it was hard to have a conversation with them.

As a matter of fact I've never the 'old sage' kind of old people even if it is an over abused trope in movies (like Yoda or Mr Myagi).

 

Posts: 3882
The Old.

Agreed. A lot of them suck up government funds for expensive surgery that is only prolonging the inevitable. But from a different stand point I'm intrigued by them and their willingness to share knowledge. 

Posts: 2876
The Old.

I think that.. when we are born into this world, our minds are programmed in such a way as to allow us to make the most of what is available to us to build our lives. I don't think it's very easy to adopt new methods, though, even as technology advances.

It seems to me that the way society evolves requires older generations as well as their practices and beliefs to die out. Once this happens, the new generation may impliment their ideas, and I believe only then can society truely be influenced.

A great example of this is gay rights or racism. So many of the older generation dislike like gay people, and some even dislike black people. Why is this? Why would someone dislike someone else? Is it becasue they are a evil Humans? We are the result of the envrionments we grew up in. Our tastes, our goals, our life values. 

Marijuana is another great example. For so long-- so few dared to speak up. But then.. society came around. Christianity as well. My grandmother is extreme Christian. Spooky pictures of Christ hang above her bed. My family on the other hand...  less so, and obviously us kids even less so.

I think we can consider ourselves as robots. Mocking birds. In that way, our tastes are not the choice of our own selves, but rather the circumstances that influenced us throughout our lives. In this way, it's society which can be considered to be alive. It's culture which evolves, and shapes itself through time as Human perception changes from one generation to the next. Peraps society is true Humanity. We as individuals.. simple cells. Fullfilling our function in order to keep society alive. 

Posts: 2876
The Old.

Well, in lots of things.. you can create our own solutions to problems. No need to let some old experienced guy show you the old way of doing things. 

Posts: 408
The Old.

I think the wisdom of old people can be overstated. Obviously they have more life experience, this goes without saying, but many learn nothing from life experiences, or learn the wrong lessons. My grandmother and her sisters have led interesting lives, yet are among some of the stupidest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Then there's the Flynn Effect, which is quite interesting.

Posts: 3882
The Old.

That was intresting. It put a tint of fear in me to imagine what my grandchildren's IQ would look like.

Posts: 3246
The Old.

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