I'm young and stupid, so I've decided to die....

[Shegokigo]

When I'm 60.

It's amusing where my train of thought took me on my way home from work yesterday and I was enjoying my after-work cigarette. I got the dirtiest look from an older couple in a van as I blew smoke out my window in their direction. It occured to me that 60 is the furthest I'd want to go. Why?

Well, with the way I live my life/lifestyle choices I wouldn't have much fun post 60. I plan on eating healthy and working out throughout my life into my 50s as I plan to be a cougar/sugar momma, still drinking, smoking and finding young and firm girls to bring home. By 60 though? It's all going to be catching up to me, cougar's aren't exactly that nice to look at around that age and I'd have to cut back on all my vices.

I'm just not having that. I can understand other people's reasons for wanting to live longer and fuller lives but I'm going to be honest: I'm never having kids. I'm never adopting. I'm never helping someone raise them. There's zero chance of it happening so I could care less about sticking around to see someone "grow up".

I plan on living as extravagantly as possible in my 30s-50s and really don't plan on "saving for my retirement", so that also lends to my decision.

What is the general consensus here? I know the die rich at 40 or poor at 80 thread shed some light on that, but what if you had to choose how long you went on for? (Past 100/Robotic mind transfer is not an option) How long would you let yourself stick around?

 

[Gusto]

I wanna know my great grandchildren into their teens. 80s would be nice, and going from the examples of my great grandparents, mid 90s are a reasonable guess.

 

[Chibibar]

Interesting.

I am married but no kids We are trying to have children so I would like to see them at least grow up (if we have any) but if not, then we might adopt (still talking about it) I wouldn't mind living as long as possible in my current life. I figure I'll be one of those guy in those motorize wheelchair chasing them off my lawn with a sword.

 

[North_Ranger]

Well, my family on my father's side has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer. And seeing my grandfather - a man who fought in the Winter AND the Continuation War, and who ran his farm for forty-plus years - slip away from a venerable old man into a wrinkly toddler in adult diapers did bring out some ideas. Namely considering I'd rather go out with my mental faculties still somewhat intact instead of slipping away until all that is left of my personality is a sobbing old fart who can't remember his own name. And no, grandpa's not an old fart in my books, and I will inject my foot into the rectal cavity of anyone suggesting so.

But to be honest, having this fucking cancer scare has led me to adopt a more "live every day to its fullest" point of view. Hence the decision to pick up archery and swordmanship again. Hell, even if it isn't cancer, it still rattled me enough to stop worrying so much about the future and focus on the present.

But still, if I do live to a ripe old age and notice that my mind is slipping, I might look into finding some nice, quiet beach, a wicker chair and a glass of arsenic solution with a whisky chaser at sunrise.

 

[MindDetective]

You'd be surprised at how you outlook on life changes as you age. Priorities shift in unexpected ways. Additionally, the impulse to live is pretty strong. 60 year old you will probably laugh at the you from 2011.

 

[Shegokigo]

Think so? Again I can see that perspective for most people being true. I see it happen all the time in most. However, I can't think of a single thing to look forward to post 60. Little funds left, health declining, relying on medication just for everyday function, looks declining and nothing really to pass the time with that I'd want to do with those restrictions.

 

[MindDetective]

There is a lot of continuity between young you and old you. It happens so gradually you are not likely to notice any sudden changes. Most of the time, we live in the moment and do not spend lots of time dwelling on what we used to be (or what we will be). 60 year old you will have a whole life, with friends and family and work and opinions about things. Some of those will be the same and many things will be different. But you don't know what they are or will be. The 60 year old you will probably be fully absorbed in her life and not feel any sense of sudden loss of her youth.

 

[Dave]

Put my head in a jar and let me live to see Humanity break off into space.

Or blow ourselves up. Whichever comes first.

 

[Ravenpoe]

Immortal robot body, plz.

 

[North_Ranger]

Immortal robot body, plz.

 

[makare]

That reminds me of the gynoid from metropolis

 

[doomdragon6]

I can't even see how you might come to such a conclusion. Think about yourself 5 years ago-- I know -I- was completely different with different views on things, different outlooks, personality traits, etc.

You will probably be so different 10, 20, 30 years from now that you will have changed your mind. I don't even mean, wake up at 50 and go, "You know what, I was wrong before. I'd like to go past 60." I mean you will just slowly and naturally grow and change in a way that makes you not even question going past 60.

Plus, the world around you is changing constantly. By then they'll have all kinds of awesome stuff, including a fairly reliable age delaying technique. There will be new technologies and everything. Think about how different the year 1990 is from the year 2010. That is twenty years and such ridiculously huge differences. And the way technology is advancing, it only changes more quickly. So in twenty MORE years? Damn son.

 

[Null]

Well, good luck with that. If you don't have anything keeping you here at that point in your life, you might as well.

 

[Shegokigo]

There is a lot of continuity between young you and old you. It happens so gradually you are not likely to notice any sudden changes. Most of the time, we live in the moment and do not spend lots of time dwelling on what we used to be (or what we will be). 60 year old you will have a whole life, with friends and family and work and opinions about things. Some of those will be the same and many things will be different. But you don't know what they are or will be. The 60 year old you will probably be fully absorbed in her life and not feel any sense of sudden loss of her youth.

I'm guessing you may have forgotten a few things about me personally so I'll refresh the situation:
I have no family to speak of. There's my adopted brother, who's the only one who's spoken to me since I was 16. I don't plan on settling down with anyone to make a "life" with either anymore after my last two long term relationships have soured me on the idea. I work in banking, and I can tell you that with no uncertainty, that once I have the funds to live off of for a good 10-20 years comfortably? I will not be working.

Could things change from here to then? Sure. Is it likely? Probably not, so as things stand right now, I just can't see the same point of view that you and many other "normal" people would about their futures.

To those of you going off on the "Imortality Robot Tangent" you missed the disclaimer in the first post. Saying that technology in the future might make life worth living is not something I'm banking on, I'm looking at it from today's perspective and the way my life is currently headed.

To doomdragon, I'm sure there will be plenty of technology advances in the future, however unless they resolve the issues I made about being that age, which even after 30-40 years of medicine have not, I don't see that happening.

 

[makare]

I dont understand the relying on medication thing as being a bad thing. It's more like at least you will have science to keep going.

 

[GasBandit]

Team Fortress 7 will still be fun when you're 60. Sure you plan to be cougar sex predator forever NOW... but when those hormones dry up, you might be surprised what is and isn't all that interesting to you any more.

 

[MindDetective]

My points were that you really cannot foresee decades into the future and that the you that is decades away will not have any kind of sudden realization that life is over or that she is obligated to off herself because she thought about that decades before. You probably just won't want to do it any more than you want to do it right now. You can't just program yourself to pull the trigger decades from now because people respond in the moment, not to a decades old promise to themselves that they will probably have forgotten about.

 

[Shegokigo]

The fact that there will come a time like that is one of the reasons I very much am not interested in it.

As for future games? Sure there will be. However I've noticed that I"m not the same gamer I was in my teens/20s anymore and I'm not exactly sure I'm happy with where it's headed. That's if my health even allows me to function at that kind of level by then.

@makare: Because I've already been dependant on medicine my whole life. Daily pills every day and I can tell you already, from experience, that I'm sick of it. Any further medications added to me daily would be more than I'm willing to deal with.

My points were that you really cannot foresee decades into the future and that the you that is decades away will not have any kind of sudden realization that life is over or that she is obligated to off herself because she thought about that decades before. You probably just won't want to do it any more than you want to do it right now. You can't just program yourself to pull the trigger decades from now because people respond in the moment, not to a decades old promise to themselves that they will probably have forgotten about.

Of course I cannot forsee the future, never claimed to. I simply stated, that based on my current lifestyle and outlook on life I see no point in life post 60. Can that change? I never disagreed with that. I simply stated that I cannot see the same reasons that most other people do for wanting to live past that age. There are plenty of people that cannot see decades into the future, yet have more than enough reasons for wanting to continue their lives at that time. I'm simply stating the opposite.

Take North Ranger's post for example: He has no idea what life will be like for him in his old age, however he knows what he DOESN'T want to live for. I posted the same, just longer and with more details.

 

[makare]

60 seems so young to me. Most of the 60 year olds I know are incredibly active and vivacious. The most active couple I know who travel CONSTANTLY, volunteer regularly and basically live the shit out of life are each pushing 80.. hell I think they might be dragging it. I know that is not a guarantee some people fall apart as they age but it is not an absolute.

 

[Shegokigo]

I'm sure they didn't spend the first 30yrs of their life drinking/smoking/having polygmous sex weekly.

As for that very example? They have each other, they probably had children (even if they didn't) and find strength in each other. I on the other hand, am not looking for that. I enjoy my life alone too much to change it again. As for traveling constantly? That's what my 40s-50s are going to be for. Volunteering? You don't know me very well after all these years do you?

 

[makare]

I was in no way implying that you would volunteer for anything I was merely describing these two people that I know, love and respect.

 

[GasBandit]

Somebody transported 13 from house into this thread.

 

[Shegokigo]

I understand that. Totally ok if it was just a "statement". However as an example to display for me to better understand your point? Had quite the opposite effect.

Somebody transported 13 from house into this thread.

Aren't you hilarious? Very different situations. Not even remotely the same.

 

[makare]

my point was they are still living active lives and i am positive they fuck too

happy?

 

[Chibibar]

Shego: I can totally understand how you are thinking now. I am pretty optimistic. I think that one person you can truly connect on ALL levels will someday hit you like a mactruck and sweep you away before you can say "What the F....." I could be wrong, but you never know. You are not looking right now and yes your past relationship did turn sour, but the moment you actually mind your own business, that special someone might come by... who knows

Then your outlook may change. If not, I don't see anything wrong with your decision really. It is your life. You live how you want it.
We are just on-lookers.

 

[sixpackshaker]

I'm sure they didn't spend the first 30yrs of their life drinking/smoking/having polygmous sex weekly.

...

My dad pretty much did that (sexual opportunities were a little more limited in the 50's) and he's in awesome shape at 80.

 

[MindDetective]

Of course I cannot forsee the future, never claimed to. I simply stated, that based on my current lifestyle and outlook on life I see no point in life post 60. Can that change? I never disagreed with that. I simply stated that I cannot see the same reasons that most other people do for wanting to live past that age. There are plenty of people that cannot see decades into the future, yet have more than enough reasons for wanting to continue their lives at that time. I'm simply stating the opposite.

Take North Ranger's post for example: He has no idea what life will be like for him in his old age, however he knows what he DOESN'T want to live for. I posted the same, just longer and with more details.

Actually, what you said is that you decided to die at 60. I'm saying it doesn't work like that.

 

[Shegokigo]

my point was they are still living active lives and i am positive they fuck too

happy?

I'm pretty sure they "make love" more than they "fuck". So while it was a better example it still fits within the same restriction as I mentioned.

@Minddetective: Based on my observations and current outlook. Yes. Not because I know for a fact what life is going to be like in 30 years.

 

[Chibibar]

Based on my observations and current outlook. Yes. Not because I know for a fact what life is going to be like in 30 years.

It is a valid assumption. Many of us usually try to gauge our live with what we have now and IF we continue as we are now (who doesn't)

 

[Shegokigo]

@Chibi - I've been hit like a mactruck by "love" already, two of them were probably bigger than a mactruck. I "settled" into relationship life and was happy at times. However after experiencing life by my own terms and noonelses? I could never forsee myself going back. It's too liberating, it's too easy, it's about me first and everyonelse second. It's uncomplicated and orderly. Even if I found someone I'd want to be closer to, it wouldn't be to the extreme I was before (living together full time etc).

@sixpack - No doubt there are people like that, however, are they the majority? I would guess not. Also, it's not just about being healthy, that's just one of the terms. It's also about things to live for, which I'm sure he has.

 

[Chibibar]

@Chibi - I've been hit like a mactruck by "love" already, two of them were probably bigger than a mactruck. I "settled" into relationship life and was happy at times. However after experiencing life by my own terms and noonelses? I could never forsee myself going back. It's too liberating, it's too easy, it's about me first and everyonelse second. It's uncomplicated and orderly. Even if I found someone I'd want to be closer to, it wouldn't be to the extreme I was before (living together full time etc).

Yea I remember those stories but I figure there might be someone with the same compatibility and available A person who enjoy the closeness with similar activities AND yet challenges you in the long run (spiritually, intellectually, physically and emotionally) So far, from what you tell us, you get some of the aspect and some aspect is just blah and you "just deal with it"

I am hoping that you find someone that challenges you and doesn't hurt/nag you so you just have "deal with it" cause the other 2-3 aspect out of 4 is "teh awesomsauce!"

 

[AshburnerX]

I'm honestly banking on living long enough that dementia wipes my brain enough that I'll become comfortable with dying... because right now? Yeah, it scares the fuck out of me. I know a lot of it is just because my anxiety disorder tends to run wild when my brain isn't occupied, but the sheer implications of dying terrify me. I've literally been kept awake at night because of the ramifications of it and even the prospect of something like immortality only delays the inevitable if current scientific models are correct.

I honestly wish I had the money for a therapist for these issues.

 

[Chibibar]

I'm honestly banking on living long enough that dementia wipes my brain enough that I'll become comfortable with dying... because right now? Yeah, it scares the fuck out of me. I know a lot of it is just because my anxiety disorder tends to run wild when my brain isn't occupied, but the sheer implications of dying terrify me. I've literally been kept awake at night because of the ramifications of it and even the prospect of something like immortality only delays the inevitable if current scientific models are correct.

I honestly wish I had the money for a therapist for these issues.

It is the fear of uncertainty I believe.

I use to be like that. I fear what would be to die today, right now and scares me. Why? well, I worry about my wife, my friends and my family. So I decides to take out a life insurance on myself. Wrote down my wills and testament (My wife did something similar) in case I just croak, everyone I care for is going to be ok financially

I have feel better now.

 

[strawman]

what if you had to choose how long you went on for?

I don't think I'd let my 20 year old self decide whether my 60 year old self should die or not. Man, he was dumber than a bag of bricks.

I doubt I'm much smarter. If my 60 year old self could look at me now no doubt he'd just laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

 

[AshburnerX]

It is the fear of uncertainty I believe.

I use to be like that. I fear what would be to die today, right now and scares me. Why? well, I worry about my wife, my friends and my family. So I decides to take out a life insurance on myself. Wrote down my wills and testament (My wife did something similar) in case I just croak, everyone I care for is going to be ok financially

I have feel better now.

I'm more about the fear of no longer existing. When you die*, you become an empty shell. There is no thought... no identity... no self. You cease to exist in any fashion other than being a pile of meat, except as figments in the memories of those who knew you (which will fade when they die) and possibly in a dusty book that is destined to be lost, destroyed, or redacted. Given time, all you have done will be forgotten and your ripple will eventually hit the edge of the pond.

When that happens, there is no you. There will not even be a thing that used to be you. There will only be atoms, possibly given new identity as someone or something else. Given enough time, even they will be consumed as the universe burns itself cold, as it slowly retracts to begin again... becoming a singularity of infinite mass and density. From this mass a new universe COULD be created, but we have no idea how or why this might happen... only that it has before.

As I said, the implications of death terrify me.

*Barring some sort of afterlife as has been foretold of in countless religions. Here's hoping!