the U.S. Census Bureau, 20% of the population will be of retirement age. By 2034, seniors will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. That’s an awful lot of old people confronting the physical, cognitive, and emotional frailties that come with age, not to mention the cold reality that the older you get the closer you come to, well, the end of the line.
For one thing, argues Sheldon Solomon, professor of psychology at Skidmore College, and, at 69, a Baby Boomer himself, America’s senior cohort comes from a uniquely privileged background, one that has left them with the feeling that the frailties that come with aging—and even death itself—are not inevitable rites of human passage, but somehow negotiable.
That dream may be especially pronounced in one slice of the American demographic, but in fairness, aversion to death—and the dream of eternal life—is something writ deeply in the human psyche. Centuries of fables speak of immortality charms; Ponce de Leon,, searched for the fountain of youth; religions promise eternal paradise after the brief passage of earthly life is done.
“We have this evolved imperative to stay alive,” says Pyszczynski. “So the awareness of death creates this potential for terror. As a result, we use the same intellectual abilities that make us aware of death to manage our fear of it.”
'Typical rents here have risen to $1,778 from $1,213 in January 2019'
Age and wisdom, that is not necessarily true. As we age are cognitive abilities decline. In my 70’s been around a lot of seniors of different background, they would agree with this statement.
Facing the ever inevitable end isn’t that fun sounding. Wresting with existence and existentialism isn’t easy.
Lol at comfortable retirement in this country. Most people will have to work until they are 70 at this point. Most people realize that, unlike in other civilized countries, aging means having to work just as hard but with less energy, and then you’re dead.
Anyone who is not averse to aging is delusional. Averse doesn't mean so paralyzed with fear of death that we don't take of business in the land of the living. But death and its row of horrible attendants --- loss of loved ones and health, decrepitude, etc --- should be hated.
The elderly are treated with so much disrespect in the US, especially mature women. Also, it felt like a lot of younger people thought we should just go ahead and die if we were more vulnerable to the COVID virus, esp. anti-maskers, because we are a 'burden on society.'
with the poor wages most earn, they are afraid of having to retire on not very much.
I just got laid off at 61 years old. My 32 year old VP just never communicated with me never brought me to any meetings. Only talked with her 30 something coworkers. I asked twice for a transfer out of her area, and she said I was to valuable, and turned down my requests.
Not in this country of the usa...you become invisable deapenible and a rock around someones neck. We suck here.
I suspect it has something to do with being death-adverse.
🙈💞All the old people in my family seemed to have a good time all the time, when I think of age I want to be THAT kind of happy
I'm guessing death..maybe?
Shit for healthcare! That’s what scares Americans !
To me, it's simple, the health.
My personal age-aversity is inflation destroying my retirement funds
Because we all know that age does NOT come with a raft of advantages like wisdom, respect and, for many, a comfortable retirement. Talk about missing the mark. 🫣🤦🏽♀️
fact check: non of this shit is remotely guaranteed
Because we don't take care of the elderly.
A decrepit body
'For many' is doing a lot of heavy lifting there.
It’s just a shot in the dark but it’s probably the knowledge that once the Republican Party takes social security and Medicare away, the majority of us are just going to be fucked.
Because us, Westerners, don't worship/celebrate, elders like it should be done in mature civilizations (like Japan) We view them as resource drainers and we don't wanna get responsible for their care We'd prefer to park them in old retirement houses Until it's our turn. quebec
Closer to death.
'Aging comes with a raft of advantages like wisdom, respect and, for many, a comfortable retirement.' Seriously? Republicans hate old people. They are salivating about cutting SocialSecurity and MedicareGov . They also want us to work until we drop dead. 'Respect'? Seriously?
Because their reality will eventually show up online.
probably the dying
There was no 'racist tirade', but selective moral outrage doesn't bother with anything as trivial as facts
Because in the words of Oscar Wilde “ youth is the only thing that matters”
I protest for this picture.
Incontinence has no dignity.
Wisdom? Respect Lmao. Maybe you guys are living on Saturn.
Americans can have anything they can afford and the fact that death can’t be bribed is a truth they refuse to accept.
is this a joke? its the money wtf
Easy, there’s nothing like being young
I disagree. All cultures view old age as an aversion. Why? Aging has unfriendly attendants --- sickness, frailty, decrepitude, loss of significant people, diminished libido, AND degradation of the photo taken at 18. We live our best despite these things, but we still hate them!
'Maybe because They dont want to die ?!' 🥹
Closer to the grave! How do you put a bow on that?
Prejudice society.
For me it’s death. Yup, definitely death.
There's no avoiding it!
When I was growing up adults could care less about what I liked or what I was doing. Today there has been a complete reversal. Now a lot of adults are trying to keep up with the younger generations. WTF happened?
It's not really so complex a topic. Aging is associated with mortality, and at least half of Americans don't actively want to die. Youth is associated with vitality and beauty. Americans seem uniquely concerned with this issue, because more existential issues are seldom faced.
I think for so many it signifies the end of our “relevance” and nearing the end of our lives. Not much life left to look forward to…
A relative went to village to observe a festival and the young handed him a pillow saying “kaka, go to sleep”
Because the notion of a comfortable retirement nowadays is not a reality for many.
Because death awaits at the other side?
They scared of hell, they have done some horrible things on the planet earth 🌍🤣🏃🏻💨💨
Because mortality is terrifying and age is a constant reminder that death is coming for us all, mostly
Because being young has been romanticized in media.
Time always takes everything from us and left nothing, so this is why the creatures are so afraid that continuing losing the left time of the life.🥲
As a Canadian, I strictly fear death.
Perhaps the reason Americans fret growing older more than the other nations is rooted in our christian heritage. A major tenet of christianity is eternal hell for rejecting God's forgiveness. As Americans get older, they fear death believing that they might end up in hell.
I truly felt my Grandma's problems being pressed on because of her health and age issues. I really did try helping her have faith in everything being okay. Barbara Muir may you be helping watch over us all.
Time release at least one free article please. Every time a consumer enconters a barrier to consumption he either consumes or not, usually not. To avoy that give us a small taste of time magazine. Just un article so that we decied to consume the whole magazine. Thanks for reading
Ummm, I've read 'White Noise' multiple times and it ALL comes down to fear of death. I'd like to see you try arguing with Don DeLillo, Mr Time (if that's your REAL name...)
Well… I’m not an American to understand it.
Only people who worship post modernist religions do.
No shit
Only liberals are.
A “raft” of advantages? You can tell this was written by an arseling.
Because the body breaks down as you age and that is unpleasant and difficult. I’m not sure anyone looks forward to dying and as you age you get closer to that pretty logical reason you don’t want to age. What was once easy is now difficult
Because it's closer to death.
Living is dying. But death?
Because Americans have an unhealthy relationship with death
Americans 🇺🇸are uniquely afraid of 'Dying💀💀💀'. 😪
Is it the lack of the 'comfortable' after the healthcare industry takes all our money?
“us all” ? Because I’m not, and we aren’t.
Our collective neurotic stupidity. That’s why.
The answer is so simple, nobody wants to be old sleepy slowly Biden
Death?
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