• Iamnotafish@lemmy.ml
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    15 days ago

    i’ve been giving this one a lot of thought myself lately as I age (50). i have to believe that suicide was a pretty common occurrence as people got older before religion came along. i know that if i were in a hunter/gatherer tribe, I would not want to weigh people down to care for me, putting themselves at greater risk.

    • PunnyName@lemmy.world
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      15 days ago

      You and others who hold this idea fail to understand a certain facet of society: there are those around you who want you around, and are willing to care for you, even with your infirmities.

      • Kyrgizion@lemmy.world
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        15 days ago

        I think you’d be surprised how many of us truly have no one. I’m lucky but I have known others who never were.

      • Iamnotafish@lemmy.ml
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        15 days ago

        That doesn’t make up for the fact that I would not want to place that burden on anyone, regardless of how much they want it. My family suffers from a history of dementia, something that I do not want to experience myself.

        • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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          15 days ago

          They might have to hunt for you, but you could share your decades of experience and advice. You could remember how the group pulled through a drought, what herbs have medicinal properties, where the best foraging is at certain times of the year. Just passing down folk lore and oral tradition is an important role.

          • Iamnotafish@lemmy.ml
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            15 days ago

            Yes, but if i am experiencing great suffering, it is selfish for others to hold on to me. If I was able to make it that far, so will they.

            • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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              15 days ago

              You may have only made it that far due to your elders and their teachings. Although i agree at a certain point of suffering it does become selfish.

              • Iamnotafish@lemmy.ml
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                15 days ago

                Yes. So, maybe the lesson here is to take advantage of the wisdom of your elders while they are around. Because, who knows when they may be eaten by a saber-toothed predator 😊

    • quetzaldilla@lemmy.world
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      15 days ago

      This country has more than enough money to take care of the elderly, the disabled, the veterans, the poor.

      The problem is the fucking billionaires and their insatiable greed.

      • Iamnotafish@lemmy.ml
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        15 days ago

        Chill out dude, I’m talking about out my own self. Not, justifying euthanasia. Edit: Also, I agree with every one of those points, for those that want to stick around for the long haul.