Originally Posted By DAR All this recent campaign talk about John McCain's age led to me thinking about this topic. It's not a political discussion so mods please don't move it. But does anyone thinking that overall 72 is really that old of an age. At least nowadays it doesn't seem to be that old. But I do remember back 25-30 years ago when people in their 50's and up seemed to be reallly old. Am I the only one who ever felt this way?
Originally Posted By sarahwithbaloo Prsonally I think with people living longer age erceptions change. As people though the old saying of as old as you feel is very true. If a person thinks they are old somtimes they become old (hope that makes sence) despite thier actual years of age. Yet there are those of later years that feel young keep active and do'nt think 'huh well I'm 75 I'm old so I have to act it' who apear so much younger as they 'think' themselves young.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo I used to work in a Nursing Home, so for a long time, I've considered 80 years old "young." I also grew up with a huge family with dozens of very elderly relatives, so maybe that colors my opinion.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip It is really old? No. Is it really too old to be president? Yes. We have a minimum age for the presidency. We should have a maximum one too. Reagan was likely well on the way to senility during his second term in office. Why do you think Nancy constantly whispered in his ear as his presidency went into the final years? He didn’t remember what to say so Nancy told him.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo Among other things. He kept index cards with information in his pockets. There was a site somewhere that had Presidential pictures before and after office. Serving seems to really age people. Sorry I can't find the link.
Originally Posted By friendofdd Being of the senior persuasion, 69 yrs old, I don't consider 72 to be old. However, it is a fact that older folks are more susceptible to health problems. All the more reason to have a VP who could do well stepping up to President. Of interest to me is that we have skipped a generation in our presidents (I belong to the skipped generation). We went from the "greatest" generation, George Bush, to the "boomer" generation with Clinton and Bush. McCain would fill in that blank if he is elected, but the generation is rapidly aging.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I have friends in their 70s who are about as youthful and fresh as you could wish. I also have known folks who sort of faded away after turning 65. I believe it really is the case that, barring legitimate health issues, you're as young as you feel.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan But does anyone thinking that overall 72 is really that old of an age. At least nowadays it doesn't seem to be that old. << I think it varies from person to person. Like Doug said, I've seen people who were "old" at 55 and "young" at 80. McCain seems alert and active, no evidence that he is some ancient fossil.
Originally Posted By jonvn Yeah, it depends on the person. But overall, 72 is pretty much elderly. If you are lucky, you will be healthy and happy at that age. But things start happening and by the time you are 80, well, you've lived past life expectancy already. That's great. But you probably should not put in as President someone in this age category.
Originally Posted By topdisneymom I'm 58 and people are always shocked when I tell them my age. I say, thank God for hair dye. If it wasn't for hair dye I would be looking a lot older.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Approaching 50 in less than two months, I'd say in and of itself, no, 72 isn't "old", but when you look at the average life expectancy, then yes, sure it is. I plan on retiring at 63. I'd like to get at least 15-20 years of a nice active retirement, so 72 really better not be old. But, it's going to get played up a lot in McCain's case because 1) he'd be the oldest person ever elected for the first time and 2) he has literally been through the wringer physically in his life what with his several years of being a P.O.W. and then within the last few years a bout with cancer and 3), because of numbers 1 and 2, more so than maybe ever before you'll be voting for the running mate as well in the event McCain dies.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Is 72 old?...yes it is. Are you as old as you feel? No, you are as old as you are. Sometimes you're lucky and can do everything you could when you were a young pup. I'll be 60 in a few months and frankly, I have been lucky. I feel like I did when I was 20, I just have less drive and ambition. That part of me has automatically come to a halt. I have had a number of uncles and a cousin that I grew up with (athletic and slim) die shortly after his 60th birthday. Liver problems! My father died when he was 76 after a multitude of small health problems the biggest being rheumatoid arthritis. My mother was very active until she was 84 and then the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis kicked in and she died at 87. One can think young all you want. My mother never would accept her age. I believe she was angry that she was going to die so young. Things change as you get older. The body starts to give out. I once was able to do 100 consecutive sit-ups, rapidly, no stoping. I don't think I could do one today, don't dare to try. The most important body organ concerning aging is the brain. I look at the world through the back side of my eyes. From there, everything looks the same as before. The exception to that is people that I have grown up with have aged in appearance drastically whereas I have escaped that bullet. Basically you are mentally as old as you feel, but, there is no kidding mother nature. You are what you are and nothing short of constant surgery will stop you from aging physically.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Yeah, it depends on the person. But overall, 72 is pretty much elderly. If you are lucky, you will be healthy and happy at that age. But things start happening and by the time you are 80, well, you've lived past life expectancy already.>> My personal theory is that once you are past 40 you are living on borrowed time. I know (or should I say knew) far too many people who appeared to be perfectly healthy who suddenly dropped dead in their 40's. Do we have a very good chance of making it well past 40? Sure, but I have come to realize that I should not take for granted that I will be alive 5 years from now.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<But I do remember back 25-30 years ago when people in their 50's and up seemed to be really old. >> I agree. Of course back then smoking and other unhealthy habits were more common. Also it was more common for people to have jobs that required heavy physical labor.
Originally Posted By jonvn I'm around 50, and I feel like I did when I was 20, too. Except I felt like crap when I was 20...
Originally Posted By DAR There was a movie I was watching once, may have been Marty. There's a scene where Marty's mother comes to live with them so they can take care of here. They show this frail little lady who's all of 57. My parents are 57 and frail little people is not how I would describe them.
Originally Posted By lilgoofymom I don't think 72 is as old as it seemed when I was in my teens and 20's. I think the folks who are older now have been able to take better care of themselves than the people who were in their 60's & 70's when I was in my in my teens. The people who are currently "seniors" have had access to better medical care and more knowledge of what is good or bad for them. I am 40 and my 60 year old mom can run circles around me. I have let myself go pretty bad in the last decade, while she has taken really good care of herself. She lost weight and really watches what she eats now. I also used to bowl on a league with ladies mostly in their 60's and 70's. Now those ladies really were inspirational. They could show us "young" whippersnappers a thing or to.Lol
Originally Posted By alexbook >>But I do remember back 25-30 years ago when people in their 50's and up seemed to be reallly old. Am I the only one who ever felt this way?<< Isn't a lot of it relative? 50 looks different to a 40-year-old or to a 10-year-old.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Isn't a lot of it relative? 50 looks different to a 40-year-old or to a 10-year-old.>> Alex... you beat me to my post and hit the nail on the head. When you are 10- years-old even someone in their 30's seems very old.
