I find the reponses fascinating because the question is being asked at an interesting junction in my life. Some of you may have seen that I posted a few days looking for names a of a surgeon to remove a thyroid. I discovered for the first time last week that I have cancer of the thyroid hence it needs to be removed fairly soon. For me, reflecting on mortality is an interesting debate at this moment but it's clear that many others here haven't really thought about it seriously. And of course, apparently, according to some, I'm either a troll or stupid for doing so! FWIW I'm oddly very relaxed about the whole thing but I have found myself thinking more than usual about the end. One of the things I have reflected on is how I have never known throughout my life, when would be the last time I would see a particular person or do a particular activity, perhaps if I had known those things, I might have done some things differently.

Gilbert and Sullivan – If you give me your attention Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

Mike , I guess the question to you your 75 , would you still get the surgery at say 85 ?

 

And that's not a strange question because time after time even my own mum & dad stopped cancer treatment in their 80's when the doctor told them it will only prolong your life for weeks or months  not cure it 

7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

My late father was the same ,he used to get angry when I told him 

My parents are Boomers and I think this is a generational thing. They're deeply invested in the idea of youth and staying young. Granted they're in great shape for early 70s but it goes downhill fast from there. I'm keep telling them  I'm planning for their deaths in the next 10 years but they completely disregard that.

 

I'm pretty sure I'm going to die of heart failure like my dad and his dad did, I don't expect to live longer than 70. I don't see the problem of accepting this and trying to make the best of the time you have.

At 73, I’m just happy that I have THAT long.  Death is absolutely guaranteed. It’s the one thing you can count on. I welcome the relief.

1 minute ago, georgegeorgia said:

Mike , I guess the question to you your 75 , would you still get the surgery at say 85 ?

 

And that's not a strange question because time after time even my own mum & dad stopped cancer treatment in their 80's when the doctor told them it will only prolong your life for weeks or months  not cure it 

Good question. At 85, definitely not, I'm even debating the merits of having it at age 75 but I don't have all the data yet.

4 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

People who have made it to their 60's want to know they will be around for many more years.

But we know average life expectancy right? Why after all those years of life experience is lying to yourself a good idea? I respect people who are honest about their life. My uncle says he's 100% ready to go any day (early 70s now) but my Mom is in denial about dying any time soon (early 70s too!). I respect my uncle more for being honest.

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

My parents are Boomers and I think this is a generational thing. They're deeply invested in the idea of youth and staying young. Granted they're in great shape for early 70s but it goes downhill fast from there. I'm keep telling them  I'm planning for their deaths in the next 10 years but they completely disregard that.

 

I'm pretty sure I'm going to die of heart failure like my dad and his dad did, I don't expect to live longer than 70. I don't see the problem of accepting this and trying to make the best of the time you have.

Yes exactly, make the best of the time you have. The realisation that the time may be short has the potential to improve the quality of life, in the final days/weeks/months. 

What a wonderful person you are cheering everyone up. Life and soul of any party. 

6 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

My parents are Boomers and I think this is a generational thing. They're deeply invested in the idea of youth and staying young. Granted they're in great shape for early 70s but it goes downhill fast from there. I'm keep telling them  I'm planning for their deaths in the next 10 years but they completely disregard that.

 

I'm pretty sure I'm going to die of heart failure like my dad and his dad did, I don't expect to live longer than 70. I don't see the problem of accepting this and trying to make the best of the time you have.

You Sir are a realist ????????

7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

And one thing I enjoy in my workplace which is a very large hospital is to tell older workmates usually in their 70's that they have less than 10 years left in probality.

Boy you must be a riot at parties. 

'But I was just giving realist facts .' What facts? More like statistics from somewhere and stats aren't facts.

1 minute ago, parallelman said:

'But I was just giving realist facts .' What facts? More like statistics from somewhere and stats aren't facts.

Stats are not facts, really! ????

8 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

But we know average life expectancy right? Why after all those years of life experience is lying to yourself a good idea? I respect people who are honest about their life. My uncle says he's 100% ready to go any day (early 70s now) but my Mom is in denial about dying any time soon (early 70s too!). I respect my uncle more for being honest.

It isn't lying to have hope to live longer, especially if you're healthy and have all your faculties. No one is in denial that we all die. As believers in God, we are hoping to go to a place without pain, but we still want to enjoy what the earth can give us. Some of us have reasons to live as long as we can, so we take care of ourselves, knowing there is no guarantees that doing everything will ensure a longer life.

Why do you feel you are the all knowing of longevity, who can tell how many years they have left? Maybe if you say it to the wrong person you could have a few days only, have you considered that as a possibility 

4 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Did it ever occur to you that they are shocked at your rudeness? Everyone knows they will die. Whether they choose to think about it or not should be their choice and not have some jerk thrust it on to their immediate consciousness.

 

Can you be that inconsiderate? And nasty...

 

You must be a lot of fun in the cancer ward... 

 

Is this some sort of epiphany that you had and now you feel the need to share it w/everyone... ?

People misinterpret anything. So what do you do just not say anything? ????????‍♂️

 

Some people are experts at using the exact words needed to not offend, others are not, even though they are saying the same thing.

19 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

At 73, I’m just happy that I have THAT long.  Death is absolutely guaranteed. It’s the one thing you can count on. I welcome the relief.

Memento Mori is an ancient phrase that seems relevant.  Can google it for more details.

 

We can agree that death is guaranteed. 

 

But while I am feeling in good health and lively at 60++, I have some curiosity about what will be the cause of my death.   It will seem strange to one day start feeling an ilness, pain, that worsens and get diagnosed as terminal xyz disease.   Oh - so that is the disease I will die from, wow !  Curioisity satisfied. 555.

 

7 hours ago, Grecian said:

Oh dear. If ever a post gave away a poster being a bit of a knob this is it.

This where the term Dickhead came from I presume. I'll be 90 in December, maybe.????

Why the crusade? It doesn't matter does it, it is as it is. It is amusing to listen to 80 year old's making plans for the future or worrying what the stock market will be like next year but then they have a positive outlook on life and are happy with that. I am 75 and often tell my partner and son to consider what they will do when I am dead but they tell me I will live to be a 100. I laugh and tell them that is impossible, my 16 year old son gets it but considers I will live long enough to complete his higher education, I tell him to consider the more likely alternative. We are just causal events, some whistling in the dark, let them whistle for gods sake.

6 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Only have to look at the new Australian Mother & Son re - made where the son is now black

That's not enough. He has to be gay too, and there usually has to be a lesbian couple as well, and a white/coloured marriage in there somewhere, otherwise there is usually no funding given to make the series. At least, that seems to be the case in the UK. Often applies to the commercials too. Americans have to include a person of Asian appearance. It gets a bit tiresome being constantly preached to by example.

As for the original post, you take pleasure from very weird and unhealthy things, deliberately and intentionally making people feel bad. What a thoroughly unpleasant person you must be.

5 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

It isn't lying to have hope to live longer, especially if you're healthy and have all your faculties. No one is in denial that we all die. As believers in God, we are hoping to go to a place without pain, but we still want to enjoy what the earth can give us. Some of us have reasons to live as long as we can, so we take care of ourselves, knowing there is no guarantees that doing everything will ensure a longer life.

sure, but what I mean here is that they are extremely dismissive of dying before their perceived best case scenario based on their current health etc... 

 

I visit my Mom and step dad every year for about 2 months and it's important for my own planning to know they won't be around at some point in the next 10 years, which is why I bring it up.  I would have spent more time with my Dad if i knew he would be dead at 68 but I was assured that's "too young to die". Yeah right.

8 minutes ago, deejai33 said:

Memento Mori is an ancient phrase that seems relevant.  Can google it for more details.

 

We can agree that death is guaranteed. 

 

But while I am feeling in good health and lively at 60++, I have some curiosity about what will be the cause of my death.   It will seem strange to one day start feeling an ilness, pain, that worsens and get diagnosed as terminal xyz disease.   Oh - so that is the disease I will die from, wow !  Curioisity satisfied. 555.

 

Your post is so true , we don't know what we will die of.

But it would be heart attack ,cancer , isn't that the only 2 things ,I guess Stroke or is that the same as heart attack !

2 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

sure, but what I mean here is that they are extremely dismissive of dying before their perceived best case scenario based on their current health etc... 

 

I visit my Mom and step dad every year for about 2 months and it's important for my own planning to know they won't be around at some point in the next 10 years, which is why I bring it up.  I would have spent more time with my Dad if i knew he would be dead at 68 but I was assured that's "too young to die". Yeah right.

Yes ! Bring it up everytime you visit ????

8 hours ago, Grecian said:

Oh dear. If ever a post gave away a poster being a bit of a knob this is it.

Exactly

6 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I hit a raw nerve with some of you !

Because you are deniers and not realists ,you don't want to think about dying 

 

I'm sorry to be a realist.

I am a realist, that is why I have girlfriend half my age!! Does not ask for money/talk, no jewellery, no short skirts and she keeps me young.

53 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

The nerve-striking is out of control here.

 

Can't we finally put this AOL chatline-era cliche to death?

 

 

2 more nerve strikes before we do that

5 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

As believers in God, we are hoping to go to a place without pain, but we still want to enjoy what the earth can give us

What has God got to do with anything? Except as a crutch for people who need an imaginary friend, I suppose. Anyone, even those without that crutch, hope to pass on without pain. Nothing to do with believing in God.

21 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

What has God got to do with anything? Except as a crutch for people who need an imaginary friend, I suppose. Anyone, even those without that crutch, hope to pass on without pain. Nothing to do with believing in God.

God is hope for those living. Living on earth is usually pain, loss, death. We as believers hope for a place to go to without all that pain. It's a lot better also than believing that all of the universe just happened to be, which is impossible to anyone with any sense. There are those that are naive and believe others who have theories. We also have a theory. It's called faith. And seeing all that has been created, not made from nothing.

8 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

One thing is I'm a realist.

 

And one thing I enjoy in my workplace which is a very large hospital is to tell older workmates usually in their 70's that they have less than 10 years left in probality.

 

Just the look on their faces the shock tells me they never thought of it.

Those of you now who are say 73/74 surely you must know !

 

I'm always bemused when I see their face looking like shock ,like they didn't know they would be going ????

 

I remember telling a old workmate a few years back ,77yo and still a cleaner ,wife was a Filipino , working all hours , he ended up reporting me for harassment just for letting him know about his lifespan and how he was wasting his 5 years left 

 

I had another cleaner approach me in the staff mealroom and say you me "George you really are a low B**"*"d" !!

 

But I was just giving realist facts .

 

 

Does it make you a different person ,your plans ,doing more before the 10 years is up ??

 

Do you actually realise your not going up be here in 10 years or are you a denier ???

 

My late father was the same ,he used to get angry when I told him 

You really are painful 

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

God is hope for those living. Living on earth is usually pain, loss, death. We as believers hope for a place to go to without all that pain. It's a lot better also than believing that all of the universe just happened to be, which is impossible to anyone with any sense. There are those that are naive and believe others who have theories. We also have a theory. It's called faith. And seeing al that has been created, not made from nothing.

I think and don't quote me on it,but I think religious believing people have longer lives .

 

I remember Herbert Armstrong I used to love him when I was a kid ,I think he was like 95 when he died