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A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

nytimes.com

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Re: A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

#41

Post by CodeCube »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #14
adrianN wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how many of the young people you connected with that way would come to sit by your side at your deathbed.

You'd be surprised. Its a small community. I know a half-dozen good, good friends I've made that way. Been invited to the wedding; worked with; been the guy they come to when troubled.

When I was in high school, we had an elderly man in the neighborhood. I don't even remember how, but my family befriended him, and before long me and my brother were going over to do yard chores for him, and listen to him talk about his time as a Jazz musician.

He was unfortunately estranged from his ex-wife and kids ... so as he approached his last days, my dad helped him with more and more things, including medical visits, etc. When he passed, he left him his car in his will. I still think about the guy from time to time.

Re: A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

#42

Post by toomuchtodo »

andygcook wrote: post #36

Elder loneliness is something I think about a lot. My grandparents on my father’s side are both 94. They’re also both hard of hearing. My grandpa had scarlett fever as a child and went almost deaf. He struggled through school and eventually got hearing aids in his 20’s. A huge improvement for him and every time he recounts that story he revels at the wonders of technology. I like to think my love of tech just runs in…

I just wanted to say you’re doing an awesome job by making them feel included as family, and that you’re a good person for making the effort. To those reading this, make the time and effort now. Life is a long time to have regrets about what you wish you had done.

My grandmother lives in a retirement community and 9 times out of 10, families never come to visit the people she knows in her circles.

The photos are perfect for non tech literate elders, and while I haven’t checked out your product while mobile, looking forward to checking it out this evening!

Re: A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

#43

Post by icc97 »

fallingfrog wrote: post #24

I think I tend towards the Aubrey de Grey point of view on this- it's not necessarily anything anyone is doing wrong here, it's more that these folks are living in dying bodies that can't do what they want them to do. If they were suddenly young again- they could go out, make new connections, start over. With that said, I do see the point that this is a western/capitalist phenomenon in the sense that capitalism encou…

I think it might come back to haunt the butterfly generation, where it's fun to fly off round the world. But then you rarely create connections that are deep enough to stay with you til your death bed.

Re: A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

#44

Post by gourou »

Japan's elderly population (25%) is much higher than any other OCDE country (14.5% for the US). Investment in robot assistants for the elderly hasn't been particularly fruitful, therefore Japan is slowly turning to immigration to take care of them.

https://data.oecd.org/pop/elderly-population.htm#indicator-c...

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/01/japan-prefers-robot-bear...

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/its-population-ages-...

Re: A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

#46

Post by Robotbeat »

dominotw wrote: post #6

I thinks its do or die time for me to have kids. postponed it too long. I don't want to die alone, old age is loooong. Reading this article and watching this random video put me in high key stress mode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Zxvr2NjDA&feature=youtu.be...

Why is this down-voted? This is a legitimate response to the topic and clearly a hearfelt one.

Re: A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

#47

Post by ghostcluster »

yodsanklai wrote: post #34

I didn't manage to finish this article. What is the point exactly? that it sucks to live very old and die? What is specific to Japan? Is it worse in Japan than let say in Germany, China or the US. What could we do to make this better?

I found it really well written. To answer your question though, the birth rate in Germany is even lower than Japan's, though I think Japan has been low longer.

Re: A Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death

#48

Post by icc97 »

yodsanklai wrote: post #39
autokad wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

having a child is for the parents, not the child. the parents happiness and goals comes first, not the child. its sad that people have forgotten that. the parents end up miserable, and guess who else will end up miserable? you guessed it, the child. wanting to have a child as to not be lonely in life is terrible? most kids are had for no reason at all, and its not terrible either. plus, I am pretty sure for 3 billion…

> having a child is for the parents, not the child Of course it's for the parents. You can't make a child "for the child", since it doesn't exist (and doesn't care) until you gave life to it. I don't have kids, and I've been told on several occasions that I was selfish for not doing so. Isn't it more selfish to have kids (who didn't ask for being born) for one's own joy?

I think the people telling you that you're being selfish are wrong.

However I don't think we can call having children a selfish act, it's pretty hard wired in us to do it. It's at least no more selfish than your average human.

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