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72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

washingtonpost.com

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Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#91

Post by grogenaut »

onion2k wrote: post #51
wolverine876 wrote: post #7

A major problem in our society is that '72-year-old' is in the headline. If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. Not only does the world change under your feet, you need that stimulation just to stay healthy. We ruin the talent, economic value, and freedom and opportunity of a very large portion of the population by dimissing the growth of anyone in late middle-age or later. 72 years old shouldn't be remar…

If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. What's wrong with retiring and living out your last years peacefully relaxing with your hobbies and family? There's absolutely no reason why people have to continually grow until they're in the ground. You're applying an adage about companies to people, but companies need to fight against inflation, and people don't.

The person in question is a Congressman, I want those people always learning, being curious, evaluating deeply what they're voting on. This person knows the law and how it's made, having them know a lot more about tech is not a bad thing.

But hobbies are still learning. But as soon as my mom stopped with hobbies and learning she started a steep mental decline. So "get busy living or get busy dying" does seem to apply.

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#92

Post by treve »

wolverine876 wrote: post #7

A major problem in our society is that '72-year-old' is in the headline. If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. Not only does the world change under your feet, you need that stimulation just to stay healthy. We ruin the talent, economic value, and freedom and opportunity of a very large portion of the population by dimissing the growth of anyone in late middle-age or later. 72 years old shouldn't be remar…

I'm late 30's and suspect you are also not 70, so I don't know if I'm correct about this, but I suspect that not wanting growth and change at 70 might also be natural and not just social pressure.

But regardless I'm very curious how the internet generation will be later in life. I hope I have less anxiety and pressure!

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#93

Post by Dalewyn »

grogenaut wrote: post #91
onion2k wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. What's wrong with retiring and living out your last years peacefully relaxing with your hobbies and family? There's absolutely no reason why people have to continually grow until they're in the ground. You're applying an adage about companies to people, but companies need to fight against inflation, and people don't.

The person in question is a Congressman, I want those people always learning, being curious, evaluating deeply what they're voting on. This person knows the law and how it's made, having them know a lot more about tech is not a bad thing. But hobbies are still learning. But as soon as my mom stopped with hobbies and learning she started a steep mental decline. So "get busy living or get busy dying" does seem to apply…

Keeping yourself busy with something is by far the most effective way of preventing or at least delaying/slowing mental decline. The brain needs exercise just like the rest of the body to stay healthy.

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#94

Post by quattrofan »

onion2k wrote: post #51
wolverine876 wrote: post #7

A major problem in our society is that '72-year-old' is in the headline. If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. Not only does the world change under your feet, you need that stimulation just to stay healthy. We ruin the talent, economic value, and freedom and opportunity of a very large portion of the population by dimissing the growth of anyone in late middle-age or later. 72 years old shouldn't be remar…

If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. What's wrong with retiring and living out your last years peacefully relaxing with your hobbies and family? There's absolutely no reason why people have to continually grow until they're in the ground. You're applying an adage about companies to people, but companies need to fight against inflation, and people don't.

Because there are numerous studies showing how "retirement" in the form of sitting around doing nothing shortens the length and quality of your remaining years.

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#95

Post by AussieWog93 »

Barrin92 wrote: post #84
onion2k wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. What's wrong with retiring and living out your last years peacefully relaxing with your hobbies and family? There's absolutely no reason why people have to continually grow until they're in the ground. You're applying an adage about companies to people, but companies need to fight against inflation, and people don't.

>What's wrong with retiring and living out your last years peacefully relaxing with your hobbies and family? in reality it's a lot less enticing than it sounds. Younger family tends to move on with their own life, and spouses and older relatives tend to die once you get old. Working in older age gives you a wide social circle, stimulation and purpose that is desperately needed if you want to stay healthy and especial…

I'm going to assume based on your username that you're about the same age as me (30ish).

This is far from universal, and I can personally name quite a few people who have absolutely avoiding rotting in old age through participation in local community - makerspaces, bridge clubs, Rotary and more.

The family moving away and leaving the older generation to rot is also far from the global norm. Even in Western countries, Asians, Islanders and Africans (among other groups) maintain strong familial bonds until the day they die.

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#96

Post by dx034 »

treve wrote: post #92
wolverine876 wrote: post #7

A major problem in our society is that '72-year-old' is in the headline. If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. Not only does the world change under your feet, you need that stimulation just to stay healthy. We ruin the talent, economic value, and freedom and opportunity of a very large portion of the population by dimissing the growth of anyone in late middle-age or later. 72 years old shouldn't be remar…

I'm late 30's and suspect you are also not 70, so I don't know if I'm correct about this, but I suspect that not wanting growth and change at 70 might also be natural and not just social pressure. But regardless I'm very curious how the internet generation will be later in life. I hope I have less anxiety and pressure!

It's fine to stop learning at some point. But that's for when you're retired. As long as you still opt to work (and a congressman definitely had the option to retire), you also have to keep up with the world.

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#97

Post by AussieWog93 »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #67
2000UltraDeluxe wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I consider anything past 70 to be a bonus. If I make it for a few more years than that and I feel like studying, then why not? I mean, I probably won't want to, but if that guy want to study then good on him!

I’m really worried about existential depression at and beyond that age. Hopefully there are some (legal) drugs for that, I don’t really trust my own mind to get me through that (and after 70, I’m not really worried about a substance dependency).

How old are you now? Just wondering how worried I need to be when I get to your age. :P

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#99

Post by seanmcdirmid »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #97
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m really worried about existential depression at and beyond that age. Hopefully there are some (legal) drugs for that, I don’t really trust my own mind to get me through that (and after 70, I’m not really worried about a substance dependency).

How old are you now? Just wondering how worried I need to be when I get to your age. :P

47. Right now I’m only worried about being depressed rather than actually there. It’s existential dread about existential dread…so very meta.

Re: 72-year-old Congressman pursues a Master's in AI

#100

Post by Stratoscope »

wolverine876 wrote: post #7

A major problem in our society is that '72-year-old' is in the headline. If you are not growing, you are declining or dead. Not only does the world change under your feet, you need that stimulation just to stay healthy. We ruin the talent, economic value, and freedom and opportunity of a very large portion of the population by dimissing the growth of anyone in late middle-age or later. 72 years old shouldn't be remar…

> A major problem in our society is that '72-year-old' is in the headline.

I turn 71 next month, and I am grateful that the congressman's age is mentioned in the headline. I think it's awesome!

As someone who also works in "AI" (the scare quotes are deliberate, as the specific work I do is more about keeping our code easy to maintain and well tested and reliable, and dealing with the outside systems we work with), I am glad that I am not the only "older" person working in the field.

I'm not saying this to disagree with you, but to agree. It should be the norm that people the age of Congressman Beyer and myself can contribute, just like anyone else.

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