Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

washingtonpost.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 142 posts

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

#101

Post by rhplus »

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.

An American man of 72 in average health has a mean life expectancy of 85, but that stretches to 97 for 72 year olds in the 95th percentile. So this Congressman might be staring down 25 years or a quarter of his life at the age of 72. That’s a long time to be relaxing. Good for him.

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

#102

Post by AussieWog93 »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #99
AussieWog93 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

>It’s existential dread about existential dread…so very meta.

Is that the definition of a mid-life crisis?

I'll see you in a decade and a half, I guess. :)

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

#103

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

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

#104

Post by cm2187 »

pleb_nz wrote: post #63
cm2187 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They may not be competitive against folks 20+ years younger than themselves that's kind of my point. Of course they can compete against other 72 year olds.

Why does it have to be a competition. Shouldn't it be about being able to help and contribute. Too much focus on efficiency and not enough on well being of society as a whole. 80 year olds with a desire can still contribute. It doesn't have to be in competition with 20 years.

My point isn't the competition, it is the fact that there is a physical decline with age that no amount of training can offset, which you can observe if you compare to a 20yo. I think it is the same with the brain. And like for every large population it is a distribution, there are always outliers. But not many.

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

#105

Post by bmitc »

aliswe wrote: post #83
bmitc wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get what you’re saying, but I think it’s a little too much to call it a “major problem”. Getting a master’s degree is a ceremonial task that has basically no meaning other than what certain jobs may require or want, usually jobs at the beginning of one’s career. Getting a master’s at 72 is kind of weird I think, since he could just as easily learn the material without the degree by taking selective courses. Getting…

I understand that you're kind of taking the middle ground here, but still this is not short of gatekeeping.

My comment is not gatekeeping at all. Good for the congressman. I'm just of the opinion that the mention of the age isn't really that big of a deal. "Person goes to university" isn't exactly a remarkable headline. Getting a master's at 72 is rare not because of gatekeeping but because it's just not common, for a myriad of reasons.

My overall opinion is more of: getting the master's degree is just not worth it over taking classes unless he has a need for the degree, and I have the same opinion for myself and others at a much younger age.

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

#106

Post by bmitc »

irrational wrote: post #73
bmitc wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get what you’re saying, but I think it’s a little too much to call it a “major problem”. Getting a master’s degree is a ceremonial task that has basically no meaning other than what certain jobs may require or want, usually jobs at the beginning of one’s career. Getting a master’s at 72 is kind of weird I think, since he could just as easily learn the material without the degree by taking selective courses. Getting…

I know a guy that started nursing school in his late 60s after retiring. He has now worked as a nurse for more than 10 years and is loving it. It’s never too late to start a second (or third) career. My father is in his mid 70s and has been boarded in pathology and emergency medicine for most of his adult life. Recently he decided to get boarded in genetic medicine and start a new medical career.

And? That's all great, but it's not common. And the congressman seems to intend to remain a congressman.

I don't think it's too late for anything, within reason, but I also don't think it's a massive problem in society that the congressman's late age is mentioned.

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

#107

Post by bmitc »

BatFastard wrote: post #77
bmitc wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get what you’re saying, but I think it’s a little too much to call it a “major problem”. Getting a master’s degree is a ceremonial task that has basically no meaning other than what certain jobs may require or want, usually jobs at the beginning of one’s career. Getting a master’s at 72 is kind of weird I think, since he could just as easily learn the material without the degree by taking selective courses. Getting…

As a 65 year old, I might argue that my mental faculties have changed, not necessarily lessened. I can't juggle 5 mental balls anymore, but I just write down what I need which is probably better. I play poker with some 90 year old's, and they are damn sharp. Some people get dimmer with age, many continue to shine. Getting a degree is a more traditional route, which older people tend to pursue. But he might be doing i…

I understand personal anecdotes and am glad you're in good health, but they don't negate biology.

https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news...

I'm getting older too, and I understand the change comment. But I do sense a decrease in "oomph", so to speak, particularly when it comes to recollection of things I used to recall instantly.

Maybe this better belongs in another comment, but in a way, it's nice the age is included in the article as maybe it could inspire others of similar age to do similar things. I have been trying to get my mom to take some online classes.

> Getting a degree is a more traditional route, which older people tend to pursue. But he might be doing it for show partly since he is a politician.

That might be part of it. Saying "I got a degree" has more impact I suppose to politicians than "I took some classes".

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

#108

Post by M3L0NM4N »

dbish wrote: post #16

Master’s in CS with a concentration in AI is a better description. Cool to see a representative actually learning about the tech instead of just having legal education which is sadly far too common (same focus as my MS in CS though that was 10+ years ago and things have changed just a little on the AI side)

As someone considering my MS in CS with a focus in AI, I gotta ask you why you did it, and was it worth it for your career? Would greatly appreciate the insight, thanks.

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

#109

Post by 082349872349872 »

ngoilapites wrote: post #40
weakfortress wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does "learning in maturity" change from regular learning? Why do you need a book? Just go find something and learn it...the system couldn't be simpler.

When you reach 40s you will see...

I'm well past 40s and haven't seen? (There are some days when I don't learn anything, but that only happens if I'm really, really careful.)
Post reply on HN