Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail • Hacker News Board

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#31

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 8:25 AM UTC

mhd wrote: post #30

konart wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>do they not have cafes where strangers can socialize over a cheap cup of coffee or tea? Surely they have. But you have to order something and there is a good change you won't meet anyone of your age. If you come to a free clinic - you don't pay anything and you are immediately surrounded by people of your age (if we are talking about eldery as in this case).

Shared suffering is also a good conversation starter for the elderly. Some waiting rooms turn into a kind of Four Yorkshiremen sketch quickly. And yes, that's not good. The whole world hasn't quite come to terms yet with situation that we've got a whole lot of old people, neither with the healthy ones, nor the infirm ones. Given the sheer amount of both, there should be way more opportunities and organizations for th…

[deleted]

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#32

Post by rangibaby » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 8:28 AM UTC

innocentoldguy wrote: post #17

When I lived in Japan back in the 80s, doctor visits were basically free. They took all day though, partially because the elderly would go to the doctor to interact with other people, rather than for a real medical need, thus clogging up the system.

it's the same now, clinic visits are very cheap but you will end up waiting for 1-2 old people (if you are lucky!)

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#33

Post by coldtea » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 8:43 AM UTC

Annatar wrote: post #15

whitepoplar wrote: post #7

My parents are set to turn 70 next year and I worry so much about their wellbeing when they get older. My dad, in particular, is a generally happy person, but doesn't have many friends. I worry that if my mom passes before him, he's going to have a rough time. I feel guilty because I'm one of those children described in the article who moved to another city to chase economic + social activity.

From the article it looks like a much better and cheaper solution is to build retirement homes for the elderly. Is it feasible to write to one's political representative in Japan?

>Is it feasible to write to one's political representative in Japan?

Because that ever achieved anything in the US, except letting off steam?

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#34

Post by slavik81 » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 8:51 AM UTC

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #16

whitepoplar wrote: post #7

My parents are set to turn 70 next year and I worry so much about their wellbeing when they get older. My dad, in particular, is a generally happy person, but doesn't have many friends. I worry that if my mom passes before him, he's going to have a rough time. I feel guilty because I'm one of those children described in the article who moved to another city to chase economic + social activity.

We've all done it, and often had to, which is the root of the problem. When I was under 10, both sets of grandparents and four of five aunts and uncles were within 10 miles, most under 3. Now we're all over the place and a visit isn't a regular frequent thing but a major, rarer, trip. As I'm in my mid fifties some of the future looks rather bleak. Add longer life expectancy after retirement and for most, better menta…

Last I'd heard, American labour mobility had been declining for decades. In 2011, the percentage of US residents who moved to a different state for work was half the rate from 1991 [1]. Though, I'd be curious to see what the data looks like beyond those dates.

[1]: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2012/07/07/m...

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#35

Post by ivanche » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 8:56 AM UTC

distances wrote: post #20

expertentipp wrote: post #11

Just wait to see Central European countries in 15-20 years. Prisons are quite rough though, it’l rather impact suicide rates.

Care to expand a bit for us not familiar with the situation there?

Not the OP, but maybe I can give opinion. A lot of young (and often well educated) people are leaving to USA, Canada, Germany etc, taking their families with them too. For example, there are about 30K immigrants from Serbia to Germany each year. From Croatia to Germany it's about 50K per year. Significant number of them are doctors and nurses. Average salary (and consequently, pension) in most of central and eastern European countries is quite low, making nursing homes unaffordable. This, combined with the fact that a lot of children/relatives now live 1000+km away and that the prisons are, say, not well known for friendliness there makes situation quite dire for current and future pensioners there.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#36

Post by ndnxhs » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 9:10 AM UTC

konart wrote: post #25

benj111 wrote: post #22

So can anyone shed any light on why they're jailing people for such low value items?

Because stealing a car and stealing a pen - is the same thing. A pen given to me by my father 20 years ago can be of a bigger value for me than a fucking Porsche.

I don't think personal value counts in the legal system otherwise people would claim everything was a priceless family item.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#37

Post by ljf » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 9:16 AM UTC

Tyrannosaur wrote: post #13

I've imagined a world where prisons and homeless shelters look almost identical, save the prisons don't allow you to leave.

Look into prisons in Denmark - far closer to hostels or even universities halls of residence. So much so that they encourage you people to live in them too.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#38

Post by userulluipeste » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 9:28 AM UTC

devereaux wrote: post #2

1) human contact 2) room and board When pensioners or just any adult prefers jail to freedom, it makes you think we failed something as a society.

"When pensioners or just any adult prefers jail to freedom, it makes you think we failed something as a society."

I don't see any reason to take people like myself accountable for the current state of society I inherited from the now pensioner generation, so let me rephrase the last part: "it makes you think they failed something as a society."

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#39

Post by ekianjo » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 9:37 AM UTC

rangibaby wrote: post #32

innocentoldguy wrote: post #17

When I lived in Japan back in the 80s, doctor visits were basically free. They took all day though, partially because the elderly would go to the doctor to interact with other people, rather than for a real medical need, thus clogging up the system.

it's the same now, clinic visits are very cheap but you will end up waiting for 1-2 old people (if you are lucky!)

1 or 2 old people? You must be kidding. In a normal sized city where most people live you have at least 10 people in the waiting line every single day of the week and saturday too. Clinics and hospitals and Japan are completely inadequate and doctors mostly spend just 5 mins per patient which is ridiculous.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#40

Post by ekianjo » Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 9:40 AM UTC

konart wrote: post #27

newnewpdro wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This seems so strange to me, do they not have cafes where strangers can socialize over a cheap cup of coffee or tea?

>do they not have cafes where strangers can socialize over a cheap cup of coffee or tea? Surely they have. But you have to order something and there is a good change you won't meet anyone of your age. If you come to a free clinic - you don't pay anything and you are immediately surrounded by people of your age (if we are talking about eldery as in this case).

Its not in free clinics, its Day Care where old people go to in Japan to spend time with planned activities.