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anthracite
· 1 year ago
· FIRST
In the Netherlands, our youngest prime ministers were 43 when elected (our current PM was one of them). Our oldest, 62
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guest_
· 1 year ago
I have mixed feelings. I worked with a man in his 80’s when I was young whom was a literal technology genius who wrote the books that a generation of the “great inventors” of his field were educated on. He was old and not quick always etc. but he was sharp. He remembered little important details of projects he’d done decades before and was the “go to” guy for unsolvable problems and “impossible” jobs, and he was an amazing teacher and mentor trying to ready those who came after him. He retired close to 90 and they tried to keep him as a consultant but his wife said she was done with late nights and long trips and wanted her husband back lol. But older people can be great workers. That said- I won’t say they are “better” than younger workers because younger workers can be great too. A young genius becomes an old genius and most workers are not geniuses so it isn’t fair to compare a poor worker of any age to a genius of their field.
guest_
· 1 year ago
So I do get torn there and don’t necessarily agree that being older means you are incapable. My opinions have changed as I aged lol, but it isn’t all bias. That said- I think it is terrible that we have people who are much older in leadership roles and such that are shaping a future they won’t be here for and things in the present that don’t impact them. Generally speaking abortion isn’t an issue a 60+ year old person will likely need to make a personal choice about. Climate change and the balance of the economy in 20,40 years aren’t issues for a 60+ year old- those who are 20 and younger will live in the world at that time. So old people are spending their last decades to create the world they want to live in, so they can die or be infirmed when it’s finally here and young people are forced to live in it. That seems wrong.
guest_
· 1 year ago
That said- old people are valuable. I’m not just saying that because I’m old lol. It’s something I’ve believed since relatively young, once I was mature-ish. Maybe around my 30’s(?) And realized I didn’t know it all and old people weren’t just obsolete. The experience and wisdom of many (not all) old people can be helpful in guiding the young and helping them avoid repeating mistakes. Some mistakes we have to make ourselves, and if against all council we choose to risk a mistake it should be our life to live, but… I’d need more comments than I want to use to even explain it to those who don’t already “get it” from experience- you really do tend to gain some perspective as you age and your priorities shift and the biology driving certain decisions etc. tends to cool down and you feel established. I think a balance of young passion and energy with old wisdom and caution can be great. All things in balance.
