h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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So worrisome... so true....



Anyhoo... About getting older... I do fondly remember this realisation I had in my early 30's: I am now comfortable with the knowledge that I'm not as smart now as I thought I was then. When I was fresh out of high school I was idealistic and thought I knew everything. That made me overly opinionated. I'm still opinionated today, but I know better than to automatically think I'm right. I now listen to others more because I know how wrong I've been about some things in the past.

You can't tell young people anything really important. They have to learn some things by experience. We "older folks" now have that experience. We know you can't "jump start" life lessons. All we can do for the younger generations is calmly tell them what they're about to get into fully knowing that they'll ignore us anyway.


And as far as that sleeping aid... It's sold here in the states by the name of Ambien. The adverts ask if you want to "quiet your restless mind". When you have insomnia that sounds brilliant. Otherwise it sounds very scary. I think it may be a very helpful drug for short term use but the adverts I see seem to be advocating long term use. Worrisome.

I suppose meditation, being free, non-prescription, without side-effects, and non-addictive, wouldn't make it past the FDA?

B

Oh, hell no! No one earns exorbitant profits from meditation you silly rabbit!

Well, I find that the best guarantee of a sound night's sleep is a damned good...

What's all this mediation, meditation and medication.
One of the nice things about getting old, when you are older, is that you can have a nap any time.

To be honest Zopiclone is fairly benign and if you get to a stage where you can't sleep without it you don't come to any harm. It's just frustrating that you're effectively addicted to a drug.

One of the nice things about being a grown up is being able to go to bed when you want! and not wanting to because life's just too full of things I'm enjoying doing.

You are growing older from the moment you are born.
School days are the happiest days of you life.
Life begins a 40
The thread is boundless.
Come on Ben - Older than what ?
How does Zopiclone react with Viagra ?

Sorry. Next time I write a journal entry I'll define scope, paramaters, on-topic discussion points and off-topic discussion points.

My mistake.

Ben

- Obviously my mistake.
As you say it is 'your' journal and the journal of a mature lady.
I stand repremanded.

*snigger*

Coming into this comlpetely fresh and taking into account the topic line and first comment line.

I feel that I'm just older and more understanding of how I affect my life more than I used to.

Yes, I want that DVD = Inability to buy food.

Yes, I want to have horizontal hockey with him/her/it = I might get arrested.

When you're 12 and getting £3 pocket money, you don't really understand how important your decisions can be nor do you have the responsibility for their outcome.

Sometimes I think I need to have a lie down.

Well, never mind, Ancient Brit. I thought your posts were quite light-hearted and funny. Certainly nothing to snigger at!

Of course, there is a big difference between just getting older and becoming more mature.

I think one of the 'getting older' things for me that is nice is that you can see things repeating themselves and decide if you really want to 'take that ride' again. You know, been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. . .

az

I was only sniggering at the thoguht of Ben being a mature lady .

I have to say that I've never been entirely comfortable with being called a 'mature student'.

Mature? Me? 'Middle-aged big kid student', more like...

azahar. - One thing that old age and maturity have in common is the sense not to go on and add insult to injury.
You are right. Sometimes it is nice to be given a second chance, especially with hindsight.

Okay, being young (34) I read the intro and skimmed the rest over a rum and ginger; I don't think getting old is good in our society; andI think we need to change that; I can't believe I am helping the baby boomers out here; the boomers who stole our jobs, etc, etc, but it is true; no one revears the elderly the way they should; getting old should be okay; but I am terrified of it; diapers and all the rest. But worse, at least in Canada, or Ottawa where I live,no one values them; oh, that was then, this is now; what do THEY know; perhaps in an older country, Europe, Asia,it is different; though I hear in Asia they have robots to babysit the elderly to notify family when they die; Good Grief! I don't even want to START on THAT! How different are cultures, I wonder with age? My theory is, that if the leaders of the world were all wise WOMEN; yes the FEMALE, there would be no war and no poverty; women are the caretakers of the world and all would be well; all old men and we would be mostly too tired or forgetful to fight but someone would be sharp and bitter enough to instigate SOMETHING. Well, perhaps I have digressed from this thread but I have had a jolly time writting it!
Take care and good health and a good old age - diaper free!- to all!
Drifted Snow.

I suspect you're probably right that more women in positions of power would mean a more compassionate society. Trouble is that we in Britain have had just one female Prime Minister, and Margaret Thatcher did more to promote inequality, social division and merciless capitalism that any other Briton in living memory. And if women are the peace-loving caretakers of the world, shouldn't someone tell Condoleezza Rice?

Come on, Snow - inverted sexism provides no more valuable insight than the usual sort.

Indeed! And can I also add Indira Ghandi and Golda Meir?

Doubtless someone will counter 'Ah...put they were women who had to act as men to get on in political life.' This is an example of what is known in philosophy as the 'No True Scotsman' fallacy, viz:
'All Scotsmen are drunkards and wife-beaters'
'Nonsense! Look at McTavish. He never touches a drop and is always kind to his wife.'
'Ahh...but McTavish is no true Scotsman.'