• wjrii@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      Dude is very possibly a boomer, or I guess Gen X, douchebag, but he’s not necessarily much past 60. He looks like hell because he just totaled his midlife crisis car in memeworthy fashion and had half a dozen airbags explode in his face.

    • NottaLottaOcelot@lemmy.ca
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      9 hours ago

      That’s a bit dehumanizing. Some people go grey early in life and the guy is probably crumpled over because he’s in shock. Someone with long grey hair deserves to be part of society as much as anyone else.

      Second, I can sympathize with older people who avoid giving up their licenses. We have built an individualistic society that expects everyone to fend for themselves. It would be difficult to find/pay a driver every time you need something at the store, have a medical appointment, want to get your hair cut, want to take a walk by the water, etc. Even if they had the social network for it, they’d feel like a nuisance. Nobody wants to close the chapter on the independent part of their life, even when it is time.

      • MinnesotaGoddam@lemmy.world
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        2 hours ago

        It would be difficult to find/pay a driver every time you need something at the store, have a medical appointment, want to get your hair cut, want to take a walk by the water, etc.

        can confirm. i’m disabled, and I really shouldn’t be driving given all the medications i’m on. I have to plan two days ahead to get all my meds timed right if I want to drive a car, and I basically have to trade pain management for alertness. So I’m awake and tetchy if i’m driving.

        my car weighs 3000 pounds. my bike was already 75 pounds before I slapped a motor on her. Together we’re about 300 pounds of rolling furry. We top out at 30mph, 20 if i’m not going down a hill. If i’m going to fuck up and cause an accident in traffic because my consciousness is altered, i’m the only one getting hurt.

      • dismay3915@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        Both my grandpas gave up their driving licenses this year after nearly killing themselves and other people, and were devastated. So I definitely understand how it feels. But they might’ve killed people. We really had to talk them through not driving anymore. Old people really must understand it’s not about them, it’s about the safety an life of others. I hope I remember that when I get old.

        • NottaLottaOcelot@lemmy.ca
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          6 hours ago

          Yeah I agree that it’s a hard thing, even when it is ultimately the best thing for society. I think in our minds, we are always our best selves with the same capabilities as we have already had. It’s hard to accept if your reflex time is no longer adequate or if you aren’t as strong as you were before…even worse to accept it when dementia is involved.

          I hope I’ll be able to set my life up to allow me to give up my drivers licence when the time comes, but I totally get why it is such a struggle for some. It’s going to involve moving to a more walkable area for me, and that’s got a big price tag that many can’t afford.