Why is 50 considered middle age?

[21pro]

When I studied demographics in high school geography middle age was considered 35-40 and I thought that was late.

If life expectancy in Canada is 71 for men, 73 for women, Why isn't middle age 30-40? Shouldn't that be when 'mid-life' crisis occur? It is, afterall, mid-life.

 

[a 1 player]

I fear I am going through my crisis now in my late 30's. I certainly don't expect to live to 100.

 

[Bear669]

Really?

When I studied demographics in high school geography middle age was considered 35-40 and I thought that was late.

If life expectancy in Canada is 71 for men, 73 for women, Why isn't middle age 30-40? Shouldn't that be when 'mid-life' crisis occur? It is, afterall, mid-life.

Got your math confused.

Young/ early adult- 0-40
Middle aged 40-60 (it isnt HALF its in the MIDDLE)
Old aged 60+

However, us boomers are getting heathier. Middle is now more 50-70.

 

[21pro]

perhaps you have proved my point.

middle age keeps getting pushed back... and it seems to be the boomers that are doing it.

i wonder if when a majority of the boomers find out that not many of them made it to above age seventy if middle age would be reset back to the ages 30-40?

in a weird way, it makes sense to me that 'middle age' was 13 years old in the middle of the greek empire ages... ie, when life expectancy was 28. they sure stood behind their 13 year old boys.

 

[Hard Idle]

Because 50 year olds don't want to hear that they're already three-quarters of the way through.

 

[Bear669]

I may not make it to 70...

perhaps you have proved my point.

middle age keeps getting pushed back... and it seems to be the boomers that are doing it.

i wonder if when a majority of the boomers find out that not many of them made it to above age seventy if middle age would be reset back to the ages 30-40?

in a weird way, it makes sense to me that 'middle age' was 13 years old in the middle of the greek empire ages... ie, when life expectancy was 28. they sure stood behind their 13 year old boys.

..but LOTS of boomers will. Obviously you are not up on recent stats on life expectancy. The number of 100+ is increasing rapidly, and medical changes on the horizon on going to push the maximum waaaay up.

 

[blaze69]

..but LOTS of boomers will. Obviously you are not up on recent stats on life expectancy. The number of 100+ is increasing rapidly, and medical changes on the horizon on going to push the maximum waaaay up.

does it really matter if you live that long? To me, its all about lifestyle and how much pain I'm in in those later years. Being athletic could be my downfall as my joints have been making weird noises since I was in my late teens.

I know it sounds bad if your 50+, but your old ass should be realizing that life is coming to an end and you should probably be getting everything in order. i.e finances, burial, all those bastard children that might be running around, etc.

 

[S.C. Joe]

I know it sounds bad if your 50+, but your old ass should be realizing that life is coming to an end and you should probably be getting everything in order. i.e finances, burial, all those bastard children that might be running around, etc.

Heck, everybody should do that.

Get a will written, think where you might want to be buried or your ashes laid.

Never know when your time may be up. Was reading the death notices today in the paper. 1 old lady was 100 years old but there was more in their 20's in there

Too bad it does not say how they died most the time.

 

[21pro]

Obviously you are not up on recent stats on life expectancy. The number of 100+ is increasing rapidly, and medical changes on the horizon on going to push the maximum waaaay up.

i don't buy this. in university we studied how this stat has not proved to be consistent from about 1983 to present... and since 1997 to 2001 figures have shown that life expectancy has decreased in the northern hemisphere, particularly north america.

however, if anything it doesn't mean much. 5 years is hardly enough to justify mediation for statistic purposes and it could just be ebb and flow abnormalities and such. fact remains, no one but a small percentage knows for certain how long they will live for. (those thinking of suicide, the terminally ill, or others marked for death) so, best to make the best of every day as if it may be your last. whatever that may mean for whoever.

i didn't want this to be a drab discussion... but it kinda went that way... oh well.

 

[JoyfulC]

What? 50 is middle aged?? Who says so???

Most of the 50-year-olds I know are downright juvenile, myself included.

..c..

 

[preciate it]

Life doesn't really start until you're 20. If it ends for all intents and purposes at about 75, then middle age is 46.

But I'm 43 and having my crisis now. Hence the hobby. Better than a strings-attached secret girlfriend and a sports car IMHO.

 

[Nickelodeon]

Middleage

I'm 55 and planning to live to 100. So 50 is close enough to middle age.

 

[arotkca2]

Got your math confused.

Young/ early adult- 0-40
Middle aged 40-60 (it isnt HALF its in the MIDDLE)
Old aged 60+

However, us boomers are getting heathier. Middle is now more 50-70.

The middle age thing is all out of whack now. I turn 63 next month and I plan to go backpacking again in Europe this summer. I just got an email from a couple in their 20's from Australia I worked with last year. They just returned home after travelling and say they are all tired out. They wonder where I get my energy.

YOUR AS OLD AS YOU FEEL

 

[Bear669]

Good for you!

The middle age thing is all out of whack now. I turn 63 next month and I plan to go backpacking again in Europe this summer. I just got an email from a couple in their 20's from Australia I worked with last year. They just returned home after travelling and say they are all tired out. They wonder where I get my energy.

YOU'RE AS OLD AS YOU FEEL

I am in the best shape I have been for decades. No lousy marriage, lost 60 lbs, steady exercise, skiing faster and longer than ever, and VERY motivated by great SPs. Thanks to modern medicine MSOG with MSPs can be great !

(ok not as great as 20 years ago, but the quality SPs make up for it)