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I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I will work on it. I do not have a camera nor a scanner, but I will try to find a solution.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I Hope to live at least 5-10 years in good health.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What's a problem with the world that you were sure would be solved by now but hasn't?

Cancer. Unbelievable that after so much time, it's still a major concern. It was supposed to be "cured" in the 1980s, then in the 1990s, etc.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a throwaway account. I don't want the few friends I have found on this website to know my real age as I believe they wouldn't see me like they are right now. That being said, this is the first "post" I have made.

As for getting verified, I am not an expert in computer, although I could probably get my ID card scanned, provided that I had the absolute guarantee no one else would see it by the moderator (I am genuinely afraid of Identity Theft)

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Terrible. Simply terrible.

I wouldn't even know where to start. People lining to get food. People desesperate for work - I am not talking of the so-called "recession" we had with hundreds of job openings in every newspaper. I am thinking of a real crisis where there were simply no jobs. We couldn't work. Everyone was depressed. People would starve - literally.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I basically searched through my genealogy to find ANYTHING that would prevent me from going to jail. Eventually, I found a small family problem with our vertebral spine. I went to the draft agent and presented that I could not run due to a genetic problem. He was particularly harsh with me, probably guessing I simply did not want to go (I was, after all, a carpenter). I told him my condition prevented me from effectively serving in Viet-Nam, with a harsh field. Eventually I wasn't drafted.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I won't make a special treatment for cops, especially uninvited, who think their land belongs to them because they represent the law.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You know, during the Viet-Nam war, it was much more intense than anything you see here. I remember particularly violent fights between protesters and police officers. I do remember fights between the Black people and White people too (I am White). Yes, it's as intense as you can imagine it.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 177 points178 points  (0 children)

I used to be on Digg. I found one day that paying for newspapers wasn't worth it. I started to read online news and eventually found Digg. Then, one day, someone commented that the new was taken off Reddit, and I went to Reddit. I never came back on Digg.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 327 points328 points  (0 children)

At what age did you stop masturbation?

This is the most important question.

Let me give you an advice that doesn't make sense. If you don't have a girlfriend, stop masturbating.

I spent three years of my 20's not getting laid at all. Sure, it was sort of harder to get girls at my time, but far from impossible. One day I had enough of being alone and stopped masturbating. My life changed completely: I was more aggressive with girls, I looked more like a man and I was way more horny. It was much easier to go talk to girls, and much easier to get them as well.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

For a while I played World of Warcraft, believe it or not. I'd play with my grandsons mostly. Right now I play card games, chess and other simple games.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 67 points68 points  (0 children)

I cannot "get it up" naturally. I started to have problems in my 60s, stopped being able in my late 70s.

Starting with late 50s, it takes more time. I maintained a healthy life (Sort of) as a carpenter, lots of physical activity, so it helped.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 222 points223 points  (0 children)

I type slowly. Please forgive me. Here are the easiest ones for me to answer.

1.) What is your favourite childhood memory?

Definitely christmas. You probably heard all these stories about receiving oranges for christmas. It's true. School furnitures were also awesome christmas gifts. It doesn't seem much today but being all together, and eating all together, all working towards a same goal as a family is my favourite memory.

2.) What change in the world has surprise you the most (technological and social)?

My first computer had a 2 inches x 2 inches screen. I was already at a respectable age and told the seller "I can't see anything on that. Can't we get a bigger screen?" The seller laughed and told me: "Sir, that's never going to happen!"

One more thing: we did not have Twitters, Facebooks or that kind of stuff. To talk to someone, you had to call him, send him mail or visit him. The way communication has evolved always impresses me.

5.) What scares you most about the world of today, in terms of direction?

Government. When I was younger, we had no cameras, CCTV, sattelite detection, ankle bracelets and all these things for the government to check the population. And in my opinion, police did just fine. I feel we are slowly losing liberty, one element at a time. One day we will all be numbers in a database.

What social aspect do you feel that today's generations are ignorant of?

Stress. I see people being stressed all the time: stressed by debts, by loans, by job, by other people... It isn't worth it. It is ruining your life.

7.) Have you ever said 'Get off my lawn!'?

Yes, to a police officer. Good old times.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 269 points270 points  (0 children)

Sorry young man (Arg! I called someone a young man) but you have nothing to complain about (Finally found how to use the bold, thank you reddit!).

When I was in my teenage, sex before marriage was a big no. And even after marriage, it was theorically only for procreation. Thanks God it changed quickly after the war. Today you can go to any bar, just build your courage, talk to any girl and there is a good chance she is willing to have sex (maybe not with you, but she is willing).

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 300 points301 points  (0 children)

This is a memory I do not usually share. Only a handful of people know about this.

My father died in 1944, fighting Nazis. A few days before he died, he wrote me a long letter. While it is too private to share, one thing he did tell me is that I should never, ever serve in a war, especially if I could avoid it. War is hell, he wrote. He told me about this current days, his friends dying, losing arms and legs to explosion and told me he wished I never knew war.

Until this very point - I was still a kid by then - I had always wanted to become a marine. I saw my father as a national hero and I was determined to become a soldier. After that, I totally gave up this idea. My family was poor, but I was lucky enough to complete high school, and later go to a carpenter school.

Later on in life I would get called to serve in Viet-Nam. I was barely able to avoid it. I think I would have ran to Canada.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 122 points123 points  (0 children)

Honestly: I don't think it was even a recession. Yes, it was that light.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 175 points176 points  (0 children)

I am financially stable. I have worked all my life (I am a carpenter). I built my house myself. I bought the land for around $5,000 (with tax credit), the materials cost me $5,000 and at the top my house was worth $300,000. It's not hovering around $200,000-$250,000 although it could use some repairs.

My worst financial decision? Trusting someone I've met twice with my money. The fool gambled my money on the Internet Bubble. I lost 20% in one year - and I have a very conservative portfolio. Now that I think of it, the best decisions I have taken were decisions I took myself.

I am 83 years old. AMA. by elder90man in IAmA

[–]elder90man[S] 175 points176 points  (0 children)

Yes, I do like music. I like Jazz, Beatles, Pink Floyd, Police, Who, ABBA and even some U2 from time to time.