Comments on: U of M research: Teens who believe they’ll die young are more likely to engage in risky behavior

By: noodleman

noodleman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:30:35 +0000

Back when I was 25, the idea of reaching 30 was difficult. It had become culturally ingrained in us (the Boomers) that over-30 meant a person was over-the-hill.

Actually, life got more fun after 30.

How much of this inner turmoil and inner angst is the result of current event?

I’m amazed at all the carp we lived thru and, most of the time, without ever thinking the world would really end: Cuban missile crisis (only 4+ hours to nuclear war we late found out), Vietnam, 6-Day War, political assassinations and attempts (JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X, Geo. Wallace, Ford), oil embargo, Yom Kippur War, Fall of Saigon (huge loss of face for the US), rampant inflation, double-digit interest rates, etc., etc.

By: baker

baker — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Perhaps.
Seems like a fairly safe study to take on.

By: justpbob

justpbob — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:08:29 +0000

Self-fulfilling prophecy.

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:06:00 +0000

empirical observation?

By: baker

baker — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:04:48 +0000

So this notion that one will die young…

Culturally taught? Learned from parents?

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:20 +0000

You don’t think social scientists have ways of controlling for that kind of thing rat?

By: Rat

Rat — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:48:13 +0000

That’s a confusing bit of research.

And a kid will tell you anything.

“I think I’m gonna die young.”

“OK, I’ll write that down.”

By: noodleman

noodleman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:48:59 +0000

Here's the Jezebel link, FYI, with some additional info.