What bothers me aren't so much the adults on the flight. They've more or less lived full lives, especially the ones from the US. What eats me is thinking that there were two babies on that flight =(
After re-reading my comment, let me elaborate. I do feel bad for the adults but maybe after reading world news regularly I just feel numb. If I didn't, I'd be constantly depressed. Yet I just feel horrible for the two babies.
Why? The first years of life aren't disproportionately more valuable than the last.
Adults have a few decades of experiencing life over babies. Infants have just started. I'm personally not very sure of the existence of an afterlife to make up for it.
Does that really imply that they've lived "more" than everyone else on the aircraft?
It implies that they've had a better standard of living, a fuller life than most people in the world. You know 40-60 hour work weeks, clean air, cleaner water, hot water... stuff like that. I've lived outside of the US in 3rd world countries in South East Asia as well as other parts. The standards of living in the US is way better than China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. So yes (except for other people from developed countries)
You realize that once you are dead it makes no difference how long you were alive right? When you are dead there is no inherent regret that you didn't live longer. Whether you were 67 or 3, you're still dead--the end result is the same. No one life is more valuable than the next. Think about that before you make any more short sighted comments.
I know you're speaking philosophically, but that's not true in every context like a wrongful death lawsuit. The younger you are, the more your life is worth. The higher your earnings bracket, the more your life is worth.
That's a horribly insensitive comment. If Mr. Wood were your husband, son, or sibling I seriously doubt you'd feel that way. Also, why is an American adult's life any less valuable than any other age or nationality? You should think before you post next time.
That is not what I meant especially since I'm an American myself. I meant that there's a much higher probability that he probably lived a great, full life since he's from the US (like France, NZ, or Canada). That's all most people would hope for before they die. I was trying to be optimistic. Thoughts like that are a mental defense for me against spiraling into never ending sadness. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for babies.
I will try to be more careful next time and better elaborate my thoughts. When you're sad, you tend not to think as straight. Also, at least I don't use throwaway accounts.
Hey, I understand what you are saying. I loose my nerve beyond control when I see someone hitting a helpless kid or an orphan urchin. In comparison my anger is substantially when I see some douche-bag passing comments or harassing a grown up girl. Blame me for being partial but that's how my emotions work.
Comments
What bothers me aren't so much the adults on the flight. They've more or less lived full lives, especially the ones from the US. What eats me is thinking that there were two babies on that flight =(
Why? The first years of life aren't disproportionately more valuable than the last.
Does that really imply that they've lived "more" than everyone else on the aircraft?
After re-reading my comment, let me elaborate. I do feel bad for the adults but maybe after reading world news regularly I just feel numb. If I didn't, I'd be constantly depressed. Yet I just feel horrible for the two babies.
Adults have a few decades of experiencing life over babies. Infants have just started. I'm personally not very sure of the existence of an afterlife to make up for it.
It implies that they've had a better standard of living, a fuller life than most people in the world. You know 40-60 hour work weeks, clean air, cleaner water, hot water... stuff like that. I've lived outside of the US in 3rd world countries in South East Asia as well as other parts. The standards of living in the US is way better than China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. So yes (except for other people from developed countries)
The ones from the US, as opposed to Canada, France or New Zealand? What a bizarre thing to say.
ok I meant "especially from the US (or any other industrialized Western county like Canada, France, or NZ)." See my other comments for more context.
You realize that once you are dead it makes no difference how long you were alive right? When you are dead there is no inherent regret that you didn't live longer. Whether you were 67 or 3, you're still dead--the end result is the same. No one life is more valuable than the next. Think about that before you make any more short sighted comments.
I know you're speaking philosophically, but that's not true in every context like a wrongful death lawsuit. The younger you are, the more your life is worth. The higher your earnings bracket, the more your life is worth.
Yeah, the unfortunate thing is after one dies it's "nothing", not even a black hole or vacuum. It's just nothing.
That's a horribly insensitive comment. If Mr. Wood were your husband, son, or sibling I seriously doubt you'd feel that way. Also, why is an American adult's life any less valuable than any other age or nationality? You should think before you post next time.
That is not what I meant especially since I'm an American myself. I meant that there's a much higher probability that he probably lived a great, full life since he's from the US (like France, NZ, or Canada). That's all most people would hope for before they die. I was trying to be optimistic. Thoughts like that are a mental defense for me against spiraling into never ending sadness. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for babies.
I will try to be more careful next time and better elaborate my thoughts. When you're sad, you tend not to think as straight. Also, at least I don't use throwaway accounts.
Hey, I understand what you are saying. I loose my nerve beyond control when I see someone hitting a helpless kid or an orphan urchin. In comparison my anger is substantially when I see some douche-bag passing comments or harassing a grown up girl. Blame me for being partial but that's how my emotions work.