The longest lifespans thing is a myth. The average lifespan was dragged down but the dramatically higher rates of death in childhood that humans used to have. As we all know from basic math, just a few small numbers significantly drag down an average.
People are living shorter, less healthier lives now; we're just better at keeping children alive.
Absolutely correct. It is embarrassing to hear people rave about how long we are living now...we are sickly, squishy snowflakes compared to earlier generations....largely thanks to companies like Coca Cola and a lack of personal responsibility for our own health.
You're mostly correct. Actually, counting only those who survived childhood, a greater percentage of people are indeed living to old age in recent times compared to the 1800's/medieval period/ancient romans/etc. But it's definitely true the differences in life expectancy now vs the past are mostly due to the high infant & child mortality rates that existed in the past, and if modern people could go back in time and visit, many of us would be surprised that elderly folk wouldn't be nearly as uncommon as assumed.
The longest lifespans thing is a myth. The average lifespan was dragged down but the dramatically higher rates of death in childhood that humans used to have. As we all know from basic math, just a few small numbers significantly drag down an average.
People are living shorter, less healthier lives now; we're just better at keeping children alive.
Absolutely correct. It is embarrassing to hear people rave about how long we are living now...we are sickly, squishy snowflakes compared to earlier generations....largely thanks to companies like Coca Cola and a lack of personal responsibility for our own health.
You're mostly correct. Actually, counting only those who survived childhood, a greater percentage of people are indeed living to old age in recent times compared to the 1800's/medieval period/ancient romans/etc. But it's definitely true the differences in life expectancy now vs the past are mostly due to the high infant & child mortality rates that existed in the past, and if modern people could go back in time and visit, many of us would be surprised that elderly folk wouldn't be nearly as uncommon as assumed.