• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    5 months ago

    Because that isn’t what dementia necessarily is. My father recognized me when he was down to doing child-level jigsaw puzzles and even though he had a much more primitive mind, he was still him in essence, that wasn’t gone. Not everything goes in every case.

    • yeahiknow3@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      Dementia is a spectrum of neuropathology, so you’ve effectively ignored my question. But ok, let’s go with your specific example. Why would you keep your father alive in such an undignified state? You’re describing him as playing with “child-level jigsaw puzzles,” meaning he’s barely sentient and someone has to wipe his ass, which is a horrifying indignity. Literally my idea of hell. Are you punishing him? Are you punishing yourself?

      Humans are supposed to transcend the mortal realm, so why this obsession with remaining alive even at the expense of everyone around you? I guess I’ll never get an answer.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        5 months ago

        Would I keep my father alive? No, because he’s not me. I thought we were talking about what I would do with my own life.

        And I gave you my answer- I don’t believe in an afterlife, so I don’t want to end my life unless it has to end. It’s not that you’ll never get an answer, it’s that you don’t like the answer you were given.

        • yeahiknow3@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          5 months ago

          And I gave you my answer- I don’t believe in an afterlife, so I don’t want to end my life unless it has to end.

          WHY? That’s what I’m asking you. You haven’t even attempted to answer this question.

          You don’t like the answer

          You haven’t given an answer, and my guess is you don’t have one. Perhaps the reason you would want to live, even with dementia, is a mystery to you. That’s fine, but just say so.