Horrifying numbers of Americans will not make it to old age

Re:Horrifying numbers of Americans will not make it to old age by mrguyorama on Wednesday August 02, 2023 @03:07PM (#36975547)

Or, people are in more despair in these areas because they have been dying since the 90s. I escaped a rural town for exactly that reason. If I didn't have a way out, and had to "live a life" in that town for 60 years, I'd probably have ended up offing myself.

It used to be you could get a random job and live an average life which could give you time to develop hobbies and have friends and do enjoyable things, as well as just be less stressed, but now rural areas are half welfare and half people working themselves to death for the most basic life imaginable to americans.

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Re:Horrifying numbers of Americans will not make it to old age by shrimp_emoji on Wednesday August 02, 2023 @05:14PM (#36977589)

Night in the Woods explores the ennui of a dying small factory town. D: That opened my eyes to it since I have zero real life experience.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Horrifying numbers of Americans will not make it to old age by bagacrap on Wednesday August 02, 2023 @07:08PM (#36979123)

I think the difference is what's considered "average". I'm pretty sure the average rural life has always been somewhat unexciting and hard, and that hasn't changed. Now you can compare your life to the urban/modern folks more easily due to social media and other wonders of the modern age. The definition of "average" has shifted to include things that are out of your reach.

But if you're right and it's all about the availability of jobs, then the rise of remote work should soon revive these rural areas.

[ Parent | on HN ]