Hacker News Reader

Is it perhaps a skill that is lost with age? Everyday I see online posts made by old people that show a complete lack of critical thinking ability. These are all relatively successful people, I imagine they couldn't have made it so far in life without critical thinking.

View on HN

And that raises the question, should people above a certain age stop being considered as adults and have their adult privileges taken away? Just like children who tend to lack critical thinking can't vote then why should people older than a certain age get to do it?

Note, this is not something that I necessarily agree with, especially because I know quite a few of old people (my ex-professors) who seem quite good with critical thinking.

If you want to ban people who can't think, add tests on thinking abilities. Age is a terrible proxy.

I totally agree, which is part of why I believe that age limitations on people who can vote is a bad idea.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com