Here Is A Thought That Will Provoke

[dave50]

Consider if the virus eventually wipes out most of the ill, infirm and old. Removing all emotion and any religious thoughts for the moment, would that benefit society and the population as a whole?

[dannyk13]

It would, but heaven forbid that it should ever happen.

[Mamyalynne]

Put baldly like that - yes, in the short term.

The remaining population would continue to age and become infirm in some cases,hence it would need to be a regular event.

[naomi24]

It might cause a lot of mental health issues among the rest of the population. No one would be looking forward to a well-earned retirement. Everyone would dread the prospect of getting old.

[davebro]

"No one would be looking forward to a well-earned retirement. Everyone would dread the prospect of getting old."

Sounds like Logan's Run!

[Jackdaw33]

This reminds me of a remark made by an old lady when decimal currency was introduced:

Why do it now, why not wait until all the old folk have died off.

[emmie]

who would be left, we are an ageing population, as are many countries, just the fear it would engender in the rest of the population, no one would want to grow old. I can't see any benefit at all

[Spicerack]

First they came for the fat people...

[emmie]

exactly ^^

[bednobs]

there would be both benefits and downsides of course.
Benefit: economic
Downside: no-one would remember how to do knitting

[emmie]

who would look after the grand kids

[fiction-factory]

Depends how you define 'Old'
AB would probably close down

[emmie]

i am sure it would go on but with only a few younger people...

[davebro]

Would make more room for lots more young, fit, go-getting asylum seekers.

[douglas9401]

At some point in the not too distant future our esteemed leaders will get around the table and thrash out an exit strategy and we'll just have to suck it up.
What we're doing just now is completely unsustainable.
Just a matter of who suggests the unthinkable first.

[woofgang]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19056405/

[jno]

it would help solve the increasing burden of state pensions. It could well be made an annual event.

But yes, no more grannies, no more free childminders.

[davebro]

My female relatives seem to be grannies in their 50s !

[david small]

How about voluntary euthanasia to thin the herd of the un functionary. Those tired of living can choose their own exit strategy.

[tomus42]

The ill, infirm and old are part of society and the population as a whole, and it wouldn't benefit them.

The people that were left might be a bit better off as a result though - is that what you meant?