"Reduces the value of." That would be a value judgement (not to mention a glittering generality if applied to all geriatrics). Well let's say "usefulness". Wha

"Reduces the value of." That would be a value judgement (not to mention a glittering generality if applied to all geriatrics). Well let's say "usefulness". What is the value of 60 years of experience? Depends on the experiences, and the context. A woodworker's skills don't age, so long as they're maintained by practice. Programming language (non-algorithmic) skills age exponentially faster. For really complex problems, like human ones, an understanding of the dimensions of life and its complexities is never big enough; thus long experience lends greater perspective. I've found that whenever I think I know something about someone I don't know, that illusion goes away once I get to know them ... unless their 'life' has consisted of nothing but being 'useful'.