An old African proverb from acclaimed literary figure Amadou Hampâté Bâ goes, “When an old man dies, a library burns down.” It honors the wealth of knowledge, history, and wisdom that lives inside our elders. And it’s why we’re encouraged to take the time now, while they’re here, to hear their stories and ask them questions.

But it’s safe to assume that Hampâté Bâ probably never dreamed of asking his own grandparents about their sex life or what they really thought about their impending death.

Provocative video series asks centenarians “taboo” questions

ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Company, has been producing a video series called You Can’t Ask That, where interviewers strip away politeness and social norms and ask interesting groups of people the questions we’re all really wondering about.

In one recent episode, they sat down with a group of centenarians, or people over 100. Centenarians are relatively rare, but their numbers are sharply on the rise.

True to the show’s name, the questions hit the ground running with “Why aren’t you dead yet?”

“I decided not to be,” one woman answered simply.

“God hasn’t called me,” another stated bluntly. “When he calls me, I’ll go.”

“I don’t know why I’m not dead,” a man answered. “I should be, but I’m not.”

But one man’s answer took the cake.

“I’ve been reported dead on four........

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