Society and Celebrity Deaths

[riverc0il]

Isn't it weird how water cooler talk (online and in the office... and at home for that matter) inevitably always turns to celebrity deaths? Why do people get so caught up in discussing deaths of people that had essentially zero to minimal effect on people's lives? As a recent example, to date I have yet to hear someone talk about M.J. as someone who's music seriously and profoundly effected their lives. People generally discuss the death itself, how "tragic" it is, and in M.J.'s case, pedophilia and cosmetic surgery. Am I the only one that could care less when a celebrity dies that has had no major and lasting effect on my life?

 

[deadheadskier]

For the most part I agree with you. Billy made me laugh though

 

[mondeo]

It's entertainment. How often do you get a chance to speak openly and even lightheartedly about people after they die?

Celebrity deaths get us to explore the lighter side of death, with relatively few repercussions, because it's someone everyone knows and yet hasn't actually impacted anyone.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Its mostly just idle chit chat , banter among the masses about mundane ,banal and often bizzarre popular culture and the lust for morbid curiosity

- i'm of the opinion that in the larger order of life as the Wise SEER who sits at the top of the mountain said when asked by the pilgrim who sought the true meanng of reality ----------------------- " it don't mean sheeeeeit"

 

[Marc]

Yeah, I pretty much feel the same way you do Steve.

But then again, I also feel the same way about professional sports. I just don't care how Celtics, Bruins, Sox or Pats do in any given season. It has no meaning to me. I understand people who like watching those type of sports because they like the sport itself and like watching it played on a high level.. but almost all the people I know are fans of New England sports teams... not the sport itself. And I hate that. Having to listen to freakin sports talk on the radio on the way to lunch. Why the hell would you care who signs with what team and who's contract has what option. It's effing meaningless.

Now I watch cycling when it's on TV, but I love cycling and ride myself. I love watching the teams, the tactics and the strategy play out. I can watch it no matter who's racing, cat 5 or UCI pro tours. That's the mark of a true fan. If you know someone that watches any baseball game whenever they see one no matter who's playing, and doesn't really have an emotional stake in who wins, then they're probably a baseball fan. I can understand that.



Sorry if that was too much of a tangent for your thread Steve. I guess I thought it was in the same vein.

 

[dmc]

Isn't it weird how water cooler talk (online and in the office... and at home for that matter) inevitably always turns to celebrity deaths?

Good thing it only happens when someone actually dies...

What's weird is you are starting a thread about something you said you don't want to talk about...

 

[bigbog]

agree with mondeo....

It is a form of entertainment...but I think I tried to stay away from the water cooler community...;-)
*EDIT...exactly WarpDaddy..."the lust for morbid curiosity"...and the endless looping of the "But What If???"....
$.01

 

[RootDKJ]

Yeah, I pretty much feel the same way you do Steve.

But then again, I also feel the same way about professional sports. I just don't care how Celtics, Bruins, Sox or Pats do in any given season. It has no meaning to me.

+1. x100 for the people who can spout out all sorts of (meaningless) stats. x1000 if the stats are from last season or older.

I enjoy watching a game/match/event more so for the atmosphere and friendships of those I'm going with, not the team it's self.

 

[dmc]

Celebrity deaths get us to explore the lighter side of death, with relatively few repercussions, because it's someone everyone knows and yet hasn't actually impacted anyone.

They also give you a chance to celebrate a life... Or the achievements of the person...

Say what you will about MJ... But he had a big influence on pop music and wrote some classic and timeless songs... I know they don't get played by a lot of you guys but your not in the norm... I don't know that actually just guessing...

 

[ckofer]

People talk about famous people. That's what made them famous.

 

[riverc0il]

Say what you will about MJ... But he had a big influence on pop music and wrote some classic and timeless songs... I know they don't get played by a lot of you guys but your not in the norm... I don't know that actually just guessing...

Actually, I never said anything about M.J. but observed that most people talking about his death wouldn't consider themselves to have been significantly effected by his body of work. As a DJ into dance music, I would be off my rocker to not acknowledge his influence on pop music. And when some of his earlier work comes on the radio, I may bump the volume up a tad.

What's weird is you are starting a thread about something you said you don't want to talk about...

I don't want to talk about specific celebrities dieing. I do enjoy bantering about society and the "bigger picture" of how people interact about such (essentially to those not directly impacted) meaningless things because I think it sheds a light on the human mind set in a given time period.

- i'm of the opinion that in the larger order of life as the Wise SEER who sits at the top of the mountain said when asked by the pilgrim who sought the true meanng of reality ----------------------- " it don't mean sheeeeeit"

Most people don't have the guts to really believe that statement to its fullest extent. It means what you make of it, nothing inherent, that is for certain. Most people think that reality not meaning anything is deeply troubling to the point that they can't even honestly consider the position.

It's entertainment. How often do you get a chance to speak openly and even lightheartedly about people after they die?

Unfortunately, given society being what it is, not enough. We can only laugh when we are not directly effected. My favorite funeral (LOL) was for my late grandfather which was intentionally held many months after his actual death. Due to the time delay, there were no tears but there was laughter and lots of reflection.

The concept of death as entertainment is the driving point to this thread. I understand what is going on, but it still makes me scratch my head. The whole concept of news and reality as entertainment made me pull the plug on my television years ago. And this reply is reminding me of a song I was just listening to earlier today.

 

[dmc]

Actually, I never said anything about M.J. but observed that most people talking about his death wouldn't consider themselves to have been significantly effected by his body of work. As a DJ into dance music, I would be off my rocker to not acknowledge his influence on pop music. And when some of his earlier work comes on the radio, I may bump the volume up a tad.


I don't want to talk about specific celebrities dieing. I do enjoy bantering about society and the "bigger picture" of how people interact about such (essentially to those not directly impacted) meaningless things because I think it sheds a light on the human mind set in a given time period.


Most people don't have the guts to really believe that statement to its fullest extent. It means what you make of it, nothing inherent, that is for certain. Most people think that reality not meaning anything is deeply troubling to the point that they can't even honestly consider the position.


Unfortunately, given society being what it is, not enough. We can only laugh when we are not directly effected. My favorite funeral (LOL) was for my late grandfather which was intentionally held many months after his actual death. Due to the time delay, there were no tears but there was laughter and lots of reflection.

The concept of death as entertainment is the driving point to this thread. I understand what is going on, but it still makes me scratch my head. The whole concept of news and reality as entertainment made me pull the plug on my television years ago. And this reply is reminding me of a song I was just listening to earlier today.

Breaking up posts to address individual points is an example of taking yourself too seriously...
Why don't you just back away from the internet... Possibly worse then TV(another irony) and let us get through this....

Or learn to change channels..

 

[riverc0il]

Um, dude... the multiple quote feature is a great way to reply to individual comments without causing confusion about which point you are addressing. Not to mention, a lot of people around here take themselves too seriously according to your reasoning, because a lot of people use that feature. I think you are the one that needs to back away from the internet....

 

[dmc]

Um, dude... the multiple quote feature is a great way to reply to individual comments without causing confusion about which point you are addressing. Not to mention, a lot of people around here take themselves too seriously according to your reasoning, because a lot of people use that feature. I think you are the one that needs to back away from the internet....

Well done... Expected answer... Like clockwork..

Explain>defend by showing others do it>push onto someone else...

...classic..

I don't have a problem with mass media... I'm here to stay... i don't personally see a difference between the Internet and TV these days...

 

[SkiDork]

when you say multiple quote "feature" do you mean there is a way to set them up automatically? Or do you just have to build them yourself?

 

[Marc]

when you say multiple quote "feature" do you mean there is a way to set them up automatically? Or do you just have to build them yourself?

Click on the button witht the close quote and the "+" symbol on multiple postings and then click Post Reply... and you'll have the multiple quotes.

 

[SkiDork]

Click on the button witht the close quote and the "+" symbol on multiple postings and then click Post Reply... and you'll have the multiple quotes.

Awesome! Thanks.

AFA celebrity deaths, its simply a negative news event, and lord knows humans like negative news events.

 

[dmc]

Awesome! Thanks.

AFA celebrity deaths, its simply a negative news event, and lord knows humans like negative news events.

It is negative... But also positive..
As I said... Death provides us the opportunity to look back on a life's achievements...

Positive or negative... Or both...

I'm more into celebrating MJs music or Farrah in Charlie's Angles then i am thinking about all the other "stuff"....

Cause when we are dead on the slab... We can't defend ourselves from "stuff"...

 

[deadheadskier]

Yeah, I pretty much feel the same way you do Steve.

But then again, I also feel the same way about professional sports. I just don't care how Celtics, Bruins, Sox or Pats do in any given season. It has no meaning to me. I understand people who like watching those type of sports because they like the sport itself and like watching it played on a high level.. but almost all the people I know are fans of New England sports teams... not the sport itself. And I hate that.

I would fall into that category with the Bruins as I'm not much of a hockey fan. I'll watch parts of a handful of games throughout the season, but considerably more in the playoffs. The C's, Sox and Pats I'm far more die hard though. I did play Basketball, Baseball and Football, I am a fan of the sports and typically know who the better teams are out there, but I don't watch a lot of games for teams outside of New England.

As much as I enjoy watching the world class athletes perform at such a high level, with the New England teams; it's more about a sense of place and pride for me. They are as much a part of my home here in New England as Cape Cod Beaches, Package Stores, Rotaries, Old Homes and Buildings, Mountains etc. When I lived outside of New England, I missed it and there is NO WHERE in the country that likes its sports teams like New England does.

There are very few things in life that can bring a community or even a family together like sports do. In many parts of the country, the local High School team is what matters most. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing is certainly up for debate. After a big win by a New England team, two drunken guys at a bar that on any other night might have brawled after last call, rejoice instead and might become good friends :lol: Growing up my father was hardly ever around because of work. This often created a fair amount of tension between the two of us. However, put the game on during the limited time we had together and all was well.

What I think would be really cool is if US sports leagues were like European Soccer teams where the local club teams can fight there way up to the pros. But, if you don't care for how rabid fans get about sports here in New England, I'm sure you'd HATE that aspect of society in Europe. Ten times as hard core over there.

 

[mondeo]

Breaking up posts to address individual points is an example of taking yourself too seriously...
Why don't you just back away from the internet... Possibly worse then TV(another irony) and let us get through this....

Or learn to change channels..

Pot, meet kettle.