Breaking: Michael Jackson hospitalized

[RJDiogenes]

If people experience strong grief with the death of a distant celebrity, how could they deal with real tragedies (i.e. those with personal implications)? Is their reaction to - say - the death of a loved one proportional, such as a few years in mourning, versus a few days for a celebrity, or is it similar sort of reaction, such as would indicate a really rather frightening emotional superficialty?

Why would you even ask such a question? Do you expect people to have no emotional attachment to the Writers and Artists and Singers and others who have brought them entertainment and ideas and inspiration? To not have such an attachment would be a sign of emotional superficiality.

 

[romulus]

^^--That's probably true, and those people probably feel like they knew the person in a way.

But still for me it seems odd and maybe a little fake to have a strong reaction to a celebrity dieing. No matter what, it's kind of assholish to throw it back at people's faces right after it has happened.

There was a skit on the one of the radio stations I sometimes listen to.

Basically one of the hosts goes on about how he railed on his girl friend for mentioning how celebrities seem to die in threes. I think they where just trying to show how you just come out as the ass hole when you do that.

Any way, it reminded me of this board, it reminded me of myself too, been trying to tone it down a bit, just doesn't help socially...

 

[Richard]

I expect anything and everything where humans are concerned. However - to repeat - I doubt a person can have appropriate grief in true tragedy if the decease of a mere celebrity is a heart-rending event. BTW -- receiving your contempt would be a badge of honour.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, if you'd ever met any substantial number of Human Beings, you'd know that you are quite wrong. Most people have qualities known as sympathy and empathy, and they can feel for those they only know casually or second-hand through friends or family; in fact, some people even have the incredible ability to feel for complete strangers. Shocking. And they can also feel for people they only know through their creative contributions, especially when those creative contributions have some personal meaning. And, amazingly, in addition to all this, they also experience appropriate emotion at tragedies that affect them personally. Wow, huh?

 

[Richard]

Have you accomplished anything in life that justifies the contempt you ooze? My question is a perfectly serious one.

 

[An Officer]

EDIT: Ah, I see RJ handled this before me! Had to take a phonecall and was miles late I see.

For your information Richard, RJ is a published writer and artist, and a very well respected pillar of this board... but what has that to do with the price of lettuce?

Whether it is a celebrity or not, it's always sad to see someone go before their time, and in such tragic circumstances - if the alleged drug dependency is true (it must have meant he was suffering long before his final fate). He was a genius of our time, whether you liked his music or not. He gave me many hours of enjoyment as a child, wearing little Bad trousers, trying to learn his lyrics and dance-moves (in fact, MJ mania was sweeping across the country where I lived, it was kind of a national passtime I enjoyed with friends and relatives)... I am grateful for those happy moments. His death brings up nostalgia for my childhood, and a sense of loss that the person who gave those moments to me is now gone. My sadness is probably to do with my fear of death in general, and sympathy that he has now passed that mysterious curtain. I don't feel I knew him, but he certainly touched my life, and this is why I am moved.

I wonder if you've experienced the death of someone you admired as a child? If you felt nothing, perhaps you have some issues connecting with the things you love? I see no issue with a moment of emotion at the passing of someone, even if you originally felt nothing for that person. It is called compassion. I wonder that it seems so bizarre to you.

As for how I feel about friends or relatives dying, it is devastating, of course. I do feel a great deal more in those circumstances, because the connection there was a closer one, I would describe that as a bond however or even one of my limbs, rather than a connection. The death of MJ has nothing to do with the passing of a relative, two different situations entirely.

If you are incapable of understanding why another feels a certain way, that is no reason to call such a reaction "superficial". It could be argued your opinion itself is superficial, because you have not examined the precise reasons why people feel this way. The reasons are often far from shallow, they would need to be in order to cause such a reaction. I have had a big loss recently, and I can honestly say I will never be the same again, whereas I would not apply such grand terms for what I feel about the passing of Michael Jackson. Strange that you should need someone to explain this to you.

I am sure there are those who are as "superficial" as you describe, but I would call that some kind of mental illness, that would be a very serious dysfunction, and it is not to be compared with the reactions of healthy people.

 

[Australis]

Richard: Dude, it's called compassion. And sometimes empathy. And is sometimes covered in the phrase "There but for the grace of God..."

 

[Amaris]

If people experience strong grief with the death of a distant celebrity, how could they deal with real tragedies (i.e. those with personal implications)? Is their reaction to - say - the death of a loved one proportional, such as a few years in mourning, versus a few days for a celebrity, or is it similar sort of reaction, such as would indicate a really rather frightening emotional superficialty?

...

Perhaps it is best not to concern oneself with that and let people do whatever is best for them.

J.

 

[TheWifeOfBrian]

I had to stop listening to MJ's music at work because so many people felt he "got away" with molesting "thousands" of children. A pure knee-jerk reaction but given the environment and the report-to-HR-for-Harassment mindset where I used to work I simply took his stuff off my playlist.

I also got the same reaction walking down the street lisenting to my music with mini-speakers, and in the car on trips.


Seriously, do people really view him as a mass-pedophile on that scale? It's to the point where I can only listen to it at home.

 

[FalTorPan]

Regardless of what type of person Michael Jackson may have been, 50 is far too young of an age to die.

 

[Amaris]

I had to stop listening to MJ's music at work because so many people felt he "got away" with molesting "thousands" of children. A pure knee-jerk reaction but given the environment and the report-to-HR-for-Harassment mindset where I used to work I simply took his stuff off my playlist.

I also got the same reaction walking down the street lisenting to my music with mini-speakers, and in the car on trips.


Seriously, do people really view him as a mass-pedophile on that scale? It's to the point where I can only listen to it at home.

People believe what they are told to believe.

J.

 

[Trekker4747]

I had to stop listening to MJ's music at work because so many people felt he "got away" with molesting "thousands" of children. A pure knee-jerk reaction but given the environment and the report-to-HR-for-Harassment mindset where I used to work I simply took his stuff off my playlist.

I also got the same reaction walking down the street lisenting to my music with mini-speakers, and in the car on trips.


Seriously, do people really view him as a mass-pedophile on that scale? It's to the point where I can only listen to it at home.

People believe what they are told to believe.

J.

Pretty much.

It's sad though so many believe that paticular string of lies/false-truths.

 

[RandyS]

I had to stop listening to MJ's music at work because so many people felt he "got away" with molesting "thousands" of children. A pure knee-jerk reaction but given the environment and the report-to-HR-for-Harassment mindset where I used to work I simply took his stuff off my playlist.

I also got the same reaction walking down the street lisenting to my music with mini-speakers, and in the car on trips.


Seriously, do people really view him as a mass-pedophile on that scale? It's to the point where I can only listen to it at home.

People believe what they are told to believe.

J.

Who told you to say that?

 

[TheWifeOfBrian]

What has got me curious is where did this "mass pedophile with 1,000s of victims" thing start? If this was even remotely true they would have locked his ass up long ago celeb status or not.

 

[Amaris]

Pretty much.

It's sad though so many believe that paticular string of lies/false-truths.

Yes it is, but not surprising.

Who told you to say that?

Top...Men.

What has got me curious is where did this "mass pedophile with 1,000s of victims" thing start? If this was even remotely true they would have locked his ass up long ago celeb status or not.

I figured it had to be the Martin Bashir interview. Yellow journalism of the worst kind.

J.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Martin Bashir is one of the worst of the tabloid "journalists" out there. I rolled my eyes while watching him on Nightline the other night...acting like he was MJ's biggest fan.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I doubt a person can have appropriate grief in true tragedy if the decease of a mere celebrity is a heart-rending event.

If we can feel an emotional connection to fictional characters, surely we can have a little compassion for real artists and celebrities?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Seriously, do people really view him as a mass-pedophile on that scale? It's to the point where I can only listen to it at home.

I don't believe that stuff at all. I think he was just an emotional cripple who wanted a childhood; he never meant anyone any harm.

For your information Richard, RJ is a published writer and artist, and a very well respected pillar of this board... but what has that to do with the price of lettuce?

You are very generous. And very correct that I have nothing to do with the price of lettuce.

Have you accomplished anything in life that justifies the contempt you ooze? My question is a perfectly serious one.

Was that some sort of clumsy attempt at role reversal?

 

[sidious618]

Why would you even ask such a question? Do you expect people to have no emotional attachment to the Writers and Artists and Singers and others who have brought them entertainment and ideas and inspiration? To not have such an attachment would be a sign of emotional superficiality.

I agree with you. People cry when they read a sad book, does that automatically mean they can't operate in real life?

 

[Jadzia]

I had to stop listening to MJ's music at work because so many people felt he "got away" with molesting "thousands" of children. A pure knee-jerk reaction but given the environment and the report-to-HR-for-Harassment mindset where I used to work I simply took his stuff off my playlist.

People believe what they are told to believe.

J.

Pretty much.

It's sad though so many believe that paticular string of lies/false-truths.

Society likes to have someone to think wrong of, to direct their hate toward, to dig up dirt on. The motivation we can only guess at:

Perhaps it is an attempt to create greater contrast between right and wrong, so that people are better able to locate themselves on that sliding scale of morality.

Perhaps it is underlying resentment and malice, where people feel that clean slates are better tarnished.

Perhaps it stems from a need to feel 'protective' and serving society, by outing all the hidden evils?

If a person feels a need for such emotion, then there is social validation when like minds rally together. Which eventually turns into accusing anyone who doesn't stand in agreement as a condoner of the alleged wrongdoings.