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Do celebrity deaths interest/bother you?
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Aristaeus
28-12-2016
I've never been upset by a famous death, but the death of Neil Armstrong moved me the most. One of the greatest explorers in human history.
LostFool
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Aristaeus:
“I've never been upset by a famous death, but the death of Neil Armstrong moved me the most. One of the greatest explorers in human history.”

That's sad... until now I wasn't aware that he had died. I must have missed the news that day.
benjamini
28-12-2016
A loss of talent is always sad,especially if they were young with more to do, i.e. Victoria Wood, Rickman and others who were young. My biggest sadness was the passing of Leonard Cohen this year, but it's his music I dearly love, but that will be with me always. Cohen the man I didn't know personally, it's for his family to grieve deeply. I'm just sad that a music legend to me has passed away.
Perhaps I'm a bit heartless but I'm little affected by strangers deaths . I'm grateful for the body of work left behind by many , Mozart moves me more than any living musician or recently died.
Horses for courses .
shackfan
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by April.:
“Most days the news on the TV announces someone's death and usually I have to ask who are they?

I mean who was George Micheal? Some guy who had a few hits in the 80s. My mother seemed sad at the news but no one else I know seemed to be effected by his death”

You are obviously young, but surely you hear Last Christmas every year?
Flash525
28-12-2016
Generally, I couldn't give a care in the world, the only deaths I have, and will likely care about are those of family and friends who truly mean something to me, and of who have been, or will be a part of my life.

I know some people take inspiration from certain celebrities, some even idolize them, but I don't, and their passing has no drastic effect on my life. It's kind of iconic, one of my cousins (who's a huge star wars fan) posted something on Facebook (prior to Carrie Fisher dying) about all the people who keep posting about celebrity deaths, and how pathetic it was (or words to that extent). You'll never guess what he did when he found out about Carrie.

These deaths though, as sad as they are, are just deaths of people; people that are ultimately no more important than anyone else in the grand scheme of things. It's unfortunate, it's unlucky (for them) but life goes on, and the attention they seem to get, I think, is excessive.
jaycee331
28-12-2016
I can usually only muster a "gosh" and take a moment to reflect on the unpredictability, shortness and preciousness of life. It makes me question my priorities in life in a useful way.

But what I just can't get my head around is those who start blubbing over it, over someone they likely had never met and had no relationship with other than one-way fandom or unhealthy obsession. I'd send them all to therapy to help them find some perspective in their lives. Have they really got nothing closer to home to invest their emotional energy in?

And in the case of GM and CF, we are idolising and putting on a pedestal those who were essentially drug addicts or ex-addicts. What kind of message does that send to their fans in terms of normalising substance abuse?

Imagine you live on a nasty council estate full of junky chavs and one dies, I doubt much sympathy would be felt. Yet seemingly if we add on some creativity, fame and a fat bank balance they get judged against different standards?
jjwales
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by shackfan:
“You are obviously young, but surely you hear Last Christmas every year?”

I'm not young, but I've never heard it! I'd never even heard of it until now.
jjwales
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by jaycee331:
“I can usually only muster a "gosh" and take a moment to reflect on the unpredictability, shortness and preciousness of life. It makes me question my priorities in life in a useful way.

But what I just can't get my head around is those who start blubbing over it, over someone they likely had never met and had no relationship with other than one-way fandom or unhealthy obsession. I'd send them all to therapy to help them find some perspective in their lives. Have they really got nothing closer to home to invest their emotional energy in?

And in the case of GM and CF, we are idolising and putting on a pedestal those who were essentially drug addicts or ex-addicts. What kind of message does that send to their fans in terms of normalising substance abuse?

Imagine you live on a nasty council estate full of junky chavs and one dies, I doubt much sympathy would be felt. Yet seemingly if we add on some creativity, fame and a fat bank balance they get judged against different standards?”

People who add something to your life will of course be judged by different standards to those who don't affect you at all, or who make your life a misery. Surely that's obvious.

People may well feel a bit tearful at the death of someone they've admired for years. That's understandable. Making a shrine outside their house is going a bit far though, I agree.
Babe Rainbow
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by jjwales:
“I'm not young, but I've never heard it! I'd never even heard of it until now.”

Bliimey! I'm 57 and haven't listened to music radio or pop music really for donkeys years and I am familiar with it. It's just one of those songs that is everywhere at this time of year.

e2a - just googled it and I am actually surprised to see that it was only 7 years ago - 2009. I thought it was further back than that.
Pitman
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by jjwales:
“I'm not young, but I've never heard it! I'd never even heard of it until now.”

consider yourself blessed
paulschapman
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by John_Adam1:
“My Facebook feed is full of people mourning over recent celebs who have 'tragically' died and comments such as "thank goodness this awful year is nearly over" etc...

I'm not a heartless or uncaring person at all, but to be honest I just don't get it. Take George Michael for an obvious example: I have nothing against the guy and some of his songs I quite liked. But his death has no impact on me and won't change anything about my life. I never met him, and he never knew I existed. If I had died, George would neither have known or cared (why should he?), so why would I be remotely concerned about his passing?

Not looking to be controversial or upset anyone here, but I'm just genuinely bewildered by the reaction of so many people when a famous person dies.

From a personal perspective, I too, cannot wait to see the end of this year, as it's been the worst in my life by far. But that's due to my own personal problems I've had and has nothing to do with things outside my control such as some singer/author/sportsperson/comedian dying or the result of some election or whatever.”

For many people they invite these celebrities into their life, they a part of growing up. For many they are more than what makes them famous. Take Carrie Fisher - she suffered from bi-polar disorder and became an advocate for those who suffer from mental disorders. George Michael (never did like his music) did a lot of charitable work and giving.

These people may not mean much to you, but they do to other people - modern communications mean they can share that with other people and that includes how they feel when they are no longer with us.

Who has not sat down and enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder) or sat down to watch Star Wars (Carrie Fisher). Or enjoyed a boxing match (Mohammed Ali),

2016 has been a particularly bad year when it comes to celebrity deaths - which is why we are seeing so many with 5 deaths just since Friday.
Croctacus
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Babe Rainbow:
“Bliimey! I'm 57 and haven't listened to music radio or pop music really for donkeys years and I am familiar with it. It's just one of those songs that is everywhere at this time of year.

e2a - just googled it and I am actually surprised to see that it was only 7 years ago - 2009. I thought it was further back than that.”

2009?

Try 1984
Babe Rainbow
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Croctacus:
“2009?

Try 1984”

Ah I think I misread the link - I think the youtube video must have been from a compilation album from 2009

But I was right - it was a lot further back
John_Adam1
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Flash525:
“Generally, I couldn't give a care in the world, the only deaths I have, and will likely care about are those of family and friends who truly mean something to me, and of who have been, or will be a part of my life.

I know some people take inspiration from certain celebrities, some even idolize them, but I don't, and their passing has no drastic effect on my life. It's kind of iconic, one of my cousins (who's a huge star wars fan) posted something on Facebook (prior to Carrie Fisher dying) about all the people who keep posting about celebrity deaths, and how pathetic it was (or words to that extent). You'll never guess what he did when he found out about Carrie.

These deaths though, as sad as they are, are just deaths of people; people that are ultimately no more important than anyone else in the grand scheme of things. It's unfortunate, it's unlucky (for them) but life goes on, and the attention they seem to get, I think, is excessive.”

Well said IMO. We are in complete agreement on this.
Welsh-lad
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Rhumbatugger:
“It is significant to those who feel it is.

And not to those who don't.

What artist's death would feel significant to you?”

That's true enough but doesn't really explain the media response.
I felt that the death of Joan Sutherland was quite significant - probably the best all-round operatic soprano of all time.

It got mentioned as one of the last items on the news on one day.

I wasn't expecting more to be fair.
George Michael's death was 1st item headline news on all channels for two days.
MrQuike
28-12-2016
Some entertainers have cult status. If you're not a fan then there's no reason to suppose that a celebrity death will be of much interest. Celebrity affairs mostly go right over my head.
Phil Dodd
28-12-2016
If we learn after someone's premature death that they were engaged in activities that led to their early demise, does that affect the amount of sadness that we feel for them ? It could be over-use of alcohol, drug-taking or unprotected physical relationships with multiple partners, for instance.

And secondly, do we seriously question why people in the know about such activities where they have gone on for a long time, have failed to do enough to get the proper help to that person to in effect save their life ?

It is disappointing that society cares so little about what is happening to individuals - whether famous or not - that we can all kill ourselves and nobody cares.
Nakatomi
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by jaycee331:
“I can usually only muster a "gosh" and take a moment to reflect on the unpredictability, shortness and preciousness of life. It makes me question my priorities in life in a useful way.

But what I just can't get my head around is those who start blubbing over it, over someone they likely had never met and had no relationship with other than one-way fandom or unhealthy obsession. I'd send them all to therapy to help them find some perspective in their lives. Have they really got nothing closer to home to invest their emotional energy in?

And in the case of GM and CF, we are idolising and putting on a pedestal those who were essentially drug addicts or ex-addicts. What kind of message does that send to their fans in terms of normalising substance abuse?

Imagine you live on a nasty council estate full of junky chavs and one dies, I doubt much sympathy would be felt. Yet seemingly if we add on some creativity, fame and a fat bank balance they get judged against different standards?”

Presumably you're perfect then? Carrie Fisher used her platform to talk about important things like mental health and she later became an advocate for getting addicts to rehab. George Michael did hard drugs but turned his life around later on.

Even if they were addicts, so what? They were still immensely talented people who were beloved by many.

And yeah, I did cry over Bowie and Carrie Fisher dying - they were both hugely influential to me. If a "junkie chav" was someone who had a big impact on my life, I'd be genuinely sad over their death too.

You sound like a sociopath, to be honest.
Nakatomi
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Welsh-lad:
“That's true enough but doesn't really explain the media response.
I felt that the death of Joan Sutherland was quite significant - probably the best all-round operatic soprano of all time.

It got mentioned as one of the last items on the news on one day.

I wasn't expecting more to be fair.
George Michael's death was 1st item headline news on all channels for two days.”

Right, so you were amazed that George Michael - a huge pop star who died at 53 and had a career spanning every decade since his career began and was still selling out arenas three years ago, got more coverage than an 84 year old elderly woman who sang in a niche genre? Hmm.
David_Flett1
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by John_Adam1:
“My Facebook feed is full of people mourning over recent celebs who have 'tragically' died and comments such as "thank goodness this awful year is nearly over" etc...

I'm not a heartless or uncaring person at all, but to be honest I just don't get it. Take George Michael for an obvious example: I have nothing against the guy and some of his songs I quite liked. But his death has no impact on me and won't change anything about my life. I never met him, and he never knew I existed. If I had died, George would neither have known or cared (why should he?), so why would I be remotely concerned about his passing?

Not looking to be controversial or upset anyone here, but I'm just genuinely bewildered by the reaction of so many people when a famous person dies.

From a personal perspective, I too, cannot wait to see the end of this year, as it's been the worst in my life by far. But that's due to my own personal problems I've had and has nothing to do with things outside my control such as some singer/author/sportsperson/comedian dying or the result of some election or whatever.”

Simple really, many invest a great deal of time through their life following culture and enjoying what music, film and books give them. If you have followed someone for a significant period then obviously there will be sadness when they are no longer there.
hyperstarsponge
28-12-2016
Just a passing mention on Twitter if they had great music such as George Michael.
benjamini
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Nakatomi:
“Right, so you were amazed that George Michael - a huge pop star who died at 53 and had a career spanning every decade since his career began and was still selling out arenas three years ago, got more coverage than an 84 year old elderly woman who sang in a niche genre? Hmm.”

Joan Sutherlands music was hardly niche genre.
It's depressing that in order to tout/promote GM it appears necessary to denigrate others. Joan Sutherland was and will remain a legend for all opera lovers for all time.
I grant you opera lovers would sooner eat their own arms off than be seen making huge public displays of their sadness at her passing.
TUC
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Rhumbatugger:
“Have you 'grown up' with music or film that you identify with and which has informed your life even in a small way?

Did any song resonate with you when you were young? Did you cry over a lost love and play the same song over and over again?

Have you experienced the death, prematurely of someone that has informed your emotion life through the songs they made?

Have you admired and felt with someone who gave you pleasure but has lived a life of pain and died young?

All of these are reasons people feel sad, and shocked at GM's death, and for those of his generation we also identify with the hope of his youth and feel our own pain and mortality at his death.

It REALLY isn't that difficult to understand.

Unless you are very young, perhaps, or songs don't mean much to you, or both.”

Yes, songs can have a resonance for individuals, but it's the song lyrics that have the resonance. It doesn't give me some kind of emotional connection with the person who wrote it. Just because they wrote a particular song that connects with me does not mean I have any kind of relationship with them as an individual.
francie
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by Nakatomi:
“Presumably you're perfect then? Carrie Fisher used her platform to talk about important things like mental health and she later became an advocate for getting addicts to rehab. George Michael did hard drugs but turned his life around later on.

Even if they were addicts, so what? They were still immensely talented people who were beloved by many.

And yeah, I did cry over Bowie and Carrie Fisher dying - they were both hugely influential to me. If a "junkie chav" was someone who had a big impact on my life, I'd be genuinely sad over their death too.

You sound like a sociopath
, to be honest.”

OTT much.
Nakatomi
28-12-2016
Originally Posted by benjamini:
“Joan Sutherlands music was hardly niche genre.
It's depressing that in order to tout/promote GM it appears necessary to denigrate others. Joan Sutherland was and will remain a legend for all opera lovers for all time.
I grant you opera lovers would sooner eat their own arms off than be seen making huge public displays of their sadness at her passing.”

Whichever way you want to spin it, Opera is a niche genre when compared to pop. Many of us grew up with GM's music - it spoke to us at different times in our life, that's why people are feeling grief for him.
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