why do "we", as in us... always do a RIP for famous people?

[RD]

Do not mean to sound totally unsympathetic or crass, but take the Patrick Swayze post for example.  he was just an actor.  i just dont get the idolizing of a recently deceased actor as being a huge, saddened event in which we talk/post of him like we knew him.  Remembering his movies would be a rebuttal that many would come up with.  But is that really him? He was just playing a role in a film.  It wasnt really his personality we were viewing, but rather the character he was portraying. Heck, he could have been a mean, condescending jerkwad for all we know.

Sad that anyone has to go due to the Big C, but if we are going to glorify every single popular or famous person that has died, I will start posting every single obituary from my local newspaper to see how many responses we get.  They are people, they have died, should they not receive the same saddened response?  Granted, they may not have done a huge movie in which they could have profited millions of dollars from the people who have gone to watch it, but still... I am sure they have impacted thousands of people's lives in some fashion.  Should not this impact deserve recognition, or would we get tired of seeing these obituaries on this site due to their repetitive and depressing nature?  (really, I am not going to do it, it was rhetorical).

Hey, you all are going to do what you are going to do, but personally I see every single remembrance post to some actor or famous person (that none of us have frickin' known) as assinine and totally worthless.  But hey, that is my  . that and 98 cents more will get me a coffee.

I am sure many of you will see me as a insensitive prick, but I dont care.

[Ghoste]

It's the "Cult of Personality" and I blame tv shows like "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" or "Entertainment Tonight" and magazines like "People".  When someone like Paris Hilton can be famous for absolutely nothing at all, well, it's just a sad part of our alleged culture.

[jaak]

I think in the case of Swayze, I done it just because I liked alot of the movies he was in..... now a couple of months ago, when Wacko Jacko, kicked the bucket....I think my comment played a role in that thread getting locked.

PS--- I hope Kanya West don't show up at Swayze's funeral and say "Micheal Jackson had the best death of the year....I'll let ya get back to the funeral, but Michael had the best death of the year....just sayin'."

Jason

[Mike DC]

           
Kanye West is an egotisical dork.  


There are plenty of other egotistical dorks in the media industry, but Kanye has just that kind of unpleasant ego that doesn't go over well.  The big, blunt, unaware-of-itself kind.
 
 

[PocketThunder]

Old Moparz has us covered in one thread already..         

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,58941.0.html

[bull]

It's just a way for people to connect with each other. Not much time and effort is usually devoted to it when it does happen but I think people just like to share similar things they have in common and this is a good format to do that.

[my73charger]

Yeah, I guess when I respond to such news of a celebrity type, I just say, wow bummer...then I move on.  A RIP for some of my favorite actors is kinda like me giving my condolences on it, but I don't lose any sleep when they die cause I didn't know them personally.

[moparstuart]

  I personally think  patrick was a great guy and have been following his cancer fight the last couple of years.  I was really pulling for him to beat it .   

[41husk]

I understand what you are saying but I think people post because his work is something many people have in common.  If you posted the obit for Joe Smoe maybe some one on here would know who he was.  When you post that Patrick Swayze died I would guess everyone on here at least has heard of him.  It is no big deal.  If you don't care about Mr Swayze, don't read the thread.

[ZSmithersCharges]

I think in the case of Swayze, I done it just because I liked alot of the movies he was in..... now a couple of months ago, when Wacko Jacko, kicked the bucket....I think my comment played a role in that thread getting locked.

PS--- I hope Kanya West don't show up at Swayze's funeral and say "Micheal Jackson had the best death of the year....I'll let ya get back to the funeral, but Michael had the best death of the year....just sayin'."

Jason

Your frickin hilarious... that just cracked me up right there.   

Oh and yea people being sad about celebrity deaths is pretty stupid... unless you know the person who the hell cares.  When really good people in our society die that actually tried to help people and not make big bucks they get maybe a page in the back of the local paper and a half decent funeral.  When a celebrity dies they get 70 magazines with their faces on the cover millions of people congregating at their local "throw you shit on the side walk and light a few remembrance candles gatherings"  Weeks and weeks of continuous news coverage(in the case of wacko jacko) pretty much just because they were good at making money not even really anything that changed anyones life.  So here's two more cents... now go find 96 more I'm with you on this one because I know I'm going to be just as irritated when theres 70 more mags with Lindsay Lohans face is on the cover cause she overdosed on coke. 

[Todd Wilson]

I am sure many of you will see me as a insensitive prick, but I dont care.

You are not insensitive!      My bud has some boat parts if you want them! Call me!


Todd

[Tilar]

I don't see anything wrong with it. If you or any of the regulars on here died I'm sure someone would post a RIP thread about it. It's just a show of respect for their accomplishments in life and Patrick Swayze rated right up there for what he accomplished. As far as he was "just playing a role in a film" I see it a little different. Imagine if PeeWee Herman had played in Road House, Sure he could have learned the lines but I just don't think it would have had the same effect.   

[Neal_J]

RD:

I agree with you.  It feels there's almost a rush among some to post an RIP thread immediately following someone's death or other newsworthy event.  I seem to recall like 4 threads within hours of Michael Jackson's death.   Don't most members periodically check CNN or the news sits can therefore learn of celebrity deaths that way, rather than via DC.com??  I guess there's an unmet "look at me" need that such threads fulfill for those that post them.

Regarding Swayze's demise yesterday, I was more more by the dreadful cause of his death and reflected about those that pancreatic cancer have already taken & those that are currently afflicted.  In our hobby, for example.
That's such a shame. 

[Brock Samson]

 Do not mean to sound totally unsympathetic or crass, but take the Patrick Swayze post for example.  he was just an actor.  i just dont get the idolizing of a recently deceased actor as being a huge, saddened event in which we talk/post of him like we knew him.  Remembering his movies would be a rebuttal that many would come up with.  But is that really him? He was just playing a role in a film.  It wasnt really his personality we were viewing, but rather the character he was portraying. Heck, he could have been a mean, condescending jerkwad for all we know.

Sad that anyone has to go due to the Big C, but if we are going to glorify every single popular or famous person that has died, I will start posting every single obituary from my local newspaper to see how many responses we get.  They are people, they have died, should they not receive the same saddened response?  Granted, they may not have done a huge movie in which they could have profited millions of dollars from the people who have gone to watch it, but still... I am sure they have impacted thousands of people's lives in some fashion.  Should not this impact deserve recognition, or would we get tired of seeing these obituaries on this site due to their repetitive and depressing nature?  (really, I am not going to do it, it was rhetorical).

Hey, you all are going to do what you are going to do, but personally I see every single remembrance post to some actor or famous person (that none of us have frickin' known) as assinine and totally worthless.  But hey, that is my   . that and 98 cents more will get me a coffee.

I am sure many of you will see me as a insensitive prick, but I dont care.


Welp, i understand why they get threads, it's because we saw their movies or listened to their music or voted for them, hated them and thought they were creeps or whatever...  
 I don't see why your all upset and so sensitive about it... I went to two funerals this week one yesterday and one this morning which i just got back from... I'm not gonna make a post about it,.. cause you don't care no matter how close I was to the these fine folks who I will miss,.. that makes three this yr.
But I wont ignore a post about a celebrity, these people touch millions of folks' lives.
  I saw Jim Carroll three times have his records and think his lyrics are particularly on target. Jim meant more to me Personally then Patrick but I liked his films, thought he did a great job in Donnie Darko one of my favorite films BTW...
                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2lBk1apr-w


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkur2epZhyc

People Who Died by Jim Carroll and the Jim Carroll Band.

 
Teddy sniffing glue, he was 12 years old
Fell from the roof on East Two-nine
Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug
On 26 reds and a bottle of wine
Bobby got leukemia, 14 years old
He looked like 65 when he died
He was a friend of mine

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

G-berg and Georgie let their gimmicks go rotten
So they died of hepatitis in upper Manhattan
Sly in Vietnam took a bullet in the head
Bobby OD'd on Drano on the night that he was wed
They were two more friends of mine
Two more friends that died

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others
And I salute you brother

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Herbie pushed Tony from the Boys' Club roof
Tony thought that his rage was just some goof
But Herbie sure gave Tony some bitchen proof
"Hey," Herbie said, "Tony, can you fly?"
But Tony couldn't fly, Tony died

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Brian got busted on a narco rap
He beat the rap by rattin' on some bikers
He said, "Hey, I know it's dangerous, but it sure beats Riker's"
But the next day he got offed by the very same bikers

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Teddy sniffing glue, he was 12 years old
Fell from the roof on East Two-nine
Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug
On 26 reds and a bottle of wine
Bobby got leukemia, 14 years old
He looked like 65 when he died
He was a friend of mine

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

G-berg and Georgie let their gimmicks go rotten
So they died of hepatitis in upper Manhattan
Sly in Vietnam took a bullet in the head
Bobby OD'd on Drano on the night that he was wed
They were two more friends of mine
Two more friends that died

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others
And I salute you brother

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

[Tilar]

I guess there's an unmet "look at me" need that such threads fulfill for those that post them.

Kind of like the "unmet look at me need " to jump on the band wagon and criticize people that post these types of threads in an off topic duscussion area? It is no different.  All of these threads have had the topic on what they are about,  If people still click on the topic and read what they are about they have nothing to complain about.  

[4cruzin]

I don't mind because if you didn't post them on here . . I would never know they died.  I didn't know he died until I read this thread. BTW who the hell is Kanye West??      

[Brock Samson]

K. west is a current Fav. on the R&B playlist has been for a few years now, he tends to be pretty popular and gets a fair share of awards at these Corporate Award shows like on MTV and BET and such, he's also fond of drinking and ruining the shows with his "sometimes" innapropriate behavior, I think of him as a simple bully with a drinking problem who never recived a spanking from his dad for thugish behavior, he ruined another award show night before last going on stage a grabbing the mic. from a young gal who won her first award because his choice didn't win. Pretty much pissed off everyone who witnessed it.

[jaak]

BTW who the hell is Kanye West??      

A racist egotistical SOB, that thinks he's God's gift to R&B Music......when in reality....he sucks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjlUpULt0Mo

Jason

[dodgecharger-fan]

I think we're all missing the most important point here, and that is....

Where can you get a cup of coffee for a dollar?!?!

[RD]

I think we're all missing the most important point here, and that is....

Where can you get a cup of coffee for a dollar?!?!

OMG!! that was hilarious.. had me laughing.. thank you!!!!

Welp, i understand why they get threads, it's because we saw their movies or listened to their music or voted for them, hated them and thought they were creeps or whatever... 
  I don't see why your all upset and so sensitive about it... I went to two funerals this week one yesterday and one this morning which i just got back from... I'm not gonna make a post about it,.. cause you don't care no matter how close I was to the these fine folks who I will miss,.. that makes three this yr.
But I wont ignore a post about a celebrity, these people touch millions of folks' lives.
   I saw Jim Carroll three times have his records and think his lyrics are particularly on target. Jim meant more to me Personally then Patrick but I liked his films, thought he did a great job in Donnie Darko one of my favorite films BTW...

first, i am not upset.. i was putting forth a question/statement.  upset is me not saying anything because i think someone is full of shit and they are not worth the time of a rebuttal post.

secondly, for you to assume that i wouldnt care that you are personally hurting by attending funerals of friends of yours (since i have known you for about 6 years now) is not true.  I can truly empathize with you and would be more than willing to offer a prayer for you (just like i did for swayze's family believe it or not).  never assume mate, especially with me.

i am just saying a actor is a ACTOR.  We know only the characters they have played, not truly who they are.  so for us to do vigils and idolize these people is just ludicrous in my eyes.  I am not saying that you are wrong for feeling what you feel, i just dont get it and I never have.  Sorry, just dont feel it like you do.

It is no big deal.  If you don't care about Mr Swayze, don't read the thread.

i didn't.  i saw the title, that is all i needed to see.

[jb666]

To me, it's just a matter of spreading some news that was circulating like wildfire about a guy who fought a battle so many of us can relate to. I don't know Patrick Swayze personally, but I lost someone I care about very much to pancreatic cancer, so his battle was one I was personally hoping he'd beat.

Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry the mere mention of it bothered you so much, it definitely wasn't he intention of the title. 

[captnsim]

Where in the hell are you getting a coffee for a buck RD...1.29 is the cheapest around here. 




Cancer... 

[RD]

To me, it's just a matter of spreading some news that was circulating like wildfire about a guy who fought a battle so many of us can relate to. I don't know Patrick Swayze personally, but I lost someone I care about very much to pancreatic cancer, so his battle was one I was personally hoping he'd beat.

Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry the mere mention of it bothered you so much, it definitely wasn't he intention of the title. 

its not just this post and I am not so put out by people posting, I just truly do not "get" why people find it necessary to promote a minor form of idolatry to a person we have never known.  Call it a weird curiousity that has piqued my interest.  In many ways I am a very unsympathetic SOB, so I guess that is partially why I dont understand our forum based "wake" threads in regards to these people.

Personally, I find many actors as nothing but drama ridden, attention whores (I mean they have to be in order to be in front of a camera, I understand that job requirement).  So, part of my disdain for their public "its all about me" behavior spurs my question as to why we find it acceptable for attention whores to be glorified and pasted into history books when we, ourselves (and I am stretching it by speaking for others I know), despise f'in attention whores when they are around us. I guess unless you are one, then you would be pissed if "one" was around you getting all your attention.  Whereas I get pissed just because they require huge amounts of attention like a OCD 3 mos old puppy chasing a fricken ball.

so now you know why i give a shit less for actors and celebrities.

[Tilar]

Personally, I find many actors as nothing but drama ridden, attention whores (I mean they have to be in order to be in front of a camera, I understand that job requirement).  So, part of my disdain for their public "its all about me" behavior spurs my question as to why we find it acceptable for attention whores to be glorified and pasted into history books when we, ourselves (and I am stretching it by speaking for others I know), despise f'in attention whores when they are around us. I guess unless you are one, then you would be pissed if "one" was around you getting all your attention.  Whereas I get pissed just because they require huge amounts of attention like a OCD 3 mos old puppy chasing a fricken ball.

so now you know why i give a shit less for actors and celebrities.

Well one thing for sure, You got your share of attention with this thread. 

[Old Moparz]

Posting about dead celebrities on a forum just seems to be the internet version of babbling the useless babble with friends or coworkers & such. It's no different than when you end up talking to someone you know & you need a topic to discuss after you finish beating the weather into the ground.

You or Me: "Hey, how's it going today?"

Someone Else: "Oh, not bad. I wish it would stop raining though."

You or Me: "Well, rain sucks sometimes, but think about where we'd all be without it."

Someone Else: "True, I didn't think of it that way."

You or Me: "Good thing I saw you today to point that out."

Someone Else: "Yes, I don't know if I would have remembered what I was taught in science class back in grade school."

You or Me: "I make it a point to remind people of things like that. You just never know when you might be selected to go on the Who Wants To Be A Millionare show & not want to use up all those lifelines. You could get a really tough question like, 'What type of plant was introduced in New York State in the 1800's that never grew there originally & is now a problem to native plants?' It would suck if you wasted a call to someone on weather related crap."

Someone Else: "Wow, that is a good point."

You or Me: "Do you think it's a good enough point to start a thread on?"

Someone Else: "No, it's actually pretty freakin' stupid."

[Brock Samson]

 Well I feel he contradited himself as per the highlighted statements, and missed the point that somefolks do actually care about media icons (for good and for bad) and paints celebrities (specificlly actors) with a broad brush disrespecting them in the process... they are people some are actually noteworthy for good or for bad reasons, for crying out loud - he didn't even read the thread.
Some of these folks I do care about 'n some I don't, when the designer of the Charger died a few yrs. back did he deserve a thread...  I'm just sayin'..  are we feeling here, or thinking?.. cause if your thinking it becomes a moot who gives a crap situation, but if your feeling perhaps you have a Favorite moment the Persons' work or life provided and wish to honor.
BTW:
I'd like to start a thread about capitol punishment but I'm afraid it might be too controversial.   

[Mike DC]

 
I think sometimes our fawning over celebs isn't always a bad thing. 


Think about all the smack that has been talked about these people when they die in a stupid way.  We would be a lot less willing to say the blunt truth if it was someone we knew personally, just out of respect for the dead & the grieving. 

When the person is a celeb (I.E. not a real person to us) we say what we really think.  We call it stupid when it's stupid. 

[ZSmithersCharges]

Posting about dead celebrities on a forum just seems to be the internet version of babbling the useless babble with friends or coworkers & such. It's no different than when you end up talking to someone you know & you need a topic to discuss after you finish beating the weather into the ground.

You or Me: "Hey, how's it going today?"

Someone Else: "Oh, not bad. I wish it would stop raining though."

You or Me: "Well, rain sucks sometimes, but think about where we'd all be without it."

Someone Else: "True, I didn't think of it that way."

You or Me: "Good thing I saw you today to point that out."

Someone Else: "Yes, I don't know if I would have remembered what I was taught in science class back in grade school."

You or Me: "I make it a point to remind people of things like that. You just never know when you might be selected to go on the Who Wants To Be A Millionare show & not want to use up all those lifelines. You could get a really tough question like, 'What type of plant was introduced in New York State in the 1800's that never grew there originally & is now a problem to native plants?' It would suck if you wasted a call to someone on weather related crap."

Someone Else: "Wow, that is a good point."

You or Me: "Do you think it's a good enough point to start a thread on?"

Someone Else: "No, it's actually pretty freakin' stupid."

That was such a great fake conversation 

[jb666]

Posting about dead celebrities on a forum just seems to be the internet version of babbling the useless babble with friends or coworkers & such. It's no different than when you end up talking to someone you know & you need a topic to discuss after you finish beating the weather into the ground.

You or Me: "Hey, how's it going today?"

Someone Else: "Oh, not bad. I wish it would stop raining though."

You or Me: "Well, rain sucks sometimes, but think about where we'd all be without it."

Someone Else: "True, I didn't think of it that way."

You or Me: "Good thing I saw you today to point that out."

Someone Else: "Yes, I don't know if I would have remembered what I was taught in science class back in grade school."

You or Me: "I make it a point to remind people of things like that. You just never know when you might be selected to go on the Who Wants To Be A Millionare show & not want to use up all those lifelines. You could get a really tough question like, 'What type of plant was introduced in New York State in the 1800's that never grew there originally & is now a problem to native plants?' It would suck if you wasted a call to someone on weather related crap."

Someone Else: "Wow, that is a good point."

You or Me: "Do you think it's a good enough point to start a thread on?"

Someone Else: "No, it's actually pretty freakin' stupid."

That was such a great fake conversation 

It was actually pretty damn funny 

[Forza]

I don't like the threads either but then again that's why I don't read them. Reminds me of a friend that was bitching to me how he hates eating subway everyday when he has classes. Gee, I dunno, go somewhere else maybe?

[Silver R/T]

ya, it's pointless. These people don't care for average guy who's working at the factory or does other hard labor. They actually depend on us, to watch their games, their movies, etc. They lived well cause of our hard earned money.

[RD]

Well one thing for sure, You got your share of attention with this thread.  

tilar, no offense mate, but if making jabs at me in the intention to associate me with being an attention whore makes you feel smart and witty.. you got me pegged buddy.  Hope you can sleep tonight now. I guess you expect those who start threads to type one post and never revisit it.

now back onto the topic at hand.

Well I feel he contradited himself as per the highlighted statements, and missed the point that somefolks do actually care about media icons (for good and for bad) and paints celebrities (specificlly actors) with a broad brush disrespecting them in the process... they are people some are actually noteworthy for good or for bad reasons, for crying out loud - he didn't even read the thread.
Some of these folks I do care about 'n some I don't, when the designer of the Charger died a few yrs. back did he deserve a thread...  I'm just sayin'..   are we feeling here, or thinking?.. cause if your thinking it becomes a moot who gives a crap situation, but if your feeling perhaps you have a Favorite moment the Persons' work or life provided and wish to honor.
BTW:
I'd like to start a thread about capitol punishment but I'm afraid it might be too controversial.  

i dont believe i did contradict myself in my statements.  my point was clear and concise.  my focus was on the idolatry of actors or famous people who have recently deceased and why people feel they must start threads in their honor.

i dont have to read a thread that is the same as many other celebrity RIP threads that i have read in the past.  they all say the same thing, just from different people.

my argument here is NOT whether I should make these threads disappear, nor is it to get people to stop doing them, my QUESTIONS are to why people feel they NEED to do such things?  If you all who are missing that point want to make me look like the asshole, my angst dwells from you not understanding my argument.  Re-read what I have wrote, not what you think I wrote OR what you assume my words mean.  They are pretty clear.

[Tilar]

RD, It was not my intention to make you look like an attention whore, but look at it from the other side of the screen for a moment. It seemed ironic to me that you would even make a post about it and then come in and say that you posted about it because you thought actors were attention whores.  I made the comment because I thought it was funny. Nothing more. If I made you feel bad it wasn't intentional and I'll apologize, Not for what I said but for making you feel bad.

As far as anyone feeling a "NEED" as you say to post these things, To me it's no different than the need for Mr. Gowdy to post a video about his liver biopsy, or the post about the guy wanting to do his wifes sister, or the zombie thread... Ok the video of the liver biopsy was a little over the top but I'm not going to make fun of him if he feels he needs to share  something like that.  It's an off topic forum. That's what it is for.

[mikepmcs]

Posting about dead celebrities on a forum just seems to be the internet version of babbling the useless babble with friends or coworkers & such. It's no different than when you end up talking to someone you know & you need a topic to discuss after you finish beating the weather into the ground.

You or Me: "Hey, how's it going today?"

Someone Else: "Oh, not bad. I wish it would stop raining though."

You or Me: "Well, rain sucks sometimes, but think about where we'd all be without it."

Someone Else: "True, I didn't think of it that way."

You or Me: "Good thing I saw you today to point that out."

Someone Else: "Yes, I don't know if I would have remembered what I was taught in science class back in grade school."

You or Me: "I make it a point to remind people of things like that. You just never know when you might be selected to go on the Who Wants To Be A Millionare show & not want to use up all those lifelines. You could get a really tough question like, 'What type of plant was introduced in New York State in the 1800's that never grew there originally & is now a problem to native plants?' It would suck if you wasted a call to someone on weather related crap."

Someone Else: "Wow, that is a good point."

You or Me: "Do you think it's a good enough point to start a thread on?"

Someone Else: "No, it's actually pretty freakin' stupid."

Fricken hilarious as always! 

oh, and RIP Mary Travers, you will be missed.  Hopefully Jamey doesn't see this. 

[moparstuart]

  puff the magic dragon   

[RD]

RD, It was not my intention to make you look like an attention whore, but look at it from the other side of the screen for a moment. It seemed ironic to me that you would even make a post about it and then come in and say that you posted about it because you thought actors were attention whores.  I made the comment because I thought it was funny. Nothing more. If I made you feel bad it wasn't intentional and I'll apologize, Not for what I said but for making you feel bad.

As far as anyone feeling a "NEED" as you say to post these things, To me it's no different than the need for Mr. Gowdy to post a video about his liver biopsy, or the post about the guy wanting to do his wifes sister, or the zombie thread... Ok the video of the liver biopsy was a little over the top but I'm not going to make fun of him if he feels he needs to share   something like that.  It's an off topic forum. That's what it is for.

i can see your point if indeed my truest of intention was to get nothing but attention on myself, but that is not the case.  my intention is to figure out WHY people feel the need to do such posts.  In order for me to figure out why, I have to stay intune to the thread and post my reasons as to WHY i dont agree with them.

And ty for your reason as to why you think they are posted.

oh, and RIP Mary Travers, you will be missed.  Hopefully Jamey doesn't see this.

SACRILEGE!!! lol that was funny mike.

[Brock Samson]

Well who if anyone would be worthy of a memorial post?.. 

[RD]

Well who if anyone would be worthy of a memorial post?.. 

come on now.. if you dont know, you shouldnt ask.  when have you ever seen me disagree with someone posting a memorial post for their good friend, family member, or loved one.

these are people they know and love.  in regards to famous people, can you say you know and love them the same way you would a family member?

[Neal_J]

Well who if anyone would be worthy of a memorial post?..  

Perhaps Jessica Simpson's coyote-mauled dog

or Mary...of Peter, Paul & Mary?

Just a couple of ideas...

[Ghoste]

Perhaps it isn't the famous person that is being missed and immortalized but rather their body of work?  If their art represents a specific moment in time for you and reminds you fondly of that period in your life, then it's worth noting.  If the art stands forever then it would seem fair to RIP the deceased?
That being said, I stand by my first post that pop culture has made us into a cult of celebrity worshipers.  I'll point at Paris Hilton again and ask WTF?

[PocketThunder]

I always thought Puff the Magic Dragon was about smoking grass...  guess not after some quick reading on the internet  (it mus be true!)http://musicouch.com/musicouching/puff-the-magic-dragon%E2%80%9D-controversy/

[Brock Samson]

 I do think this is an interesting topic though,.. Sometimes when the threads appear the Michael Jackson thread in particular comes to mind, I wince and debate reading,.. But in the Case of Patrick S. I could perfectly understand perhaps because to my mind he was usually typecast as an everyman and apparently touched at least some folks with his Roadhouse role... He was even forgiven for knowing how to dance cause no one mentioned that...    
I dunno i think we need our heros (and villains) even if they are manufactured - I'm reading about that very subject now in Joseph Campbells' book "The masks of God - Creative Mythology". This reading is difficult if for no other reason then the parallels I'm drawing from it. Far more dense with history and example then his more popular "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" which I would concider only a simple primer into the subject.
Anyways,..
I don't think your a bad guy or whatever I just don't understand which way your going with this, you say you don't want to seem like one but then at the same time don't care what folks think...  Well, some people do care for whatever reason -  they like (or hate) their works or relate (or don't) to the characters they brought to life, or rooted for their fight against their  inevitable end and/or specific disease, Or belive they're a pervert and applaud their demise or whatever,.. Point being they FEEL something and want to share and compare notes.
Folks are different and have different feelings to the same events,.. I didnt think Bobs' post was particularly funny at all,  (sorry Bob.) and I read it three times,.. I allways find his input on whatever amazingly on point but didn't this time... a few folks got it, but I didn't,.. my point is you say You don't care when actors die, and don't understand why anyone would post about it,.. yet you make a post about it...
Am I the only one who is confused by this?..  
Were still cool right?..
I'm gonna go read Bobs' thread again to see if I can understand youze guys resisitance to these threads...  

& BTW:
I thought "Puff" was about the end of childhood and our imaginary friends...
 

[Brock Samson]

 OK:
after careful Review...
  I'm going with People FEEL something, hence they make a thread, and that is my Final Answer..

[Ghoste]

Soooooo... taking what you've said and adding what I've said, celebrities by definition of living a public life in our right now pop culture world become artists even if their art does nothing more than to make us stare at the circus freak (Paris again  ) and art by it's nature provokes thought and or emotion and upon the death of the "artist/celebrity" which we must act upon by noting the passing since the emotional response is akin to that felt by the more simple mourning and remembrance we would have for a loved one?

[RD]

... you say you don't want to seem like one but then at the same time don't care what folks think...  

i guess i should have cleared that part up more, what i meant to say was that "i dont care if people view me as an insensitive prick", not that I dont care what people think in regard to this topic.

Soooooo... taking what you've said and adding what I've said, celebrities by definition of living a public life in our right now pop culture world become artists even if their art does nothing more than to make us stare at the circus freak (Paris again  ) and art by it's nature provokes thought and or emotion and upon the death of the "artist/celebrity" which we must act upon by noting the passing since the emotional response is akin to that felt by the more simple mourning and remembrance we would have for a loved one?

wow... what a runon sentence!!!   understood it.. awaiting brock's response

[dodgecharger-fan]

To offer up a possible answer to the intent of the question: perhaps the need is to be the first to point out the event within our little nook on the Internet.
It's news.
There's no post about it yet.
Let me be the first!

After that, the thread is there for discussion of the person, their body of work, the untimelyness of their death (or otherwise), the way in whcih they passed, etc..

That's just a possible answer to the "why" that is being asked.
I'm sure there are many more reasons "we" do it.

[RD]

found this article somewhat interesting in a somewhat related way to why people may do RIP threads:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32895999/ns/entertainment-the_new_york_times/?GT1=43001

[Tilar]

I got part way through that link but lost interest.... But then IMO msnbc rates right up there with my brothers wife...Notice I didn't call her my sister-in-law.

Sorry, I'll try to get back on topic in this off topic discussion   ... Why does there have to be a specific reason to post a RIP thread? Or any subject thread for that matter? MJ didn't mean squat to me but I'm glad the original poster posted it so I could say he was a POS. I had met Les Paul once, and although I'm not a guitar freak, I knew some of his work. He was one hell of a guitar man and many people hated to see him die. Does that make them bad for posting their respects?

Oh, and I thought Puff the magic dragon was about imaginary friends too.

[Mike DC]

As for celebs & mythology I think it's an interesting comparison.  I guess the big difference is the fact that celebs' real life actions do so much to carve out their popular mythology.  With imaginary gods & demi-gods, we humans get to entirely write our own ticket.  Except for the occasional unfortunate strike of lightning, there will be no real-world editing process over what stories we dream up about the Gods.


But the line between a person and a pop culture "god" idol is definitely blurred by the media & popular treatment of celebs.  

Just look at South Park's treatment of celebrities.  They start with the real life people and write their own tapestry of events onto them, just like classical mythology.  (And with any luck some of these myths will cling.  Kanye West or Barbara Striesand might get pissed off but I doubt Brian Boytano would mind.)

[chargergirl]

We RIP for famous people because they touch our lives. We laugh, cry, sit in suspense, or horror dependant upon the medium. Because they touch our lives it is fitting that we say goodbye. Some we hate to see go, others well it's ok that they are gone. Michael gave us wonderful music before he lost his mind. In many ways I grew up with this guy. I was floored when he started changing his face and knew it was just a matter of time before his insanity revealed itself...it saddened me, still does. Patrick was married to his high school sweetheart and you never heard bad things about him, it was nice to see a good guy do well. His movies were diverse and pulled different audiences. Les Paul...laughed out of guitar makers offices with his stupid electric guitar for more than ten years, proves that if you believe you don't give up. Paris Hilton is famous because someone decided that being an idiot was entertaining when she passes it will be grieved by her family. Kanye...well times are changing cause every time he got on stage the night he stole another persons thunder, he was BOOed! He tried to explain away his stupidity, arrogance, and just general bad manners because of his mothers passing. When asked why he did these same type of things when she was alive he was speechless. Mother Theresa passed and there was just a bit more than a blurb on the news because Princess Diana had passed. Diana was a good person, Mother Theresa was a GREAT person...there wasn't three weeks of constant coverage about her. She is greatly missed and quietly revered throughout the world. People we don't know personally may touch our lives and be missed. However look at the board and see the support for members that are going through hard times and there is more than just a comment, there are friends.

[RD]

We RIP for famous people because they touch our lives. We laugh, cry, sit in suspense, or horror dependant upon the medium. Because they touch our lives it is fitting that we say goodbye. Some we hate to see go, others well it's ok that they are gone. Michael gave us wonderful music before he lost his mind. In many ways I grew up with this guy. I was floored when he started changing his face and knew it was just a matter of time before his insanity revealed itself...it saddened me, still does. Patrick was married to his high school sweetheart and you never heard bad things about him, it was nice to see a good guy do well. His movies were diverse and pulled different audiences. Les Paul...laughed out of guitar makers offices with his stupid electric guitar for more than ten years, proves that if you believe you don't give up. Paris Hilton is famous because someone decided that being an idiot was entertaining when she passes it will be grieved by her family. Kanye...well times are changing cause every time he got on stage the night he stole another persons thunder, he was BOOed! He tried to explain away his stupidity, arrogance, and just general bad manners because of his mothers passing. When asked why he did these same type of things when she was alive he was speechless. Mother Theresa passed and there was just a bit more than a blurb on the news because Princess Diana had passed. Diana was a good person, Mother Theresa was a GREAT person...there wasn't three weeks of constant coverage about her. She is greatly missed and quietly revered throughout the world. People we don't know personally may touch our lives and be missed. However look at the board and see the support for members that are going through hard times and there is more than just a comment, there are friends.

chargergirl.. with that statement, i do believe this thread has run its course as no one (as i reckon) can explain it better than you just did.  thank you for your well thought out and warm reply.  it was definitely refreshing.

[MoparManJim]

Okay, this thread has kinda offended me in a way. We all go to see movies or watch movies and if you don't that means you are very down right boring to hell. These people make movies for us all to set back and take our minds off of real life for alittle while and to enjoy the movie for what it is... a movie. We may not have meet any of them in life, we might have meet them. But the thing is, they are just like us in a way but they are well known are up on the big screen where as most of us are not! They are working just like we all do but what they do they do is in front of a camera though. If it wasn't for them they might not be action movies with mopars in them  . Remember Vanishing Point, Two Lane Black Top, Blade, Dirty Marry Crazy Larry, ForShaken? well if it wasn't for these guys and gals beings actors and actress's those films would not have been made and more folks wouldn't be into mopars. So some actors and actress's do more then others and more folks like the more for that and some had more talent then the other.  So by doing a R.I.P thread we are showing our respeck like we would if it was one of our own ken there.. but we doing it to show respeck to them for the work they did that we enjoyed. 

[RD]

Okay, this thread has kinda offended me in a way. We all go to see movies or watch movies and if you don't that means you are very down right boring to hell. These people make movies for us all to set back and take our minds off of real life for alittle while and to enjoy the movie for what it is... a movie. We may not have meet any of them in life, we might have meet them. But the thing is, they are just like us in a way but they are well known are up on the big screen where as most of us are not! They are working just like we all do but what they do they do is in front of a camera though. If it wasn't for them they might not be action movies with mopars in them  . Remember Vanishing Point, Two Lane Black Top, Blade, Dirty Marry Crazy Larry, ForShaken? well if it wasn't for these guys and gals beings actors and actress's those films would not have been made and more folks wouldn't be into mopars. So some actors and actress's do more then others and more folks like the more for that and some had more talent then the other.  So by doing a R.I.P thread we are showing our respeck like we would if it was one of our own ken there.. but we doing it to show respeck to them for the work they did that we enjoyed. 

how about, if it wasnt for the writers or the producer or the director, there would not be any mopars in them.  if this offended you, well... aint much i can do about that, but it just goes to show that not everyone sees them (actors) the same way you do.

[MoparManJim]

Okay, this thread has kinda offended me in a way. We all go to see movies or watch movies and if you don't that means you are very down right boring to hell. These people make movies for us all to set back and take our minds off of real life for alittle while and to enjoy the movie for what it is... a movie. We may not have meet any of them in life, we might have meet them. But the thing is, they are just like us in a way but they are well known are up on the big screen where as most of us are not! They are working just like we all do but what they do they do is in front of a camera though. If it wasn't for them they might not be action movies with mopars in them  . Remember Vanishing Point, Two Lane Black Top, Blade, Dirty Marry Crazy Larry, ForShaken? well if it wasn't for these guys and gals beings actors and actress's those films would not have been made and more folks wouldn't be into mopars. So some actors and actress's do more then others and more folks like the more for that and some had more talent then the other.  So by doing a R.I.P thread we are showing our respeck like we would if it was one of our own ken there.. but we doing it to show respeck to them for the work they did that we enjoyed. 

how about, if it wasnt for the writers or the producer or the director, there would not be any mopars in them.  if this offended you, well... aint much i can do about that, but it just goes to show that not everyone sees them (actors) the same way you do.

Or like how you do, I find you boring.

[RD]

Okay, this thread has kinda offended me in a way. We all go to see movies or watch movies and if you don't that means you are very down right boring to hell. These people make movies for us all to set back and take our minds off of real life for alittle while and to enjoy the movie for what it is... a movie. We may not have meet any of them in life, we might have meet them. But the thing is, they are just like us in a way but they are well known are up on the big screen where as most of us are not! They are working just like we all do but what they do they do is in front of a camera though. If it wasn't for them they might not be action movies with mopars in them  . Remember Vanishing Point, Two Lane Black Top, Blade, Dirty Marry Crazy Larry, ForShaken? well if it wasn't for these guys and gals beings actors and actress's those films would not have been made and more folks wouldn't be into mopars. So some actors and actress's do more then others and more folks like the more for that and some had more talent then the other.  So by doing a R.I.P thread we are showing our respeck like we would if it was one of our own ken there.. but we doing it to show respeck to them for the work they did that we enjoyed. 

how about, if it wasnt for the writers or the producer or the director, there would not be any mopars in them.  if this offended you, well... aint much i can do about that, but it just goes to show that not everyone sees them (actors) the same way you do.

Or like how you do, I find you boring.

no need to make this personal,... now back to the topic at hand.

[MoparManJim]

Okay, this thread has kinda offended me in a way. We all go to see movies or watch movies and if you don't that means you are very down right boring to hell. These people make movies for us all to set back and take our minds off of real life for alittle while and to enjoy the movie for what it is... a movie. We may not have meet any of them in life, we might have meet them. But the thing is, they are just like us in a way but they are well known are up on the big screen where as most of us are not! They are working just like we all do but what they do they do is in front of a camera though. If it wasn't for them they might not be action movies with mopars in them  . Remember Vanishing Point, Two Lane Black Top, Blade, Dirty Marry Crazy Larry, ForShaken? well if it wasn't for these guys and gals beings actors and actress's those films would not have been made and more folks wouldn't be into mopars. So some actors and actress's do more then others and more folks like the more for that and some had more talent then the other.  So by doing a R.I.P thread we are showing our respeck like we would if it was one of our own ken there.. but we doing it to show respeck to them for the work they did that we enjoyed. 

how about, if it wasnt for the writers or the producer or the director, there would not be any mopars in them.  if this offended you, well... aint much i can do about that, but it just goes to show that not everyone sees them (actors) the same way you do.

Or like how you do, I find you boring.

no need to make this personal,... now back to the topic at hand.

I didn't make it personal, you did with your other reply plus also with this whole thread to about RIPs folks.   

[RD]

now back to the topic at hand.

[elacruze]

 

[BrianShaughnessy]

What's the big deal?   No need for hating.  Some people are just doing a public service posting the Obits.

You have the choice to ulogize or not. 
     

[RD]

not hating, just wondering why people feel they need to ulogize for famous people that they dont know.  people think i am hating just because i dont agree with them or i dont understand why they do what they feel they need to do.  disagreeance does not mean i despise those that do these posts, nor does it mean i hate them.

anyway, i believe this thread has run its course.  anymore discourse will just seem to bring about people assuming that I developed this thread in order to make those that post obit threads to look like assholes or morons, IN WHICH IS TOTALLY NOT THE CASE.

MODS PLEASE LOCK SO THIS CAN GO AWAY.

thank you to all who provided constructive input from both sides of the argument.

[Steve P.]

Ok, but you only get "2" more wishes....