Poll: Are Cemetaries a Waste of Space?

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

Is it worth devoting land to the dead? Is visiting a grave site part of the grieving process? Do religious beliefs require it, or will the dead get pissed off and haunt us if they don't have a grave?

Thoughts.

Or, vote yes or no.

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

This is actually a tough one. On one hand it is a tradition and on the other hand bodies could fertilize the earth and save space.

Good thread dude...hmmm gotta think about this one.

 

[Disaster Button]

I'd rather honour the dead on my own or with family/non-existant freinds. I don't think I'd ever go to a cemetary.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I don't think the dead really care. The ones who have passed on have passed on. The ones who are ghosts (supposedly) don't realize they are dead and wouldn't care about their body's resting place anyway.

Truthfully though, I think you would have an easier time getting rid of those stupid, useless Golf Courses than you would getting rid of the grave yards.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

Good thread dude...hmmm gotta think about this one.

It's something I've often wondered about. Cemeteries are huge! And in the city, people complain about a lack of space.

Personally, I think they are. Though I think it's good to have memorials for people who have done great things - like soldiers.

 

[Biosophilogical]

What we need to do is start cremating everyone, and if someone is required by their religion to bury their dead then do so on land owned by their religious group or themselves. If we keep giving everyone a grave we'll soon run out of room for houses, rainforests, libraries or even stores.

So yes, cemetaries are an objective waste of space (the use of objective meant to mean that it is not a waste of space from subjective views such as those of relevant religions).

 

[The Austin]

Hell to the yes!

When I'm dead, burn me or feed me to the Zoo lions or something. Anything would be better than spending the rest of forever in a box.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

Yeah, they seem like a waste of space to me. Hell, even if you want to go the whole "let's respect the dead route" then just consider that if you get burried your body's going to decompose and be eaten by worms, if you get cremated then you just get burned to ash which can be sprinkled somewhere nice.

 

[Thunderhorse31]

Good thread indeed, I'd say the tradition is too steeped in old superstitions to really be considered seriously anymore (mummification and whatnot), though I'm willing to bet there are still plenty of groups out there (Catholics, Muslims, etc.) who place value even on the bodies of the dead.

I say they're a waste of space, but it won't be an issue until the planet's overcrowded.
oh wait...

 

[Kpt._Rob]

What we need to do is start cremating everyone, and if someone is required by their religion to bury their dead then do so on land owned by their religious group or themselves. If we keep giving everyone a grave we'll soon run out of room for houses, rainforests, libraries or even stores.

So yes, cemetaries are an objective waste of space (the use of objective meant to mean that it is not a waste of space from subjective views such as those of relevant religions).

I could be wrong on this one, but I think you actually do have to own the land you're burried on. I'm not defending the practice mind you, I want to be cremated when I die. But, people who get burried in cemetaries actually do have to buy a plot in the cemetary.

 

[neitherman]

Looking at it from a purely pragmatic point of view, yes, they are a huge waste of space, however they are a requirement for any zombie apocalypse (that does not involve a "rage" virus).

 

[JRCB]

Personally, I think that they are somewhat important. A place to go to remember those who are no longer with us.

However, they are probably wastes of space. When I die, I want my body to be buried somewhere far in the arctic.

 

[theSovietConnection]

What we need to do is start cremating everyone, and if someone is required by their religion to bury their dead then do so on land owned by their religious group or themselves.

If I remember correctly (not saying I do, but I believe this is the case for my area) cemeteries are private property already.

 

[Sleekgiant]

Looking at it from a purely pragmatic point of view, yes, they are a huge waste of space, however they are a requirement for any zombie apocalypse.

You get a shoulder cookie for sharing my opinion.

 

[Necrofudge]

Well if they're taking up space, We could just pile them on top of each other in one mass grave.
Then again, I doubt the families of the deceased would be happy that grandpa is lying mangled next to a bunch of random people in a big hole. The whole separate grave thing provides closure.

Anyway, who cares if it's a waste of space? The land is used to make money for whoever owns it in exchange for a little storage space. Couldn't one argue that Public storage garages are a waste of space? Or any business for that matter?

 

[VivaciousDeimos]

Cemetery overcrowding is already becoming a problem: http://geanderson.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/overcrowded-cemeteries/

And that's just one small example. Objectively I would agree that cemeteries are a waste of space, but I also know that visiting someone's grave can be an important part of the grieving/healing process. I doubt that the dead really care what happens to their bodies, but the families could object.

I agree with you though, about memorials. I think they're important to have, especially war memorials.

 

[Burningsok]

can't you just cremate someone then bury their ashes. you can stick graves stones really close to each other. it will save space.

 

[i am nobody]

two words: Soylent Green.