Poll: "Show a little sympathy; all death is tragic !"

[Atmos Duality]

All death is tragic?
No, death is natural. It's our inability to move beyond our fear of the inevitable that's tragic.

So we attach tragedy to events that didn't directly effect us or to people who we didn't know (alternatively, who didn't give a fuck about us either; it works in reverse too).

Why? Because "We all care about each other". Pfft.
It's popularized sentimental bullshit; a total lie inspired by social psychology. It's naive hypocrisy at best and manipulative propaganda at worst.

Nobody (who didn't know me) is honestly going to care when I die or care how I lived or why I lived. Unless I somehow influenced or altered their life (for better or ill), the only logical response should be apathy.
They could read my obituary online or in a newspaper and by practical necessity, not care about me (or anyone else they didn't know) one bit. It's just a brief name of someone who once existed, and then is swiftly forgotten about afterward.

Why? Because if you did you would go insane from grief and worry; people die every day, and until our population reduces to the point where we need each other for absolute necessity, that won't change.

So spare me this "All death is tragic." bullshit.

 

[Forgetitnow344]

Snip.

Exactly. Everything about this. Yes.

A week ago, if I asked you what you thought about Amy Winehouse, the best answer you could have given me is that you thought her music was catchy or you liked her uniquely saucy voice. The average answer would be, "Doesn't she do all the drugs ever? Is she dead yet?" Then you hear she dies, and suddenly it's a tragedy? It's so completely false it should be considered an insult to all genuine sentiment everywhere. You don't give a flying fuck about Amy Winehouse and the only reason you care about her death is because you are "supposed to." If her family came up to me and asked me themselves, I'd say something like, "I'd say I'm sorry for your loss, but I really don't care." The socially adjusted person in me wanted to append that with some sort of condolence, but I'm just so not good at false sincerity. If someone I loved died, the last thing I'd want is that kind of pity. The only people whose condolences I'd care about are others who I loved. Everyone else is just faking it.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

Yes.

Death is always tragic.

Sometimes it is necessary. Sometimes it is a good thing. Executing a murderer is right and just - but it is still tragic.

Too many people seem to think it has to be one or the other.

Well said. I now feel a bit douche for not making that a choice but choosing from a limit of extremes. Is way more interesting. Also No means that it isn't ALWAYS tragic.

 

[emeraldrafael]

i suppose its always tragic to someone. So i would have to say I agree.

Now if the statement was all death is tragic to everyone, then I would very mjch so disagree.

 

[Woodsey]

no death is tragic. so of course i wouldn't agree with such an absurd statement.

*sigh*

Go on then, why is no death tragic?

Because teenagers on forums have to pretend they're sociopaths as part of an unwritten rule.

OT: Who said you have to be personally affected by something for it to be a tragedy? If you don't care, no one's forcing you to comment on anything.

Besides, not all deaths are tragic, although having said that, no deaths (or very, very few) should be celebrated.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

So I can assume you didn't care when 3000 people died on 9-11? One can still empathize with someone else's death and the pain of their family members without knowing them. I find the lack of empathy very disturbing.

Hey, no means that it isn't always tragic. Yes I find it tragic because I watched that shit all day. A group of passengers even sacrificed them selves without knowing what would happen even if they did take back the plan. I don't mind if someone doesn't find it tragic though. Also nice job. One step close the "Holocaust card".

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

No, I remember when Pinochet died and everyone bemoaned the fact that people were celebrating it. Fuck him, he was a disgusting murderer that should have spent his life rotting in jail. I spit on his corpse.

Just an example.

Is this about Amy Winehouse? Cos I actually think that's quite tragic.

Nah, not because of that, but I recently saw it there for the hundredth time so. Bin Ladin's death is a big part though.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

It has to, it MUST be tragic to you, because you have an imagination. Imagination creates sympathy; Whether you imagine you yourself died, or someone you actually KNEW died, imagination can portray and better prepare you for these situations for you without you actually experiencing them.

Of course, you can just shut off this important aspect of the mind and move on with your life. But I'll be of the opinion that you are a lesser being for it.

NO reason to be cruel. I find deaths tragic, but if I see a random name in the obituaries or hear of someone like Bin Ladin die I won't be happy or celebrate for a death but for my safety and not-deadness.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

Where is the middle ground in the poll? And so what people die everyday? You don't have to be "depressed" and grieve for them, but I have it in mind that you should try to spare a thought every now and then. That's all.

Actually "No." is the middle ground. It says that death isn't ALWAYS tragic not never tragic.

 

[Katana314]

Maybe death IS tragic, but even so...

Right now, a pack of wolves is tearing open the insides of a moose as it still lives and breathes, struggling to escape.

Right now, about 4 babies in different places are being forgotten inside one's car, with the air conditioning off.

Right now, a young 22-year-old man is being shot in an alleyway because the man who was mugging him felt threatened.

Today, a hospital was not able to save 15 different patients. 2 of those were from routine mistakes in pill mix-ups.

If you were ever to try to think about ALL deaths in the world at any one point, not only would you be constantly miserable, but it wouldn't help in any way. I can even rationalize why you wouldn't want to spend so much time thinking about the number of starving children in Africa; at least for myself.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

Of course all death is tragic but one cannot feel something for every individual on the planet, we are built this way and it is a good thing too. For example, let's say that every minute a child dies somewhere on this planet, a thing which, unfortunately, may be true. You know this fact, you can feel sorry about it, but you cannot feel the pain associated with it, maybe it is a protective mechanism. Imagine the pain you feel when a loved one dies and multiply it by 1440 (the minutes in a day, for every child that dies), you wouldn't be able to cope with it, it will tear you apart, you'll run mad, kill yourself, etc. It's the same with celebrities and other personalities, you can feel sorry, you can also hurt if you liked or admired that person very much, but you cannot feel the pain associated with death. It is a natural thing and we should be grateful it is this way.

Well yes, dead kids is sad, but if a person dies with no regrets, how could that be sad?

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

You don't have to be personally affected by the death to think its tragic. It tragic to the people who know them and showing those people some sympathy isn't too much to ask. I mean come on I'm sure you'd have a different feeling if it was someone that you knew and people went around saying "Oh thats not tragic in the least I mean people die everyday" you'd be a little offended. Now I'm not saying you have to be heartbroken about every celebrity death, but showing a little courtesy to their families isn't too much to ask.

Its like how Roger Ebert decided to tweet about Ryan Dunn's death in a very innappropriate mannering basically saying something like he got what he deserved. He can think that all he wants, but he doesn't have to say it to the whole world. I'm pretty sure all people are asking for with that statement is for people to show a little sympathy and not going around trashing people's names who are now deceased.

Being a shithead and not thinking something has personally affected you are different things.(I'm a dick for other reasons.)

 

[TheScientificIssole]

Hmm I think the misunderstanding comes in when there can be a difference between what you say and what you feel. For example if some random that I had never met before died I probably wouldn't feel anything personally, however I would not then go on a forum and post the fact that I don't care about such a persons death when many people who would read my post might be deeply affected by it. Do you see what I mean? Not everything in the world is about you. Perhaps just show a little respect.

Well, the thing is I'm saying that if I'M not grieving, it isn't tragic, for my world has not changed.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

I've read this many times on forums. What do you think of it? Do you agree? Disagree?
I have to say, no.
If someone who I don't know dies, why does it have to be tragic to ME? If some celebrities death occurs, why should I have to have be personally affected? The fact is I don't know 99% of the Earth population, and death happens every day. Hundreds of thousands of people die every day. I don't enter into a day by day depression over it. Something being horrible is one person's opinion.

This is almost word for word my opinion on the matter. Glad to see not everyone on the internet is a bleeding heart.

Thank you, but these said bleeding hearts have a right to think that way and maybe its just my misunderstanding of the value of life.

 

[Farther than stars]

I don't think something being tragic has to inherently affect you emotionally. People who make fun of other people dying or even in pain is always unsympathetic as far as I'm concerned and therefore I feel it shouldn't be done. But that has more to do with a common sense of decency rather than emotional investment.
Come to think of it. I think empathy plays a large part of it. When I say to someone that the death of their loved one is tragic, I feel sorry because of the loss that they feel, not sorry because of the loss I feel. In that sense at least I can be of help to the people I come into contact with, without feeling sad about all loss, all the time.

 

[Mr. 47]

All deaths are tragic. I won't shed a tear for someone whom I didn't know dying, but I would feel sympathey to the deceased's loved ones. I don't think that there is an 'untragic' death. The sickest serial killer may have family that would grieve. I may be happy that a menace has gone, but someone out there lost a friend, or a family member. Death may bring relief to an individual, but not ease to loved ones. While death is 'how things work' that doesn't mean it is not tragic. Someone's life has gone out; for all we know, their conciousness, their being, may be gone forever. If the loss of a life isn't tragic, I do not know what is.

 

[Dr Jones]

No. Death is not tragic. It is necessary, and sometimes for the better.

 

[Rpground]

death is death,the end...i will die,you will die,we all will die. thats just how it is. why make yourself worry over someone else's death? i mean i understand if they were a friend or family member. but if it doesnt effect your personally i say,so? it'll happen to you and me soon enough,enjoy the time you have instead of wasting it being all sad.

anyway yeah thats a no for me.