"It sucks when anybody dies and my heart goes out to Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson's family, but thousands of people die daily and no one cares. I guess our society needs famous celebrity deaths to remind us that life is precious."
While I never really payed attention to either Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett (or Ed McMahon), this response inevitably comes up in every celebrity death thread, and common sense tells me that the reason celebrity deaths are made into such a big deal is because they "touch" the lives of millions slash tens of millions slash hundreds of millions of people.
You know, due to their celebrity.
Sure, little Jimmy might look up to his Aunt Jean, the world-renowned neurosurgeon, and think "I want to be just like her when I grow up!", but tens of thousands of people (if not more) looked up to Michael Jackson and said "I want a child named Blanket when I grow up!".
They grew up being told that someone out there in the world wants to rock with them (all night). And that it doesn't matter if you're black or white.
While I never really payed attention to either Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett (or Ed McMahon), this response inevitably comes up in every celebrity death thread, and common sense tells me that the reason celebrity deaths are made into such a big deal is because they "touch" the lives of millions slash tens of millions slash hundreds of millions of people.
You know, due to their celebrity.
Sure, little Jimmy might look up to his Aunt Jean, the world-renowned neurosurgeon, and think "I want to be just like her when I grow up!", but tens of thousands of people (if not more) looked up to Michael Jackson and said "I want a child named Blanket when I grow up!".
They grew up being told that someone out there in the world wants to rock with them (all night). And that it doesn't matter if you're black or white.
See what I'm getting at? Influence.
So you're saying every life that ended today, still doesn't add up to the importance of Michael Jackson?
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So you're saying every life that ended today, still doesn't add up to the importance of Michael Jackson?
No, not at all.
Edit: By which I mean, that's not at all what I was saying.
Everybody means something to somebody, but some folks mean something to a lot of people. Simple as that.
Taking it further than that turns life into some sort of competition.
And I don't think one's life's importance is something that can really be measured in the first place.
Being a celebrity is like being the popular girl in high school. Just as frivolous, but if the popular girl in high school suddenly goes into cardiac arrest and dies, everybody will soooo totally be talking.
Last edited by DeathsHand : 06-25-2009 at 11:59 PM.
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Re: R.I.P. Michael Jackson
Deathshand is right here and it makes complete sense. One dead person = One dead person (for example http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...808049,00.html, everyone has the same value of human life), BUT the guy who died today has a record that went 20x platinum. That is a ridiculous amount of people who have heard, enjoyed and were influenced by his music and his presence.
I don't think anyone is sticking up for the idea of celebrity exactly in this case, when there are things like genocide still happening in the world, but to to be aghast that major news networks are covering this and that many people are upset or at least interested in this is pretty damn naive.
I guess to further elaborate, I think it is ironic that Western civilization (you and me) spend millions of dollars on celebrities we idol (we buy movies, music, TV, things that aren't necessary for survival) while there are kids starving around the world, thousands who die daily (families making less than 2 dollars a day, walking 5 miles to get dirty water to drink).
Then, when a famous celebrity dies in this country we look at death as a tragic thing, yet every day we brush off the fact that thousands of starving kids die daily, we really just ignore the fact.
If there has ever been a social juxtaposition, this is it.
The underlying lesson here is life is precious, and don't take what you have for granted.
The obvious lesson is celebrities, athletes, politicians, etc. become idols or heroes that transcend family and friend-relationships which is why so many people feel touched and grieve when these famous people pass on. I have been moved by George Carlin and Bernie Mac, for example, which is why I felt very emotionally touched when they passed away.
While i don't think this thread should turn into a discussion of morality in contemporary society, but every society has had celebrity deaths which by nature gather more attention than other deaths. Obviously one can comment on the proliforation of celebrities today, and question the validity of them occupying the public eye, but i think thats perhaps better of in a seperate thread.
Certainly suprised by this, i know he was planning a big comeback tour in the UK. I'm not making any conclusions on the various accusations hes had, but he hasn't done himself any favors in last 5-10 years. Which is a shame because it will likely tarnish his legacy in music. Whatever fans say about him, you can't dangle a baby outside a hotel window and not permanently alter your public perception.
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Re: R.I.P. Michael Jackson
You guys also have to keep in mind that he grew up from a very young age in the lime light. He touched a looot of people, as Deathshand said.. If you want to talk about the most popular international superstars in history, Mike has to be in the discussion.
Since he's been popular for so long, people watched him grow up, and get more of that feeling of actually knowing him. Even though in his last years he had changed a lot, it didn't matter because people loved him unconditionaly.
I could understand how people in their teens or lower wouldn't have that same connection though. R.I.P Micheal.
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I lol'd.
Anyway, a tragic life his was. He was a child star who became the biggest pop superstar perhaps ever. Then he fell from grace in many very strange ways, but most of all could never regain that initial Thriller glory. And just as he was about to make his comeback, he died mysteriously, perhaps from addiction to prescription drugs. That's tragic. I look forward to the inevitable Hollywood biography movie. RIP.
Anyway, a tragic life his was. He was a child star who became the biggest pop superstar perhaps ever. Then he fell from grace in many very strange ways, but most of all could never regain that initial Thriller glory. And just as he was about to make his comeback, he died mysteriously, perhaps from addiction to prescription drugs. That's tragic. I look forward to the inevitable Hollywood biography movie. RIP.
That post read like the back of a cereal box.
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Re: R.I.P. Michael Jackson
Did Nostradamus predict Michael Jackson's death?
The boy king who walked backwards is silenced
And the children gather no more around the throne
Tears fall across the territories
And fires will rage thereafter
I think... 1 more point to Nostradamus
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Re: R.I.P. Michael Jackson
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