I don't get this - Celebrity deaths

[phorsenuf]

I don't get how some people get so worked up over celebrity deaths. I see the footage from the deaths of Elvis, Diana, Michael Jackson and these people are sobbing and carrying on about it for months and even years after. I's not like they knew them or anything. I can't help but feel bad for these people that get so wrapped up over it. I can't even begin to imagine what will happen when a member of their own family passes. If they mourn in such a way for a stranger how will they cope when it's a loved one?
Can anyone enlighten me on such behavior.

And yes yes, I understand everyone has a right to behave as they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, and yes I know that what may seem odd to me may be perfectly normal to someone else and who am I too judge but I'm still curious.
(Did I cover it all?)

 

[Jennasis]

Same reason people cried and acted crazy over seeing these people live (The Beatles, Elvis). Sometimes you just connect with someone/something in a profound way. Obviously, not everyone else does.

 

[KAMLEM]

I don't get it either, especially when it's over someone like Michael Jackson who had so many questionable things about his past.

 

[Missy1961]

I totally agree with you. Was I sad when some of these people died? Yes I was, especially any time they were young. I cried when I heard when they died. But did I truly grieve for them? No I didn't. I grieved for my mom (still do, 8 1/2 years later), my grandma, my grandpa....people I truly knew. I didn't know Elvis, Princess Diana or Michael Jackson.

 

[chicagoshannon]

I don't get it either. I'll generally think "that's too bad" and then go about my business.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

And why do people need to bring flowers, teddy bears, light candles for these people. I'm not talking friends or relatives but seriously folks, come on.

I worked down the block from where JFK Jr. was living when he passed away. They had to block on streets, have continual police presence. It was ridiculous.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You sound like people that would enjoy the season opener of South Park last week. Yes, it was titled...."Dead Celebrities".

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think I cried for Diana--but that is pretty much it.

Very devastated that she was taken so suddenly.

I don't judge people's reactions. Everyone does things so differently. I was raised on Princess Diana...the people of her country adored her (she was a great change to the stuffy monarchy). So it stands to reason why he loss was so great to those people.

Folks cried when JFK was assasinated as well.

When a leader is lost--it can truly be devestating.



My grief for a public figure though will never be the same as the grief of losing someone whom I know personally.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

My grief for a public figure though will never be the same as the grief of losing someone whom I know personally.

Well said. I have never identified with a celebrity on such a level either.

 

[okeydokey]

I think I cried for Diana--but that is pretty much it.

Very devastated that she was taken so suddenly.

I don't judge people's reactions. Everyone does things so differently. I was raised on Princess Diana...the people of her country adored her (she was a great change to the stuffy monarchy). So it stands to reason why he loss was so great to those people.

Folks cried when JFK was assasinated as well.

When a leader is lost--it can truly be devestating.

My grief for a public figure though will never be the same as the grief of losing someone whom I know personally.

I see a difference in mourning an assasinated president and a pop singer.

 

[maddmike]

I don't get it either. Some of these people are downright loony. When Michael Jackson died all these people were congragated around some place for a memorial. One lady was standing there just balling her eyes out and her son was with her. One of the networks interviewed her and she told the world how sad she was MJ was gone. She then said now that MJ was gone he (refering to her son) was the most important person in her life. I could not believe the woman said that. She sure had some screwed up priorities in her life.

 

[Mermaid02]

I cried when Diana died..... in the privacy of my own home. I cried when Colleen died on the Young and the Restless too......... so take that for what it's worth...... LOL

BUT-- I don't understand why people take Teddy Bears etc to gravesites either...... I would rather donate a bear to a charity for a needy child....... I don't get those "In Memory of" stickers on cars either........

 

[Heidict]

I have always wondered the same thing myself. These are people they didn't know and probably never would have known. They were no more then a voice on the radio, a face on the tv screen an image in a magazine. I can't imagine becoming so "attached" to someone I really know nothing about and being so devastated by their death. Especially when the persons own addictions and / or narcissistic habits brought about their own demise.


It's one thing to be saddened over the passing of an entertainment figure, especially if they were extremely talented or if their work was a part of your life and / or childhood. But to be carrying on about it, months and years later????? I would say that it might be time for professional help in figuring out how and why they are reacting in such a way. It can't be healthy and it would worry me about how a the death of a loved one would affect them if a strangers death is affecting them this strongly.

 

[MusiqChic99]

Honestly I dont get why we hold celebrities so high in status anyway. There is so much hype over their lives then it carries over into their deaths.

I can't recall a celebrity I have cried over in any way. Some people cry just in the presence of someone famous. I dont understand that either.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I think I cried for Diana--but that is pretty much it.

Very devastated that she was taken so suddenly.

I don't judge people's reactions. Everyone does things so differently. I was raised on Princess Diana...the people of her country adored her (she was a great change to the stuffy monarchy). So it stands to reason why he loss was so great to those people.

Folks cried when JFK was assasinated as well.

When a leader is lost--it can truly be devestating.



My grief for a public figure though will never be the same as the grief of losing someone whom I know personally.

I was talking JFK's son, not the president.
I agree that losing a president or a monarch is different as that may truly affect a country.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I cried for days when Princess Diana died. I felt like someone had stabbed me in the stomach.

But then, she was only a few years older than I was and since I was going to marry someone with a title (okay, so I didn't but that was the whole insane dream and idea so that I could do good works and support charities, and no I didn't actually know anyone eligible with a title but I was in a major fantasy zone when I was young) I just fawned over her wedding.

I loved her as a fan. I saw her in person at Fergie's Wedding and I have pictures! I loved that she did good works both in front of and behind the cameras.

And I am normal, I swear. I don't have a shrine and I didn't send flowers when she died. My hero died and I felt inconsolable. Luckily, my husband understood my sorrow at the time of her death and let me grieve.

But. I did step up my charity giving (both time and money) and still do to this day. I have sapphires in with my wedding diamonds because of her.

So that explains me and Princess Diana.



But I don't get the whole Michael Jackson thing. Maybe he made others feel like how Diana made me feel? Hard to understand that with all of the issues around him, though.


But I do get it when normal celebrities die. We invite them into our homes for their TV shows and movies. They influence us. I know that I am a better person because of the Huxtables, for example. We follow their style. I didn't get a Rachel haircut but two of my friends did. Cary Grant taught some men manners.

And I did lose it when my grandmothers died. And my grandfathers. See, normal.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't get "upset" when celebs die.

However with JFK JR and Princess Diana I think it is more you mourn the loss of what they were going to be to society, if that makes sense.

I still hate it that they are dead.

 

[Becky2005]

I cried when Diana died..... in the privacy of my own home. I cried when Colleen died on the Young and the Restless too......... so take that for what it's worth...... LOL

BUT-- I don't understand why people take Teddy Bears etc to gravesites either...... I would rather donate a bear to a charity for a needy child....... I don't get those "In Memory of" stickers on cars either........

I agree! I have no idea who Colleen on Y&R is but I cry just about anytime any character on a show dies (then again I've been known to cry at commercials so take it for what it's worth). I think I probably did cry for Diana though just due to the circumstances. I haven't really cried for any other celebrities that have recently passed away. It's been more like "oh that's too bad" but I don't know them from the man on the moon. Usually, I'm more of "wow, they died young" or "Wow, I didn't even know they were still alive". Then I go on with my life.

I also don't get the Teddy Bears, that kind of stuff that is literally just going to be picked up & thrown out at some point (because how in the world would you salvage a stuffed animal that has been outdoors for any length of time, especially if it had rained at all! EWWW!)

I also don't get crosses throughout the side of the highway when it's NOT a cemetary and/or church. I really dislike that -- I get freaked out enough driving the older I get, I don't need reminders that it can be deadly...I try not to THINK about that aspect of driving but those crosses pop up. I know for a fact that those people are NOT buried where the crosses are. I'm pretty sure they are somewhere else. We have 2 that are right next to a High School & I knew one of the people the cross is for (he didn't die in a car accident, he happened to have a heart attack there).

 

[Handbag Lady]

Honestly I dont get why we hold celebrities so high in status anyway. There is so much hype over their lives then it carries over into their deaths.

I can't recall a celebrity I have cried over in any way. Some people cry just in the presence of someone famous. I dont understand that either.

Clearly, you've never found yourself face to face with Brad Pitt. I rounded the corner once at work and there he was. I stammered. I've never stammered before in my entire life and I work around famous peopel from time to time.


It did beat the first time I saw him, though. I mistook him for a mechanic.

 

[Disneyland1084]

You sound like people that would enjoy the season opener of South Park last week. Yes, it was titled...."Dead Celebrities".

Oh darn, I missed that.