Comments on: Social Media and Celebrity Death: Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough

By: Doug Gleaves

Doug Gleaves — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:07:20 +0000

I myself know sex addiction can be extremely isolating. You feel like you are all by yourself. No one understands what its like to be you. If you just need somebody to talk to I am a good listener.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:01:09 +0000

I feel the same way pretty much. I think it was sad that Farrah’s death seemed to fade away (we really didn’t have time to take it in) as soon as Michael Jackson died. All the speculation is just that…speculation. Let’s wait for details why do we really ‘need’ to know everything? Let the family grieve without us for awhile. My goodness

By: lachatnoir.wordpress.com/

lachatnoir.wordpress.com/ — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:52:19 +0000

I must agree that it does leave an uncomfortable feeling, but is it par for the course in our media/IT obsessed times?

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:01:45 +0000

Jimmy Buffett song “Cuban Crime of Passion”

“cuz that’s what the people like to read (tweet,blog,watch) about, up in America”

By: The Daily Blonde

The Daily Blonde — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:12:15 +0000

Amy–I do agree that MJ was a huge public figure so it is almost expected to have a life..and a death…scrutinized. But it’s almost relentless and the outpouring of rumors (i.e. Perez Hilton) is just disturbing. I guess I’m just more sensitive to death and I need to toughen up…lol

By: Liz S

Liz S — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:38:04 +0000

I agree with Amy with regards to the exhibitionism/voyeurism that is an inherent part of the tool that is Twitter. However, bear in mind that Twitter just takes that to another (heightened) level. I liken it to rubbernecking – folks have been doing it for decades and will continue to do so. On Twitter, it just becomes more focused for whatever period of time it takes hold and then folks move on to another topic. The BL: with the loss of decorum and manners comes an attitude of free will and anything goes. Twitter just allows this to be taken to a new level.

By: Stefan Pinto

Stefan Pinto — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:28:02 +0000

Provoking article. Interesting that our minds are now unconsciously “conditioned” to compare whose death is more interesting. I do agree about many bloggers tendencies to surreptitiously convert pain and suffering into Google rankings.

By: amyz5

amyz5 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:22:29 +0000

Blondie, I agree that death should be private, for me. But in the land of social media everything from childbirth (@earthXplorer) to death (@youngbillymays) seems to be worthy of a trending topic. That cuts to the heart of the exhibitionistic/voyeuristic nature of the medium. I suppose there are some whose grief is eased or joys are heightened by sharing the blow by blow of the experience. Hey, if it works, who are we to judge. We see bloggers who are chronicling the aftermath of the loss of a child. If that diary of dispair helps their road to recovery, so be it.

Michael Jackson is another story. His death is colossal. As famous as Farrah and Ed were, they were not the ‘queen’ or ‘king’ of anything. He is up there with Elvis and John Lennon. In shaping our culture he became public domain. And when tragedy is added to the mix it only fuels the hashtag fire.

Twitter is about the news of the moment, and there will always be those that milk that moment. It is as much a part of that landscape as the good we have seen come out of that space – the help after the Nielson’s tragic plane crash, finding a kidney for a sick child, etc.

Let’s face it, Michael Jackson created his own nightmare in many ways. He fed the media and then ran and hid from it when it backfired. Truly a tortured soul.

But again, I agree, and to quote Janet Jackson, “He may be an icon to you, but to us he was family.” I hope they can find some peace.