Death makes the heart grow fonder

[hillhopper]

I'm sure this has been done before, but another thread got me thinking.
The out pouring over Michael and other celebrities deaths always seem to make every one like them more than when they were alive. Is it a case of wanting what you can't have?

So the question is: Who do you think you will like more after they are gone?

Mine might be: Roseanne Barr or what ever her last name is (she gives lesbians a bad name)
Joan Rivers : A closet lesbian who has had plastic surgery more times than the combined total of the girls on the Freeone's babe list.

Really, I'm not wishing it, I just think their passing might soften how I feel about them.

Anyone else care to weigh in?

 

[busenbust]

I suspect it's also just 'human nature' (no pun intended); regrets; genuinely missing the person; but also I think it might be short-lived (the outpouring).

 

[STDiva]

If I don't like someone now, I won't like them when they're dead. That's hypocrisy.

If Rosanne dies, is she all of a sudden going to be funny? Or less annoying to you?

 

[Jagger69]

There is a natural tendency for the human heart to soften in the aftermath of someone's death I believe. JFK and Reagan are two excellent examples. JFK's presidency was not even 3 years old when he was killed so his legend is much larger than his actual legacy. Ditto for Reagan. He has nearly been deified by some after his death and I seem to remember some really shitty stuff that took place under his watch and I think his "greatness" is highly over-rated (strictly my opinion).

It's likely that George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will experience similar metamorphoses after they have both passed away. Retrospect is often much more subjective and forgiving than examination or analysis in the present tense.

 

[vaasta1987]

It's not about liking them more, It's about respecting them more because in the end they were human beings, and its sad that they passed away. Michael Jackson is a special case, alot of people who were neutral towards Jackson thought things through, gave his music a second listen and appreciate him more now than before.

Also, naturally celebrities seem like superhumans when theyre alive, theyre rich and famous and nothing can touch them, and then all of a sudden you hear one of them died. Its unexpected and strange, and you suddenly realise theyre just human beings who die like anyone else. Thats my 2 cents

 

[hillhopper]

And now that I read my own thread I meant to be talking about Rosie O'Donnald and her giving lesbians a bad name.

Tough I obviously don't care for Roseanne either.

If I don't like someone now, I won't like them when they're dead. That's hypocrisy.

If Rosanne dies, is she all of a sudden going to be funny? Or less annoying to you?

No she won't be more funny, certainly less annoying.

Talking about O'Donnell: I won't be carrying current resentment/ill feelings for her while she continues to make a fool of herself and the gay communtity. I feel like if she passes; one, it won't be as accepted by others to continue to dislike her. Two, there will be no more new fodder for my ire. Three, I will be forced to look at the whole of her person/life instead of the parts that make me mad and then maybe I won't care as much. Four, human nature right? Some one passes you should feel bad, that was some one's son/daughter, family member.

I just think there are those people out there that we really dislike most of the time and if they passed away we might change our feelings about them. Much like most of the world is doing about Michael right now.

 

[hillhopper]

Retrospect is often much more subjective and forgiving than examination or analysis in the present tense.

Yes, this is what I meant....

Now go back to having fun and dish on the people you think you will change your feelings about once they are gone.

My brother just mentioned Pete Rose to me the other day...

 

[Nester6]

Excellent points. I love entertainers, but how about famous scientists,doctors,
teachers,Popes (John Paul was brilliant and a uniter whatever your view of religion) Mother Theresa, etc. heroes.
A drugged up entertainer is worshipped. Sad, such a talent like Elvis , Michael were wasted.

 

[Nester6]

I still miss Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, The Rat pack, Dom Deluise, Lucielle Ball, Jackie Gleason, Art Carney,Judy Garland and on and on. To me (older person that I am) these fantastic entertainers can never be replaced.

 

[hillhopper]

Does the impact of the death and our thoughts about the person later, change given the age of the person when they die? Seems to me we could carry this argument out to include all the 20-30 somethings (River Phoenix, Chris Farley) that seem so revered compared to older celebs (Paul Newman) and say that the main reason we 'forgive' so many transgressions after they pass is related to the age? ergo the younger they are when they pass the more we are willing to forgive and forget?

But really I was trying to find some humor with this....

Would we all like the phone throwing Naomi Campbell more if she passed away?
....the 'never gonna get it/in' gambling Pete Rose?
.... Would we like former Ill Gov. Blagoavich more if he kicked it?

 

[hillhopper]

Bump?

 

[Jeep!]

Quoting myself from a reply in a similar thread.

I think a good example of this is Jade Goody (don't know if anyone outside of Ireland or the UK would know who she is though). When she was alive, she was vilified as the ignorant, loud-mouth racist she is, but when she fell ill, all the prejudice and racism was forgotten and she became a media darling up until, and after, her death. To me, though, if someone holds such ignorant views, all the cancer in the world isn't going to make me respect them.

 

[Legzman]

The out pouring over Michael and other celebrities deaths

...is absolutely fucking ridiculous...

 

[mrtrebus]

Ian Brady

 

[D-rock]

Isn't it just a variation of absence making the heart grow fonder. Maybe some people take for granted what they have until they don't have it anymore.

(As far as Roseanne goes, to be honest except for being very ugly, fat, doing and saying some stupid and annoying things every once in a while, and one very bad rendition of our national anthem, I almost feel like she's vilified a little more than she should be. Not that I still like her or anything, but a lot of celebrities out there I can't say that about.)