General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen famous old people die, why is it news?
Almost none of the information in an obituary is news.
The event itself isn't particularly surprising. Fame doesn't provide immunity from death.
Why not make an effort to interview famous old people who are thought to have little time remaining? They might have interesting things to say.
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)so people will have the answers when they're playing "Dead, Not Dead," silly.
Matariki
(18,775 posts)in the "happens in threes" game.
Drale
(7,932 posts)If you don't want to hear about it, don't read the story, but some of us have a connection to these "famous" people. When Ron Santo died, I was really really sad, I'll admit it I cried. He was one of the nicest people I've ever met and he was a great Cub and Cubs fan forever. Live and let live thats my moto. This is like those stupid speak outs in my local newspaper that says "I don't use facebook so they should shut it down."
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)you get to like them. I'm sad when anyone I knows dies.
Thaddeus Kosciuszko
(307 posts)illuminating it all the way to the end
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)WCGreen
(45,558 posts)Son of Gob
(1,502 posts)Ron Santo isn't a good example. He was still working as color commentator for the Cubs at the time of his death. The OP is referring to famous people who are no longer in the limelight.
EDIT : Nevermind, I think I read the OP wrong.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)liberal N proud
(60,344 posts)When famous or important people in public or our personal lives, retire or die, we pause to remember.
My long time boss just retired last week, we all took time to reflect on his accomplishments and those things we will miss now that he has moved on.
BeyondGeography
(39,379 posts)Fer chrissakes...
WillowTree
(5,325 posts)JBoy
(8,021 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Lucinda
(31,170 posts)Boojatta
(12,231 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)I do agree there are some -- with a little time left -- who should be interviewed before it's too late.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)I had him down for next Tuesday ...
SaintPete
(533 posts)Bigger than life screen stars or rock and roll legends die, but we keep trucking on.
It's a fantasy, but one we love to bask in on a regular basis.
Thaddeus Kosciuszko
(307 posts)I know you have met at least one person in your life who was ostensibly larger than life itself. Some people touch the lives of others to such a degree, that when they pass, those who were touched by them feel the loss.
(This applies to people who touch others in negative ways too.)
REP
(21,691 posts)As an example, Paul Newman. He made a lot of movies, some of them excellent (Hombre, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, etc); some forgettable ones and one of the few sports movies I love (Slapshot). He was also socially active (pro-gay rights, pro-Democrat, many charitable acts, etc). And he had a long, active career.
For these reasons, a lot of people liked and admired him, and were sad when he died - even though they had never met him. For many, he was a life-long or near life-long presence in one form or another, and his death was a loss to them.
If you weren't looking for a serious response, I apologize.
bluerum
(6,109 posts)Maybe morbid curiosity when old dick chainy goes.
Kellerfeller
(397 posts)Or at least why they were famous.
Obviously there were some, otherwise they would not be famous.
Some are not "accomplishments" per se, (e.g. Paris Hilton...)
Johonny
(20,888 posts)When my relatives died who were not particularly of any fame, they all had obituaries written up in the newspaper. It is pretty customary for the news to report the death of a person. Even ordinary persons. Is it shocking more famous people getter broader coverage since they are more broadly known? Nope.
Would it be better if people died in secret with no one knowing who is alive or dead?
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)Patrick Swayze comes to mind - not that he was old, but that people knew that he was going to die. He had plenty to say before his death.
Problem is that for most people - especially the elderly - death can come very rapidly. You can be in great health, then come down with a sickness or an injury that kills within weeks or days.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)The death of God is always news.