Public outpouring of grief now part of our culture:

[Praxius]

CTV.ca | Public outpouring of grief now part of our culture

The gathering of masses to memorialize strangers didn't end with Princess Diana's death. Ten years later the practice has become a modern phenomenon. From makeshift shrines on the side of the road marking a tragic traffic death, to long lineups at memorial ceremonies for complete strangers who have made the news, mourning is no longer a private affair. It's no surprise we feel connected to strangers, considering how close technology brings us to one another, says Mark Federman, a researcher on the effects of media on contemporary society for OISE at the University of Toronto. "We are always connected", Federman told CTV.ca. "There is now a pervasive proximity where we are close to anyone else, everywhere else at any time. Social networking websites such as Facebook, YouTube, and MySpace strengthen this notion of a global community. Just as in a small town, where it is quite common to know everything about neighbours, people networking in an online community can find out whatever they want about others with a click of the mouse. The difference is web users are often only too happy to give up their privacy by sharing their interests, dislikes and feelings. Strangers are now acting like friends. "Anonymous people are now our neighbours, even when the live on the other side of the world," Federman said. The media is easily to blame for facilitating this, he said. It might start with a simple story on the evening news, but technological advances almost encourage the public to keep the story alive by posting video clips on the web or starting online groups to discuss the situation. Take the case of Jordan Manners as an example. People were horrified to hear about the teenager being shot to death in the hallway of his Toronto school. Today, there are several groups on Facebook dedicated to his memory with hundreds of people as members. "I didn't know you either but seeing u on the news and in the newspapers day after day, 1000 times a day, I felt as if I've known u for years!!!," one girl wrote. "This affects me sooo much and makes me want to change! But all i have to say is, may the lord rest your soul!" There are also several video montages of Manners on YouTube. One of them had 12,200 viewings. "I don't even know him but (this) made me cry," wrote one person. The media are not to blame, said Federman. People are having a natural reaction to evolving technology. "It's the mentality that comes out for living in an environment that is massively interconnected," he said. "There is nobody that is 100 per cent unaffected by this kind of proximity. "Forty or 50 years from now, this will not be a phenomenon," he continued. "Nobody will think it's silly, it will be accepted behaviour."

So do you guys agree?

[Jern_Sandyer]

I think people with largely be desensitized after a while I'd say about 2020 or there about. There will just be too much to keep track of eventually so you draw back to protect yourself

[Praxius]

That's kind of where I am now with my life.... There's too much to worry and be concerned about in the world, so I pick my sympathy and support carefully.

Also, I've learned to accept that the world sometimes sucks and bad things happen to people.

I never understood people who say stuff like "Oh I never imagined in my entire life I'd ever see such evil." or "Such a Catastrophy."

You never imagined? By now most of us should realize that anything and everything can and will happen, eventually at some point in time.

I personally don't go out to these memorial things.... I don't see a point in them. Not only did I most likely not know the person(s) in question, but to what end?

Does it make these people feel like they did something good with their lives for showing up and doing what everybody else is doing, or does it just make them feel better?

I should explain myself a bit here, as I am not a completely heartless bastard who doesn't care for anybody else in the world (Which is kinda a half truth) I just don't get all misty eyed and emotional for things that don't directly relate to me.... I can't call that selfish, as it's not my choice.... I just don't have a connection, therefore, why should I care? Why should I even bother to fake that I care?