Sep 18th, 2008
Sep 18th, 2008
This is not a new idea. We have seen it after the deaths of celebrities, musicians, and people involved in highly publicized situations, such as the massacre at Virgina Tech. However, my first hand experience with it is something new.
Yesterday, someone I went to college with passed away very suddenly. The cause is still unknown and he was barely 25 years old. He was the type of person who could make friends with everyone, wore a smile like it would never go out of style, and had his whole life ahead of him.
As you can imagine, the news spread like wildfire throughout various online social channels from Facebook status messages wishing peace to the creation of a group in his memory.
The most touching outpouring of support is his wall. It is being bombarded with messages and photos from aquaintences, friends, and family members. Scrolling through the page and seeing the variety of sentiments from simple goodbyes, silly memories and expressions of anger is not only beautiful, but pretty amazing.
Before social portals like Facebook, people did not have such an immediate and expansive outlet for publicly dealing with a loss like this. These mediums allow people to share their feelings and comfort one another with the simple tap of a few keys. I can only imagine what this support will mean to the people who were closest to him or to others that have gone through similar experiences.
I spend a lot of time studying and discussing the uses of social media and its place in our society. How it makes our lives easier, how companies can benefit from it, which sites do it the best, and so forth. I could go on for days about any of these topics. This is the first time I have found a use for social media that has left me almost speechless. Connecting with people online takes on a whole new meaning when it connects users like this.
i’ll agree 100%. i’ve seen it time and time again. i feel like social media gives the chance to empathize with people i don’t even know. multiple times i have seen friends on my newsfeed join an “r.i.p. so and so” group and i almost always end up going to the page and reading what people had to say about that person.
the dynamics are very interesting these days because of the internet. obituaries are almost unnecessary. the fact that friends and family can continue to interact with someone who has passed away is beautiful.
i’m sure holly and i feel the same way about kelly preusse, may he rest in peace.