Friday, 6 November 2009
MySpaceDeath
I recently watched this video in my Tech and Culture class. The video is discussing the website known as MyDeathSpace.com. On this site, users can submit pages to represent deaths of myspace users. Firstly, let me be blunt, I find this very, very strange. However, can we write it off so quickly? Everyone deals with death differently, perhaps being able to write on a loved one's wall, allows some to grieve. In addition, the site owner will take any post down at the request of a family member, so if the page makes a relative uncomfortable, it can be removed. Some have argued against this site, saying the dead has no say in their page, however, do they have a say in anything anyone says about them after they are dead? Some assume that this is just more disrespect-able because words are put into writing, but how is this different from perhaps a memorial service address? The dead has no say is what their speaker says there either. I think all must be hesitant to judge this site, despite how it looks at the quick glance.
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I agree with what you wrote here - I really do think that once you're dead, you're dead - what people need to do with your memory in order to console themselves is their business. If this makes them feel better, then so be it!
ReplyDeleteOne problem I have with this site is that is a family or friends' idea of who that person was. Everyone sees one person differently, even differently from that person sees himself or herself. I certainly would not want someone's misconception of me after I die to be up online for the world to see. Perhaps, as morbid as it sounds, the person could create their page before they died, so they are remembered the way they want to be remembered.
ReplyDeleteI do, however, definitely see how this is a fantastic way to allow family and friends to grieve and pay their condolences and respects.
My aunt died earlier this year and the newspaper that published her eulogy also has a website that allows you to click the name of the loved-one who passed away and write a comment of condolences to the family. This does help people to grieve and move on - and much more quickly and easily than by any other method of communication.