So, apparently someone famous died last night*. I’m not sure which I’m more impressed by – the fact Wikipedia had already updated with his death before the BBC News had even reported it, or the speed with which the jokes hit Twitter.
But seriously guys, he was only a pop singer. Ok, so he was a rather famous one, who despite his eccentricities made quite a contribution to music. But this behaviour: the wailing in the streets, the desperation to be near his place of death, the panic and mass hysteria – is it really necessary, let alone proportionate?
Believe it or not, other things did happen yesterday. Things that actually impact people, that might make more of a difference to the world. Corus cut 2000 jobs – big impact on the local economy. China started censoring Google again – massive issues for the Chinese and the openness of the web. Evidence was found for water on Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons – a huge leap in the search for extraterrestrial life. The protests in Iran are ongoing. The oil refinery strikes continue. The list goes on… And these are just the big headlines, things still happened on a smaller scale that made far more of a difference to more people than the death of “Wacko Jacko”.
So guys, feel free to be upset that Michael Jackson has died, but wonder whether all this effort that you’re putting in mourning the loss of this one guy is really proportional to the effect on the world this event has, and maybe take a moment to think of all the other people suffering far worse.
*Oh, and “died of a cardiac arrest”? Grrrrr….
June 26, 2009 at 10:51
glad to see someone else feels the same way. who gives a toss if some nutter died, when there are bigger things to worry about?
June 26, 2009 at 13:05
If I hear his name again, my head will implode. A singer with a disturbing liking for young boys dies, I don’t care and can’t understand why everyone else seems to.
June 26, 2009 at 13:20
Oh yes. And apparently, Google essentially fell over with the number of hits they were receiving searching for news about Wacko! Like you say, people need some perspective!
June 26, 2009 at 13:26
Haha, yeah – they thought they were under a DDoS attack and so switched to CAPTCHAing every search request for “Michael Jackson”
June 26, 2009 at 13:33
Indeed, there were only about 1,500 excess deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo yesterday, and presumably more than 500 in Iraq.
For some reason it’s apparently impossible that any of them were interesting people worthy of our time and attention.
June 26, 2009 at 15:01
Maybe it’s not mourning and more of a reflection of the accomplishments of one man.
Bear in mind he was at one time breaking down a lot of the racial stereotypes. A succesful black singer might not be unusual now but it definately was then. Also let’s not forget the millions of pounds he raised for charitys during his life.
I don’t think the media coverage is about his death par se but rather a look back on the effect he has had on culture throughout the world which is certainly significant especially in the music and entertainment business.
That and also he managed to cause such an influence in only fifty years of life is an impressive accomplishment.
I don’t neccesarily think that it is any more worthwhile of news but I think it is very difficult to try and belittle the contribution this artist has made worldwide over his career compared to events happening today that have yet to have much impact least of all as far reaching as worldwide culture.