[kjk]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Perhaps the thread should be re-titled "The Steve Jobs Memorial Thread". That way, people would know that's it's not meant as a general discussion about the fact that "Steve Jobs Has Died" and all its numerous repercussions/reactions. Other than natural empathy for other humans who are going through an emotional tragedy, I've never really understood public outpourings of grief over the deaths of people whose personal lives never intersected their own. Be respectful? Certainly. Accept that some will be more sensitive about the topic than others? You bet. But to expect some sort of moratorium (of some arbitrary length) on any responses other than "RIP Steve" to be respected isn't realistic, nor would it even represent the moral high-road that some seem to think it does.

Hate spewing is one thing. I choose to ignore that. But asking questions about his proper place among the technological/creative/innovative "greats" of our lifetime was appropriate before he died, and I see no reason that his death should change that—provided it's done without a "he sucks" attitude.

That's my peacefully offered two cents on the matter.

I don't think a thread title change is what should guide how people respond someone who just died. I just assumed people all had similar feelings about how to mark the occasion. But I admit I was wrong about that.


But it has nothing to do with moral high-roads, imho. It has to do with what Jeff LaMarche calls a simple "respect for the dead" in our modern society.

There's a custom in modern society that's often called "respect for the dead". It has nothing whatsoever to do with the dead. The dead don't care what you say about them. It's about the living who cared about the dead, and they do. It's because they care that mourning is such a difficult process. Painful. Sad. It's not a time when you want reminders of the flaws of the person whose absence you are trying to come to terms with.

But I realize not everyone believes that, especially with people they don't personally know, and believe "calling it like I see it" overrides that sentiment.

Fair enough.