Unpopular opinion time: When a famous actor or entertainer dies and they are over the age of 75 or so, it’s not “fuck you, 2016.” It’s the end of a long and successful life and career, and I’d rather honor their accomplishments.
A 92 year old actress dying isn’t a surprise. She’s not cut down in the prime of her life. She’s won at life, and we need to be glad for what she shared with us.
When I die in my 90’s, I don’t want tears. I want joy at what I’ve created. I want to be respected for all I’ve done and all I continued to do well into my aging years. If disease has taken me, I want interest in fighting that disease that might help younger people with more ahead of them to beat it.
David Bowie’s death this year was tragic. Prince’s death was tragic. Alan Rickman’s was tragic. I loved Leonard Cohen more than all of them put together, but at 82, his death was not “tragic.” It was the natural end of a life lived fully and wonderfully and immersed in creativity.
This year took a lot from us, but we don’t need to add the natural consequence of time to its tally.
Caveat: This is for human lives, not the death-knell of American democracy and human decency.
I agree with your basic premise, but also kind of feel like it’s not even a phrase that means anything at his point. It’s like “thanks Obama”, people say it cause it’s the frustration phrase dujour.
I’m with you, actually. When I look down, I want people to be celebrating and dancing as I move on.
Though, for others, I would also try to understand who exactly the person really was. Isn’t it about what the dead would have wanted?
Yeah, I get that. My exclusion would be Angela Lansbury if she were to pass, because she should be immortal, goddamnit.
Betty White.
We talk about how 2016 has been bad for the world of entertainment, however the loss of a love one is more profound.
Yes. Someone direct and personal– that’s a personal grief, not to be taken lightly.
Someday I will not get a lump in my throat over Robin Williams and Terry Pratchett, but I’m not there yet.
3000 people die of AIDS in Africa every day. That’s a tragedy. I don’t think it’s ever a tragedy when a rich famous person dies, no matter how loved.
This applies to everyone, except Lemmy.
Lemmy was under 75, and gods should never die.
Personally speaking, even having two close calls to dying, I plan to live forever!!
The only part I disagree with here is the assertion that people shouldn’t cry for you. People don’t cry to somehow honor you, they cry because grieving is how humans cope with loss. Even if your death is just a peaceful end to a long good life, your loved ones need to cry to let go and say goodbye. Don’t tell them not to be sad. They need to be sad for themselves, not for you.
All I gotta say is that Abe Vigoda was supposed to be able to survive anything. The rest of what you said is true though.
I thought it was some kind of weird fate that you’d checked that website literally hours before his death.