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D_Mike

Original Poster:

5,301 posts

269 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Is one human life more important than another? Does one person's death merit yards of column inches, so to speak, whereas anothers nothing at all? I think this is an important and interesting issue to discuss and seemingly my previous thread was closed because it sought to provoke discussion and thought on an interesting though with a superficially light-hearted statement. This post does not belittle the death/undeath of anybody, infact the opposite is implied through the question I am asking...

scoobz

6,578 posts

277 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
D_Mike said:
Is one human life more important than another? Does one person's death merit yards of column inches, so to speak, whereas anothers nothing at all?


Yes.

My life is considerably more important than yours.

IMO...

When there is a public figure such as the pope, his death will cause world wide vibrations. He has touched many people's lives.
So in their opinion, Yes, his life is more important than Dave in Wales.

Now if you don't like it turn over and stop reading his threads.

Marki

15,763 posts

299 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
D_Mike said:

Is one human life more important than another?



Not at all , i feel sorry for the thousands of poor anonymous bastads who died in the Tsunami , but in todays 24 hour news world this has bacome a
"News Event" i find it sick

mrs fish

30,018 posts

287 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all




Edited to add that this post was not aimed towards Marki.



>> Edited by mrs fish on Friday 1st April 20:26

tvrgit

8,489 posts

281 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
I think you're in for a busy night Mrs F!

mrs fish

30,018 posts

287 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
tvrgit said:
I think you're in for a busy night Mrs F!



to that, I don't need the hassle, I'm gonna watch TV instead

D_Mike

Original Poster:

5,301 posts

269 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
But is the pope really historically important? We have seen similar gusses about the death of the Princess of Wales (who, to put it politely, I had absoluetely zero interest in). We will see a similar sized fuss about the duture deaths of any royalty, slightly smaller (though possibly still out of proportion) brouhahas over other celebrities too. Does this reflect public opinion accurately or is it a self serving media bandwagon (we get told we are full of grief... we are... we buy papers and are full of grief... papers make more money).

Everybody has a right to die peacefully and the Pope is no different... Why does it have to be broadcast live around the world as it happens... why do we get told that there is "a great feeling of mourning" and have journalists summing up our opinions for us, telling us what they are? It's not a sensible thing to be happening in any society.

Death is a private thing, keep it that way. I don't see how I could be truly regretful and sad about the death of somebody I have never met.

Once again, no disrespect meant to anybody in this (standard moderation disclaimer).

PatHeald

8,058 posts

285 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
I was in the pub at lunchtime with a couple of the girls from work, one of whom is a staunch Catholic.

"It looks like The Boss is on his way out", says I.

"Nah", she replied.. "I reckon Sir Alex will hang on for a while yet..."

Cheers

Pat

D_Mike

Original Poster:

5,301 posts

269 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Sorry Mrs Fish... I don't mean to be rude/annoying/naugty or anything, this was just an issue I was interested in discussing. I have tried to do it a more serious and respectful way this time as I assumed that was the problem with the first post I put up... If you think this isn't appropriate tell me and I'll stop posting... I don't mean to make your job (which as far as I can tell you do excellently despite) harder... If you've gone to watch TV... enjoy it

Marki

15,763 posts

299 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
D_Mike said:

Everybody has a right to die peacefully and the Pope is no different... Why does it have to be broadcast live around the world as it happens... why do we get told that there is "a great feeling of mourning" and have journalists summing up our opinions for us, telling us what they are? It's not a sensible thing to be happening in any society.

Death is a private thing, keep it that way. I don't see how I could be truly regretful and sad about the death of somebody I have never met.




Sadly because its a cheap "News" story , think about it it costs nothing, since i got home from work CNN has been constantly broadcasting gossip and rumour about it .

mrs fish

30,018 posts

287 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
No worries, this thread is far more in the right tone of voice.... carry on

Marki

15,763 posts

299 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
mrs fish said:
No worries, this thread is far more in the right tone of voice.... carry on


Get back to your TV you

mrs fish

30,018 posts

287 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Marki said:

mrs fish said:
No worries, this thread is far more in the right tone of voice.... carry on



Get back to your TV you



Ooops, ok, James Bond is on

tvrgit

8,489 posts

281 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Mike

I agree that any person has the right to pass on in privacy and dignity, and I too deplore the media bandwagon that devalues this.

However this IS a man of world wide interest - more so, I would say, than mere "celebrity" or royalty. This is a man who has been the most influential pope for many generations - a man who led by example, in public and in private. He has taken his leadership all over the world (although less so in his later years as his health has failed). He has shown wit and intelligence and compassion.

I am not a catholic, but it is obvious that this is a man of great influence and historical importance.

It is right that people should be interested.

It is not right that these events should be transformed into a goulish public show...

Marki

15,763 posts

299 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
tvrgit said:

It is not right that these events should be transformed into a goulish public show...




scoobz

6,578 posts

277 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
D_Mike said:
But is the pope really historically important? We have seen similar gusses about the death of the Princess of Wales (who, to put it politely, I had absoluetely zero interest in). We will see a similar sized fuss about the duture deaths of any royalty, slightly smaller (though possibly still out of proportion) brouhahas over other celebrities too. Does this reflect public opinion accurately or is it a self serving media bandwagon (we get told we are full of grief... we are... we buy papers and are full of grief... papers make more money).

Everybody has a right to die peacefully and the Pope is no different... Why does it have to be broadcast live around the world as it happens... why do we get told that there is "a great feeling of mourning" and have journalists summing up our opinions for us, telling us what they are? It's not a sensible thing to be happening in any society.

Death is a private thing, keep it that way. I don't see how I could be truly regretful and sad about the death of somebody I have never met.

Once again, no disrespect meant to anybody in this (standard moderation disclaimer).


People who genuinely have an interest in figure heads of society, which JP is, I guess feel very close to them. Even if they haven't met.

Being outside the Vatican or watching it on TV will give them a sense of being with the Pope when he passes on...

I wasn't with my father when he passed away. I wish I had been.

Marki

15,763 posts

299 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
scoobz said:


Being outside the Vatican or watching it on TV will give them a sense of being with the Pope when he passes on...




Funny you should say this , i got home from work and started to watch the news on CNN , i suddenly got the urge to drive to Rome to be there !!! WTF im not religious in any way shape or form , is this some form of brain washing !!

sparkythecat

8,097 posts

284 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
His Holiness was earlier today described as being 'serene'.

He can rest in peace now knowing he's accomplished his life's ambition and seen off that bugger Dave Allen

Jaglover

46,737 posts

264 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Some people shape history-not to debate them is to fall into the trap of escribing historical events to movements in society rather than a recognition of the power of the individual.

tvrgit

8,489 posts

281 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
sparkythecat said:
His Holiness was earlier today described as being 'serene'.

He can rest in peace now knowing he's accomplished his life's ambition and seen off that bugger Dave Allen

Very bad taste, naughty cat - but funny