Mourning for the "King"

[3113]

A lot of you probably have no interest the reactions people are having to Michael Jackson's unexpected death. But I find these moments when people unite, almost on a global scale, in a universal emotion fascinating--whether or not I'm in tune with it.

Not that it hasn't happened/been seen before, but what most amazes me is knowing that because of this sort of response, the man or woman who has died is being transformed from one sort of symbol to people into another. Some intriguing images--useful, I think, if for nothing more than that they tell such interesting stories.

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-06/47746637.jpg
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-06/47741870.jpg
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-06/47738911.jpg

These two are waiting in line to pay tribute at MJ's Hollywood star:
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-06/47738420.jpg
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-06/47725869.jpg

Poignant:
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-06/michael-jackson_47737139.jpg

This one is awesome:
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-06/47741866.jpg

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Elvis was THE KING. Jacko was a sick twisted freak with plenty of company. His death is no more a coming together than a swarm of flies atop a turd is a coming together.

 

[sr71plt]

I do think this can get ridiculous awfully quickly. I think there are some arrested-development music industry groupies who need to start taking a bigger-scale look at the world and some issues that are actually important for their continued well-being.

 

[DesertPirate]

Oh, him.

You said the King, I thought something had happened to Richard Petty

 

[PeterHenson]

I'm happy that people made t-shirts and are making money off this, I'm also happy no more little boys have to worry about being touched, I'm also happy that this sick fuck is being molested by the devil in hell as we speak.

I'm upset that he had a lot of twisted fans and know we will have Wako impersonators everywhere, hell people might even get married by wako impersonators in Vegas, I'm also upset that his loony fans will insist he is still alive and we will have so called sightings of this fucker for the next few years.

 

[TE999]

I haven't seen this great an outpouring of grief across the planet since Princess Di was killed. To think that a single person could arouse that level of emotion in so many people worldwide is nothing short of phenomenonal.

His personal life nowithstanding, he was one hell of an entertainer.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I haven't seen this great an outpouring of grief across the planet since Princess Di was killed. To think that a single person could arouse that level of emotion in so many people worldwide is nothing short of phenomenonal.

His personal life nowithstanding, he was one hell of an entertainer.

Its called histrionics. These people live for this shit. If it wasnt Jacko they'd be performing at a car wash where a stain looks kinda like Mary or Jesus.

 

[sr71plt]

I agree with JBJ. I think it's a synergistic group-grope thing coming from a base of arrested-development groupies. They're getting off on wallowing in it.

May not have had an opportunity to wallow in it this much since John Lennon--and the circumstances of his death actually justified the shock.

What did they do for Freddie Mercury?--I was outside the country then--in the world of adults.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I wish peace for Michael Jackson.

He never got any in life.

He was eccentric, and perhaps twisted, but I never believed he was a criminal.

 

[PeterHenson]

I think when Bono goes he will be the next big thing in the world of mourners and crazed fans. Nothing will trump Jako for awhile.

 

[TE999]

Its called histrionics. These people live for this shit. If it wasnt Jacko they'd be performing at a car wash where a stain looks kinda like Mary or Jesus.

Word! Someone thot they saw the BVM in the gold sunblocking film on an office building in Miami not long ago. The worshippers became such a bother, the window was removed. Prolly sold it on e-Bay.

I agree with JBJ. I think it's a synergistic group-grope thing coming from a base of arrested-development groupies. They're getting off on wallowing in it.

May not have had an opportunity to wallow in it this much since John Lennon--and the circumstances of his death actually justified the shock.

What did they do for Freddie Mercury?--I was outside the country then--in the world of adults.

I don't remember any whoop-de-do for Freddie like this one for Wacko Jacko. John's assasination was a shocker...people still leave stuff at the Dakota...especially on his birthday. I heard they blocked off Jim Morrison's grave because people were becoming a pain leaving stuff there.

Just fucking weird.

 

[sr71plt]

You should see what they do for Patsy Cline in my neck of the woods.

I have a lot more sympathy for her, and I don't even like Country and Western.

 

[PeterHenson]

You should see what they do for Patsy Cline in my neck of the woods.

I have a lot more sympathy for her, and I don't even like Country and Western.

And what do they do?

 

[TE999]

You should see what they do for Patsy Cline in my neck of the woods.

I have a lot more sympathy for her, and I don't even like Country and Western.

I can just imagine...or maybe I can't.

Patsy had a terrific voice...I'm not a C&W fan either...but some of her songs really grab your heart.

At least she went out on top.

 

[3113]

I do think this can get ridiculous awfully quickly.

Get ridiculous? It's already ridiculous. That's what makes it so interesting. But there it is, part of being human is being ridiculous.

 

[PeterHenson]

Get ridiculous? It's already ridiculous. That's what makes it so interesting. But there it is, part of being human is being ridiculous.

Only for a small percentage of the population.

 

[sr71plt]

At least she went out on top.

Sort of, since she died in a plane crash. Sorry, that just made me smile.

 

[TE999]

Sort of, since she died in a plane crash. Sorry, that just made me smile.

*snerk* The 1/4 Mile High Club, maybe? I don't deliver many straight lines...but there you go.

 

[3113]

Only for a small percentage of the population.

Ha! Sorry. No. We're all ridiculous sometimes. Like I said, that's part of being human. And I'd avoid being all high and mighty and thinking you won't ever, or have never make a spectacle or a fool of yourself in a similar way. In this generation of digital photos and twitter, you could easily be proved wrong in a heartbeat.

We all have the potential to be absurd, and if you think you're immune, or that this is only a small, aberrant population, then take a gander at human history. You'll very quickly discover how wrong you are.

 

[sr71plt]

Ha! Sorry. No. We're all ridiculous sometimes. Like I said, that's part of being human. And I'd avoid being all high and mighty and thinking you won't ever, or have never make a spectacle or a fool of yourself in a similar way. In this generation of digital photos and twitter, you could easily be proved wrong in a heartbeat.

We all have the potential to be absurd, and if you think you're immune, or that this is only a small, aberrant population, then take a gander at human history. You'll very quickly discover how wrong you are.

I'm pretty sure I won't be dangling babies out of hotel windows in the next week or so.

 

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure I won't be dangling babies out of hotel windows in the next week or so.

The week ain't over yet.

We can't stand our neighbors, they've got kids. You want one?

 

[sr71plt]

The week ain't over yet.

We can't stand our neighbors, they've got kids. You want one?

I only have a two-story house. It might not be effective enough.

 

[TE999]

The week ain't over yet.

We can't stand our neighbors, they've got kids. You want one?

Do they land on their feet if you drop them?

 

[Guest]

I only have a two-story house. It might not be effective enough.

Do they land on their feet if you drop them?

I dunno, to either.

But they are shooting fireworks off right now and it is most annoying.

These are kids who are never supervised.

 

[PeterHenson]

Ha! Sorry. No. We're all ridiculous sometimes. Like I said, that's part of being human. And I'd avoid being all high and mighty and thinking you won't ever, or have never make a spectacle or a fool of yourself in a similar way. In this generation of digital photos and twitter, you could easily be proved wrong in a heartbeat.

We all have the potential to be absurd, and if you think you're immune, or that this is only a small, aberrant population, then take a gander at human history. You'll very quickly discover how wrong you are.

I am not immune to making a fool of myself and have done so on many occasions in my youth when alcohol was new and exciting to me, however I do not compare that with the ridiculous antics of his fans or of him.

I believe people should grieve and feel a sense of morning when people die, but that morning is split between the family and the individual in percentages. I think his family (his children) should receive 100% of it, an him none.

Some people die and others are happy, in his case I think many are happy for valid reasons, and others for greed.