Mass mourning and hysteria is getting out of hand

[dave50]

There was a story on the news about a 13 year girl being stabbed to death in a park which I know is very tragic and sad. However, later on the news it showed what was termed as a vigil in the park where there must have been hundreds of local people weeping and carrying lighted candles and flowers. However tragic it is, dont you think this kind of thing has now got out of hand and is way over the top? I can understand close family and friends but not half the town. It's like when a school child dies and you see half the school kids weeping en masse on TV and then they are all offered counselling, why? When I was at school, I remember hearing that someone had died, we didnt all suddenly feel the need to go into mass hysterics, it was the topic of the day for an hour or so, then we just moved on.

[Zhukov]

All that nonsense,and hysteria,when Lady Di died...was very embarrassing,and a ludicrous exhibition of "grief",from thousands,who never met,or knew the woman..

..however,I stood in a crowd of over 10,000,recently,and that Football Club(Bristol Rovers),gave a fitting,and heartwarming and respectful "minutes applause",to mark the passing of a much loved/and saviour of the Club,Chairman,Dennis Dunford...a new "experience" for me..and very moving..!

[coccinelle]

I think that it's the media coverage of mourning which is sickening. it doesn't need to be broadcasted; mourning is a very personal thing. No cameras? There'd be maybe a lot less people trying to catch the media's eye..... I see this more and more at football and rugby matches: people dress up or string a banner to catch the media and hey presto they're on TV!!! They're a 'celebrity' for a second!

[hc4361]

I agree, coccinelle. And how often does a neighbour of a victim get on tv just to say - I never knew him to speak to, but he seemed nice.

Why bother?

[NOX]

Actually historically the British have always been prone to huge outpourings of grief, especially in medieval times. It wasn't until you got all Victorian and stiff upper lipped that things changed, so just view it that your country's temporary emotional repression was a just a phase Dave:)

[China Doll]

I tend to agree with hc. If I don't know the person then I'm sorry for your loss but it will not have an effect on me and I won't pretend to be sad about it so people can see what a decent person I am; I've never felt the need to prove myself in this way.

[FredPuli43]

OG, you're showing your age ! Not properly taught, indeed. By Jove, I just remembered I didn't close the curtains, nor get black-edged stationery, nor observe the correct period of mourning, when granny died. So badly taught. Not brought up the right way.Should have done the right thing.And I didn't keep a stiff upper lip
Still, I did used to wear a black gown at work, in mourning for Queen Anne (I believe it was) and I never even met the woman.
Habits and practices change with the times. It may be that some young people think that they are simply doing the right thing, doing what the others do, to conform with the 'etiquette' of their peers, but I suspect that the majority do feel genuine sympathy and sorrow and express their feelings more openly, and by more overt actions, than previous generations did.
I wonder if the older generations ever cried when a fictional character died in a film or book ? Over Little Nell ? Or Bambi's mother?

[ladybirder]

Agree totally with hc. That is how I would feel. I was so embarrassed by the Diana thing and thought the nation had gone mad. A friend told me she was "devastated" by the news of Diana's death. I asked her how she would feel if it was her son.

[Ann]

I remember sobbing at age 9 at the death of Ginger in Black Beauty who went to the knackers yard ......

[anotheoldgit]

I think this over emotional feeling, is mainly a female's thing.

Such things as having a girlie night in with a weepy DVD, springs to mind.

How can they get enjoyment out of sadness?

[ummmm]

AOG....weepy DVD's usually have a happy ending!!!!

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

Maybe, but one still has to sit through almost two hours of weeping, until one gets to the happy ending.