Guest Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I was very upset earlier to read a status on somebody's facebook mourning the death of a "friend, wife, mother & Nan" then sending thoughts to a named family. I hoped it wasn't the person I thought as I knew the whole family are on holiday with an organisation I used to be part of. But I knew in my heart of hearts it was as the person posting the status was part of this organisation but had not gone on the holiday as she is getting married next Saturday. An email via facebook confirmed the worst, whilst on holiday this lady has been found collapsed having suffered a massive heart attack and despite the paramedics trying for an hour and a half to save her she has died. Her husband, grown children and grandchildren were all on the holiday together with freinds and loads of children from the organisation in question. All of them are travelling home today except the husband and one of the children who will remain to return home with her. This was all totally out of the blue - many of the kids in this organisation will be in a terrible state as she was like their "mum" when out with the group - their own parents would not have been travelling with them as only a few parents go on this trip. I thought it was tragic and that finding out via a status update on Facebook was a sad reflection on modern society. Then I thought more about that and wondered if maybe it was good to hear this way. I am friends with the eldest daughter and an hour ago I got a text telling me her Mum had died of a heart attack and they were on their way home from the holiday. It must be very hard to send messages like that - I know when my Dad died I sent texts but people knew he had terminal cancer. I wonder about living in this communications age sometimes, I seem to be more in touch with people via facebook than I ever was when all we had were phones etc - I guess new rules for life are being forged this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Sad News - I'm sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Sad news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I thought it was tragic and that finding out via a status update on Facebook was a sad reflection on modern society. ... I wonder about living in this communications age sometimes, ... I guess new rules for life are being forged this way. One of my brothers was diagnosed two years ago with a life-threatening condition. He decided not to tell anyone in his own family (his mother, brother, sister). The way I found out was, one day, by chance coming across and reading his daughter's Bebo page. That is a horrible, horrible, horrible way to find out, let me tell you. This is a new phenomenon that, I think, society has yet to work out how to manage. There seems to be something peculiarly terrible about people's Facebook pages sort of carrying on as if nothing had happened, after their author's untimely death. I am sorry that you had that experience - it sounds horrible. Edited for clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Gosh, how dreadfully sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Such dreadfully sad news Pengy, and sorry that you found out that way. I'm not sure about the Facebook phenomenon, I think sometimes the internet feels like an anonymous place to unburden yourself, or maybe even to boast, because at the time of typing it's just you and the computer, but I think it's too easy to forget just how many people might read what you've written. I'm thinking now of my niece who has the most extraordinary MySpace site, she was always a bit of a wild child and if her MySpace is to be believed she's at risk of getting herself into no end of trouble.....she wouldn't want me knowing all this I'm sure, but both of my children read her pages with a mixture of horror and thrilled amazement . On the otherhand if you have sad news to tell and you're feeling very emotional, maybe Facebook or similar, are sort of detatched ways of getting the message out, no real human contact required, IYKWIM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 What sad news, Pengy . How awful for you, Rachel. That must have been a terrible shock . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 What sad news, Pengy . How awful for you, Rachel. That must have been a terrible shock . Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'm thinking now of my niece who has the most extraordinary MySpace site, she was always a bit of a wild child and if her MySpace is to be believed she's at risk of getting herself into no end of trouble.....she wouldn't want me knowing all this I'm sure, but both of my children read her pages with a mixture of horror and thrilled amazement . . My sister announced to the world she was pregnant on here. She brags about her tummy and new home with boyfriend. She had not told my Mum she was preganant. We had met latest (loser) boyfriend who is actually quite a bit older but hoped he would be gone soon. She eventually told my Mum 2 months after facebook and it was actually a blessing in disguise that my mum knew so she could 'brace' herself. My sister is only 19 so it seems everything at that age is all about bragging and showing pictures of who has the most 'wild' life and who has done what since school. I don't want to compare this to your sad news Pengy but just thought I would mention it to Kate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
