Joking about people dying

[Gideon]

I'd been planning to make this thread for some time before I went on holiday, but never got around to it.

Anyway, there have been several famous people that I've admired that have died while I've been alive - to give two examples, George Harrison in 2001, and Maurice Gibb in 2003.

Whenever a famous person dies, it's usually only a matter of days before people are making jokes about them dying. I personally think these sort of jokes are in extremely bad taste and I intensely dislike them. I know that most of the time, people who make these jokes probably don't mean any harm, but I don't think it's right, or necessary, to joke about someone dying.

For instance, when Maurice Gibb died, in January 2003, I was 14 years old. I was already a huge fan of the Bee Gees (I've liked them since 2001) and I admit to being shocked and upset by his death. I did cry a bit over it, and for about a week after his death, a miserable feeling lingered around me.

Anyway, he died on Sunday the 12th, and as soon as I went back to school on Monday the 13th, there were students there who approached me and started joking and laughing about his death. Someone told me a joke about the other two Bee Gees releasing a new song called "How Deep is Your Bruv" - a reference to the fact that their brother was now dead, and a spin on the title of one of their most famous songs, How Deep is Your Love.

I didn't say anything to the people, but I thought what they were doing was rude and disrespectful. I don't know why they chose to come and joke about it to me, since they were all aware that I was a big fan of the Bee Gees. I can only assume that their intention was to try to get a rise out of me, or to wind me up.

Sadly, it seems that it's only a matter of hours after a famous person dies before some insensitive blockhead is making a joke about it.

[ICWP]

I think it depends on cirumstances. Since Graham Chapman of Monty Python died, the other Pythons have joked about it quite a bit, and I don't know a closer group of entertainers than them in modern times. And I'm sure Chapman himself would be glad to still be making people laugh after his death. But of course, it does seem qite tasteless, those people joking about Maurice. Hm. I'm not sure what the difference is, but there is one. It could simply be that the Pythons were comedians: a musical tribute might be more appropriate if a Bee Gee dies, and a comedic one if a Python dies.

[Gideon]

icwp said:

But of course, it does seem qite tasteless, those people joking about Maurice. Hm. I'm not sure what the difference is, but there is one.

I think the difference here is that the other Pythons, being close friends to Graham Chapman, would have joked about his death with a measure of sympathy and respect as well. If the people at school had joked about Maurice's death and then added something like, "He was a good musician, though, and a nice guy - it's a shame he died" - then I wouldn't have minded. But they just seemed to view his death as a laughing matter.

Also, I would assume that the other Pythons wouldn't have started joking about Graham's death the day after he died.

[ICWP]

gideon said:

I think the difference here is that the other Pythons, being close friends to Graham Chapman, would have joked about his death with a measure of sympathy and respect as well.

"Good riddance, the free-loading *******, I hope he fries".

But yes, that was two months after his death, as part of a eulogy. And it perhaps says more about him than a more orthodox speech could have.

[Gideon]

Oh well, I was wrong about the sympathy and respect.

But at least they waited for a while before publicly joking about his death. And, since they were his friends, one can deduce that even though their joking was coarse, beneath it all, they respected him and were sorry he'd died.

[Gouki]

Shannol Noll's dad is called Noel Noll. That is the best name ever. Come on. Noll Noll. How can that not be joke? This fact may have only come to light after his death, but it doesn't make it any less funny.

<3 Wil Anderson.

[Mac]

People make jokes to get a rise, and a death is a solemn event with a high potential of upsetting people if you joke about it. Simple as that.

[Gideon]

gouki said:

Shannol Noll's dad is called Noel Noll. That is the best name ever. Come on. Noll Noll. How can that not be joke? This fact may have only come to light after his death, but it doesn't make it any less funny.

But that wasn't a joke about his actual death, though, was it? I can understand people making a joke about a famous person's name after they've died, but joking about the actual death itself, I find unacceptable.

[HailStorm]

I'd agree with Mac that to some extent it's attention seeking. But I think it may partially be something to do with coping - a lot of the time it's easier to laugh than cry. There were jokes as a part of my Grandad's funeral, and everybody commented on how the whole ceremony would have tickled him pink had he been watching - we could all imagine him sitting at the back busting a gut. When a celebrity or well known figure dies, the jokes tend to get everywhere because everybody knew about them, and probaby felt a bit like they knew them. It's not really fair on the family, but I guess that's one of the risks you take in being famous. And generally there'll be even more heartfelt tributes than there will be mean-spirrited jokes.

[Gideon]

hailstorm said:

I'd agree with Mac that to some extent it's attention seeking. But I think it may partially be something to do with coping - a lot of the time it's easier to laugh than cry.

I agree that that's the case sometimes, but with the case of Maurice, the other kids at school weren't Bee Gees fans, and so clearly weren't upset or bothered about his death. They just seemed to find it amusing and seemed to want to get a rise out of me.

If a fan of a celebrity made a joke about his/her death, then I would assume that their reason for doing so would be a method of coping as, being fans, they clearly would be at least a little upset that a person they have admired has died. But if a person who isn't a fan makes a joke about a celebrity dying, then I'm sure it's done purely because, as Mac said, the person is seeking attention, and also because they're insensitive idiots.