Disney worker killed

Reference: the end of the Chippewa Lake Park thread. There's just two camps in the world - those that choose to mourn and be depressed and those that choose to move on and make the best of the situation you're given.

Personally I think its funny - I mean geez, shouldn't Mickey have had Pluto on a leash or something? Tie him up in the yard better next time! I wouldn't be surprised to see this one make next year's Darwin Awards too!

Not trying to impose, just trying to deflect some venom from my fellow-view-types ;)

I guess you'd appreciate it if someone laughed at the death of your father, or son, or brother for that matter if it happened in a "funny" way.

According to info from the forum link posted above, the float rolled backwards, hitting the man and crushing him.

Personally, I don't find it funny in the least.

Yeah, I'll back up the "make light of the situation" crowd.

This may get a tad philosophical but...

I recently had to deal with the very real fact that I might lose someone close to me. My father was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. In fact he just went home after surgery this past Saturday.

You initial reaction is one great sadness. But the more I sorted it out in my head the more clear it became - the grieving you feel is for yourself. It's your loss that's sad. In my case the fact that my father very well may not be there for the next 600 gazillion years like I prefer to think is a sad realization. You don't feel sad for the people dying. You feel sad for yourself for losing those people.

Regardless of your beliefs - death in the long run (and perhaps this is just my bleak world view) is finally a way of "geting out". Screw the pain in the ass jobs, screw worrying about bills. Screw it all. I'm done. I'm outta here! On top of that, if you do believe in some sort of afterlife then be happy for that person for moving on to a better place.

The only sadness in another person's death is your own.

With all of that said (and damn, this will sound heartless, but it's pure truth) - I didn't know the guy, therefore I have absolutely no feelings on it whatsoever. And the idea of a float running Pluto over and the subsequent chalk outline is...well...funny. I even imagine a little dog bone chalk outline next to the main one. The idea of being run down by something as slow moving as a float has tons of humor behind it too.

Don't get me wrong. It's horrible. Much oflife is horrible. I'm sure the man's family is very upset, but I'm also sure they wouldn't blink twice had my father passed away on the operating table.

Anyone know any good surgery jokes?

I agree with Gonch 100%. You just can't let things get you down that much. No matter how much you feel bad for someone you don't know, never will know, and will never have any contact with, it won't bring 'em back. So, since it really doesn't affect you directly, why let it be one more depressing thing in your life? Just let it go.

And that's a good point that it's your own saddness. I mean come on, that guy's probably like the new hit up in the heaven corner bar - "hey how'd you get here", "heart attack", "got old", "oh I was dressed as Pluto and got run over by a float". That's gotta turn some heads!

There's just way too much thats bad in this world, and way too much that can get you down without worrying about people you don't even know.

And if it was my family member that got killed? I'd give it maybe 1-2 days of sad, then, I mean come on, dressed as Pluto and run over by a float! It's Austin Powers in real life!

Tragedy and comedy are only one step removed, so the jokes are understandable. Humor is one of the most common ways to deal with a tragic/senseless situation. I wouldn't be too hard on the people making the jokes.

I'm calling BS, Impulse-ive. If that was your dad who got run over by the float (yes, the car BROKE and rolled backwards and crushed him, it wasn't as "slow moving" as you're making it out to be...at least from latest news reports), you'd grieve for 1-2 days? That, to me, sounds like a total exaggeration, unless you have a terrible relationship with your father. Personally, it's like someone getting hit and killed by a car, something not funny to me in the slightest.

And Gonch, I disagree about your analysis. Yes, I'm mourning my loss of the [hypothetical] person, too, but I feel bad for *them* since they are no longer here to do things they most certainly wanted to do in life. It's not all about me grieving for me, I feel bad for them as well. You make greiving sound selfish, and I definitely disagree with that. That said, I'm sorry to hear about your dad's condition.

And as a last note, I definitely don't let this sort of thing depress me or get me down, but joking about in a situation like this is just strange to me. I'm by no means uptight either, hell I find humor in most everything, but death certainly isn't one of those things.

My thoughts go out to the CM and the family that this Cast Member left behind. *** Edited 2/12/2004 7:52:55 PM UTC by Legendary***

I have a great relationship with my Dad thank you very much, but I just don't believe that worrying about things that will never happen are worth my time. Yea, sure, this person didn't get to do some of the things they wanted to do, but hey, is there a lot you can do about that now? Not that I know of. So why worry about it?

Instead worry about caring for the people that depended on that person, and worry about preserving the good memories of them which make them a lot more immortal than a bunch of people crying over something that can't be undone, reversed, or changed in any way.

Death is never fun for the people involved, but if you can't divorce yourself from these people that you don't know, how do you ever smile or enjoy life? You do realize that hundreds, if not thousands of humans die every day. Why is there only outrage about indifference and jokes when it makes a news story? Sure, everyone expresses their thoughts and prayers when Pluto gets run over by the float, and everyone expresses their thoughts and prayers when a kid dies in Iraq, but what about the kids whose Mom isn't coming home cause someone ran a red light? Or the older pair wiped out because they can't see anymore and their reaction time was way too slow to still be driving? Where's the compassion and greiving for someone you don't know in that situation? You'd never smile again! So just give it up.

You didn't know them, on the surface, they died in a very comical way (if you don't see the humor in it, then I never wanna hear any of you say that the first Austin Powers was a funny movie ever again ... let alone any other comedy that involves someone dying) and it shouldn't concern you.

But if it does, then I feel bad for *YOU* because the way I see it, you're letting a lot of the good things in life pass you by so you can worry about things that don't concern you.

There is a big difference between not caring and making a joke out of the situation.

About Austin Powers, that was a MOVIE. This is REALITY. It's funny when it's a SCRIPTED death in a comedy. When someone dies in real life it's never funny.

Honestly, I think you missunderstood me. I'm not sitting here depressed and "letting a lot of good things in life" pass me by because of this death. I'm merely showing my remorse.

I didn't know the person and it doesn't effect me. However, I know his family must be effected and therefore, my thoughts and prayers are with them.

Maybe we should turn it around then, you didn't know the person so it shouldn't effect you. Then maybe you shouldn't make jokes about his death.

I've always told everyone close to me (and I swear on my life :) that this is true) that when I die, I want streamers and cans tied to the back of the hearse like newlyweds traditionally do with their limo and I want a big sign on the back that reads "Just Deceased" instead of "Just Married". I want driven around town with the hearse driver honking the horn and making a general ruckus. I swear to you I've said this for at least 10 years. Have fun with it, what else can you do?

I'm in no way saying this isn't a tragedy, nor do I belittle the situation. Someone died. That sucks. Unfortunately crap like this happens everyday to people from all walks of life (usually in a much less humorous fashion, mind you).

I feel worse for the terminaly ill, suffering, who aren't allowed to take their own lives because every last day is like hell on Earth and death itself is the better choice as far as they're concerned. I feel worse for the homeless guy who just had a bad run of luck and now has no idea when he'll eat again or if he'll survive the cold winter night. I feel worse for the parents of a kidnapped child who spend every day thinking the worst, wondering where their child is or if he/she is even alive. These are thing to be down about because someone is suffering. Death means the end of suffering.

In freak accidents like this, that 'end of suffering' is lost and it makes it harder to justify. But still, it honestly doesn't affect me personally one bit and as much as it may be painful for family members - they're not reading this. Or, trust me, we'd have heard it by now. One of the cornerstones of comedy is laughing at someone else's expense. Another is the use of outrageous premise and bizarre circumstance. A third is irony. This has all three.

I do think it sucks that this gentleman died in a dog suit. But read that again - this guy died in a dog suit - at the merciless wrath of a parade float.

I hope I get the chance to go that way, because it's much, much funnier than a heart attack.

Heh - Gonch, striving for a Darwin Award? ;)

Ok rentzy, I'll concede you the point that for some its too early to laugh. Out of respect for that, I'll hold off on more jokes for another day or two on the boards. But in my living room, heh heh ...

What is this? Fark?

It's amazing the night and day difference between certain posts in this current thread and posts in this thread from last year.

No one seemed to use much humor back then. When it's close to home - but not quite as close as before - it's OK to joke? I doubt many here knew Tamar personally, but yet everyone had compassion and respect.

If you want to make light of the situation, that's your issue. But have enough class to keep it to yourself out of respect for everyone else involved.

Impulse-ive,

Trust me, I'm not worrying about this person dying. I am simply compassionate enough to not think it's funny that he died, or the way he died. I have sympathy for what his family is going through right now.

Please, don't feel sorry for me. I'm just fine.

If you would have seen this accident, would you have busted out laughing at pointing saying "LOL Pluto got run over by a float LOLOl!!lOL!11LOl" ? That's what you come off as.

Also, you're right, many people die everyday. How can you feel "outraged" or whatnot about someone dying if you don't know they died? Of course you're going to comment on it if you know they died and how they died. I don't get what point you're trying to make there.

Lastly, I don't see how it doesn't concern me that they died. I'm just showing *respect* for the deceased and having the common decency to not joke about their life being taken away in such a dramatic and unfortunate way. I have a heart and compassion, it certainly doesn't seem like you do though. And you know what, that's fine. People are different and all. I don't know you from him, and frankly, I don't think I'd want to ever get to know you by the way you think about this issue. And, that's fine - not everyone needs to get along.

Joe, leaving this "comedy central" thread for good

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Gemini said: I doubt many here knew Tamar personally, but yet everyone had compassion and respect.

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I think the people who thought her actions were moronic kept to them selves... or atleast that's what I did. It would have been rude to interupt the pitty party with a comment that didn't fit in.

Just a time out here... this goes for both sides of the argument. Death is just one of those things people don't like to argue about. Nothing good can come of trying to convince people of your way of thinking. I think you just have to let this one go, and realize people are gonna think what they're gonna think, good or bad. *** Edited 2/12/2004 9:42:59 PM UTC by Zero-G***

The more I read your comments, Jes - the more I like you :) (I especially like the short paragraph about music on your site - I agree totally)

You'll also note there's not one comment from ol' Gonch in the thread Walt linked to. Take that however you will.

Ok, we'll just drop this. What can I say? I'm a sucker for debate and it pains me to let it go, but it's over.

I have to agree with Gemini. Too crass too soon. This thread is bordering on becoming a celebration and it leaves a sour taste.

-Jim (just thankful I wasn't at the receiving end of 'that' phone call and hoping none of the contributors here ever experience that either).

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I think the people who thought her actions were moronic kept to them selves... or atleast that's what I did.

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That's my point. That should have happened here.

Think whatever you want about death or this humor of this specific incident. This just isn't the time or place for it.

*** Edited 2/12/2004 10:27:05 PM UTC by Gemini***

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Gemini said:

I doubt many here knew Tamar personally, but yet everyone had compassion and respect.

Zero-G responded:

I think the people who thought her actions were moronic kept to them selves... or atleast that's what I did. It would have been rude to interupt the pitty party with a comment that didn't fit in.

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It would have been rude to interrupt the pity party?! Do you realize what you wrote in that thread? Here's one of your entries

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Scorcherboy said:

My thoughts and prayers are with the deceased's family.

Zero-G responded:

As they should be... well said ScorcherBoy. You should be ashamed if your thoughts are about anything other than the woman's family and friends, or the staff at Holiday World right now. You owe it to them as enthusiasts and human beings to just quiet your curiosity and reflect on this event.

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Seriously, am I the only one who sees the hypocrisy between the two posts? *** Edited 2/12/2004 11:27:01 PM UTC by rentzy17***

Anybody see The Drudge Report today?

http://www.drudgereport.com/mattjk1.htm

Another darn Democrat with intern troubles. What is it with Democrats? It is no wonder they are so pro-abortion! They procreate all over DC! Jeese!

P.S. I figured since we're dedicating an entire post to a subject like the humor/not so humerous attributes of death---I might as well add a little more to the pot. Who doesn't love an old fashion political party and/or abortion debate? This is a great way to keep the good vibes going! *** Edited 2/12/2004 11:58:38 PM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith*** *** Edited 2/12/2004 11:59:01 PM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***

I said that because at the time it was not known what caused Tamar to be ejected from the ride. Now that it is clear that she played the largest role in her own death, I can't help but jump camps. I'll be first to admit my outlook on life has changed alot in these last few months, as evident in that post. What can I say? I'm just not that person anymore.

I'm going to back Joe C. completely as that's 100% what my reaction to the situation and what everyone is saying would be.

-Danny, a little disgusted too- no offense...