[the_stillness]

Originally posted by Retroman
You can show respect if you wish, Im not saying it's wrong...just that I don't show it towards dead people I never knew, based on reasons I said earlier.

However, when it comes to actual sadness in regards to the death of a large number of people..
Im not sure if that's possible.

I understand what you say Retroman - [about people you don't know] - as feelings for strangers is never as bad as losing someone close to you, or something close-hand, like seeing a child knocked down by a car and you witness it. Or, losing a friend or family member. That would hurt naturally.

You say that - 'You're not sure whether it is possible for people to experience actual sadness over the death of so many people?' Well, that is rather a naive view IMO. I have to say that, as it was very obvious that a lot of people [worldwide] who actually feel very hurt and sad about death on a huge scale - say [9/11] or [Psunami] for instance!

Lets say an animal/insect dies, infront of your eyes, it drowns or is crushed, eaten etc.
You watch that creature die and you may feel a sense of loss, feel sorry for it, may even question whether you could have helped it. You were involved in its life, and its death.

But when I tell you a random animal/insect died in a forest yesterday, do you care?
You just tell yourself it's not really that important, happens everyday and it won't necessarily effect you in the slightest.

I remember seeing a Ladybird one day and my girlfriend stepped on it and I felt a moment of sadness for [10 seconds] But, if I hear of 20 Million insects dying somewhere, I won't think anything of it. They are just blo*dy insects - doesn't matter, does it? Unless you like them? I DON'T However, in comparison to this debate, it is hardly relevant or interesting. [Human life comes first], then [Animals]. Where insect life comes into play????? WELL, it doesn't!!!!!!

Whereas when I tell you people died, you suddenly feel bad, because you've been brought up to think that the loss of people is unfortunate, wrong and a sad occurance. People also feel sad for the death of people aired on television, portrated as a tragic event..such as 9/11. But soon forget those random dead people on the News for just one day. And don't even acknowledge the many random people and groups of people dying round the world.

You just choose to care and feel upset for the people thrust upon your television, with a news reporter telling you how horrible it all was...
Which all seems a little odd to me. People feeling obligated to feel sad over some people that died, whilst choosing not to be even slightly bothered/think about others.

It's not only picking who you do and don't feel anything for when they die, but also choosing the one's that are talked about excessively, over those that are talked about briefly. Which to me, is showing emotion for those who you feel the need to because everyone else is.

When the [mass loss of life] was announced on tv about 9/11 and Psunami and other big losses of life, it does affect many people globally, [like I explained above]. When we heard of the tragic loss of Diana, there was also a great amount of grief from many a person. It just happens. Many people just feel that way about great losses of life - moderate losses of life and individuals too. When a person like yourself wishes to analyse the differences - that is just one persons opinion. It just doesn't work - the way you say it! All people feel differently about losses of life and you must understand that and respect that