I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the online communities in which I spend my time. For me, the SDMB is basically the #1 place. I spend quite a bit of time at Fark.com as well, but I’m only a random contributor. I feel that people here know me a bit better than other places.
So it occurs to me that, with so much turnover (and particularly on a pay board like this one), a poster who dies unexpectedly may not be missed for quite some time. The thought is that this person has simply decided to move on…or found a new place to dwell, in the Elvis Presley sense of the phrase.
I have given instructions to my wife to log in under this username and inform the Board if I were to die. I wonder how many others have done the same.
I’d like to use this thread to encourage people to make connections with each other. Maybe everybody here could have a SDMB “buddy” who could be contacted by family members of the deceased if the worst should happen. I believe our board is unique, in that we’re able to share ourselves more fully and honestly than other message boards. Ergo, there are more people to care that someone should no longer be around.
I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud here. What do others think of this idea? Or is there a better one I’m not thinking of?
I already have an SDMB Buddy: my friend (and boss), Gr8Kat. When I was in an accident last month she started this thread telling the board about it and also kept people on my livejournal updated about my condition too. I’m sure she’d do the same in case of my death. Well, except updating my condition.
“He’s been dead for about a week now. His body should be decomposing by now.”
Well, I haven’t asked anyone to do this for me, but I guess I’ll ask the few of those that know me to keep an eye out. They know where to look, and hopefully, would say something here. . .
But then again, word on my well-being has spread like wildfire here, and I thank y’all for it.
Tripler
Believe me, if I gotta go out, I want to go out with a BANG!
I don’t think the boards would ever know if I died. I don’t know anyone all that well, and don’t know anyone in real life. Also, none of my real friends really know about my board addiction, so it’s not like they would make a screenname to inform everyone of my demise. I’m also not popular enough that anyone would ever start a “where’s bouv” thread.
As it now stands, according to my will, on my death an executor will post my identity as well as messages to my dearest friends. A few Dopers are to be bequeathed items from my library.
Were I to die, you all would know. For at my death, the thousand mighty warriors who follow me shall all become crazed, and the whole of the earth shall hear their cries of anguish. My funeral pyre shall reach so high that the gods themseleves would take note. So it was prophesied by the norn, so it shall be.
I remember a famous incident(s) a few years ago about a guy who created a second username, and after he had become familiar to other posters on a board, used the other username (ostensibly his brother or something) to tell everyone he had passed away. He wanted to see if anyone would miss him. Most of them were quite upset that he faked his (online) death.
Well, I don’t have any arangments made, so if I died tomorrow, I guess I’d just “dissapear” online. Eventually, my web page would shut down, but that’s about it. I’d probably be lucky if anyone online posted a “say, anyone remember that ‘Rencloth’ guy who used to post here?” message, six months after I’m buried.
