It's a good thing I'm so completely gorgeous. Perhaps I'll be missed, then.

[missdiane]

On the way to work this morning while flipping radio stations (yes, I'm one of those short attention span people), I was listening to a conversation on the radio about this unfortunate woman killed by flying debris at a construction site. But then the female DJ said something that annoyed me. She felt the need to mention about how pretty the woman was and just a beat later mentioned about how it was a tragedy. Uh...what? So if she'd have been ugly, it would been maybe "tragic" but not "OMG!TRAGIC"?

I tweeted something similar to the DJs asking "What if she had been unattractive?" and got a bland response of "it would still be just as much of a tragedy" back and I replied with "It just didn't sound right, IMO" and didn't get anything back. My fabu BFF replied to my tweet with them on it with the even better comment of "That is a silly question, everyone knows that a woman's value is not in her talents, personality, or achievements." which BAM! They ignored it but I'm hoping maybe they'll think a bit more.

I've even heard that about kids when they've been killed, about how "cute" or "beautiful" they were and what does THAT have to do with anything? If the kid is a three-eyed troll, they are still worth the same as the pretty little gems, daggonit!

Then again I have a bit of a personal grump about when they talk about how someone died and how horrible it was because they had children and a spouse. While yes, I agree that it's worse that children will have to grow up without a parent, I can't help but feel that since I have neither, is my life worth less?

Something to think about. 

Comments

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

And how kind and generous they were as if people who aren't kind and generous deserve what they get - yeah, it's jacked.

The one that gets me is when they mention the person died on their birthday - so, I'm guessing it's less tragic if you die on another day...

No, you aren't less - I think people are just idiots when you put a mic in front of them.

[missdiane.livejournal.com]

And how kind and generous they were as if people who aren't kind and generous deserve what they get - yeah, it's jacked.

ARGH! That one too! That's why I donate anonymously to things because I am NOT looking for the "atta girl!" now or when I biff off.

Then again, I also roll my eyes at the people who said "God" saved them. I guess the rest of the folks had it coming or just weren't faithful enough even if they were churchgoers?

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Yup, I guess it's because people are inclined to speak well of the dead. It's wouldn't work if a DJ said, "Well, he was an idiot and deserved his fate." People talk without thinking.

Would you like some sarcasm? Cause I have some sarcasm.

[msdark.livejournal.com]

We all know the pretty people have a higher value.

Re: Would you like some sarcasm? Cause I have some sarcasm.

[missdiane.livejournal.com]

As they should! They are SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than average or...*shudder* UGLY people

Re: Would you like some sarcasm? Cause I have some sarcasm.

[msdark.livejournal.com]

What would this world come to if everyone were valued equally? Perish the thought.

[surfergirl7610.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I understand the whole parent/child/spouse thing. If you've ever lost someone that close to you, or had to witness firsthand the grief of the person left behind, it really is tragic. I lost a distant cousin to a drunk driver. I barely knew her, but at her funeral her two young kids wrote goodbye messages to their mommy on balloons and released them at her grave so they would reach her in heaven. That was more than ten years ago now, and it's still the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen.

It's not about the apparent "worth" of the person who died, it's empathy for the pain of those left behind.