Processing grief on Facebook (What do we think about it?)
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:39 pm
Let me explain a few things first. I do have a Facebook account but I don't use it at all. I am able to view Facebook pages using a family member's login stuff with their permission.
So, I hop around Facebook mostly reading entries for people who are moved away to see what's up with them or childhood friends to see what's up with them too. Look at photos and that sort of thing.
Enough said.
Back in October a high school friend passed away after a serious illness. This man was much loved by all. No question about it. I got to reading his Facebook when he was discussing his illness and progress, difficulties, surgeries, etc. And then, I noticed his entries stopped.
Not good.
His brother started writing updates on him and then the brother stopped writing. He died in October. All of this sad to read about. Special funeral arrangements (reservations) due to the large crowd expected to attend.
People wrote to him on Facebook after he died, wrote about the funeral and many changed their profile photo to a photo of him in memory of him.
Which leads me to what I'm seeing today. People continue to write to him on Facebook. One person admitted to appreciating that the page is still open so that she can write messages and even private messages. That is to say, she's writing to him privately on Facebook.
At first, I thought, okay...this is weird. But I'm thinking now that it just might be a huge benefit to those who are grieving for a person, loved one.
What do you think?
So, I hop around Facebook mostly reading entries for people who are moved away to see what's up with them or childhood friends to see what's up with them too. Look at photos and that sort of thing.
Enough said.
Back in October a high school friend passed away after a serious illness. This man was much loved by all. No question about it. I got to reading his Facebook when he was discussing his illness and progress, difficulties, surgeries, etc. And then, I noticed his entries stopped.
Not good.
His brother started writing updates on him and then the brother stopped writing. He died in October. All of this sad to read about. Special funeral arrangements (reservations) due to the large crowd expected to attend.
People wrote to him on Facebook after he died, wrote about the funeral and many changed their profile photo to a photo of him in memory of him.
Which leads me to what I'm seeing today. People continue to write to him on Facebook. One person admitted to appreciating that the page is still open so that she can write messages and even private messages. That is to say, she's writing to him privately on Facebook.
At first, I thought, okay...this is weird. But I'm thinking now that it just might be a huge benefit to those who are grieving for a person, loved one.
What do you think?