Death on the Internet - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

FelixP · 08-19-2009, 08:35 PM

Just a few minutes ago I was looking at squeeeb's profile, and it made me think of something that I often wonder about: what do people on the internet think when you die? If I died, no one here would know.

Back in the day I used to be in a pretty tight-knit CoD:UO clan, and I used to think the same thing back then. With few exceptions, I was closer with some of those guys than I was with my friends from school. I often wondered what they would think if I died. Would they think I quit? Would they think I lost my Inet access? And so tonight I'm wondering the same thing.

What do you guys think? Am I the only one here who's ever really thought about this? Kind of a wierd thought, I know, but one I feel deserves some contemplation nonetheless.

Punk.of.Ages · 08-19-2009, 08:38 PM

I've thought about this.

I suppose you'd never know and just go about your day normally...

Xerxys · 08-19-2009, 08:40 PM

Well, simple .. after 3 months, TFP can no longer send you "TFP misses you" emails because your email ad will be disabled for no activity.

Then we will start assuming things.

But if you did die and someone notified us, I would be sad. Except of course, if you were Manic_Skafe, I'd be amused at him not having completed his mission!

Psycho Dad · 08-19-2009, 08:40 PM

I've been on a couple of other boards where widows have come on and posted on their dead husband's accounts that their husband is dead.

The thread gets made sticky, everyone posts how they will miss the poster, even the people who thought he was a douche bag. People just act nice pretty much like IRL.

Charlatan · 08-19-2009, 08:45 PM

I've wondered about this.

In many cases, we'd never know.

snowy · 08-19-2009, 08:47 PM

My SO has methods of contacting TFPers, and he has been told he is to notify you all should I pass on.

Bill O'Rights · 08-19-2009, 08:56 PM

I have to admit that I, too, have given this some thought. What a morbid bunch are we?
On one hand, while it'd be nice if Mrs. O'Rights would take the time to notify the TFP of my demise, I would hope, and imagine that she would, be far too busy with other matters and details to concern herself with it.

Plan9 · 08-19-2009, 09:01 PM

I'm already dead.

Do you miss me?

CinnamonGirl · 08-19-2009, 09:06 PM

We were just talking about this the other night. Yep, I've thought about it, too. I know two TFPers in "real life," and one is a friend... I'm fairly sure she'd let you guys know.

Cynthetiq · 08-19-2009, 09:43 PM

One of the guys who makes mods for forums died. It's a mod we use here, and some people know about it.

It's been well publicized that he died on many forums.

Mourning the loss of a friend, a leader, an innovator, a genuinely nice guy - English Forum Switzerland

I'd expect that for some, this may be the same kind of thing, for others, it will never be known. I think it depends on how much you've put in here, into the community. If people know you IRL here and off the board, it will be known eventually.

Reese · 08-19-2009, 10:20 PM

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/general...n-you-die.html

There's an interesting read for ya.

I only know of one person dying. I used to hang out in IRC with him a lot. He was hit by a drunk driver. I only learned about it because he was RL friends with the guy that ran the channel. Honestly I can't even remember a specific conversation I ever had with him. It's been so long ago. All I really remember is that he was there and then he wasn't.

nomcat · 08-20-2009, 12:26 AM

ShaniFaye · 08-20-2009, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowy

My SO has methods of contacting TFPers, and he has been told he is to notify you all should I pass on.

Same here, I would also guess that it would end up on facebook and several of y'all are my friends there as well so I'm sure it would get around.

SecretMethod70 · 08-20-2009, 03:07 AM

Irrelevant. I'm not going to die.

...

Unfortunately, that's not actually true. I've considered it, and I think it'd get around. Onodrim would probably tell people, but even if she's otherwise occupied it would end up on Facebook and I have enough TFP friends there that it would get around to here.

The_Jazz · 08-20-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

I'm already dead.

Do you miss me?

No, the exact opposite of "missing".

I think I started a tongue-in-cheek version of this thread a few months ago that I'll link to when I get a chance. So clearly I've given it some thought. It's bound to happen to us sooner or later, and given the number of members we have, I'm mildly surprised that it hasn't already. Honestly, it probably has but we just don't know.

Now I'm just going to wait for JumpinJesus to come to this thread and nominate me for the first-ever human sacrifice on TFP.

Flinx · 08-20-2009, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FelixP

What do you guys think? Am I the only one here who's ever really thought about this? Kind of a wierd thought, I know, but one I feel deserves some contemplation nonetheless.

Nope, your not weird or alone. I've got a list I update every so often of places I want my wife to notify and accounts to close.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Dad

I've been on a couple of other boards where widows have come on and posted on their dead husband's accounts that their husband is dead.

The thread gets made sticky, everyone posts how they will miss the poster, even the people who thought he was a douche bag. People just act nice pretty much like IRL.

The method I use for this situation is open a new thread, post the details then politely ask that there be no comments and pm a mod to lock the thread. Then I delete the account to prevent it from be used by any unscrupulous person.

LordEden · 08-20-2009, 05:00 AM

I'm going to update my Facebook Status as I die... let's hope I don't misspell anything, that would be so embarrassing that I would just want to die.

*****

I've told my best friend that if I die and I don't take him down with me, that he should tell someone about my death. This plan was made during our, "What do you want done with your remains" conversation that we had when we were really drunk. Granted, this plan was enacted because of my high involvement in WoW and in my guild, but TFP is now part of that plan. My best friend will get my PC and notify any forums/guilds/websites about my death when it happens.

He will also erase all of my porn and get rid of any illegal items that I don't want the cops/parents to find after I am dead.

SSJTWIZTA · 08-20-2009, 05:11 AM

i've never once given it thought. i dont think i know anyone irl that would post of my demise.

lets just say that if i dont show up on here for a long while, then presume that i am dead.

G5_Todd · 08-20-2009, 08:00 AM

i used to play wwiiol and we knew of alot of guys who played the game because they were in less than heathly condition....i can count off the top of my head about a dozen guys that died...most we knew about because we played with so long that we knew they would sick and there family informed us...we lost 1 guy in my squad that was killed during military service in the middle east...

there was a few guys that died unexpectantly in car accidents or something of that sort, i think in that case he had a real life friend or a relative that played the game....

the designers of the game had a memorial plaque that they would just add the gamer tags of the fallen...

Zenturian · 08-20-2009, 08:41 AM

I know a few forums that would be happy if I died. Serioulsy, I have gotten to enjoy a bunch of people from the forums I belong to and I would miss their insights if they died. I has happened once. I was glad someone posted about their death. I got some closure out of it. More than a handful of posters whom I have enjoyed just disapeared. The not knowing made it worse.

FelixP · 08-20-2009, 11:55 AM

Hmmm...I seem to be the only one here that doesn't have anyone to post that I am dead. But I'm sure that as a god, xerx would know and tell you all.

Vigilante · 08-20-2009, 12:05 PM

I was in the same situation with my COD clan. We had an older member that had a stroke, but he still shows up from time to time.

If I had died, everyone would know because I was the clan founder, and as such I was around daily. Plus I've known many of the members for years, some as long as 7 years. We go way back and still chat almost daily even though we don't game any more.

On TFP no one would know. On most other sites no one would know. Facebook friends and family would obviously know. Myspace friends might find out. Other than that, I would prefer to fade out quietly.

allaboutmusic · 08-20-2009, 12:16 PM

If anything happened to me, I don't think any of you would find out about it. I am not friends in real life with anyone here, but that's cool with me. There would be enough of a fuss from my friends in real life and hopefully from the students on whom I've had some impact.

noodle · 08-20-2009, 12:22 PM

my friends would find out i'm dead from my lack of facebook updates, lol.
i live alone. it would be awhile. then it would end up as some creepy story on the news and roachboy or cyn would find it in one of their google searches and post up how i was found as a puddle of my own goo because no one thought to come looking for awhile. it would make it back here. and on Fark with a florida tag.

Psycho Dad · 08-20-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FelixP

Hmmm...I seem to be the only one here that doesn't have anyone to post that I am dead.

No you're not.

Bear Cub · 08-20-2009, 03:35 PM

Who cares? You'll all see me in Hell anyways.

And don't be late, I run a tight ship.

MSD · 08-20-2009, 03:42 PM

Either my brother or one of a few TFPers who are friends on Facebook would let you all know. You could all pretend to be sad, then forget about me. It's OK though, I plan to live long enough that they invent immortality.

It wouldn't work here, but Something Awful has had goon deaths from time to time, and it's usually a friend or spouse letting us know, sort of a public eulogy of people remembering them, then since account sharing isn't allowed and the site is built on irreverent humor, their account is given a special Perma-Banned avatar (as opposed to regular bans, which can be lifted for another $10 registration fee) declaring them Perma-Dead.

I would hope that my account would be kept active with an avatar and title informing people I'm dead so my brother and maybe World's King and a few staff members could log in from time to time and make snarky comments at people who post stupid threads like "I fingered my girlfriend, is she pregnant?" Getting told off is one thing, getting told off by someone who's dead is much more memorable.

inBOIL · 08-20-2009, 04:07 PM

If I ever die, nobody here will know about it. That's right, I said if. So far, my immortality plan is working.

stevie667 · 08-21-2009, 07:24 AM

When i die, it will be in a spectacular explosion that will destroy the internet. Then you will know *evil overload laugh*

SecretMethod70 · 08-21-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inBOIL

If I ever die, nobody here will know about it. That's right, I said if. So far, my immortality plan is working.

We should exchange notes

ametc · 08-21-2009, 11:20 AM

I'll be sure to come back on to tell you guys right before I die just so you guys can miss me.

lizsmith12 · 08-21-2009, 08:05 PM

hello, I'm new here but would like to give my opinion on this matter.

Well.. if something like this would happen to someone and the only thing you are connected to him is through the net then if no one can notify at all then there's a lot of reasons a person would think why he's not showing online. Maybe he didn't want to be active anymore, might be that something happened to him or might be as well that his ignoring you and don't wanted to communicate ( well.. this is usually what comes up to opposite sex directly).

A lot of ideas could arise, but for sure it is just the same idea as of sudden loose of contact from a friend in the neighborhood.

08-19-2009, 08:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
FelixP Insane Location: I'm up they see me I'm down.	Death on the Internet Just a few minutes ago I was looking at squeeeb's profile, and it made me think of something that I often wonder about: what do people on the internet think when you die? If I died, no one here would know. Back in the day I used to be in a pretty tight-knit CoD:UO clan, and I used to think the same thing back then. With few exceptions, I was closer with some of those guys than I was with my friends from school. I often wondered what they would think if I died. Would they think I quit? Would they think I lost my Inet access? And so tonight I'm wondering the same thing. What do you guys think? Am I the only one here who's ever really thought about this? Kind of a wierd thought, I know, but one I feel deserves some contemplation nonetheless. __________________ Free will lies not in the ability to craft your own fate, but in not knowing what your fate is. --Me "I have just returned from visting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." --Douglas MacArthur

08-19-2009, 08:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Punk.of.Ages Forming Location: ....a state of pure inebriation.	I've thought about this. I suppose you'd never know and just go about your day normally... __________________ "The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion..." - Henry Steel Commager "Punk rock music is great music played by really bad, drunk musicians." -Fat Mike

08-19-2009, 08:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	I've been on a couple of other boards where widows have come on and posted on their dead husband's accounts that their husband is dead. The thread gets made sticky, everyone posts how they will miss the poster, even the people who thought he was a douche bag. People just act nice pretty much like IRL. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

08-19-2009, 08:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I've wondered about this. In many cases, we'd never know. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

08-19-2009, 08:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	My SO has methods of contacting TFPers, and he has been told he is to notify you all should I pass on. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

08-19-2009, 08:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	Well, simple .. after 3 months, TFP can no longer send you "TFP misses you" emails because your email ad will be disabled for no activity. Then we will start assuming things. But if you did die and someone notified us, I would be sad. Except of course, if you were Manic_Skafe, I'd be amused at him not having completed his mission!

08-19-2009, 08:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	I have to admit that I, too, have given this some thought. What a morbid bunch are we? On one hand, while it'd be nice if Mrs. O'Rights would take the time to notify the TFP of my demise, I would hope, and imagine that she would, be far too busy with other matters and details to concern herself with it. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

08-19-2009, 09:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	I'm already dead. Do you miss me? __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

08-19-2009, 09:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
CinnamonGirl She's Actual Size Location: Central Republic of Where-in-the-Hell	We were just talking about this the other night. Yep, I've thought about it, too. I know two TFPers in "real life," and one is a friend... I'm fairly sure she'd let you guys know. __________________ "...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world." "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

08-19-2009, 09:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	One of the guys who makes mods for forums died. It's a mod we use here, and some people know about it. It's been well publicized that he died on many forums. Mourning the loss of a friend, a leader, an innovator, a genuinely nice guy - English Forum Switzerland I'd expect that for some, this may be the same kind of thing, for others, it will never be known. I think it depends on how much you've put in here, into the community. If people know you IRL here and off the board, it will be known eventually. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

08-19-2009, 10:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
Reese Delicious	http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/general...n-you-die.html There's an interesting read for ya. I only know of one person dying. I used to hang out in IRC with him a lot. He was hit by a drunk driver. I only learned about it because he was RL friends with the guy that ran the channel. Honestly I can't even remember a specific conversation I ever had with him. It's been so long ago. All I really remember is that he was there and then he wasn't. __________________ “It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick” - Dave Barry

08-20-2009, 12:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
nomcat Twisted Location: UK	__________________ There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.

08-20-2009, 03:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Irrelevant. I'm not going to die. ... Unfortunately, that's not actually true. I've considered it, and I think it'd get around. Onodrim would probably tell people, but even if she's otherwise occupied it would end up on Facebook and I have enough TFP friends there that it would get around to here. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling Last edited by SecretMethod70; 08-20-2009 at 03:09 AM..

08-20-2009, 05:11 AM	#18 (permalink)
SSJTWIZTA Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator. Location: Windiwana	i've never once given it thought. i dont think i know anyone irl that would post of my demise. lets just say that if i dont show up on here for a long while, then presume that i am dead. __________________ First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller

08-20-2009, 08:00 AM	#19 (permalink)
G5_Todd Junkie Location: Reichstag	i used to play wwiiol and we knew of alot of guys who played the game because they were in less than heathly condition....i can count off the top of my head about a dozen guys that died...most we knew about because we played with so long that we knew they would sick and there family informed us...we lost 1 guy in my squad that was killed during military service in the middle east... there was a few guys that died unexpectantly in car accidents or something of that sort, i think in that case he had a real life friend or a relative that played the game.... the designers of the game had a memorial plaque that they would just add the gamer tags of the fallen... __________________ "....and when you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." -General Franks

08-20-2009, 08:41 AM	#20 (permalink)
Zenturian Banned	I know a few forums that would be happy if I died. Serioulsy, I have gotten to enjoy a bunch of people from the forums I belong to and I would miss their insights if they died. I has happened once. I was glad someone posted about their death. I got some closure out of it. More than a handful of posters whom I have enjoyed just disapeared. The not knowing made it worse.

08-20-2009, 11:55 AM	#21 (permalink)
FelixP Insane Location: I'm up they see me I'm down.	Hmmm...I seem to be the only one here that doesn't have anyone to post that I am dead. But I'm sure that as a god, xerx would know and tell you all. __________________ Free will lies not in the ability to craft your own fate, but in not knowing what your fate is. --Me "I have just returned from visting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." --Douglas MacArthur

08-20-2009, 12:05 PM	#22 (permalink)
Vigilante Broken Arrow Location: US	I was in the same situation with my COD clan. We had an older member that had a stroke, but he still shows up from time to time. If I had died, everyone would know because I was the clan founder, and as such I was around daily. Plus I've known many of the members for years, some as long as 7 years. We go way back and still chat almost daily even though we don't game any more. On TFP no one would know. On most other sites no one would know. Facebook friends and family would obviously know. Myspace friends might find out. Other than that, I would prefer to fade out quietly. __________________ We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill

08-20-2009, 12:16 PM	#23 (permalink)
allaboutmusic Aurally Fixated	If anything happened to me, I don't think any of you would find out about it. I am not friends in real life with anyone here, but that's cool with me. There would be enough of a fuss from my friends in real life and hopefully from the students on whom I've had some impact.

08-20-2009, 03:35 PM	#26 (permalink)
Bear Cub The Reverend Side Boob Location: Nofe Curolina	Who cares? You'll all see me in Hell anyways. And don't be late, I run a tight ship. __________________ Living in the United Socialist States of America.

08-20-2009, 03:42 PM	#27 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Either my brother or one of a few TFPers who are friends on Facebook would let you all know. You could all pretend to be sad, then forget about me. It's OK though, I plan to live long enough that they invent immortality. It wouldn't work here, but Something Awful has had goon deaths from time to time, and it's usually a friend or spouse letting us know, sort of a public eulogy of people remembering them, then since account sharing isn't allowed and the site is built on irreverent humor, their account is given a special Perma-Banned avatar (as opposed to regular bans, which can be lifted for another $10 registration fee) declaring them Perma-Dead. I would hope that my account would be kept active with an avatar and title informing people I'm dead so my brother and maybe World's King and a few staff members could log in from time to time and make snarky comments at people who post stupid threads like "I fingered my girlfriend, is she pregnant?" Getting told off is one thing, getting told off by someone who's dead is much more memorable.

08-20-2009, 04:07 PM	#28 (permalink)
inBOIL I have eaten the slaw	If I ever die, nobody here will know about it. That's right, I said if. So far, my immortality plan is working. __________________ And you believe Bush and the liberals and divorced parents and gays and blacks and the Christian right and fossil fuels and Xbox are all to blame, meanwhile you yourselves create an ad where your kid hits you in the head with a baseball and you don't understand the message that the problem is you.

08-21-2009, 07:24 AM	#29 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	When i die, it will be in a spectacular explosion that will destroy the internet. Then you will know evil overload laugh __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.

08-21-2009, 11:20 AM	#31 (permalink)
ametc Psycho	I'll be sure to come back on to tell you guys right before I die just so you guys can miss me.

08-21-2009, 08:05 PM	#32 (permalink)
lizsmith12 Upright	hello, I'm new here but would like to give my opinion on this matter. Well.. if something like this would happen to someone and the only thing you are connected to him is through the net then if no one can notify at all then there's a lot of reasons a person would think why he's not showing online. Maybe he didn't want to be active anymore, might be that something happened to him or might be as well that his ignoring you and don't wanted to communicate ( well.. this is usually what comes up to opposite sex directly). A lot of ideas could arise, but for sure it is just the same idea as of sudden loose of contact from a friend in the neighborhood.