RIP everyone else who dies, ever

[m_bisson]

http://www.lifenews.ca/search/toronto-on/category/obituaries-death-notices/?sort=titleasc

Don't non-celebs deserve our respect and condolences too? It's not like anyone here knows Paul Walker personally, we just know of him. Well look at the obituaries and you can know of those people as well.

Dying in a car accident is hardly a tragedy these days. What about people who starve to death even though we throw food away every day? That's a tragedy. Or the people who die from chemical weapons in Syria because the rest of the world is too politically correct to act? Did you know children in Syria are now being diagnosed with polio? That disease was 100‰ eradicated because of infant vaccination, but the constant war means millions could be at risk if the disease spreads. That's a tragedy. (to clarify, Europeans receive a 'dead' version of the vaccine while the rest of the world uses a 'live' version. While it still protects against polio, the dead vaccine allows people to host/carry the virus, which can make others sick)

Rich guy crashing fancy car? Sure, maybe he was a nice guy, but did he really do more than the average Joe Schmo to help society?

So many people die who are just as amazing in their own way. Give your head a shake and think about the pop-culture, consumerist society you're grieving over. What's REALLY important? What actually matters?

[Aitch]

If you want to pick on Paul Walker, realize he died at his own charity event which was raising funds for the Philippines. More than the average Joe? Probably.

[dexter]

Well, Aitch summed up my thoughts pretty succinctly.

[m_bisson]

Not picking on Paul Walker. I'm saying he, nor any other celebs, doesn't necessarily deserve extra recognition or whatever just because he's famous.
I donate to two kitchener charities each year, and volunteer with victim services. I'm the average Joe.
The point is that we focus on the 'sensational' and often overlook others simply because it's not in the media.

[Nooby31]

Not picking on Paul Walker. I'm saying he, nor any other celebs, doesn't necessarily deserve extra recognition or whatever just because he's famous.
I donate to two kitchener charities each year, and volunteer with victim services. I'm the average Joe.
The point is that we focus on the 'sensational' and often overlook others simply because it's not in the media.

Exactly, there are people that are more generous then many celebrities but they do not get or want the media attention. I do agree though that the media really takes a lot of time mourning a celebrities death but that is what people want to watch these days.

[JackyMS3]

I don't agree with this. Aitch is right. Ordinary ppl help with charity donate and stuff, that's nice. But in this case Paul walker used his fame to influence other ppl, car enthusiasts, to help. The scale is totally different comparing to a regular person s contribution as an individual.

[Jenuine]

I don't think anyone expressing their condolences to Paul Walker is intentionally lessening the deaths of anyone else.

By the way, Paul Walker was heading to/from a charity event held by his organization which helps victims of natural disasters. This event in particular was to raise money for the Philippines. Not to be mean but I think you should do a little more research before saying that he doesn't do more than the "average Joe" to help society.

[Aitch]

The OP has a point, esp regarding many celebrity deaths. I took issue with the way Paul Walker's death was used as a typical example of this, esp given the circumstances.

[m_bisson]

The focus wasn't meant to be just on him, but the 'famous' deaths where everyone balls their eyes out when they only ever saw that person on TV.

Running a charity is nice, but just as important are the people who choose to give to the charity. It's like organizing a group buy on here: is the guy who spots the deal/item/etc really doing that much more than everyone who chips in to actually make it happen? Everyone is equally responsible for the results achieved.

[Mitchell3]

If Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber died then I would agree with op. I do think however Paul Walker was much more than just a celeb. Cyrus or Bieber, what have they done. Hung off a bowling ball naked and ran away from a mob of teenage girls on a segway.

[asyed]

just going to say that normally I wouldn't care about an celebrities death if all they did was make movies or music. Paul walker wasn't just any other celebrity. I'm not going to go on about how (mainly because Loki will complain again ) but if you want an idea of why he isn't just some celebrity I suggest you check out the thread about it and other websites that have a comment section about his death.


Now if it was someone like bieber or miley or even kanye, The only community that cries is the people who are HUGE fanboys/fan girls of the certain celebrity. Very rare does the motoring community ,and by extension the motorsport community , also mourn the loss of a celebrity. And very rarely do normal (non car loving people) care about deaths related to race car drivers and other enthusiasts that aren't big celebrities. Not to mention that he made many contributions to charities and genuinely wasn't like the other celebs that have a really crappy attitude off screen (not all are but most of the big ones are)
He made more contributions than any of us will do in our lifetime.

[Nikhil Pali]

If Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber died then I would agree with op. I do think however Paul Walker was much more than just a celeb. Cyrus or Bieber, what have they done. Hung off a bowling ball naked and ran away from a mob of teenage girls on a segway.

+1.

To OP, Paul went down to Haiti when it got hit and donated 50k and ran charity to support that Haiti. How much did you or your "average joe" you are comparing Paul to, donate or went down to Haiti or any other place hit by similar disaster.

[m_bisson]

+1.

To OP, Paul went down to Haiti when it got hit and donated 50k and ran charity to support that Haiti. How much did you or your "average joe" you are comparing Paul to, donate or went down to Haiti or any other place hit by similar disaster.

And 50k as a percentage of his net worth? Not so much, right? If he donates 100 percent of what he can afford and I donate 100 percent of what I can afford, what's the difference?

I'm sure, if you could afford it, you'd donate 50k too, right?

[Jenuine]

And 50k as a percentage of his net worth? Not so much, right? If he donates 100 percent of what he can afford and I donate 100 percent of what I can afford, what's the difference?

Are you really saying that his $50k donation was nothing? What would you prefer? For him to take that $50k and buy a car?

It's one thing to make a point but another to say that his donations and organizations don't mean anything.

[Stathakos]

Arguments like these will never end.

[m_bisson]

Close the thread. I feel like a very small number of people are able to grasp the concept without being offended by it. My mistake for trying to create an intellectual discussion.

[loki]

Are you really saying that his $50k donation was nothing? What would you prefer? For him to take that $50k and buy a car?

It's one thing to make a point but another to say that his donations and organizations don't mean anything.

That's not what he was getting at. His point was that everything is relative.

[loki]

Also this was a general thread and has nothing to do with Paul Walker directly, but was brought as a result of his death.


On that note there's enough threads about people dying. So I will close this one.