Not too long ago, a kid that I had AP Economics with died from exposure because he was drunk and left the party he was at without a coat. I didn't talk to him at all, but I was really saddened when I heard the news. How could this kid, who seemingly had a lot of potential and a lot of friends, die so frivolously? It made me think about my mortality and how fickle it really is. Kozolek did have much more of a connection with Carissa than I did with whom i'm referring, but I bring up my anecdote to show just how strong empathy can be with people we only tangentially know.
This is an excellent observation and I think your experience (and Kozelek's) might be relatable to most people. When someone you barely knew dies so suddenly you might hear the news from a mutual friend -- perhaps the first you have heard of them in years -- having seen little of their life. You only hear of its absurd, tragic conclusion and are left to your imagination. What hurts is that lack of knowledge of the life preceding the tragedy. We imagine their successes and aspirations, a potential cut short so arbitrarily. Were they happy? Did they suffer? We...
This is an excellent observation and I think your experience (and Kozelek's) might be relatable to most people. When someone you barely knew dies so suddenly you might hear the news from a mutual friend -- perhaps the first you have heard of them in years -- having seen little of their life. You only hear of its absurd, tragic conclusion and are left to your imagination. What hurts is that lack of knowledge of the life preceding the tragedy. We imagine their successes and aspirations, a potential cut short so arbitrarily. Were they happy? Did they suffer? We cannot really know. It is that lack of "closure" that makes us cry for this person -- now a stranger -- like we would for a good friend or a parent. When someone we know closely dies there is catharsis in remembering stories of their life. First at the funeral and then forever after. But for a distant acquaintance we cannot heal in this way, we only know of this senseless news and have no memories to turn to. It hurts even more when they are so young.
Not too long ago, a kid that I had AP Economics with died from exposure because he was drunk and left the party he was at without a coat. I didn't talk to him at all, but I was really saddened when I heard the news. How could this kid, who seemingly had a lot of potential and a lot of friends, die so frivolously? It made me think about my mortality and how fickle it really is. Kozolek did have much more of a connection with Carissa than I did with whom i'm referring, but I bring up my anecdote to show just how strong empathy can be with people we only tangentially know.
@FrazTHe
@FrazTHe
This is an excellent observation and I think your experience (and Kozelek's) might be relatable to most people. When someone you barely knew dies so suddenly you might hear the news from a mutual friend -- perhaps the first you have heard of them in years -- having seen little of their life. You only hear of its absurd, tragic conclusion and are left to your imagination. What hurts is that lack of knowledge of the life preceding the tragedy. We imagine their successes and aspirations, a potential cut short so arbitrarily. Were they happy? Did they suffer? We...
This is an excellent observation and I think your experience (and Kozelek's) might be relatable to most people. When someone you barely knew dies so suddenly you might hear the news from a mutual friend -- perhaps the first you have heard of them in years -- having seen little of their life. You only hear of its absurd, tragic conclusion and are left to your imagination. What hurts is that lack of knowledge of the life preceding the tragedy. We imagine their successes and aspirations, a potential cut short so arbitrarily. Were they happy? Did they suffer? We cannot really know. It is that lack of "closure" that makes us cry for this person -- now a stranger -- like we would for a good friend or a parent. When someone we know closely dies there is catharsis in remembering stories of their life. First at the funeral and then forever after. But for a distant acquaintance we cannot heal in this way, we only know of this senseless news and have no memories to turn to. It hurts even more when they are so young.