Has it occurred to you that the words of many deceased people still inhabit our hallowed cyperspace?
I thought of this when I came across David Thompson here and there this week. This is something entirely new-that your blog, website, facebook page, etc. will continue to be available after you are not. Is this a good thing?
But do you want people reading your words after your death. I am not talking about stories that continue to be available online but your personal thoughts. Your diary in effect.
Should you have something in your will signaling you intention? Do you need a blog caretaker? This sounds like a joke, but it isn't... exactly.
In David's case, he died a natural death. What if the writer is a suicide? Should their last words be taken down or remain? Should people be able to sift through a blog later? I am sure this is being given some thought by legal minds, but what do you want?
Do you want your blog, website or whatever left alone or removed? Do you feel queasy reading the last words of someone now dead? What is the etiquette if the blogger does not state a preference? Some deaths do not allow time for one.
15 comments:
Patti - What an interesting question! With today's technology, it's really true that what we say online can easily outlive us. I have to say that that thought does affect what I put out there electronically. For just that reason, I don't ever publish my most private thoughts and ideas, because I wouldn't want them published.
That said, though, there is some comfort, I think, in having online access to what has been written by the deceased. For instance, if you've loved someone, it may bring comfort to see their Facebook comments, etc., It brings a lot of pain, too, but it is a way of connecting with the person who has died. If you have really admired someone's work, knowing that you can access their ideas can be a very positive thing.
It is a good reminder, though, to think carefully about what we put on the Internet.
Richard Brautigan, Robet E Howard, Hemingway. Too many of my favorite authors were suicides and all of them have had editors they never met running through their papers, trying to publish something coherent.
A dead writer's blog is actually more legitimate since the writer thought those words were publishable.
Dan Luft
Good points. I do not censor myself enough and need to think about that more.
But as Dan points out, a blog is a less censored look at someone's thoughts than an editor might have permitted.
I like the idea. I am glad that it's still possible to find writings by Dietmar Trommeshauser, friend from the Horror List who died several years ago. I never met him in person -- he was a quadriplegic who lived in Canada -- so I only ever knew him through his words. I'm glad a part of him is still around.
After I'm dead, I don't really care what happens. It would be nice to be remembered, but it won't matter if I'm not.
Once again, you come up with a fascinating question, Patti. I hadn't given the fate of my blog after my death much thought. I'll have to talk with my son and daughter to see if they would be willing to maintain it after I'm gone.
I doubt either of them can keep up your pace, George. But perhaps together....
As an attorney, I write at least one testamentary will a week. I ask my clients about such things as who will take care of their pets after they die. I have now added blog care to my check list.
Finally some good has come of this blog. And I assign you care of mine, Chuck as the only family member who reads it!!
I've always stated that my blog is to be an archive primarily for my kids to review. Being a parent doesn't necessarily involve being their friend. When I'm no longer their dad, perhaps they can gleam something from my posts as to what made their father tick.
Great question, patti. You have a gift for these.
I have also thought about this since a blogger I *knew* died of cancer last year. Her blog lives on, and occasionally people leave spam there - or ask interested questions - and every time I wish I could remove the whole thing because it feels completely wrong!
I don´t know how to solve the problem, because if it were me, I wouldn´t want anyone to announce my death publicly on my blog either.
And I think about it because of several suicides I know whose blogs are still up, hopefully providing solace to those who come and look.
I know at least one blogger that has a good bye letter of sorts post dated for the future in case the unexpected happens. He keeps moves the publish date out to a few months away.
Travis-funny and sad at the same time.
I hadn't thought about that. Wow, that's...kinda weird. I don't really know at the moment what I'd like.
I can only write here for myself: the main point of my blog is to serve as a contribution to the "global archives" -- as cultural footnotes, if nothing else. But I do indeed have instructions and passwords included with a will, which cost nothing to create and have notarized. It's better to keep blogs going with an afterlife then to see them dissapeared, like "Instanbulwitchy."
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