Will We Know?

[BarTopDancer]

Message boards and IMing bring people together in new ways. And with these forms of communications family and friends don't always know about your message board postings or internet friends.

With Lashbear being admitted to the hospital [again] I got to thinking (again)... would we know if something happened to you? I think most of us here would know, due to the nature of the board and real life friendships.

I remember during 9/11 on the Pad people were concerned about people in NY and DC. Would we know if something happened to them? Would we learn what happened to Moonliner or Scaeagles or just assume that they decided to never post again (using those two as an example because they are so far away and well, Leo is ashamed of us :p)?

Deep thoughts on a stressful day.

[Morrigoon]

I think it's important that someone in our lives know how to reach those people who mean something to us, if the worst should occur. Probably a good idea to make whoever that is realize that there is an online circle of friends too (unless, like Leo, you're ashamed of us ;))

[Not Afraid]

When my phone stops ringins, I will be worried. God help us if I ever lose my phone!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

My best friend accepted my request that upon my death he will notify everyone in my address book and bookmarks that I have passed. Cause gawd knows my parents don't know how to use anything more electronic than a standard phone.

[Snowflake]

When my phone stops ringins, I will be worried. God help us if I ever lose my phone!
Been meaning to ask, you do have call waiting on your cell, right? ;)

[Alex]

It's come up a lot over the years on various boards, but no, people wouldn't necessarily know. And I'm aware of many situations where an online community only learned of it much, much later.

However, this is almost always with the more fringe members of the board.

I go through it in reverse, though. If I were to die, almost everybody online would know about it nearly immediately but it could be quite a while before my family learned of it (particularly if Lani and I somehow died together). I last talked to my mom over the 4th of July weekend and it was 18 months before that.

But as with in real life, if there are people who need to be informed, the burden is on you to leave instructions and a mechanism for making sure they are carried out. I know several people who keep such instructions with their will/living trust documentation.

[wendybeth]

I think of that as well, BTD. Lash's recent health scare (especially in light of his last one) got me wondering if there wasn't some way we could keep tabs on board friends. A lot of our posters live in SoCal and can check on each other, but what of the ones far away? When LSPE got sick and didn't post for a few days we had a virtual search party starting up, which I thought was cool.:)

[Not Afraid]

The things I worry most about if something happens to both Chris and I are the cats. I don't care about the stuff, the collections, the house - but the cats are important.

[wendybeth]

Find people you know would take care of them like you do, and ask them if they would be willing to be listed as kitty guardians. You can even leave a sort of trust fund to take care of your babies. I know because I worry about the same thing- my sibs have agreed to take our animals. Oh, and the kid, too.

[BarTopDancer]

The things I worry most about if something happens to both Chris and I are the cats. I don't care about the stuff, the collections, the house - but the cats are important.

While Leo may be ashamed of us we all know he would step up and take the cats.



Ok, everyone done laughing now? What WB said. You can designate pet guardians.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

While Leo may be ashamed of us we all know he would step up and take the cats.


I'm sure Leo would take them, but where?

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Everyone check their "Wills" and make sure LoT is included. I'll take cash, books and expensive cars if anyone wants to bequith anything to me! :)

[Not Afraid]

Yes, but who wants 6 cats?

[BarTopDancer]

Erica!

[Brigitte]

What's another 6 when you have 4 now? :) I'd take them in a heartbeat, convincing DH might take a bit longer.

[lashbear]

When I was in hospital, Lashstoat went rummaging through emails and things until he found a name he recognised (Cadaverous Pallor)

He PM'd her and let her know, but fortunately I was out of hospital and posting again before anyone could blink !!

...if anything happened to me, y'all would be notified - rest assured.

*phew* now onto the happy fluffy bunny thread.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

When I was in hospital, Lashstoat went rummaging through emails and things until he found a name he recognised (Cadaverous Pallor)

He PM'd her and let her know, but fortunately I was out of hospital and posting again before anyone could blink !!Funny - I got the PM and wrote back, but my assumption was that I wasn't the only one who got a PM. I also assumed that you or the Stoat didn't want this to be public knowledge. If I hadn't heard anything for a while I would have tried PMing again and then eventually posted, out of pure worry!

I'm honored Lashstoat recognized me :) and I'm seriously glad you did come back so quickly, for many reasons.

Back on topic - As Greg's sister and her husband have actually met people from the board and even posted a few times, I would hope they'd be the ones to contact you guys. I'll mention it...

[Stan4dSteph]

Someone actually called me once because they hadn't seen me post in a while. That was kind of cool. Otherwise, I don't know that anyone would notice. My workplace would probably be the first if my parents are abroad.

[scaeagles]

I am not ashamed of all of you.

Seriously, though, I'm quite proud to be a part of this community.

When I had both of my surgeries I left instructions for my wife regarding how to log on and let you all know that something had happened, should something have happened. Some that post here know how to contact me, and I would hope if I disappeared for an extended period of time that the phone call would be made (except when I'm at a $2000 dinner for 4 and WB and NA call me from DL...but that's another story).

And the cats....I'd take the cats. They would enjoy the rest of their short lives and experience no discomfort whatsoever when euthanized.

[Not Afraid]

Someone actually called me once because they hadn't seen me post in a while. That was kind of cool. Otherwise, I don't know that anyone would notice. My workplace would probably be the first if my parents are abroad.

I'd notice you gone from IM first.

[Not Afraid]

What's another 6 when you have 4 now? :) I'd take them in a heartbeat, convincing DH might take a bit longer.


Now, there's an idea. You take my brood and I'll take yours. Chris can't refuse having a Pug that way!

[Alex]

In World of Warcraft we suddenly had a member of a guild, known to us only through the game suddenly disappear. Lani eventually got worried enough to say something and of course once she brought it up everybody quickly worked themselves into a state of assuming the worst (WoW also once caused me to decide something horrible had happened to Lani but some of you alread know that story).

It was quite a research challenge to track him down based solely on minimal conversational clues but eventually we did. Turned out his computer had melted down and he didn't think anybody'd care enough to find a way to let anybody know.

And I do remember the work we did to track down our NYC members at MousePad after 9/11 (not that we had many).

[Mousey Girl]

I was deep into some chat rooms when I had my miscarriage. I had logged on to tell a friend I was having bleeding issues. When 4 hours went by without hearing from me she called. She notified everyone else. 5 months later, with my car accident, the same sort of thing happened. I called one person and they notified the people who would want to know.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

And I do remember the work we did to track down our NYC members at MousePad after 9/11 (not that we had many).Wow. I just found something interesting. I went hunting and happened to notice - there are a ton of fluff threads that died as soon as 9/11 happened. The midnight society was obviously alive and well with 2am postings in many silly threads, but the next morning they all went dead and sank down into history, frozen in time like so many ash-covered Pompeiians.

Even more interestingly, the first post at MP talking about the crash revealed JRob's unfortunate dream (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?p=23353&#post23353). Crazy.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I also noticed that at Mousepad there's a 500 post limit if you want to "Find all posts by" anyone.

[lashbear]

I also noticed that at Mousepad there's a 500 post limit if you want to "Find all posts by" anyone.

well, who'd be loser enough to do more than 500 posts on a chat board, for heavens sake ?!?!

[Stan4dSteph]

I also noticed that at Mousepad there's a 500 post limit if you want to "Find all posts by" anyone.That's a vB setting.

[Not Afraid]

That's a vB setting.

Yes, we have the same limit here.

[innerSpaceman]

So, with all the wonders of the internet, why isn't there some sort of subscriber service for e-notifying whomever your list of net contacts is in the case of your expiration?



More to the point ... what do you think we can charge per month if we institute such a system from the LoT, and open it to all comers?

[Alex]

How would the service know you died?

[€uroMeinke]

Ah, we collect a fee to ensure you stay alive

[lashbear]

Alex - you're far too practical !

[lashbear]

Ah, we collect a fee to ensure you stay alive

so if you forget to pay your fee, our service tells everyone you're dead ? :D

[Alex]

No, the service makes sure you're dead.

[€uroMeinke]

Alex has the business model

[MouseWife]

Wow. I just found something interesting. I went hunting and happened to notice - there are a ton of fluff threads that died as soon as 9/11 happened. The midnight society was obviously alive and well with 2am postings in many silly threads, but the next morning they all went dead and sank down into history, frozen in time like so many ash-covered Pompeiians.



The midnight society!! Oh, how I miss those wild nights of staying up until 3 or 4 a.m.!!

I can't remember when it died out....I can't recall what happened to me, personally. Probably had to be responsible and wake up early so that meant going to bed....

[MouseWife]

Oh, I forgot to add, I have thought of this before, too.
I know my AS friends would be called by the Hubster as he has their numbers on his phone {muahaahaa, company phone, free long distance...:evil: }.

But, I haven't given anyone any passwords, etc.

This makes me think of people I've been wondering about and damnit I should call....

[€uroMeinke]

I thought I had heard about this before - seems someone already has the idea:
https://www.postexpression.com/howitworks.php

[Kevy Baby]

Just for the record: when I die, I do not want a sad, morose funeral. I want a party. Have a DJ, lots of alcohol. Laugh, scream, eat, drink. Don't mourn my departure: celebrate my life.

Or celebrate my departure if that is your preference - I'm OK with that.

[Not Afraid]

How can we have a DJ if the DJ died?

[€uroMeinke]

Kevy must create his postmortem mix tape

[Kevy Baby]

Just slap on the Ursula1000 mix CDs and I'll be happy.

Besides, I have plenty of DJ friends who could cover it. My friend Larry DJ'ed our wedding and I DJ'ed his (first) wedding (I stood up for him at the second one).

[Not Afraid]

My friend Larry DJ'ed our wedding and I DJ'ed his (first) wedding (I stood him up at the second one).

Bed time for me.

[BarTopDancer]

Just for the record: when I die, I do not want a sad, morose funeral. I want a party. Have a DJ, lots of alcohol. Laugh, scream, eat, drink. Don't mourn my departure: celebrate my life.

Or celebrate my departure if that is your preference - I'm OK with that.

Me too. I want a giant party. In Vegas. With bar top dancing and shiny objects and lots of fire.

[CoasterMatt]

Fire... lot's of fire, fire dancing, fire walking

and disco balls...

and dancing monkeys, in purple velvet suits.

A giant catapult to hurl my mortal remains into the night - on fire, of course.

[Prudence]

A simple state funeral should be sufficient for me.

[lashbear]

Wouldn't it be cute to have your ashes scattered in the Haunted Mansion...

That's right, you're not allowed to do that (anymore)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm going to buck the trend here and say that at my funeral I want everyone weeping and tearing at their heavy black clothing.

[Alex]

I don't care what is done with me and have told Lani as much. What happens after I die has nothing to do with me so the people who care should do whatever they think is best for them.

If nobody cares much then give my body so some entity that will use it, otherwise cremate and dispose. But if Lani would prefer to bury me then that's what she should do, if she'd prefer to leave my body unclaimed and I eventually end up in Potter's Field, then that is fine as well. I'll still be dead.

But assuming she outlives me, Lani is aware of where I post. If we were to die together it might be a while before someone confirmed we were dead but my employer would likely be the first to know. My emergency contact is one one of the MousePlanet people (because I didn't want to track down contact information for my mom) and there is just enough overlap between my various internet spheres that word would spread. But for the most part, if there isn't anybody in a community that would eventually care enough to find out then it probably also isn't all that important that I make sure they're notified.

[Nephythys]

Wouldn't it be cute to have your ashes scattered in the Haunted Mansion...

That's right, you're not allowed to do that (anymore)

I have told my family that when I die I want to be cremated- and then they are to take small vials of ash to each Haunted Mansion in the world (by the time I did I hope to have visited them all) and sprinkle the ashes in the gardens around the Mansions.

Not in the attraction, nor in any way that would attract unwanted attention.

Sure- the rain will wash it away- but the symbolism is cool.

If anything happened to me there is one person who would find out who would be able to let everyone online know- so I am not worried about it.

[innerSpaceman]

I've always fancied a Viking Funeral.




If you can't lay your hands on a long boat with oars, I can be set aflame on a rubber raft in someone's pool.

[Snowflake]

Scatter me in the moat at the castle, along the storybook canal boats (in Monstro's gaping mouth) or failing that, sub lagoon or Rivers of America. God forbid I get scattered somewhere in Pooh, Alice or Pan would be cool (but impractical)

In reality, Neptune Society will scatter me and my kitties over the beautiful Pacific.

[blueerica]

Oooh! You've brought up so much, and right before I take off on a plane! I will take some time out, perhaps, and elaborate on things I've been thinking about.

And I'm so glad you brought this up BTD! I wonder that all the time. I figured between us it would be safe. So and so knows to call you, people know to call me... I figured we'd be screwed on message boards if we were together at the same time. All things considered, our SoCal network is strong enough that *someone* would find out.