Do you feel less inclined to speak ill of someone if they are dead? Why?

Question

Just curious on this.

Answer 1

I think I do, kind of.

I mean, I think of this guy I know who was a big fat jerk. I used to wonder if he died if I would think differently about him. The answer to that is that I think I secretly hopeed that my negative thoughts about him or expressing my distaste for him would somehow affect change for him....once he was dead he was then just a sad person...it doesn't matter if I think he was a jerk or not, he's dead so I really don't feel like wasting my energy...

But I think some people are reluctant also because they think the dead can hear us.

Answer 2

Respect. They don't have the ability to defend themselves, so their legacy - their soul, if you will, is in the hands of players in posterity. How they live on is imprinted most deeply in those who knew him/her directly, but others are otherwise less influenced, typically. To speak badly about the dead is not unlike shredding their soul. Those last words could serve to echo way beyond the frame which you intended to keep it, and there is no one else there to stop it on his or her behalf. It just rips and ripples over time.

Not to say some or even many don't deserve it, but it is a delicate act - at least one that should be considered and handled with appropriate respect.

Answer 3

It is, first of all, a cultural thing. We don't want to speak ill of the dead because of our level of discomfort with the subject of death.

Secondly, it's not fair, because the object of the criticism cannot defend himself or herself.

If you don't like someone who's dead, you can always express admiration for the 'strong silent type."

Answer 4

If they've just passed, I do. If it's been a while and they've done something awful, like Hitler, I think I can talk ill about them all I want. In my family, we do not speak ill of the newly dead; we want to ease their passing, and we know we will be there, too. But mostly, it's to keep from magnifying the pain of recently bereaved survivors, like relatives and spouses.

Answer 5

I speak up about my concerns only if it would NOT be something "insulting and rude." A "dead person" is just that. The person has gone to his/her reward. What more could I say, unless this person did something criminally toward me? Then if there is something that can be changed, in a beneficial way, I will submit what I know about them. This action would only be taken if I could help others with my information. Otherwise, there is nothing more to say. Peace, Love and God Bless.

Answer 6

Personally no. My dad was a conman and user but we have to laugh at his antics and his positive points. He was really funny and very charismatic. However my younger siblings wont hear a bad word about him Its like he was a saint. My dad would be the first to do the same

Answer 7

Respect

Answer 8

Hehe. Symbolically, confident. i replaced into at here for 7 years below yet another call. somebody have been given my account suspended. So I stayed off for approximately 6 months, made a clean account, and here i'm. :)

Answer 9

No. Like my Mom, She died, and yes she was the meanist person you'd ever wouldn't want to meet. She was crazy, but I loved her dearly even though - --- Well ,lets not go there. I tell the truth dead or alive.

Answer 10

No, I've always thought that was a strange thing to do. Is that person somehow better because he's dead?