FB Birthday PSA

[scruffy the cat]

When FB tells you it's someone's birthday and you haven't seen or heard from the person for some time, don't just type "Happy Birthday!" in the little box they provide to you without checking their FB page first. The people posting "Happy Birthday! Hope it's a great one!" on my BIL's page look silly, since he's been dead for nearly 5 years.

[Mirabella]

I think if I had died, I would hope someone would take my page down.

[scruffy the cat]

That's pretty cold. His family and real friends would be devastated to lose this last link to him and his thoughts/commentary/photos. Occasionally they "talk" to him there and it gives them solace.

It's beside the point of the post though, which is that posting random things because FB tells you to can make people look silly.

[stella]

They can turn off the bday notifications. Don't blame people for well wishing an active FB page. And maybe they need to go to counseling to learn to deal with loss.

[scruffy the cat]

You clearly get the humor in the situation. Carry on!

[Cookie]

I get what you mean, scruffy.

[Hayburner]

I have a friend that was on LinkedIn - He passed away about 4 years ago and his business profile and picture are still on there....It makes me both happy and sad when I see it..

[Snork]

I, too, get what you are saying Scruffy. FB ... just another venue helping you insert foot in mouth.

[greenhorse]

I have a friend who died a few years ago. His wife and friends still occasionally post there. Just a way of sharing memories and remembering him. Sometimes people even post messages to him. It's not done in a morbid or obsessive way. Just remembering a good friend.

[Chancellor]

I think if I had died, I would hope someone would take my page down.

I have a friend on Facebook who died several years ago now. It makes me sad to still see her page but also happy sometimes when I see it.

But yeah, wishing that dead person a happy birthday.....
Although, my aunt has this thing where she remembers the day that people like my grandparents died. I'd rather remember living days like birthdays rather than when they died. You know?

[Chisamba]

I remember my dead friends and family on their birthdays rather than the anniversary of their death. I think it should be a new cultural norm to celebrate happy memories of loved ones on their fb page after they have passed.

I like the idea.