Roadside memorials. Creepy?

[airtime143]

We have all seen them. Little crosses or whatnot set up in locations where someone loses a loved one in a collision.

Is it just me, or is that just a shitty way to remember someone?
I understand the point...memorializing a lost loved one... but the execution and location is just terrible.
Reason being, Your loved one lived a rich, full life. They had things they loved to do, places they loved to be.

....yet you choose to set up a summation of their life at the spot of their death- where they were terrified, in agony, confused, and ultimately finished. You then go there to put new flowers or pictures down at the exact spot of the worst few seconds of their existence. The least enjoyable single spot they have occupied in their lives.
Seems like the most horrible way possible to pay tribute to them.
Why not memorialize them at a place they loved?

Am I off base on this?

 

[Dogstar]

So move the trash from the roadsides to Disney World?

Why memorialize them anywhere?

 

[Ares]

Alternative view @airtime143 ... often people do those memorials as a way to raise awareness of a tragedy caused by some kind of systemic or long-enduring problem.

It isn't so much pure memorial of the life of the person, but a reminder they died because... drunk driving... unsafe driving near work zones.... gun violence.... etc.

It is in the same realm as protests to me, because you could ask the same questions.

Why show up at some location to protest a person or group or idea when that person or group or source of that idea is not in the location where you are protesting? Because simply by gathering, drawing attention, you raise awareness of something you see as a problem.

I am not saying it is the best method of fixing a problem or raising awareness, but generally that is the purpose.

 

[Penny Traitor]

Am I off base on this?

Not really...I can see your point.

Growing up...street memorials like that were more an act of protest over an act of remembrance. It was a place for the community to gather over a death that was considered an injustice. Killed by reckless/intoxicated driver or killed by gang/police violence. It helped bring exposure to something that never would have gotten exposure all on its own...even if that exposure was just to your immediate neighbors.

 

[Penny Traitor]

Alternative view @airtime143 ... often people do those memorials as a way to raise awareness of a tragedy caused by some kind of systemic or long-enduring problem.

It isn't so much pure memorial of the life of the person, but a reminder they died because... drunk driving... unsafe driving near work zones.... gun violence.... etc.

It is in the same realm as protests to me, because you could ask the same questions.

Why show up at some location to protest a person or group or idea when that person or group or source of that idea is not in the location where you are protesting? Because simply by gathering, drawing attention, you raise awareness of something you see as a problem.

I am not saying it is the best method of fixing a problem or raising awareness, but generally that is the purpose.

You're late on the rent on the space in my head you just never seem to leave.

 

[ZOMBIE@CTESPN]

Not creepy I just don’t get why one needs to put a memorial where someone died when their body isn’t buried there. I don’t see any relief in that more look at me look at me and my loss

But in another instance I totally understand it locally. Back in the day a guy was buried alive working on the sewers in Farmington road inbetween 14 and 15 mile road. The area he was buried at Has a fence around it and periodically do see flowers there. It’s the guys grave so I understand that. I don’t understand why they didn’t just get the body out. Too expensive? Too hard cause of concrete?

 

[HeHateMe]

I just want to know what those shoes tied together and thrown over power lines is all about.

 

[KittiesKorner]

How do you feel about ghost bikes, boy?

 

[Ares]

Shut up!

 

[KittiesKorner]

pet deck beers for you
betray me like a fuckface
cancel our dinner

 

[Tater]

I just want to know what those shoes tied together and thrown over power lines is all about.

In some cases, they are used to mark someone's drug selling "turf".

 

[MDB111™]

We have all seen them. Little crosses or whatnot set up in locations where someone loses a loved one in a collision.

Is it just me, or is that just a shitty way to remember someone?
I understand the point...memorializing a lost loved one... but the execution and location is just terrible.
Reason being, Your loved one lived a rich, full life. They had things they loved to do, places they loved to be.

....yet you choose to set up a summation of their life at the spot of their death- where they were terrified, in agony, confused, and ultimately finished. You then go there to put new flowers or pictures down at the exact spot of the worst few seconds of their existence. The least enjoyable single spot they have occupied in their lives.
Seems like the most horrible way possible to pay tribute to them.
Why not memorialize them at a place they loved?

Am I off base on this?

Why wear a Crucifix? I mean Jesus gets nailed to the thing, bleeds out and suffers tremendously yet some walk around showcasing the very 2 pieces of wood he died on?

 

[Burque]

We have all seen them. Little crosses or whatnot set up in locations where someone loses a loved one in a collision.

Is it just me, or is that just a shitty way to remember someone?
I understand the point...memorializing a lost loved one... but the execution and location is just terrible.
Reason being, Your loved one lived a rich, full life. They had things they loved to do, places they loved to be.

....yet you choose to set up a summation of their life at the spot of their death- where they were terrified, in agony, confused, and ultimately finished. You then go there to put new flowers or pictures down at the exact spot of the worst few seconds of their existence. The least enjoyable single spot they have occupied in their lives.
Seems like the most horrible way possible to pay tribute to them.
Why not memorialize them at a place they loved?

Am I off base on this?

I will tell you this, they are fucking EVERYWHERE in Albuquerque. It doesn't matter if it is a white bike, a cross on the side of the road, a whole bunch of flowers, a helmet nailed to a telephone pole... Everywhere.

I kinda think there should be a time limit on them. I do not mind people placing things at a site where someone they loved died in a tragic way. I just begin to take issue with it when it has been there for over a year (even if it is maintained.) Also, I think being respectful of the removal is important. There is no need to just get a loader out and scrape the entire thing away unceremoniously. The family should be given time to take and move anything they want to their private property and the rest handled by the city afterwards.

All this being said I think there are far better ways to deal with grief. I get protest, but again that has a time limit in my eyes. If you are simply placing something at a site as a protest to something that happened it needs to be done in a way that makes some sort of sense. When I drive past flowers on the side of the road or a cross I just know someone passed away there, I have zero clue why.


Edit: I will say there are some very prolific instances where that is different. For instance there was a road rage incident here in Albuquerque where a guy shot out of his car at another guy in a truck that he was in a conflict with. He ended up hitting a young child in the back seat of that truck. Now, all circumstance aside, when you roll past that spot on the freeway and there are a bunch of flowers out there it is a reminder to me to be rational when driving. It's only that though, because I have heard and understand the story.

 

[Crystallas]

Most people don't notice them because they are checking their phones.

 

[Hawkeye OG]

I've never though twice about them. Drive by and if I notice then forget about a couple miles down the road. If it makes someone feel better then whatever.