4 ms·

They're dead, they're beyond caring. Honestly this "sanctity of the dead" concept is a bit antiquated. Cremate the bodies, recycle the physical goods, move on.

wyager 5y ago
You should apply chesterton's fence to long-standing social traditions like this. There are certainly compelling reasons to respect the dead's wishes, even if the reasons are not apparent to you personally.
- robertlagrant 5y ago
  Chesterton's fence is hard to apply in a vacuum, especially for subjective matters. Got any clues as to where to start? If not, this is just like when business people talk about "scalable" in meetings. Means nothing without more info.
kodah 5y ago
I think it's less sanctity of the dead and more consent on what is allowed to be published. It's a fair argument. If I stumble across someone's messages to their ex-girlfriend who is now well-renowned in my circles, am I allowed to publish them? If they're dead does it really impact the ethics?
- ignoramous 5y ago
  Privacy of their personal information is now well and truly something for the famous to consider codifying it in their Will going forward... Much like in the Google/Meta dominated online world, the default is opt-in, it'd seem, as that likely generates capital such "estates" need, to survive.
- stickfigure 5y ago
  > If they're dead does it really impact the ethics? Yes? I feel pretty comfortable saying that the live/dead status of the author (and subjects) is one of many factors that affects the ethics involved in publishing something like that. That seems to be the question of this thread, no?
  - mattigames 5y ago
    Yet you evade the most obvious question of how would the children (and grandchildren) of the dead would feel about such usage of their remains, may it be a letter or a 4K private sex tape.
    - stickfigure 5y ago
      Eh? If my grandmother's sex "tapes" (we're probably talking 16mm film) are circulating, good for her! I sincerely hope she had a more excitement in her life than simply raising kids in the depression. I would be proud. How would my child feel about videos of me and/or his mother? I'm pretty sure just as squicked as any kid will be about the idea of their parents having sex. Which they all know we do. You pretend otherwise to your kids?
      - kodah 5y ago
        The question is, is someone allowed to make that choice for you, ever? I think not, and it's still a question much in debate, which we have made an excellent demonstration of here.
        stickfigure 5y ago
        The debate is pretty clearly settled as both a matter of law and a matter of fact - Feynman's estate sold the letters. If you're the legal owner of your grandmother's intimate notes, you can make your own choice.
throwawaycities 5y ago
You may not care, yet Humans have codified an entire body of law known as estate planning to see deceased's wishes carried out. Do you not have an estate plan on the basis once you’re dead you are beyond caring? Or do you have an estate plan but feel it is ok to violate on the basis you will be beyond caring and there is no sanctity of the dead? Why even suggest cremation? Such a preference seems to contradict being beyond caring.
mattigames 5y ago
I hope someone publishes the sex tapes of your grandparents 33 years after their death to help you put things into perspective, or perhaps you really believe what you are saying and would consider the enjoyment of those videos by strangers as "recicling".

wyager 5y ago

You should apply chesterton's fence to long-standing social traditions like this. There are certainly compelling reasons to respect the dead's wishes, even if the reasons are not apparent to you personally.

robertlagrant 5y ago
Chesterton's fence is hard to apply in a vacuum, especially for subjective matters. Got any clues as to where to start? If not, this is just like when business people talk about "scalable" in meetings. Means nothing without more info.

kodah 5y ago

I think it's less sanctity of the dead and more consent on what is allowed to be published. It's a fair argument. If I stumble across someone's messages to their ex-girlfriend who is now well-renowned in my circles, am I allowed to publish them? If they're dead does it really impact the ethics?

ignoramous 5y ago
Privacy of their personal information is now well and truly something for the famous to consider codifying it in their Will going forward... Much like in the Google/Meta dominated online world, the default is opt-in, it'd seem, as that likely generates capital such "estates" need, to survive.
stickfigure 5y ago
> If they're dead does it really impact the ethics? Yes? I feel pretty comfortable saying that the live/dead status of the author (and subjects) is one of many factors that affects the ethics involved in publishing something like that. That seems to be the question of this thread, no?
- mattigames 5y ago
  Yet you evade the most obvious question of how would the children (and grandchildren) of the dead would feel about such usage of their remains, may it be a letter or a 4K private sex tape.
  - stickfigure 5y ago
    Eh? If my grandmother's sex "tapes" (we're probably talking 16mm film) are circulating, good for her! I sincerely hope she had a more excitement in her life than simply raising kids in the depression. I would be proud. How would my child feel about videos of me and/or his mother? I'm pretty sure just as squicked as any kid will be about the idea of their parents having sex. Which they all know we do. You pretend otherwise to your kids?
    - kodah 5y ago
      The question is, is someone allowed to make that choice for you, ever? I think not, and it's still a question much in debate, which we have made an excellent demonstration of here.
      - stickfigure 5y ago
        The debate is pretty clearly settled as both a matter of law and a matter of fact - Feynman's estate sold the letters. If you're the legal owner of your grandmother's intimate notes, you can make your own choice.

throwawaycities 5y ago

You may not care, yet Humans have codified an entire body of law known as estate planning to see deceased's wishes carried out. Do you not have an estate plan on the basis once you’re dead you are beyond caring? Or do you have an estate plan but feel it is ok to violate on the basis you will be beyond caring and there is no sanctity of the dead? Why even suggest cremation? Such a preference seems to contradict being beyond caring.

mattigames 5y ago

I hope someone publishes the sex tapes of your grandparents 33 years after their death to help you put things into perspective, or perhaps you really believe what you are saying and would consider the enjoyment of those videos by strangers as "recicling".