Eventually, you close the tab. You’ve done your duty. You’ve honored the dead by reading three sentences about them. Now you have to decide: do you share it on social media, or keep the knowledge to yourself like a secret?
If you post it, you’re saying, “I am a person who stays informed about cultural losses.” If you don’t, you’re saying, “I respect their privacy in the afterlife.” It’s a no-win situation. There’s no etiquette for this.
But here’s the funny part: an hour later, you’ve forgotten their name. You’re back to worrying about your own grocery list. The celebrity cycle continues. Someone else will be famous tomorrow, and someone else will leave the building.
So, the next time you see that headline, just smile. Nod. You’re not a ghoulish person. You’re just a human trying to keep up with the big, weird, revolving door of fame and mortality. And honestly, that’s the most relatable thing you’ll do all day.
