Funerals are boring and depressing. They don't provide closure. I don't know why we have them. They're nothing but somber, empty rituals. We should throw elaborate parties in honor of the deceased instead.

That would just be a dfferent sort of funeral - i assume you're thinking of the New Orleans or Irish affairs - and I agree that we should be celebrating their lives and the friendships we had with them.

Death is just a part of life, nothing to be afraid off, so why do people 'protect' children from it and tell them fairly tales?

No. It would be closer to a wake, but not as somber and lacking in sermons, speeches, viewing and disposing of the corpse.

too many to count [no]

Sorry it was a bit of a stupid question, obviously there is no 'normal' amount. Was just in a bit of a state yesterday thinking about it all. Guess I just have to hope it is longer wait for the next one.

So write it into your will so that people know your last wishes. Most funerals follow tradition, in the west that's a miserable afternoon but in various other countries it's all about a celebration.

once I came to a wrong funeralhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/biggrin1.gif

a friends dad died (cancer) and for some reason my family went ahead on the funeral while I was late and getting ready. so I jumped into a car, drove to the funeral solo, saw a bunch of people gathered around a casket. as I went up ahead I really wasn't paying any attention, until I arrived at the casket and saw some other dude in it. then I realized I didn't know any of the people there and that I am at the wrong thing, funeral for my friends dad was actually held at another graveyard downtown[rofl]..it was a bit awkward, I paid my respects to this family I didn't know and then went away..
I was too late for the real funereal anyway so I went to for a beer insteadhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/smile1.gif


other than that, yeah, been to a few...don't know what to make of it

I have been to about 8 or 9, they were deaths from things that old age bring. Iv carried about 4 of them, and I am 24 years old, though a majority of these funerals happened when i was 18 and younger.

And yes I do agree that they are boring and i hate having anything to do with them, and EAG has a point about the bodies being dressed up and everything, because I have always thought the person never really looks like what they did they're more of an object, they just seem very fake.

im not even going to my own funeral

I've attended at least 10.

I really hate it when I have to attend funerals of people I know closely. I don't want my last memory of them stuffed inside a coffin.

And make sure you let your friends and relations know beforehand.

On the subject of wills, how many of you have actually made one - and have any of you made 'living wills', in case of you being paralysed or comatose?

Too many. I've seriously considered not going to any more at all, because they don't help me cope in anyway, shape or form. People use funerals as a way of finding closure, but it doesn't really work like that for me. I find it hard to watch the religious minded trying to find solace in these "events," it's becoming too difficult to keep my gob shut when people start talking about how "they're in a better place now", or how "they're with God now" and so on. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/blush1.gif

I have. It was a condition of getting my mortgage. That and term life assurance.

Yeah, it is kind of interesting. Humans have done it throughout time. Preparing bodies, making them look pretty, etc.

Even today. Funerals are dumb expensive. The little 8x2 plot of land you buy and the casket on top of that.
My grandma was thankfully cremated which is what will be done with me. Super cheap too.

What bugs the tar out of me, is at least here in the South whenever a Hurst goes by with its lights blinking, all the traffic that is with the Hurst basically are given the right of way. Go through red lights, stop signs, people pull over on the side of the road like you do for say a fire truck. Apparently it is how you pay your respect to that dead person. !!!DUMB!!! Needs to be illegal and if it is it needs to be heavily enforced.

Why should I care what happens after I am dead?

One of the annoying things about funerals is that you are socially obligated to attend them no matter how much you hate them. This needs to stop. I have better things to do with my free time.

No, you don't, unless...

You want to make sure (s)he is dead.
You like his/her friends and relations and want to offer support.
You want to network with his/her business clients to gain their business.
you want to get some free food/drink.
You don't mind being a hypocrit.
Some other reason.

Lord above, you're a right miserable git aren't you. You were moaning (as usual) that funerals are morbid, but you don't care if other people have to suffer yours. [rofl]

Sounds very, very sparafucil that.