RIP Billy Mays

[Jake]

Well, I'll try this again....

Billy Mays passed away Sunday. He was a famous infommercial actor who promoted such products as "Oxy-clean" and "orange clean". I quit watching television about 3 years ago, and still remember his commercials. I'm glad I'm not famous, it seems there's something in the water that only kills celebrities this month.

If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all.

 

[Lacey]

Yeah RIP Billy. They say celebrity deaths come in 3 but this month it was 4. Farrah Fawcett, Ed Mcmahon, Michael Jackson, and of course Billy Mays. It's such a shame.

 

[John]

Jake you need a hobby.

 

[Jake]

Jake you need a hobby.

Well, I had one. Now all I can do is spread bad news.

 

[John]

While you're making a fuss about celebrity deaths, spare a thought for the countless thousands of ordinary people who died on the same days as the celebrities you care about.

 

[malduroque]

While you're making a fuss about celebrity deaths, spare a thought for the countless thousands of ordinary people who died on the same days as the celebrities you care about.

Here, here, John. I wish as a society we had a little more perspective. Regular folks don't die in threes like the popular celebrity myth, they die all the time and though they may not have millions of fans their family and friend's grief is very real, and often palpable.

As for Billy Mays, I have nothing to say.

Mal

 

[malduroque]

In fact, just for some perspective, let's look at a quick capsule overview of what these recently dead celebrities really contributed.

Michael Jackson - sang ok and danced real well. Sold lots of product

Ed McMahon - Laughed at Johnny Carson's jokes. Hosted a talent show.

Billy Mays - Infomercial pitchman. Very loud voice.

Farrah Fawcett - "Acted" in a lightweight TV show and a few movies. (I'll phrase this next one delicately). Image probably provided "fantasies" to countless males in the 1970's.

Karl Malden - Acted alongside Marlon Brando in a couple of Brando's 1950's classic movies. Played a cop in a 1970's TV show.

 

[Jake]

While you're making a fuss about celebrity deaths, spare a thought for the countless thousands of ordinary people who died on the same days as the celebrities you care about.

When did I make a fuss, John?

Maybe if I knew the "countless thousands" or ordinary people who died I'd say something, but they're out of site out of mind. It won't make a difference to me at all if someone I've never heard of dies. On the other hand, I'll never see a new Billy Mays commercial...big difference! Now stories about Michael Jackson are on the news constantly, that's another difference.

For the record, I think Michael Jackson faked his death. If he didn't, where is his body?

Michael Jackson - sang ok and danced real well. Sold lots of product

He was also the most famous man on the planet.

 

[big a little a]

When did I make a fuss, John?

Maybe if I knew the "countless thousands" or ordinary people who died I'd say something, but they're out of site out of mind. It won't make a difference to me at all if someone I've never heard of dies. On the other hand, I'll never see a new Billy Mays commercial...big difference! Now stories about Michael Jackson are on the news constantly, that's another difference.

For the record, I think Michael Jackson faked his death. If he didn't, where is his body?



He was also the most famous man on the planet.

I suppose even the posting of this thread could be deemed as "making a fuss", as really it's indicating that it's news-worthy - as John and Mal have posted, the "countless thousands" (and there are, genuinely, thousands) go unmentioned...and yes, whilst you have heard of these people, fame is not neccessarily indicative of being a humane, wonderful person.

Statistically, looking at the amount of Caudata members, I imagine that at least one member has lost someone close to them today - sad, but very likely true.

Zoe x

 

[gcollin]

RIP Billy Mays. I have heard a lot of people of saying "yay finally Micheal Jackson is dead" but he was and is the person who started pop up.

RIP Micheal Jackson. RIP Billy Mays. RIP other celebrities I can not name.

 

[Jake]

I suppose even the posting of this thread could be deemed as "making a fuss", as really it's indicating that it's news-worthy - as John and Mal have posted, the "countless thousands" (and there are, genuinely, thousands) go unmentioned...and yes, whilst you have heard of these people, fame is not neccessarily indicative of being a humane, wonderful person.

This is my way of informing people, and yes the king of pop's death is "news-worthy" even if you didn't like him. Turn on the news for 5 minutes anywhere right now and you'll hear something about Mr. Jackson. That's why I posted it! If it were John Doe's cousin Billy-Joe in Tomato county Nebraska who died and I posted a thread about it, no one would care because they've never heard of that person, but when I say the name "Michael Jackson" people are offended that I didn't mention every other dead person.

Sorry, I was being so unfair in posting this, rest in peace man kind

 

[eljorgo]

One thing is for sure! If you died, billy mays woudn´t care at all.

 

[big a little a]

This is my way of informing people, and yes the king of pop's death is "news-worthy" even if you didn't like him. Turn on the news for 5 minutes anywhere right now and you'll hear something about Mr. Jackson. That's why I posted it! If it were John Doe's cousin Billy-Joe in Tomato county Nebraska who died and I posted a thread about it, no one would care because they've never heard of that person, but when I say the name "Michael Jackson" people are offended that I didn't mention every other dead person.

Sorry, I was being so unfair in posting this, rest in peace man kind

LOL, yeah, I know it's on the news constantly, I miss the days when all I got was footage of strife in Afganistan and the digging up of skeltons from old children's homes...

In fact, I think that, if I had an issue, that is what it would be - that in the grand scheme of things, the death of one man (talented though he may have been), pales in significance to other things that are going on right now (atrocities occuring in Palestine, the tortue of children in Guantanamo Bay, etc, etc). It's not about naming everybody that has died within a 24 hour period, it's about perspective, I guess.

But yeah, I don't mind either way what you do or don't post, I guess it's just for some people, it is disputable whether what is in the news is actually worthy of being so.

Here endeth my rant - hope that didn't sound ars*y, as I wasn't trying to be

Zoe x

 

[John]

the tortue of children in Guantanamo Bay

What?

 

[malduroque]

When did I make a fuss, John?

Maybe if I knew the "countless thousands" or ordinary people who died I'd say something, but they're out of site out of mind. It won't make a difference to me at all if someone I've never heard of dies. On the other hand, I'll never see a new Billy Mays commercial...big difference! Now stories about Michael Jackson are on the news constantly, that's another difference.

For the record, I think Michael Jackson faked his death. If he didn't, where is his body?



He was also the most famous man on the planet.

I was listing what these famous people actually contributed to our world. Fame in and of itself is not a contribution. Besides, what is your source for MJ being the most famous man on the planet? Larry King?

 

[John]

Come home Billy Mays, international business traveller....

 

[malduroque]

jake said>Maybe if I knew the "countless thousands" or ordinary people who died I'd say something,

But you don't "know" Billy Mays or Michael Jackson, you know of them and that is an important distinction.

> but they're out of site out of mind. It won't make a difference to me at all if someone I've never heard of dies.

I think we see the root of the problem right there. If they're not a celebrity, you don't care. All John was saying was that while you fret over the death of a loud commercial pitchman as if he were actually more important, that his life somehow had more value than a less than famous human being, please take a moment to consider those nameless masses and their families. It seemed that you were indifferent to them by your original post and you have subsequently proven it with your words here.

> On the other hand, I'll never see a new Billy Mays commercial...big difference!

Now there's loss from which I fear we might never recover.

>Now stories about Michael Jackson are on the news constantly, that's another difference.

All the more reason to give the nameless, faceless tragedies a little attention or at least a sympathetic nod. By chance do you also oppose the tomb of the unknown soldier?

 

[Kaysie]

I think you're all just missing the point. I highly doubt Jake is distraught over the loss of ANY celeb, let alone the ones that passed recently.

He was just making a note that his death had been overshadowed by that of Michael Jackson.

 

[Otterwoman]

Billy Mays passed away Sunday. He was a famous infommercial actor who promoted such products as "Oxy-clean" and "orange clean".

Why didn't he save enough money from his baseball career so he wouldn't have to do dumb commercials?

 

[Jake]

LOL, yeah, I know it's on the news constantly, I miss the days when all I got was footage of strife in Afganistan and the digging up of skeltons from old children's homes...

In fact, I think that, if I had an issue, that is what it would be - that in the grand scheme of things, the death of one man (talented though he may have been), pales in significance to other things that are going on right now (atrocities occuring in Palestine, the tortue of children in Guantanamo Bay, etc, etc). It's not about naming everybody that has died within a 24 hour period, it's about perspective, I guess.

But yeah, I don't mind either way what you do or don't post, I guess it's just for some people, it is disputable whether what is in the news is actually worthy of being so.

How about you go over to Afganistan and raise some terror if you miss the days when all you got to see on tv was the people suffering...did you think about that at all before you typed it? Are you that cold hearted? I'm sorry that Michael Jackson's death interrupted you from watching stories about children getting tortured, but you should have expected that.

If you don't mind what I post either way, then why did you have to chime in here and raise a stink about it? It's obvious to me that you DO care and can't mind your own business. I believe in post #1 of this thread I said something along the lines of "if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all". Perhaps you couldn't read or comprehend this message?

jake said>Maybe if I knew the "countless thousands" or ordinary people who died I'd say something,

But you don't "know" Billy Mays or Michael Jackson, you know of them and that is an important distinction.

> but they're out of site out of mind. It won't make a difference to me at all if someone I've never heard of dies.

I think we see the root of the problem right there. If they're not a celebrity, you don't care. All John was saying was that while you fret over the death of a loud commercial pitchman as if he were actually more important, that his life somehow had more value than a less than famous human being, please take a moment to consider those nameless masses and their families. It seemed that you were indifferent to them by your original post and you have subsequently proven it with your words here.

> On the other hand, I'll never see a new Billy Mays commercial...big difference!

Now there's loss from which I fear we might never recover.

>Now stories about Michael Jackson are on the news constantly, that's another difference.

All the more reason to give the nameless, faceless tragedies a little attention or at least a sympathetic nod. By chance do you also oppose the tomb of the unknown soldier?

You're right! I am indifferent to the masses of people dying every day because I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE! If you're getting upset over the thousands of people dying every day then something is wrong with you, you can't be so sensitive about things like that, it's not healthy. If people didn't die, then the human race would become so densely populated that we'd all need to resort to cannibalism. I'm very glad people are constantly dying off. I wasn't trying to fret over the death of Michael Jackson, simply announced it because it's a big news item now, but you obviously didn't take the time to read and understand this thread before you started ranting about all the dead no-names in the world.
How about we read into this a little more, eh? I must not have a soul because I posted a thread announcing the death of celebrities.

I think you're all just missing the point. I highly doubt Jake is distraught over the loss of ANY celeb, let alone the ones that passed recently.

He was just making a note that his death had been overshadowed by that of Michael Jackson.

Thank you Kaysie!