Curious phenomenon of grieving for strangers

[Rose65]

Given BBC headline status, a 12 year old Gazan boy, now dead in the attacks, is shown initiating his YouTube gaming channel a year before his death.
It is obviously a great tragedy that this young life, along with so many children, was cut short in a horrific way by the war between Israel/Gaza.

What catches my interest is that his gaming channel subscribers and followers are now 1.5 million and increasing. What IS going on here on a mental level? People joining and 'grieving' a child gone. A child who wanted fame has it posthumously.

This is a pattern, especially online, of people apparently grieving strangers about whom they know very little or nothing. It happens in many instances when a tragedy gets known, people leaving flowers, tokens, messages. I find it curious.
Has this always happened or is it a modern phenomenon?

 

[Wren]

Personally I do not see it as ‘grieving strangers’ to me it’s an expression, by the public, wishing to offer their sympathy and support for the parents, family and country affected by such heartbreaking news

Wanting to help and feeling hopeless, what else can they do ?

In the case of Awni Eldous’, the child you mention, (God rest his soul) ..presumably his website will generate money which will help his family

I’ve no idea if it’s a modern phenomenon, I do know it’s a sad world we live in and, if leaving a bunch of flowers and a message helps some people cope with it, good luck to them

 

[hollydolly]

I think it's always happened in various ways.

When I was barely 9 years old, I came home from school to find my mother sobbing. Obviously I was shocked, and on asking why, she told me it was because Jim Reeves had died.

To say I was taken aback is an understatement . I couldn't understand why she was so upset for someone she didn't know...

 

[PeppermintPatty]

It’s about supporting the family going through this tragedy. A child has died needlessly. It should be a big deal.

 

[Pepper]

At its core we are not strangers, but human beings together. William Butler Yeats: "There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't yet met."

We just forget that most times, that's all.

 

[Rose65]

I think it's always happened in various ways.

When I was barely 9 years old, I came home from school to find my mother sobbing. Obviously I was shocked, and on asking why, she told me it was because Jim Reeves had died.

To say I was taken aback is an understatement . I couldn't understand why she was so upset for someone she didn't know...

Absolutely, that's quite some reaction for a stranger. I would be surprised too.
I find it best to save my tears for my close friends and family.
It's just this trend now where people send flowers, raise money, even turn up at the funeral of strangers they only just heard of.

 

[hollydolly]

Absolutely, that's quite some reaction for a stranger. I would be surprised too.
I find it best to save my tears for my close friends and family.
It's just this trend now where people send flowers, raise money, even turn up at the funeral of strangers they only just heard of.

yes I think the first of that flower laying for a 'stranger' was for Princess Diana

 

[birdy]

Some people come by empathy and compassion naturally.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Princess Diana wasn’t a stranger. We continually read about her brave heroic accomplishments. She was the people’s/ OUR Princess. We knew more about her than we knew about our very neighbours.
She was no stranger. Far from it.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Some people come by empathy and compassion naturally.

That’s right.