The Events of the Day As Seen Through the Eyes of One Twitterer

I watched in fascination today as this man, a stranger to me, seemed to come undone on Twitter, as it became clear to the world that Michael Jackson was gone, not coming back. I don't know this Twitterer. All I know about him is that he has an extensive military background. I would not have pegged him as someone who would get his legs kicked out from beneath him by this news, but I would have been wrong.

The following Tweets appeared this afternoon on Twitter amid a sea of OMGs and RIPs and sales pitches and nervous jocularity, in a period of about two hours. The only thing omitted from this man's Tweets are identifying links.

Michael Jackson rushed to hospital http://bit.ly/1WsqG

Pop icon Michael Jackson has been rushed to L.A. hospital in cardiac arrest, according to CNN affiliate KTLA.

If someone does not get attention within 3 to 5 minutes for a cardiac arrest, they mostly likely will not live. It is not a heart attack

Michael Jackson... I am patiently waiting for further confirmed news.

Michael Jackson... has died.

Michael Jackson was always that young Michael Jackson. I cannot fathom this. This is such bad news. I am very upset.

I cannot believe Michael Jackson has died.

He had changed 100s of millions. 100,000,000+ people. Even after his gloomy days in trial, he had already influenced enough.

Michael was 50.

I am devastated. 

 

Comments

[Raz]

I don't think I cared enough to justify writing anything about it...

[Auds at Barking Mad]

MJ was never really my thing back in the day (although I've only just TODAY gotten around to blogging about him and Farrah, blah blah blah) but I never denied his immeasurable talent and musical genius. However, I was really gobsmacked watching the tweets, the news, the 'net in general. I don't understand fan worship like this...watching the videos of people absolutely coming undone at concerts and in hysterics. I just don't get it.

The same happened when he died.

Again, those same types of people, people who never knew him, came completely undone. Again, I don't get it.

[Suzanne Broughton]

I kind of enjoy this kind of thing for some reason. This is the optimal way to watch someone fall apart in my opinion. Easy clean up.

[Caution Flag]

I'm sorry. Didn't like him then or now. Sorry for three kids, though, for the mess their lives must have been and will continue to be.

[Martha]

Oh dear. I am sorry to say that I didn't really care about MJ, whether he lived or died. I was more just surprised since I'd kind of written him off as a has-been. Now I'd like to resuscitate him so people would quit saying what a wonderful, loving, kind, magical, spiritual, bla bla bla person he was. He was a train wreck! I don't get it.

[JD at I Do Things]

Poor guy. I have to admit: I was on Twitter too. I felt sorry for the people trying to Tweet non-MJ news.

[Cactus Petunia]

As I heard the news, I kept thinking how sad it was that Farrah Fawcett would be immediately swept to page 3.

I miss Ed McMahon!

[Bridget]

I get the hype. I do. But last night, when every radio station in the tri-state area was playing non-stop Michael Jackson songs and weepy people were calling in to tell their favorite Michael Jackson memory (one woman sobbed ON THE RADIO), I was a little nauseated.

Now If you'll excuse me, I have some Jackson Five to listen to.

[Rick's Cafe]

Random question for a silly Friday:

McLean wrote the anthem "The Day The Music Died" in the American Pie album honoring the death of a music icon.

Will there be another anthem?

Will it be associated with American Pie the album or American Pie the movie - subtitled? .......

[Elaina]

Well, I just clicked that handy dandy picture up there and then went to his profile. His next couple of Tweets only get better. Or wait, do I mean sicker? Yeah, I think that's it.

This one seals it...he needs therapy:

"I never thought I'd ever feel the way I do right now - that I'd deny the real death of a human being. Michael Jackson cannot die, can he?"