tribute charities

an extremely controversial topic i'm sure but i'm worried by the recent trend of setting up charities in the name of young folk who have died in tragic circumstances.

it is not the setting up of a charity appeal itself that concerns me or that the names of these unfortunates are being remembered in a positive fashion to help others, what worries me is that it appears to be a 'fashion' that is being compounded by full page articles in the Times, although perhaps necessary to promote the cause i feel that these articles are beginning to display signs of one-up-manship that could lead to the lives and deaths of these victims of misfortune being trivialised rather than respected and laid at rest.

i'd like to stress that i have every sympathy with the wishes of those who have suffered in loss, and applaud them for beginning to overcome their grief and working hard to ensure the names of their loved ones are remembered and that the charities set up are to prevent or ensure such tragedy has a lessened effect on other families.

maybe it is just the method of recent Times reporting culture i am taking issue with, i have issues with the concept of popularity contests, and this is not to say that i believe these charities are being set up with this intention at all, moreover that i see striking similarities between the articles themselves and the comparitive 'birthday/congratulations' section of the paper, hence my worry.

castigate if anyone wishes its not my view or intention to say these aren't worthwhile and respected causes, what do you all think?

I agree. I am also fed up with some people being described as angels when they were alive now they are dead and in reality were not nice people at all!

dont' speak ill of the dead is such a flawed idea, tell the truth about a person alive or dead that's the best way to remember someone