Death in the Digital Age

[Quirk]

Earlier today, I was informed that a colleague's mother had died, and I was provided with a link to the funeral home's website, where I could read an obituary, get details about the funeral arrangements and send my e-condolences (my word, not theirs). I'm just old enough to feel weird about sending my trite little expression of sympathy via internet - not that I'm in the habit of sending condolence cards, either - but is this 'e-grieving' business common nowadays?

 

[VMan]

When a friend's mother died recently, friends sent him their condolences via his myspace/facebook wall. Wow.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Somewhere in Vancouver B.C., William Gibson is sadly shaking his head and saying... "I told you so"