Time Magazine has featured a list of tweets by Star Trek’s William Shatner celebrating Leonard Nimoy who died from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) last week. Shatner was unable to attend his friend and former cast mate’s funeral so he paid tribute to the quirky ‘Mr. Spock’ by answering questions on Twitter. But is this really the best way to remember a friend and colleague? Opinions in the YourLifeChoices office are divided. The fact that Shatner had already committed to attend a Red Cross event was a more than defensible reason why he could not personally farewell his friend. But can a tweet really ever be tribute?
Editor Debbie says its better to remember a loved one more personally; Twitter seems a little flippant and far too public.
Webmaster Drew thinks this is a tough one; a tribute on Twitter is a public display of respect, but nothing can replace the act of attending a funeral to show your final respects.
David is a slightly more old school. He says, in a word, no. However because Nimoy and Shatner were on Star Trek, cutting edge technology may have a place, but overall I think the tweets are really bad taste.
And Kaye is too. She thinks the loss of Leonard Nimoy is a massive blow for his family and friends and it is them who Shatner should be talking to, rather than sharing his thoughts in 140-character Tweets.
We asked Karl Wolfenden, Communications Manager at funeral specialists Invocare, what he thought about this means of tribute:
“Age and technology both have a profound impact on how we experience grief. For those who grew up in the 20th century, physical presence and the written word has resonance. For those of the 21th century, whether by age or immersion, are more comfortable with a technological expression of grief.”
Nimoy was most famous for his role as the incessantly logical, pointy-eared sidekick to William Shatner’s Captain Kirk in the Star Trek television series. However, he also enjoyed a long and successful career as a movie actor and director, writer, poet and singer.
President Obama also tweeted, “I loved Spock. Long before nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy.”
Before his death, Nimoy shared some special philosophical poetry – and a life message for us all – with his final tweet: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. Live long and prosper.”
Read more at Time.com
