Gossip is fervent on YouTube at the moment. LittleMissKit, a British YouTuber activeley involved within the community, commit suicide last week. She was 29.
The shock it’s created is understandable.As someone who didn’t know Anne, but someone who’s had experience of suicide within my close family; I don’t know how to feel. Her YouTube videos are irreverent and upbeat, showing no trace of angst or depression; a complete contrast to the weepy, self-pitying monologues you might expect, making her suicide all the more tragic.
No one knew.
No YouTuber, none I’ve spoke to anyway, had any idea how deeply unhappy this poor lady clearly was, or even the impact her death has caused in ‘real-life’.
Suicide is always tragic. Tragic because its self-imposed, tragic because it’s often preventable; tragic to contemplate so much suffering and loneliness. Watching a seemingly ‘normal’ persons videos, weeks before they take their own life is incredibly unsettling, it brings realism to an otherwise faceless suicide story, but more importantly, puts things into perspective, life into perspective, YouTube into perspective.
Im aware that the following is a stream of tired-clichés; but views, subscribers and ratings are meaningless. It’s easy to be famous on YouTube, there’s a whole host of talentless, pretentious ‘celebrities’, who haven’t achieved anything in real terms. What’s really worthwhile is achieving the opportunity to bond closely with people you’ve never met before, over, essentially, creativity. The fact that this tragedy has made such an impact, even to those who didn’t personally know Anne, is testament to the strength of the YouTube community.
It also reminds us that life is a passing, transient period, which is, inevitably, meaningless. We all die, some sooner than others, but the fact that we all die makes the amount of time we’re here irrelevant. So, therefore, you might as well enjoy yourself as much as possible, make as big an impact as possible. After all, there’s nothing else to do.
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i totally agree. everyones gonna die. and being an atheist/hindu-> believe in re-incarnation -(not sure yet), i say you should do whatever you want in life coz ur just going to die and everything will be irrelevant.
Comment by hannah March 16, 2008 @ 1:10 amWow.
That pretty much sums it up. I’m am moved by your words. They really do sum up what I guess I was feeling.
Beyond the content of the entry, you have a fantastic talent with words. I can’t even think of the right words to compliment you!
Stay strong. Your writing/videos holds just the right balance of inspiration and comic relief. You are an amazing person!
Comment by Alissa (KidzareMylife) March 16, 2008 @ 6:08 amyou have a certain eloquence to your writing, and i like it. death has really been a forefront in my life recently (a month ago, i hadn’t known anyone who had died; in febrauary alone i lost two classmates, and my sister’s best friend’s father died.)
i think it’s even more tragic for something like that to come out of nowhere, so unexpected. it proves that angst and depression can only be masked for so long, and that trying to ignore it will only result in an explosion one day.
Comment by Kate March 17, 2008 @ 2:53 amYour entries and videos give me a little break from my life, i guess that’s how i’ll put it. They are a breath of fresh air and a sort of reassurance that there are people like you at there.
um, I have experienced death and suicide in my own family as well…it’s not fun to think about and to write down. It’s great that you are able to do it with such passion and wisdom. I really respect your views and enjoy reading what you have to say.
Comment by Jessica March 18, 2008 @ 5:08 amSo, therefore, you might as well enjoy yourself as much as possible, make as big an impact as possible. After all, there’s nothing else to do.
How great are them laat two lines they say it all.
Nice on Jimmy!
Love Zara xx
Comment by Zara March 20, 2008 @ 1:05 pmI really love the way you think. I admire how you really aren’t afraid to say things how it is, while others, including myself, tend to avoid it. Your opinions mean a lot to me because you say it like it, and nothing less. Which is exactly why you’re my favorite blogger =]]
Comment by Stephanie April 13, 2008 @ 9:10 pmAs much as I *could* subscribe to your views on this… I don’t.
Let me explain. I don’t want to appear obnoxious, or uncaring, or anything, but to view it from a (hopefully) dispassionate standpoint.
If everything in this world is irrelevant, and life is ’short’, what matters? Why don’t we just spend our lives drinking, or whatever, and just die? In a couple of billion years, the earth is going to cease to exist, anyway.
But that tirade has nothing to do with anything… and the point of the world… well, that is the worst question anyone can ask themselves.
Comment by Kitchi June 9, 2008 @ 11:43 amNice one Jimmy. I like that you are lighthearted, but also quite thoughtful about your words. Anyone who knows true humor must have a sense of humanity and compassion behind it all.
I think the point is that life is much more fun when we learn to care for others. There’s not much point to behaving badly and selfishly.
Too bad nobody had a window into this woman’s pain to help her get by.
Comment by Brian June 12, 2008 @ 6:31 am