Modern society and Mortality

Oberon · 05-11-11, 08:33 AM

A bit of a psychological thinker this one.

I got a book from the library the other day, it's one chaps thoughts about the future and the direction of society, technology, and other such things. I haven't read far into it yet, but the opening paragraph talks of a lady who died alone in her flat with her television on and was there for two years before anyone discovered her remains.
Here is the original story:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...rs-474117.html

I also recently discovered an article relating to a woman who was undiscovered in her flat for five years:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-missing.html

I related this tale to my other half who was quite incredulous that someone can die and no-one know about it, in a society today that monitors everything that everyone does. How was someone able to die and lay unmolested for two years? With the television on too. How did the bills get paid? Surely someone would have noticed somewhere along the line and raised the alarm?
I disagreed, I mentioned a recent incident when my great-aunt and uncle had noticed an elderly lady across their road had her bathroom light on for four days and nights straight, and when the police went to check they found her dead in the bathroom.

Life, they say, has a strange ironic way to it.

Over the past week we've grown concerned for my uncle who lives in Catford, London. He normally sends a Christmas card and a birthday card for myself up, even though he's not a very rich man (quite the opposite) and we had received neither. Our concern grew when we spoke to my great-aunt and she mentioned that he hadn't cashed a cheque which she sent to him for Christmas. Now, a poor man not cashing a cheque? We asked a friend of my mothers who lives not far from Catford to check on him, so she went there and knocked on the door, no answer, and no-one in the block of flats had seen him for a while. We spoke to our next door neighbour who is a counselor and she recommended asking the police to do a Welfare check on him. The police went to his place and knocked, no answer.
So, the next step was for the police to seek entry to the place, and by now we were having a horrible feeling what they would find. Sure enough, later that day we got a visit from one of our local policemen who had received a missive from Catford police to say that they had found the body of my uncle in the bathroom of his flat.
He had been there since the beginning of December it would seem, judging by the mail by his door and his state of decay is such that it is not possible to judge the cause of death. We hope and pray that it was a swift and painless one and not suicide. However nothing can be ruled out as he was a troubled man whose life had given him its own fair share of curb kicks. The post mortem is still underway and there will likely be an inquest into his death but I can't help but feel sorry for the poor officers who went into that flat and found his body, it can't have been a nice experience for them and we have rung Catford police to ask the inspector to pass on our thanks, unfortunately we can't actually thank them by name as it's not permitted for them to give out the details.

It is a strange and sad world when a man or woman can die and lay un-noticed in their flat or house for such a period of time, if it had not been for the sending of cards and letters periodically then we would have been none the wiser and his body would most likely still be there. In this day and age of instant communication, instant messaging, forums and email, we are closer together than ever before and yet at the same time it seems, more alone than ever before.

the_tyrant · 05-11-11, 08:57 AM

well at least he wasn't in debt, if he was,the debters would find out

lol, misread the post

it seems like from what i have learned in class today, these things actually happen, people dieing and only when they fail to pay back their loans did someone find out

Growler · 05-11-11, 09:33 AM

Jeez, Oberon, I'm sorry about your uncle - that's gotta be difficult for you and your family... you have my condolences, friend.

I think it's tough these days - while people are, as you say, being watched more, they're watching OUT less... each to his own little world, because looking out of it into another's makes everyone suspicious. I think the aura of fear a lot of people are living under has cowed society somewhat; the concept of "neighborhoods" is a dwindling one, at least in this area of the States. Too much fear generated and perpetuated by things like having registered sex offender maps publicly available online and media over-hype of crime in cities and towns.

Schroeder · 05-11-11, 11:09 AM

I'm sorry to hear that Oberon.

HunterICX · 05-11-11, 12:38 PM

Sorry to hear it Oberon

I think modern communications have actually grown in some cases people apart on a personal level.

HunterICX

Jimbuna · 05-11-11, 12:45 PM

Sorry for your uncles loss Jamie....I've been the one forcing the door on 'too many' occasions in the past.

Often it is something barely noticed by the majority of the neighbours that sets an inquisitive mind at work and the rest is history...sadly.

MH · 05-11-11, 12:50 PM

Sorry to hear about your uncle.

People nowadays can live great distance from each other because of jobs or different expectation about life quality.
It also matter of individual person if he is loner or the opposite.
Issue may be also sort of cultural thing as Growler put it in his thread.
People tend to live in their own bubbles.
It very evident in the west and some countries more than other.

frau kaleun · 05-11-11, 01:03 PM

Wow, sorry to hear about your uncle, Obie. That's a rough one.

Skybird · 05-11-11, 01:55 PM

Is this progress of ours - really progress? Our 1st world civilisation uses to be very uncritical over it'S habits to celebrate itselves and define its wealth by material and technological qualities only. But it takes more. Else we just exist. Some of the most happy people I have ever learned to know, were living outside the 1st world, and were quite poor, in material terms.

Let it go, Oberon. You can't change it anymore. But you are free to let it effect the way you deal with the living and loved ones you know.

MH · 05-11-11, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Is this progress of ours - really progress? .

Don't know....but look 100 years back and decide if you would like to live this way.
Its all matter of state of mind.....

Rhodes · 05-11-11, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

I also recently discovered an article relating to a woman who was undiscovered in her flat for five years:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-missing.html

Similar case here, a few months ago. But it was 9 years. The person died, the most near family filed a missing person case at the police. They went to the apartment but since never get any court order to break in, they never did, even with the family insisting.
The neigbours said that ther person didn't come out much and the person that talked more with the lady also express her concern and etc, but it remained a missing person!
Afer 9 years, the flat was sold in public auction because of tax debts. The new owner got there and didn't had the key. So filed a complain, brought the police and a locksmith and broke in. They found the the flat owner, half mummified half skeleton plus the skeleton of the her dog.
It arouse the same arguments and discussions, and a few bad jokes about the tax services and etc.

Sorry about your uncle, my condolences Oberon!

jumpy · 05-12-11, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Life, they say, has a strange ironic way to it.

*snip*

It is a strange and sad world when a man or woman can die and lay un-noticed in their flat or house for such a period of time, if it had not been for the sending of cards and letters periodically then we would have been none the wiser and his body would most likely still be there. In this day and age of instant communication, instant messaging, forums and email, we are closer together than ever before and yet at the same time it seems, more alone than ever before.

That's truly unfortunate for you and your family, fella.

But I'll take your point about the technology though.
The last 12 months have been quite solitary for me. Apart from my mother, I'm quite certain that I could drop dead here and none of my 'friends' would ever know. I get the odd text message, but no one comes round to visit or say hello. If I leave out the effort of contacting them, I'd never see anyone I know.
'Social network', my arse. I guess some people are fickle like that.

05-11-11, 08:33 AM	#1
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Modern society and Mortality A bit of a psychological thinker this one. I got a book from the library the other day, it's one chaps thoughts about the future and the direction of society, technology, and other such things. I haven't read far into it yet, but the opening paragraph talks of a lady who died alone in her flat with her television on and was there for two years before anyone discovered her remains. Here is the original story: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...rs-474117.html I also recently discovered an article relating to a woman who was undiscovered in her flat for five years: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-missing.html I related this tale to my other half who was quite incredulous that someone can die and no-one know about it, in a society today that monitors everything that everyone does. How was someone able to die and lay unmolested for two years? With the television on too. How did the bills get paid? Surely someone would have noticed somewhere along the line and raised the alarm? I disagreed, I mentioned a recent incident when my great-aunt and uncle had noticed an elderly lady across their road had her bathroom light on for four days and nights straight, and when the police went to check they found her dead in the bathroom. Life, they say, has a strange ironic way to it. Over the past week we've grown concerned for my uncle who lives in Catford, London. He normally sends a Christmas card and a birthday card for myself up, even though he's not a very rich man (quite the opposite) and we had received neither. Our concern grew when we spoke to my great-aunt and she mentioned that he hadn't cashed a cheque which she sent to him for Christmas. Now, a poor man not cashing a cheque? We asked a friend of my mothers who lives not far from Catford to check on him, so she went there and knocked on the door, no answer, and no-one in the block of flats had seen him for a while. We spoke to our next door neighbour who is a counselor and she recommended asking the police to do a Welfare check on him. The police went to his place and knocked, no answer. So, the next step was for the police to seek entry to the place, and by now we were having a horrible feeling what they would find. Sure enough, later that day we got a visit from one of our local policemen who had received a missive from Catford police to say that they had found the body of my uncle in the bathroom of his flat. He had been there since the beginning of December it would seem, judging by the mail by his door and his state of decay is such that it is not possible to judge the cause of death. We hope and pray that it was a swift and painless one and not suicide. However nothing can be ruled out as he was a troubled man whose life had given him its own fair share of curb kicks. The post mortem is still underway and there will likely be an inquest into his death but I can't help but feel sorry for the poor officers who went into that flat and found his body, it can't have been a nice experience for them and we have rung Catford police to ask the inspector to pass on our thanks, unfortunately we can't actually thank them by name as it's not permitted for them to give out the details. It is a strange and sad world when a man or woman can die and lay un-noticed in their flat or house for such a period of time, if it had not been for the sending of cards and letters periodically then we would have been none the wiser and his body would most likely still be there. In this day and age of instant communication, instant messaging, forums and email, we are closer together than ever before and yet at the same time it seems, more alone than ever before.

05-11-11, 08:57 AM	#2
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	well at least he wasn't in debt, if he was,the debters would find out lol, misread the post it seems like from what i have learned in class today, these things actually happen, people dieing and only when they fail to pay back their loans did someone find out Last edited by the_tyrant; 05-11-11 at 02:21 PM.

05-11-11, 09:33 AM	#3
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Jeez, Oberon, I'm sorry about your uncle - that's gotta be difficult for you and your family... you have my condolences, friend. I think it's tough these days - while people are, as you say, being watched more, they're watching OUT less... each to his own little world, because looking out of it into another's makes everyone suspicious. I think the aura of fear a lot of people are living under has cowed society somewhat; the concept of "neighborhoods" is a dwindling one, at least in this area of the States. Too much fear generated and perpetuated by things like having registered sex offender maps publicly available online and media over-hype of crime in cities and towns. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

05-11-11, 11:09 AM	#4
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	I'm sorry to hear that Oberon. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

05-11-11, 12:38 PM	#5
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Sorry to hear it Oberon I think modern communications have actually grown in some cases people apart on a personal level. HunterICX __________________

05-11-11, 12:45 PM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,685 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Sorry for your uncles loss Jamie....I've been the one forcing the door on 'too many' occasions in the past. Often it is something barely noticed by the majority of the neighbours that sets an inquisitive mind at work and the rest is history...sadly. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-11-11, 12:50 PM	#7
MH Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3,184 Downloads: 248 Uploads: 0	Sorry to hear about your uncle. People nowadays can live great distance from each other because of jobs or different expectation about life quality. It also matter of individual person if he is loner or the opposite. Issue may be also sort of cultural thing as Growler put it in his thread. People tend to live in their own bubbles. It very evident in the west and some countries more than other.

05-11-11, 01:03 PM	#8
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Wow, sorry to hear about your uncle, Obie. That's a rough one.

05-11-11, 01:55 PM	#9
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,669 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Is this progress of ours - really progress? Our 1st world civilisation uses to be very uncritical over it'S habits to celebrate itselves and define its wealth by material and technological qualities only. But it takes more. Else we just exist. Some of the most happy people I have ever learned to know, were living outside the 1st world, and were quite poor, in material terms. Let it go, Oberon. You can't change it anymore. But you are free to let it effect the way you deal with the living and loved ones you know. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.