Do You Mourn Celebrity Deaths?

The recent spate of celebrity deaths has spawned a multi-day conversation between Jerame and me. I don't believe the grief is real; Jerame thinks I'm just hard-hearted.

I've watched in amazement as my Facebook feed, Twitter, and people on the street tell me how much Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, or Robin Gibb meant to them. They talk about the deep connections they had to the artist, how much their songs meant to the mourner, or generally do the internet age's version of weeping and gnashing your teeth on social media.

Seriously though, I'd guess that 99% of those shedding crocodile tears for dead celebrities have never met the deceased and never had any more insight into their actual lives than the public persona they presented to sell records. The actual person behind the facade is... [via Bilerico]