RoR: Forum

Of course the truth is that once I'm dead I won't give a damn, but if I had to choose how to go out I'd stick to my roots and take a Viking burial. Just lay me in a small ship with my weapons, push me out to sea, and shoot flaming arrows at me as I sail away until my ship catches fire and sinks.

Unfortunately this wasn't an option (and why not?!), so I chose "burial at sea," the next best thing.

Post 1

Monday, July 20, 2009 - 1:27pm

I went with "I don't care, I'll be dead." If I was paying for it in advance, I'd go with the cheapest route -- cremation -- but the living may have other ideas and are welcome to mourn (or celebrate, or ignore) as they please.

Post 2

Monday, July 20, 2009 - 3:24pm

Half zero, two and five, despite nine (Creamate, box and bury half, scatter rest in the outgoing tide).

Although it doesn't matter to me per se, the fact that I have children (2) inclines me to want some specific place they could go to 'visit'. The same as that funerals are for the living, so are burial plots.

There isn't a demonstrable logic to it, but the truth is, for many there is a value in having a physical location to go to for remembering one that was loved. It is certainly a stark reminder of the finality of one's loss, and undoubtedly provides some help with the grieving process. It provides a place where one can re-visit and resolve old emotions, remember old lessons, clear one's head, and learn to move on. Anyhow...

I still visit my parents grave sites after fairly irregular intervals, not to honor them, but to remember them. While they didn't share my philosophy, I certainly shared their values, am reminded of everything they did for me, and will always miss them. So it matters to me to have a place to go to.

And so, even if my kids should only once in their later lives decide that they want visit my dust, I'd like to give them some place they can.

All things considered, I'd rather be in Philadelphia...

jt

Post 3

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 6:14am

I voted for donating my body to science/art. Well, I find the idea of my remains becoming some form of art a tad distasteful, but, that pesky "/" doesn't let me vote for one over the other.

Assuming that organ donation is included in "donating to science", I would rather my organs that are still viable go to some productive use rather than rotting in the ground somewhere. Also, I personally have no problem with my body being used as a tool to teach medical students, or any of the myriad studies and research in combating diseases that require human tissue. I will have no use for it, and, as with donating my organs, if I have a choice of furthering life and perhaps knowledge of some other human, rather than being sustenance for worms, I find the former alternative much more fulfilling.

Regarding a place for any loved ones to come and mourn my passing (or celebrate my life, perhaps), I understand and agree that such a place has value. For me, however, I would be content with any sort of marker (gravestone, plaque, statue, etc.) forgoing my actual bodily remains in that location. I don't think having my physical remains present is necessary to mark a location for me to be missed.

Post 4

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 6:24am

Since am planning on getting hip replacements beginning later this year, am on my way to being a cyborg.... will leave it at that... ;-)

Post 5

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 7:59am

How would you donate your body to art? Damien Hirst has put dead animals up in formaldehyde and shown the results in galleries, but that's the closest I've seen. Maybe you could have it cryogenically preserved until some future conceptual artist takes that next step.

(Strictly speaking you can't donate your body; this is the decision of the next of kin, and at most you can ask them to do this.)

Post 6

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 10:36am

I plan to be Robot Nixon's press secretary.

Post 7

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 2:06pm

Actually, some have had their cremated ashed into phalluses, so their lovers can keep remembering them...

Post 8

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 2:58pm

Robot Nixon? More like this:

Post 9

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 12:02pm

cyborg all the way. I'll settle for head in a jar.

Post 10

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 4:50pm

How do you know that you are not already a head in a jar?

Post 11

Friday, July 31, 2009 - 3:23pm

A jarhead?? Certainly a title one could hold with pride.

jt

Post 12

Friday, July 31, 2009 - 4:27pm

hey, I'd rather be a shamed living head in a jar than a dead head in a coffin. :)

Post 13

Friday, July 31, 2009 - 4:39pm

Jarhead:

Deadhead:

Post 14

Friday, July 31, 2009 - 4:45pm

See, military men and hippies can find common ground. They both hug creatures that bathe infrequently, whimper a lot, and have poorly developed cognitive skills. :)

Post 15

Friday, July 31, 2009 - 5:23pm