Why do people love to gawk at accident victims and revel at the sight of blood and death?
My uncle passed away recently. My dad’s brother.
He was a chain smoker. From the day I knew him until his 78 years of age, he smoked. Like a chimney. But no, he did not die of lung disease.
My uncle died on the street. He was knocked down by two Bangladeshis on a motorcycle. They had no license. His body was thrown metres away from his old motorbike to the middle of the road. His head was badly fractured, his legs crushed. He died on the spot.
As my uncle’s body lay there lifeless, people began gathering around. There was a new ‘show’ in town and everyone just had to catch a glimpse of it. I bet it made for a good story over dinner with their families or while lepaking with friends at the Mamak’s that night. The accident scene soon resembled that of a parade, a circus actually.
Everyone in the family was deeply saddened by my uncle’s sudden demise. His brothers and sisters. His children. His grandchildren. His nieces and nephews. His friends. The mood around the house was sombre. Even the air felt bitter.
While browsing through messages of condolences from relatives and friends on social media, something caught my eye. Pictures. Pictures of a dead man on the street. Pictures from different angles. Pictures posted by strangers who were members of Facebook groups linked to Penang Island. Pictures of my poor uncle.
“Accident near Jelutong”
“Under the flyover bridge”
“Bad traffic jam”
My heart almost stopped as my eyes turned into a pool of water. I was speechless. I felt sick to my stomach.
“Who would do such a thing?” I asked myself as my eyes were glued to those disturbing images of someone I grew up with, someone I loved, someone second to my dad.
How can someone snap those horrible pictures and post it on social media to be circulated online? I worried for my nieces and nephews, coming across those photographs of their dear grandpa in such a shocking state. Seriously, whatever happened to respecting the deceased and being sensitive to their loved ones?
Today, not only have individuals become such heartless souls, members of the media are no different. Just tune in to any news bulletin on television and you will be bombarded with bloody images of victims of war and terrorism. Even the movies we watch are filled with scenes that cater to our thirst for blood and gore. Dead bodies, brains spewing out of cracked, opened skulls, guts splayed amidst the wreckage of twisted steel and shattered glass.
While we bar our young from pouring over these images, we on the other hand have become desensitised to it – no emotion, no compassion, nothing. All we see is a dead body. The fact that it used to belong to someone who was well and alive and loved by those around him does not factor into the equation.
Seriously, what’s wrong with everyone?
As I recall precious moments with my dear uncle, remembering how he loved rearing chickens in the backyard and the chats we used to have during chicken feeding time, I struggle not to let these warm memories be tarnished by those horrible images of him dead on the road.
The individuals who snapped and posted those pictures may have forgotten about the incident and moved on with their lives but because of those sick people, it is my uncle’s family members who have to carry the added bitterness in their hearts until we are ready to let go.
Please, the next time you witness anyone snapping pictures of accident victims, make them stop. Make them delete those images. Do not wait until this callous invasion of privacy happens to you.
-FMT NEWS-
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