Roadside memorials

"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem) 11/18/2013 at 11:15 • Filed to: None

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When I person dies in a crash people erect and maintain a memorial in that spot. sometimes they keep it there for years. Why is this acceptable? In no other form of death is this done. Can you imagine how crowded hospital rooms would become? Even in your own home, where you could maintain one with impunity, it is not done. It is not limited to one country or geographical region. As far as I can tell it is universal.

Oppo, can you explain this phenomenon to me? Am I just not sentimental enough about death? Are these a warnings to others?

Paul, Man of Mustangs > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:18

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Memorials like this are typically erected to warn others that some deaths are preventable. Many of the most senseless deaths in normal life are auto accidents, and especially drunk driving accidents. Death in a hospital is normal, and not always avoidable.

CalzoneGolem > Paul, Man of Mustangs 11/18/2013 at 11:24

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Obviously my example of the hospital room is extreme.

ncasolowork2 > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:26

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I guess I would consider any roadside fatality to be a "tragic death." I am guessing that has a lot to do with people deciding to memorialize them in that way.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:27

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It actually dates back to ancient Rome, families would erect monuments along the Via Appia and other roads. People were encouraged to leave food, wine, and other offerings, they were for the spirits, which everybody knew was actually the homeless/weary travelers.

Jagvar > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:27

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When my neighbor's dog got run over by a Suburban (the mutt had a propensity to run freely around the street, and wasn't exactly the brightest bulb), the neighbors erected just such a memorial that stayed up for months . A wooden cross, silk flowers, stuffed animals, etc. I can understand paying such tribute to a person, but for a dog it seemed in somewhat poor taste.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:30

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I know in northern Montana the government run highway department puts up steel crosses wherever there has been a death. I think its more just trying to scare you into driving safer.

CalzoneGolem > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 11/18/2013 at 11:31

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Yeah and it was forbidden to bury someone within the city limits for awhile.

CalzoneGolem > Jagvar 11/18/2013 at 11:32

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Guy I work with had someone crash into a tree on his lawn and die. The family kept putting stuff up and he took it down.

Jonathan Harper > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:33

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If that irks you in the US...you'd really hate driving in Mexico. Memorials EVERYWHERE.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:33

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Yep. Flooding and disease. So they pretty much used cremation.

CalzoneGolem > Jonathan Harper 11/18/2013 at 11:35

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I wouldn't say it irks me. I just don't understand why it is acceptable to do on the side of the road but in no other place.

CalzoneGolem > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 11/18/2013 at 11:37

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I became fascinated by Roman history when I took Latin in high school. They did some things that were pure genius and other things that just don't make no sense.

McMike > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:38

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Maybe if it's a street they drive by every day, seeing a cross on a tree is better than just seeing the tree?

Grief makes us all do different things.

I never celebrate the death date of someone. Why on earth would you celebrate that? "I miss this person, so let's honor them by remembering that moment Mom told us dad was dead"

Pick the birthday, mother's day, father's day, etc... etc..

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:39

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Same here. It was the best part of Latin.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:45

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I think some people sorta do it in their homes... Just not a little cross with ribbons and toys. I'm sure some people just never go back into a room after somebody they love has died there. They just leave it as it was.

Sethersm > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:46

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I suppose I can understand why some might do it, but it isn't something I'd do. The ones I really don't understand are the ones that get put up and then not maintained or removed. The sad, tilting cross or the mud stained, tattered teddy bear.

Squid > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 11:49

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In my town there are several memorials to bicycle riders that have been killed. White bikes with signs saying a cyclist has been killed. I appreciate it because it makes people concious of the fact that we (meaning me and the people in my town) do live in a college town where biking is the most common form of transportation.

But others, it kind of seems silly if they were going 100 mph and lost control of their car. I dunno, I'm never going to put up a roadside memorial so I guess it is moot for me. . .

CalzoneGolem > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 11/18/2013 at 12:03

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Good point

davedave1111 > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 12:05

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It's not uncommon to see small religious shrines by the roadside in Catholic countries, whether or not someone died there.

deekster_caddy > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 12:10

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There used to be a lot of accidents on Rt 6 on Cape Cod in MA for lots of reasons; it was two-lane, narrow, no breakdown lane, passing zones, high DUI area, etc etc. People kept putting up crosses until it got almost ridiculous, but in the end it brought enough attention to the hazards of the road itself. It was finally split and many safety improvements were made. I will always remember looking for the crosses on our annual trip to the Cape to see how many more there were than the last trip.

Tl; dr - it could be to draw attention to a hazardous bit of road.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 12:12

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I don't have a problem with a tasteful one, my complaints are for the ones that have been there for years and have molded/warn teddy bears stuck to a tree/telephone pole/fence. It's almost disrespectful to the person who passed away there for it to be so rundown. After a "mourning period" it should be collected/taken down. I know everyone mourns differently, and it takes different amount of times (sometimes never) but it really seems in poor taste after quite a while (and I pass 3 regularly in Michigan).

CalzoneGolem > deekster_caddy 11/18/2013 at 12:13

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Or distract people on a dangerous stretch of road.

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/18/2013 at 12:15

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There's one I go past every time I go to the dump. It has been there for years but they maintain it. Every time I go past I invariably wonder why people put them up.

joemcm > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 12:15

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Clint Eastwood approves.

CalzoneGolem > joemcm 11/18/2013 at 12:16

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Why, in 2013, is hot linking an issue to people still.

joemcm > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 12:18

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Considering I don't know what "hot linking" is, I'd say that's why lol.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CalzoneGolem 11/18/2013 at 12:28

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If it were someone in my family, I wouldn't.

At least the ones you pass are maintained!

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/18/2013 at 12:29

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I think the maintained ones might be more mystifying to me.