the cautionary tale is a form of story that provides moral instruction. in our modern age, the hearth around which such stories has been replaced by one of my favorite sites for wacky news: fark.
i think we can agree, at least in general terms, that there are some fates none of us would ever want beyond the old standby of dyinig penniless, friendless and alone. and i've come to believe that right now, the universal worst possible fate is of becoming this week's cautionary tale.
who wants their obituary to read like an excuse for moral instruction? "alas, poor ed: had he but looked both ways, we wouldn't be gathered here on this solemn, grim occasion"? i know i sure as heck don't want that for myself. i'd rather be known for something positive.
is there another fate that you would find even more unpalateable? if so, what is it?
ed
silverwhisper posted on Dec 05, 2006
| views: 199
Comments
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lioneljay said on Dec 05, 2006....
Alas, poor Rummy, if only he'd made all those smart suggestions a couple years before he needed to cover his ass...
Alas, poor George (and the country), if only he'd decided to stick with baseball... -
PAPERBACKWRITER said on Dec 06, 2006....
LJ: Touché
Alas, poor paper fool of capers could not get her days together - missed on life a day before she knew better
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CreativeWoman said on Dec 06, 2006....
Alas, poor Creative, she lived waiting for a better day instead of creating one.
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dubiousjayhawk said on Dec 06, 2006....
CW- I love that one.
And I can't really think of a worse fate then dying in the first place (I'm young, you see).... let alone someone writing something like that in my obituary. -
missb said on Dec 06, 2006....
Alas, poor missb, still thinking what ifs even until her last days on earth.
Alas, poor missb, losing the battle even before it started.
Cheers :/ -
JOCK said on Dec 06, 2006....
Alas poor Jock, he died on the Job. The coffin lid wont close, must be his ........ -
purrrkitten said on Dec 06, 2006....
Alas, poor purrr, kicked the bucket cuz she wouldn't see a doctor about her degenerative hip disease and it collapsed under her, sending her spiralling down the vast stairs in the biggest mall in the world. Crushing six and wounding ten in her mad tumble down, her forced ending at the bottom broke her neck and killed her instantly. Fortunately, she wasn't a man so didn't have a giant boner from the broken neck or there may have been more casualties from the older ladies in the crowd...
LOL ~^^
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kruuyai said on Dec 07, 2006....
Alas, poor kruu, she died without letting the world know that she wanted to be a part of it.