mervesu

[daomaikeng]

happy Thursday the 20th

[daomaikeng]

An Old Man's thoughts on Grief - 1D Edition

Today is my 50th birthday. Less than 24 hours ago I saw the news that a 31year old deeply troubled man died in a tragic way. It was through Liam Payne that I was able to make some great friends on here, such as @thisiskatsblog, and find a community of people who actually helped me through a very difficult time. Liam was 3 years younger than our foster son.

It occurred to me this morning that for many 1D fans this is their fist taste of something that those of us of a certain age have started getting used to: the mortality of idols. At the age of 16, Liam became a god to millions of adoring fans, and while his followers diminished over the years, for many he was still the god of their formative years. And now god has died, and with him a piece of the youth he helped to form.

I've been through it many times in 50 years: Robin Williams, David Bowie, Michael Gambon, Donald Sutherland, and the list goes on (and keeps on getting longer!). When gods die it remind us of our own mortality. For many today, this is the first time their mortality is a real thing in their life. Sure, maybe their have been other deaths - pets, grandparents, other relatives, etc. - but those could be rationalized away. But this, this one is going to stick.

All this is to say - no, to BEG - please be kind! Liam wasn't a god; he was a very troubled and flawed human being. There are decades ahead to discuss his flaws and possible crimes. But for right now, in the soul of many of your friends both real and online, their god has died and for the first time in their lives they are realizing that they will inevitably die too. This is scary as hell the first time. But it will pass. Grief will pass. Fear will pass. But if you chose today to be cruel, that cruelty is the only thing in the world that is truly immortal.

[daomaikeng]

it’s just. weirdly enough, i’d been on pins and needles about any of them dying when they were 27. and then they were 28, 29, 30 and i thought, they’re fine and i thought i’d wait a lifetime to mourn them. and a little more than 24 hours ago liam was 31 and he was alive. and now he isn’t. it’s fucking oxymoronic. he was alive. he is dead. what do you even do about that .

[daomaikeng]

When it suddenly crashes on you that it is real and not just a nightmare, and the dam of tears breaks 💔

[daomaikeng]

One Direction via Instagram

[daomaikeng]

i know this has been said in various ways by many people, but this genuinely needs to be a wake up call for how dehumanizing and objectifying fame is and can be. a dark rabbit hole that can swallow someone up without any empathy, and the malevolent presence just laughs as it watches one try to dig themselves out with any means necessary before kicking them as they fall back down, time and time again.

the industry is a broken system. that isn't news, but how much blood has to stain the hands of those who were meant to protect young stars, to mentor young stars, to uplift and encourage young stars before something is actually done. tears can be wept. posts can be made. guilt can be had. but when will enough be enough? when will there be real investigations? when will there be an entire uprooting of the foundation that has steadied this toxic, abusive industry for decades? when will this be taken seriously enough?

no one should become hollow shells of their former selves, constantly seeking validation and peace at the bottom of bottles or through capsules of pills or scattered in the powder of substances. no one should be running an endless race to find who they once were. no one should become an adult who does horrible things who once was a kid who had an innocent heart and dreams. no one should grow up in an environment designed for them to fail underneath those with power and guiding lights who do not protect them when that was their number one job.

every young star who dies at the hands of the spotlight dies first by the irresponsibility and crude nature of those who were meant to safeguard them and keep them from harm's way. and that should infuriate you. because it constantly infuriates me.

[daomaikeng]

zayn using a photo of them as kids is really getting to me. does he still see them like that? i look at some people i’ve been friends with for years and see ourselves as the age we were when we became friends. my mental image is stuck there. this is fucking awful dude

[daomaikeng]

Harry via Instagram 😭

[daomaikeng]

zayn: Love You Bro ❤️

[daomaikeng]

Louis' tribute to Liam via instagram - 17.10

[daomaikeng]

Harry via Instagram 😭

[daomaikeng]

r/anarchychess is my new favorite sub i love circlejerk subs and its so funny that theres one for chess

[daomaikeng]

I’m sorry the former 1d girly in me needs to take a fucking moment… what do you mean liam payne just fucking died? like… please say sike? what the fuck is going on

[daomaikeng]

one direction, and it’s every single member were a part of many ppls adolescence, especially mine.. every single member had a special place in my heart, Liam Payne was not a good person but no one deserves to die so young, I cant imagine the pain of his family and his little son right now.

Be Kind, to everyone.

[daomaikeng]

[daomaikeng]

“don🦍t believe anything your brain tells you after 9 pm” wrong. the prime time for decision making is when you🦍re sleep deprived

^example of what life would be like if we used gorillas instead of apostrophes

[daomaikeng]

the autism thing of having to learn to preface every question you ask with Holy Shit I'm Just Curious Please Dont Yell At Me because it turns out a lot of questions seem to Mean Something and people will get mad if you ask them