I'm not a big believer in mourning somebody that I've never met.
It is clear that millions of Michael Jackson fans are of the opinion that you can know someone through the media to such an extent that their death causes untold grief, but I think there may be a hint of the pressures and emotions of everyday life being chanelled into an unexpected event, which the brain perceives as an opportunity to offload stress in a socially acceptable way. I don't know whether I read that somewhere or whether I just made it up. Any social scientists or psychologists reading this? Feel free to tell me that I'm talking out of my arse.
I've heard more than one person comparing this to the death of Lady Diana. The only similarity is that it has resulted in massive public reaction.
Although I've sat in front of the television like everybody else and shouted 'freak!' at the sight of Wako's hideously mangled nose, I have to concede that the man was talented. I'm not really a fan of pop music, but his songs sent tingles up my spine; electric is the only way to describe it.
As for Lady Diana? She shook hands with a few land mine victims and cuddled some kids with HIV. Other than that she spent her life running around trying to get laid. Big deal.