Question about live-streamed funerals

[nota bene]

Most of us have attended at least several funerals via live stream since the pandemic began, but this past week my sister attended one that was different. I'm curious who else has experienced what she did.

In my experience, the camera set up in the church/funeral home just streams, but this funeral had someone manning the camera and zooming in for reaction shots of the bereaved. She said this was really creepy in a way she couldn't explain, and a coworker who also attended the funeral via the live stream later told her that she also found this very disturbing.

Is this a trend or a weird one-off?

 

[RF667799]

Most of us have attended at least several funerals via live stream since the pandemic began, but this past week my sister attended one that was different. I'm curious who else has experienced what she did.

In my experience, the camera set up in the church/funeral home just streams, but this funeral had someone manning the camera and zooming in for reaction shots of the bereaved. She said this was really creepy in a way she couldn't explain, and a coworker who also attended the funeral via the live stream later told her that she also found this very disturbing.

Is this a trend or a weird one-off?

I'm aghast at the whole idea. If I'm not going to a funeral, I'm not staying home and watching it on TV either.

 

[Allan]

In my experience, the camera set up in the church/funeral home just streams, but this funeral had someone manning the camera and zooming in for reaction shots of the bereaved.

Yikes! How intrusive. I'd be pissed.

 

[nota bene]

Yikes! How intrusive. I'd be pissed.

And more blurring of real-life and, hmmm, performance art.

 

[nota bene]

I'm aghast at the whole idea. If I'm not going to a funeral, I'm not staying home and watching it on TV either.

Your point is taken, but the pandemic did change things. For example, it's common now to read an obituary that states that a celebration of life will be "at a time to be announced later."

I've watched "important" funerals on TV all my life. Live-streaming shouldn't be an excuse for not attending in person or a convenience, but it can be a way to be present when there is no other way, so I'm grateful for the technology.

 

[Ganondagan]

Most of us have attended at least several funerals via live stream since the pandemic began, but this past week my sister attended one that was different. I'm curious who else has experienced what she did.

In my experience, the camera set up in the church/funeral home just streams, but this funeral had someone manning the camera and zooming in for reaction shots of the bereaved. She said this was really creepy in a way she couldn't explain, and a coworker who also attended the funeral via the live stream later told her that she also found this very disturbing.

Is this a trend or a weird one-off?

I hope it's a weird one-off. I personally believe that funerals should be private affairs, for friends and families. I would never permit, in my family, a funeral such as you've described. Let gawkers go somewhere else.

 

[nota bene]

I hope my sister will learn more. She lives in a small town in the Texas Hill Country. A drunk driver struck four motorcyclists on their bikes--husband, wife, son, and niece. Only the wife lived, and she remains hospitalized with horrific injuries. I don't know who planned the funerals, but I'm appalled. And with you; I hope this is a freaky one-off.