At the risk of being a bit depressing, imagine you were the victim of a horrible accident at work, a gruesome murder, or car accident–and never made it home. Would you want your legacy and memory of you to be based on your internet history and the contents of your hard-drive, smartphone or online cloud account?
Loved ones and friends would likely experience a complex mix of feelings, primarily shock, confusion, sadness, and betrayal, upon discovering a deceased person’s questionable internet history and saved documents, photos, and videos. The discovery can significantly complicate the grieving process and affect how the person is remembered.
Potential feelings and impacts include:
- Shock and Disbelief: The information may contradict their perception of the person they knew, leading to disbelief that you could have been interested in or engaged in such activities.
- Confusion and the Need for Explanation: They might struggle to understand the motivations behind the findings, seeking answers they can never fully obtain.
- Betrayal: The discovery can feel like a breach of trust, particularly if you were considered close or considered a role model. It may feel as if you kept a significant, negative secret from them.
- Guilt: Loved ones might feel guilt for not noticing signs or intervening while you were alive.
- Shame or Embarrassment: If the history is particularly concerning, family members might feel shame or embarrassment, especially if the history needs to be handled by others (e.g., in estate matters), or worse still–the police!
- Re-evaluation of Memories: The history can cause your loved ones to re-evaluate their entire relationship with you, potentially tarnishing positive memories.
- Complicated Grief: The emotional turmoil can interrupt the natural grieving process, making it harder to find closure and peace.
Ultimately, the impact depends heavily on the nature of the questionable content and the specific dynamics of the relationships involved.
So remember: a little bit of online consenting adults titillation is fine, but if you’re drawn to the weird stuff you may want to reconsider your digital housekeeping when it comes to storage and internet history.
PS. If you are into illegal stuff, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught–which in our opinion won’t be soon enough!