One anecdote where the internet community seemed to show a collective sensitivity was the story about a girl's dying wish to see Pixar's "Up". The story garnered thousands of Diggs and many emotional responses from readers and the media. Granted the story did gain popularity because of Pixar's humble involvement, but even then, it doesn't take away the worldwide reception.

An additional event where grieving was sympathtically done through the media was the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech.  People across the country payed their respect through social networking sites such as Facebook. A group was made and also a candle light vigils were created through the portal. In many cases it offered healing and communication between those who were effected by the event.

But the internet is a very diverse space and is subject to those who use it.  In many cases the deaths of high profile celebrities have been met with criticism and insenivtivity.  A "Time" blogger wrote a critical piece of Billy Mays' selling practices a day after his passing.  During the mass information tangle during Michael Jackson's admission at the hospital, gossip blogger Perez Hilton criticized Mr. Jackson for faking the incident.The blogs drew much ire from the public, but also jokes along the way.

Does the speed and spread of these revelations encourage empathy or breed insensitivity?  Or is it just amplifying what was already there?  Whatever the answer is, it is impossible to ignore that as events large and small keep occurring, patricipation will continually increase; death is now a public affair.

[Additional Photos: "Michael Twitter", Raul Orozco, 2009]