As of February 14, 2012, the Associated Press reports we still don’t know an exact cause of death for Whitney Houston; thus, I am not claiming Houston’s death was an overdose or drug related. However, Houston battled addiction for years, was found underwater in the bathtub, and there was evidence of alcohol and prescription drug use (including Xanax, Valium, and Lorazepam).

So, while I’m not claiming she overdosed or died due to some other drug-related cause, I am saying making that assumption wouldn’t be too far a stretch.

With that being said, I admit, the death of Whitney Houston shocked me. Truly. I thought the “R.I.P Whitney Houston” hashtag was just another Twitter scam.

Yes, she’d struggled with substance abuse issues for years, and yes, we watched as her appearance changed, she bailed on performances, and her once mind-blowingly epic voice became lackluster and disappointing.

Still, she had entered rehab again and was working on a new film (Sparkle) and maybe I was just overly optimistic.

I was a fan, after all. The image I chose for this post is of Houston’s 1987 self-titled album – the first CD I ever bought, years later, in the early nineties, when I got my first CD player. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” from the same album, is the first song I can remember dancing to; it was a cute routine, during a summer cheerleading camp for little girls. “I Will Always Love You” still reminds me of my first boyfriend. “Heartbreak Hotel” still reminds me of a cheater. “When You Believe” still makes me feel hopeful.

You get it. I grew up with Whitney. I was a fan.

So, it should go without saying, I was one of the many people who have, over the few days since her death, shared thoughts on Twitter and Facebook. Grief. Sympathy. Love. Stories of what her music inspired.

Yet, social media outlets are filled with as many naysayers as mourners – angry naysayers who can’t understand why the mourners exist.

Over the past couple of days, I’ve read tweets and Facebook posts questioning why any of us are shocked or saddened or even concerned by Houston’s death. One post claimed the world called her a “crackhead” before her death and is acting as if she were an angel after; another person said those of us posting about Houston need new heroes.

At first, I was confused. Why would someone who claims not to care about her death spend time constructing and posting a tweet or status update knocking the rest of us? Why would someone have that much negative energy for those who are grieving?

Perhaps the reason so many people are angry about the outpouring of grief and even love is because, ultimately, they believe Houston did this to herself. Like fellow writer Alistair McHarg stated, maybe some of us find the situation “more annoying than tragic”:

[...] life handed her an endless succession of second chances all of which she slapped away disdainfully; arrogant, haughty, and clueless to the end.

That’s understandable. It’s difficult to feel sorry for someone who we perceive brought their problems on themselves. For some, it might also be difficult to understand how others can feel sorry for them, or mourn them.

Maybe, those who are annoyed or angry at those who are mourning feel the attention never comes until it’s too late. Like Sharon Osbourne pointed out:

It always takes for them to die before we shower them with praise and adulation. They were addicts and there are many addicts still alive. Don’t mock them, just help them.

Reasoning, and advice, that also makes sense.

What do YOU think, readers? Have you been annoyed with or even angered by the flood of Houston-related posts, tweets, and reports? If so, why?

In the meantime, if you’re looking for others to talk with, the Psych Central forums have several threads dedicated to discussing Whitney Houston’s passing.

Image Source: Wikipedia

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    Last reviewed: 15 Feb 2012