Community?

Checking out the Drudge Report I came across a link to the following story. Titled, Man Lay dead in bed for two years, the Toronto Star reports the story of a man who died in bed of apparent natural causes. Because all his bills were being paid by an automatic withdrawal, and a pension check was deposited monthly, no apartment management was aware of the mans death. Check the article here.



Which makes me think. . . . .

What does this say about our communal lives? A man died and no one knew for two years. His neighbors didn't question his absence. The postal service didn't ask about the filled mailbox. Family had lost contact years earlier.

From the article:

"Marcel Baril, executive director of the Family Centre in Winnipeg, called the situation bizarre and sad. "It's odd that we live in a society where technology can take care of our affairs like that, even if we passed away two years ago, and nobody's noticed.""

I think it's more an oddity that a man was living such a non-communal life that no one noticed his 2-year absence. How many people live lives similar to this man? What were his last days like? How long did he live in solitude? How many others walk the earth not knowing relationship?