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NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

1000memories.com

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Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#2
I'm always leery of a startup based on a platform like this, because Facebook can easily easily take the ground out from under you.

There's also no early mover advantage or network effect (unlike say, admob), so if facebook chooses to implement this it would be fatal.

Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#3
A common urge when someone passes is to want to do something to honor them; be that planting a tree, naming a trophy or starting a foundation.

I'm not sure the Internet really makes those things easier. Seriously, planting a tree is easier with the Internet?

I've thought a lot about my own death and what I want from the people who love me is that they weep. I don't want some legacy implanted on the world as if I, one of billions, deserves that. But I do want those around me to care, and to express it. Seriously, if you are one of my loved ones and I'm dead then be human and weep.

Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#4
The difficulty here is not in building software for a memorial page [although I'm sure there is a lot of room for experimentation and improvement], but in detecting that someone has passed away, and then handling all interactions relating to that user with extreme sensitivity.

Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#5
post #3

A common urge when someone passes is to want to do something to honor them; be that planting a tree, naming a trophy or starting a foundation. I'm not sure the Internet really makes those things easier. Seriously, planting a tree is easier with the Internet? I've thought a lot about my own death and what I want from the people who love me is that they weep. I don't want some legacy implanted on the world as if I, one…

[deleted]

Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#6
My father passed away about a year and a half ago, and one of the things I did was create a website for him where people could share their stories and memories of his life. (http://jimwhowell.com/) I made it a day or so after he died, and I had no idea what the response would be... I only knew I had to do something to try to capture my memory of him. We ended up getting well over 100 stories on the site, and having all these memories of him has meant so much to me and my family in dealing with our loss.

I think what you are doing with 1000Memories.com will have a similar effect in touching peoples lives and I hope that you have a lot of success with it. Thanks for creating this.

Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#7
May be a good idea to register 100memories.com and redirect, that's an easy typo to make.

Do you have a plan to handle fraudulent submissions? I assume there's nothing to prevent me from posting any memorial I want. Could be a problem if it gets indexed quickly.

Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#8
I don't think I could ever sleep well at night, knowing that I built a business based upon on the death of others. In other words, I'll never work as a coffin maker or at a funeral home.

No offense or judgement towards the 1000Memories people, I think it's a good goal. That's just my own choice.

Re: NYTimes on Facebook death, and why we created 1000Memories (YC S10)

#9

The difficulty here is not in building software for a memorial page [although I'm sure there is a lot of room for experimentation and improvement], but in detecting that someone has passed away, and then handling all interactions relating to that user with extreme sensitivity.

Legacy Locker, while solving a different problem (how do you transfer your online presence to your inheritors?), has a process to deal with this involving death certificates and trusted verifiers: http://legacylocker.com/features/verifiers
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