On the one hand, death seems worrisome as a solitary plunge. On the other hand, i think it's downplayed because it's solitary. Some old relative's funeral, or anyone's, it's "phew, glad i'm not him," and a continuing with things as they were. As they are, death is unpredictable - no build-up! Happens to everyone with a roll of the dice. Maybe some indication, a worsening cough, an ominous cat-scan, as the case may be, but there's no real suspense or build-up. It's a poorly directed movie.

But if you knew when you were going to die, along with everyone else? I can't imagine the rituals and hysteria that would develop around death. Thousands of people channeling their spirits in unison in cultish togetherness. Christian death camps, Muslim death camps, camps of friends. And the anarchy in anticipation - everyone doing what they would have all their lives if laws, physical and societal, didn't exist. Also, you could say proper goodbyes, have proper reflection and closure.

It would be a mini-apocalypse occurring for every generation.


(...I know you meant more small-scale, like our New York experience, so I'm sure this was somewhat of a tangent. anyway.)