Is It Okay To Run In A Cemetary? (Read 2197 times)

apples/oranges my friend

Says who?

apples/oranges my friend

so basically you can't answer the question

so basically you can't answer the question

I think its pretty much common sense that someone driving in a car in a cemetery is completely different than someone jogging through a cemetery. But since you want it spelled out, here's my take. Some one in a car is likely to be in the cemetery for funereal reasons: visiting the grave site of a loved one, or perhaps looking to purchase a family plot. In any case, their likely to be in a somewhat somber, reverent mood. In all cases, they're unlikely to be blasting music, honking their horn, or otherwise drawing attention to themselves. Cars in a cemetery are expected, commonplace, daily occurrences. Everyone of us has arrived and departed from a cemetery in a car; they are a normal and necessary part of the logistics of a funereal service. Therefore cars are more likely to blend into the background from the perspective of other cemetery visitors. Also, the car itself creates a spacial boundary that prevents or limits unnecessary intrusion on the personal space of a visiting mourner. This is especially true since a car is likely to moving faster than a runner, and therefore will enter-and-exit the perception of a visiting mourner in a shorter period of time. A runner, on the other hand, is not in a cemetery for funereal reasons. He or she is there for recreational purposes, arguably the polar emotional opposite of mourning. And even if the runner is entirely quiet and respectful, its still a more unusual occurrence and therefore more likely to be a distraction and perhaps an annoyance to a visiting mourner. That's my answer to the question, since you asked.

My XC coach had a longstanding arrangement w/ the cemetery that we ran in, so there were no issues with his runners being there. I personally loved running there -- calm, peaceful, quiet setting. Even after I graduated high school, I would occasionally run loops there when I was visiting home.

I can't believe this thread has gone on for so long and there has been no mention of Ed Whitlock.

Click

Crap. Well, only once, then. +1 to your internet awareness.

Heh... Also... monitor all message boards, all the time.

I think its pretty much common sense that someone driving in a car in a cemetery is completely different than someone jogging through a cemetery. But since you want it spelled out, here's my take.

Actually, I do want it spelled out because these are both moving things in a cemetary and while you might declare it 'obvious' that one is completely different than the other, the only difference is one is a car (driven by someone) and one is a person. They may or may not make noise, may or may not be there for 'a reason' and may or may not be disturbing to others.

Some one in a car is likely to be in the cemetery for funereal reasons: visiting the grave site of a loved one, or perhaps looking to purchase a family plot. In any case, their likely to be in a somewhat somber, reverent mood. In all cases, they're unlikely to be blasting music, honking their horn, or otherwise drawing attention to themselves.

Since the primary point you're making here is whether they are drawing attention to themselves (or being a nuisance, basically), then whether they are running or not is irrelevent. Also, I don't think it's acceptible for you to imply that a runner will 'likely' be drawing attention to themselves.

Cars in a cemetery are expected, commonplace, daily occurrences. Everyone of us has arrived and departed from a cemetery in a car; they are a normal and necessary part of the logistics of a funereal service. Therefore cars are more likely to blend into the background from the perspective of other cemetery visitors.

And if runners are a commonplace daily occurance then it makes no difference. As far as blending in is concerned, near as I know people will exit cars, so you're implying a person not in a car in a cemetary now doesn't blend in as well. I don't get this point. When someone exits a car are they now a distraction? Are you implying it's acceptible to be there as long as you're in a car, speaking strictly from a 'blending in' point of view? Maybe drivers and visitors should pass through and not stop at all?

Also, the car itself creates a spacial boundary that prevents or limits unnecessary intrusion on the personal space of a visiting mourner. This is especially true since a car is likely to moving faster than a runner, and therefore will enter-and-exit the perception of a visiting mourner in a shorter period of time.

A spacial boundary from what? The driver? Passenger? Again, you seem to be implying cars are acceptible but people aren't. As far as speed is concerned, aroundthehorn indcated the problem would be from the runner 'zooming' by, so apparently faster would be the issue, not slower. Would running hard through a cemetary be better than jogging slowly? You seem to be saying so.

A runner, on the other hand, is not in a cemetery for funereal reasons. He or she is there for recreational purposes, arguably the polar emotional opposite of mourning. And even if the runner is entirely quiet and respectful, its still a more unusual occurrence and therefore more likely to be a distraction and perhaps an annoyance to a visiting mourner.

Someone is either there for more conventional reasons or they are not, this matters not whether the person is driving, walking, biking or jogging. A person is either a distraction or not. Maybe if they are there for a reason, a mourner might be more forced to accept it, but this has little to do with the mourner being disturbed by it/them. If you're implying that the runner is apparently alive and healthy and this is somehow disturbing to others, then I guess every other alive and well visitor should be equally disturbing from that perspective. I'm sure you'll argue that others (non-joggers) are also there for a reason, so that's okay. Well this goes back to why someone is there and why that's a disturbance, and not one of the person being apparently healthy and alive.

That's my answer to the question, since you asked.

Bottom line here, if a mourner or visitor is distracted by movement or noise, then they're distracted by movement or noise, whether a jogger, a car, a motorcycle, piece of heavy equipment, someone tending to a plot, makes no diff. If that person has enough about them to ponder why someone else is there and start evaluating reasons, then apparently mourning isn't much on their mind. A runner is no more likely to disturb someone there than anyone or anything else. Most likely that runner will pass completely unnoticed. Few people spend much time at a cemetary and won't be any less disturbed by a tire and an engine than a foot and pair of lungs. And, to top this off, I do run through one particular cemetary quite regularly. My wife's aunt/uncle are buried there and every time I go through I stop and tend the plots, do a little cleaning and clearing, make sure it's in good shape and looking okay. So don't judge that book by it's cover. Apples and oranges...don't think so. MacIntosh and Granny Smith...maybe....

Ay, caramba.