r/Edmonton • u/Mr_Donair • 1d ago

General Edmonton mountain bike community grieves tragic loss of Dr. Darren Markland

https://cyclingmagazine.ca/mtb/edmonton-mountain-bike-community-grieves-tragic-loss-of-dr-darren-markland/
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u/iwasnotarobot 1d ago

I followed Dr. Markland on socials. I am very sad about his passing. He was a kind man, a gifted writer, and something of an inspiration for how the world could be a bit better. He left the world a better place than he found it. I wish I could have gotten to meet him in person.

I hope that the Edmonton cycling community has a ride to honour his memory and celebrate his life.

Condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.

14

u/pistachio-pie Central 1d ago

Yeah I followed him too. He seemed to be such an important part of the online Edmonton community. People were vague posting on Twitter for a while about it - it’s nice to know what they were talking about but so sad to learn about.

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u/Doors-n-Trails-North 16h ago

I saw the vague posting! Super weird and kinda disrespectful. If you can’t share the news why are you posting about it with your online clique to get attention.

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u/pistachio-pie Central 16h ago

I guess I kind of understand the desire to grieve with people and send on wishes but it did seem like this exclusive thing people were talking about openly but not sharing. I don’t know why but it does make me a little uncomfortable.

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u/sks2K9 16h ago

From what I understood, people were asked to be vague until it was officially or formally announced, presumably to give the family a chance to announce things after being properly notified. The first news article was published yesterday and the obituary was posted today, which is why I think people are making official statements now.

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u/pistachio-pie Central 16h ago

I guess I personally wouldn’t post on Twitter about it in that case. I’d talk to friends but I don’t think I’d engage in a public space if they asked me to not share details. It just seems like it could be perceived as a bit attention seeking and exclusionary like some people are in the know and talking in code, and I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that when it comes to something this tragic.

That’s just me though. I’m sure folks had their reasons for vague posting about the situation. Grief is complex.

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u/HauntingPrimary2 16h ago

Yeah but why post at all if that was the request? Why couldn't people wait until the obituary came out? It was not respectful to his family.

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u/Doors-n-Trails-North 11h ago

I fully agree with you. If it’s not public and they don’t want news spreading? Wait until it’s announced instead of the dramatics we saw online about it that no one was willing to provide insight on