There's a cemetery near me where all the headstones are mounted flat rather than standing up. They even call it a park. Though, you can't go there to use it like you would a park. I really dislike it. I have a couple of relatives buried there. It's impossible to find their graves. In a typical cemetery there are different types of headstones and you can triangulate off certain shaped ones to find your way. I hope my family doesn't bury me there.

But why bury people's bodies at all? The whole purpose of cemeteries as physical spaces is to honor the deceased by literally sacrificing land in their memory. Without the sacrifice, why not just have virtual markers located around town and cremate or compost bodies? Obviously the answer is that some religious traditions prescribe burial, but this also answers why your original design is inadequate.

This is the first time I've heard that cemeteries are offensive. I'd guess that people are too isolated if cemeteries are "confronting them with death".

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I think this is a truly terrible idea. First, headstones in graveyards are the opposite of offensive. They're memorials. That they're physical and long-lasting are important parts of that.

It would also require loved ones to have smartphones (not everyone does) and to run a particular app (which is intrusive) in order to honor their deceased. It means that there will be living people excluded.

> without disrespecting the graves

I think it would be disrespecting the graves to do this.

> rather than constantly in your face.

If people are so offended by headstones (I suspect few are), they can just not go to graveyards.

IMHO, it is a terrible idea. Why would I feel offended by a cemetery ? Death is a part of life.

It sounds like you are trying to transform cemeteries in find a pokemon like game, which some people will find way more offensive.

One of the most memorable things I did recently was explore an old Catholic cemetery above Central City, Colorado with my cousin. It was quiet, cool and sunny. Most of the aspens had dropped their leaves but a few stands were still thick with gold. We wandered through rows of headstones and markers in the fall sun and read the stories they told. Some headstones were more than 100 years old; others were quite new. Some were elaborately carved, while many were nothing more than markers with a name and date. Some were simply carved of wood, not likely to last. A few graves had fresh flowers.

The cemetery told stories of humanity. Most were universal. One headstone was for 5 children under 10, all who died in 1918 or 1919. It seemed likely to be the influenza pandemic, though we couldn't be certain. Another had a short lament from a father for his lost son which led to me opening up to my cousin about a friend I had just lost, who had previously lost his son. Something I needed to talk about but struggled to.

Cemeteries are very human. There is nothing offensive about a memorial for the dead. And in my experience children don't find them scary or morbid at all. And as others have said if they bother you personally then don't go to them.