What's it all about?

Maybe I am insensitive; although I really doubt it; but I really just do not understand the public display of grief and outpouring of quasi tears over the recent deaths of two public figures. Yeah, you know who I am talking about and I won't give them any type space here as they have enough already, I think. Really, I did not know either and whilst I feel sad for their families and had shed a tear over the stories of their deaths; as I do when I read any in depth, well written articles about anyone's life and death;I cannot fathom the tears and somewhat hyper sensitive displays of tears being shown by people who did not know them or even met them.
What is our pre occupation with ownership of public figures/personalities? Don Chipp died recently, a man of courage and perception who took on the political game for what it was...a rort. He challenged all and sundry, created a major third political party from a pre dominatly two party preferred system and tried to "keep the bastards honest". I saw little reflection of any public ownership of him as I have seen for the others.
Why is it that people feel they had the right to intrude on what is a very difficult and hard time for these peoples familes with public displays, tributes etc? We saw it in 1997 with the death of HRH Diana, Princess of Wales, it went on for an intolerable amount of time. Yes, I cried when I saw photos of her sons walking behind her hearse and I sob if I hear Elton Johns re write of "Candle In the Wind" and whilst I felt little more than sorrow for her sons and family, I could not understand the tears and sobs of the voyeuristic grief mongers who lined the streets, left tacky tributes and wept despairingly for someone many had never met except through tabloid press articles.
Same applies to the two recent losses, their families are left to cope, I think they should be permitted to grieve alone and without the pseudo grief of a nation who assumes ownership of public figures because they saw them on TV, or in media articles. Some people really, really need to get a life for them selves instead of living life vicariously through others deeds.