It's been a running joke for 2016 in particular though. I see it all over the place. Every time some musician or actor dies, people personify 2016 in particular as a murderer or such.

I wonder if this is just due to the contentz of this year's zeitgeist, rather than to the particular events of this year.

I think it started with a lot famous, beloved people dying and we are way more sensitive to it now.

but it's so weird, why 2016, and why so many famous ppl dying this year.

1988 was pretty good but 1991 was pretty crappy. 1988 saw the premiere of Star Trek TNG. Of course, I was in 5th grade, so my perspective was child-like. 1991 saw mass layoffs at multiple companies, such as GE. There was also the Gulf War and the recession.

1991 saw tens of millions of people gain a liberty they'd never experienced before, as their countries became independent from the USSR. Ask them and I don't think they'll agree that 1991 was "pretty crappy".

I do look back at 1988 fondly. I graduated college and went to work at Boeing. :)