I had an idea last night.

[gridlore]

As everyone knows, we are fast approaching the first anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Everyone is discussing how the best memorialize the event, and the people lost. Here's my two cents.

A day of silence on the Internet. For one calendar day, starting at 0001 11 SEP 02, your local time, stop posting, emailing, surfing whatever. A global day of silence moving around the world. I realize that this would be impossible for those in business who rely on the net, but I think it would be a powerful statement. I remember on that day the messages on the Traveller Mailing List to our NYC members asking "are you ok?" And I know the terrible silence when one person never replies to those calls.

So for one day, stay off the net. It will survive. talk on the phone, go for a walk, or just remember how much we all lost on the terrible day, one year ago.

Comments

[fimbrethil.livejournal.com]

Just a general point. The internet is not very intimate. Sometimes I find it cold and impersonal. I will probably get many e-mails that day from people wondering how I am surviving my loss. But it would be so much more wonderful if those people would call me or even come over. It would be nicer to hear their voices or see their faces so I could really connect with them. You cannot see expressions or hear voice inflections over the internet, nor can you give hugs. I will be needing all of that that day and not some flat words electronically mailed to me.

[jilesa.livejournal.com]

The internet is not very intimate.

This just points up the truth that 'people are different'. See, for me, real time chat on the Internet is WAY more intimate than a phone call. That's mostly because I'm so visually oriented that just hearing words without visual cues feels like having half a conversation, even with someone I know very well and love dearly. All of my closest friends and loved ones live over 700 miles away from me, so dropping by for an in-person visit is not an option.

While I understand and support the desire to memorialize September 11, this particular means of doing so would serve only to isolate me at a time when I need connections to my loved ones. I think it may be a good memorial activity for some, but not for me.

[fimbrethil.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I agree, what works for some people doesn't work for all.

People Are Different

[opals.livejournal.com]

I agree with this very much. I for one can't afford to call people because I only have a cell phone available. I'm in bad financial straits and I'd rather not further my distress in that respect.

I would like to agree with ororo who says that there is most likely no one right way to memorialize that day.

I'm hoping I can work on a memorial quilt that day and be here to support my friends.

Mahalo for listening

[kiya]

The internet is not very intimate.

Perhaps to you.

Perhaps if you had a phobia of telephones (I do) or had met and spent most of your time communicating with a mate in email (I do) or had your major work and social contacts maintained via telnet (I do) or kept in touch with a partner all day while that person is in the office through the net (I do) and are living between five hundred and . . . several thousand miles, I'm not sure whether or not it's further to Alaska or Finland from here . . . from the people who are your normal support you might have a different perspective.

To you, avoiding the net is encouraging intimacy. To me, it is slaughtering it.

[fimbrethil.livejournal.com]

Thank you for a fresh perspective. I see your point.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

For me, whether it's intimate depends on to whom I'm talking. It's very intimate with some, not at all with others.

I'm sure I'll find ways to stay closely connected, that day, with people I need to connect with, though I'm not yet sure which media I'll use most.