So it's possible to get a boatload of information -- even if a lot of it is rumor, conjecture, or just plain wrong -- and end up not really knowing anything at all.
You see this behavior reflected in online communities like discussion boards and blog comment threads, too -- lots of people taking the latest news tidbit and just running with it:
It was multiple shooters. It was two guys. One guy's dead, the other's in custody. It was just one guy. Maybe it was Islamic terrorists. I heard it was a boyfriend/girlfriend thing. We need more gun control. It was a gun-free campus, look what happened. You're full of it. No, you're full of it.About the only thing I counsel is to wait for the facts to come in before you start running your mouth.
However, one thing we can do is express our sympathy and support for the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this terrible crime.
Now, I don't usually go in for these sorts of things, but for a tiny, tiny gesture of solidarity (especially since I know a lot of my friends and colleagues have ties to Virginia Tech), I've changed my Buddy Icon over to the Virginia Tech icon (it's available to AOL & AIM client users):
Update, 4/17: My cohorts at the AIM BuddyBlog have created 2 new icons you can use to show your support for those affected by the Virginia Tech shootings; they're ribbon icons in the Support and Remembrance categories, and their design is based on other online badges and memorials we've seen -- I will blog about it a little more in a new entry:
36 comments:
My heartfelt prayers are with the familys of the young students who have suffered this awful act of murder ~ it is all so sad ~ Ally
It means a lot more than you give yourself credit for. Well done! This type of tragedy is always compounded by the ensuing media feeding frenzy. It's always disgusting, even more so when the tragedy directly effects you. Than God my cousin moved off campus this semester and hates 8am classes!
that is a lovely gesture.
My prayers and love is with the family and friends and those still holding on.
Much Love,
Mary
Joe,
It's a great gesture.. and you are right.. people shouldn't start passing judgement, start rumors,too much bad has already happened. We should be praying for the victims and their famlies and friends. No matter how we feel about guns/gun control.. as that really isn't the issue... it could happen anywhere at anytime, my thoughts and prayers are with anyone touched by this tragedy.
Promise
I refuse to go to the message boards omn stuff like this. Not matter what has happened the boards always become a mess of racial and senceless trash talking.
My heart goes out to the families and the survivors.
h
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All i can say is god bless all those young men and women college students who were killed in this senseless episode. They all had so much to live for. What a shame. Why, Why, Why?
Joe R. N.J.
Beyond comprehension, Joe. RIP the fallen.
Prayers, condolences, and sympathies to the families, friends, and the community of Blacksburg in general. This senseless tragedy will be remembered for forever.
Parents- hold your children closer, tell them every day how much they're loved.
Blessed Be
may the great Lord protect us all, and may the Lord console and be with the families and loved ones of those who lost their loved ones. where are now safe? Nowhere.
I pray for those at Virginia Tech and the rest of the world. Grant us peace!
Lynne Hamden, CT
Prayers and thoughts to all of the Va. Tech family.
I am sending up prayers and thoughts to all the familys and friends of the victims and also for those who are wounded. I am terribly sorry about this tragedy. I am praying for the VTech students and facility. God bless.
I'll join ya on this one.
Jimmy
I'm a grad student at Tech and I just wanted to say how much we all appreciate the support coming to us from all over the country. This isn't us. This horrible tragedy doesn't represent what a wonderful school and community we have here, but the thing that does represent our community is the love and support and pulling together that you can witness everywhere in Blacksburg tonight, on campus, at the churches, in the apartment complexs, even downtown at the restaurants. We're good people here at Tech and we really need and appreciate all the prayers and support we're getting.
May God bless everyone. The families n friends that are affected by this.Imagine waking up this morning thinking life is good n sum thing like this breaks ur heart n spirit but God hear all prayers n will not let his people tears go to waste. The shooter can escape is fate on earth but he can't escape the fate of God. Hope this touch sum hearts.keep ur head up V.T. God LOVES YOU!!
What can someone say to a Mother and Father or a Brother and Sister at a time like this? There is nothing that can be said in the face of a horrific, catastrophic tragedy such as this, no amount of words could ever begin to console the families and friends of those who were taken from them much too soon and pointlessly, but too Virgina Tech, the town of Blacksburg and all the families around the nation that this life changing event came home too, our thoughts and prayers belong too you right now and you are all in our hearts. God Bless You ALL.
WKG
I am praying for those people who have lost their loved ones. I pray for those who have been wounded, not only by the gun fire, but by the terrible knowledge that it happened. I can't even begin to imagine the grief and suffering that all of the people there and their families must be going through.
I ask God to gather them all in His arms and hold them all close. I ask Him to hold this whole country close to His heart and give us all peace.
Prudence
Yikes.
This is why I got out of teaching. It's nothing against kids or Asians or Virginians. It's just that if you get a thousand or so Americans in one place, at least one of them is going to be flat-out crazy. Several of that thousand will be heavily armed, too...
Not much good is coming out of that situation.
April 17, 2007
10:42 a.m.
I'm so, so sad right now. Even though I don't know any of the students and faculty that were tragically and unnecessarily killed, all I can think about is the families of these poor individuals, the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, etc. I cannot even imagine the pain and sorrow that they are going through. I'm very grateful that there is this site that I can put into words how I'm feeling right now. All I want to do is cry. I feel sick to my stomach. I have prayed so hard for the victims and their families. I hope that this website will convey to the families how truly sorry I am and also everyone else around the world about what happened yesterday morning.
I hope everyone will stop for a moment and say a prayer for them and their families. May God rest their souls.
Sincerely,
Caroline
Treasure Island, Fl
All the "What If's" in the world, cannot replace the lives of these victims.
This tragedy has caused a ripple effect beyond measure and for sometime to come.
It is really hard to say that you sympathize with these good people, if we have not personally face something like this.
I have two sons and just can't imagine my feelings, should I ever have to lose one of them.
At this momment in time, our first and foremost goal should be to let everyone know at Virginia Tech, their families, friends, etc., that our thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone of them.
May God Caress You in His Arms,
Jackie
Hey... its something... so sad... just terrible.
be well,
Dawn
It is such a sad event when one selfish pmonster can destroy the lives of thousands of innocents. My prayers and wishes go out to the victims and their families.
{ Vigginia Tech }
32 Angels
Now float with beauty and such grace
For you now wear a set of wings
Circling threw the air
Watching over your love one’s
You had to so quickly leave
Down here
32 Angles
Now float with such beauty and grace
Sadness of that day the world
Shall never erase
A class of 32
You now are up above the clouds
As our heavenly father embraces
Every last one of you
Walking threw the gates
32 angles now float with such beauty and grace
Your faces
Shall be sadly missed for ever more
32 angels
The world sends there prays
To you; to your family’s down here
32 angles now float with such beauty and grace
Written ByTanyaMarie Lane
Copyritted toT.M.L2007
Is very Sad and tragic. Rest in peace.
Leidy
New Jersey
Kean university
As a mother of four, My heart felt a sinking pain .The devasting shock of something like this happening is beyond thinkable. My prays go out for the victims and their families. God Bless Us in this crazy world
To all those that will grieve for the rest of their lives with tears and pain of sorrow I send of prayer of enlightenment for jesus to touch your souls and guide you in finding all your answres to relive these burdons. I also want to ask students who may be going through a depression or something emotional that they dont think they have any control over. There is help !!! Go seek advise as there are many counselrers that can give you new ideas to help with your emotions. One for instance is Avatar. See your on a new road allready...Amen
God Bless
Spokane Wa
Dear joe;
Thank you for this journals/blog about Virginia Tech. And thanks to all the comments from everyone on this page. Here in Virginia all of us have (speaking for myself especially) been pretty shook up. Yesterday was our Ruritan Shad Planking events. And it's normally a big events with the polical dignitaries from virginia but, a couple of big sponsor have from the city have pulled out, and have given their strong advised to our local group, to close/cancel this events. Of course, Robert, and the rest of the boys said "I don't think so, oh no" we can't be scared off by anyone or anything...so, they got me to decorate the stage with a dedication to our "Hookies". things happeneds in life that we can never control, all we could do is to pray to God for his mercy on us. With that, we must go on. Most of our local Ruritan club here in wakefied have went to Virginia Tech, and some have a couple of sons and daughters that are students there now. The first thing we all needed to hear on that Day was that if any of them got hurt?...and by yesterday it was annouced on the podium that our local kids are not hurt...We all breath a little better(I know I did, cause I could never imagine what will happened to me if one of my kids got hurt or killed like that). This is home. It feels rotten. but i'm glad you have this blog to help my emotion. We sort of cry at the Shad. That was yesterday, and today I feel a little better.
Thank you guys..Virginia is for lovers...........Always.
P.S. thank you joe, and the rest of the Aimpage team. You guys are awesome.
Oh!......and thank you all for the wonderful Virginia Tech Icon! I love it.
The horrific event at VT has has an impact on every student that attends school across the county. I just want to wish everyone good luck in the grieving process. I hope all of the students and families impacted find peace within themselves and with the situation. My condolences goes out to all families who had lost a loved one. May God bless you all.
-Reka,NY-
I'd like to comment on the professor who blocked the door so his students could escxape and was killed for it. I don't know how everyone else feels, but in my opinion, he should be given the Carnegie Gold Medal, the Congressional Medal of Freedom and any other award for bravery that's out there. That man was a true hero!
My heart and prayers goes out to all of the families and friends @ virginia tech. All anyone can do is pray and hold your heads up high, life has to go on but the ppl that lost their lives that day, will be in our hearts forever!!!
also...the VT icons was a wonderful idea...it is a great way for ppl all over the U.S. to be able to show their support for the families and friends of VT! Thank You!
I wept when I saw the coverage of the VT tragedy. My heartfelt prayers go out to all the loved ones left behind. It is a travesty that so many wonderful lives were cut short that horrific day and I will remember the victims in my prayers daily. I pray for the strength of parents, siblings, friends and family of all those lost and may they one day be able to find inner peace. I am a mother of two young children and a wife of a NYC firefighter who was lucky enough to have my husband come home after 9/11. We lost many friends and loved ones that day. If I had one bit of advice to pass along after living through a horrific event it is to not be afraid to heal. Healing does not mean your're forgetting. It means your getting stronger. Keep your loved ones light alive by remembering all they've meant to you and how they touched the world around you.
My prayers are with you all,
Theresa
My brother goes to Virginia Tech and I was very scared for him when i heard the news. One of his friends from math class was shot and killed. I think that the icons are a very good idea to show support for those at VT and their family and friends. THere is not one kid on the campus that wasnt effected by these horrible shootings. Thank you for helping show support for the Hokie nation, which has become even stronger through these horrific events.
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