A minute's silence.

Originally posted by huckleberryhound
Comedy isn't making jokes about people as they die, that's the act of a sociopath.

I agree ! Hear, Hear !!

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Mike never intended it but his soft request for a 'minute of silence' thread has succeeded in becoming a yardstick of the humanity

of RHP Community Members... specifically their sensitivities to the excruciating suffering and grief of others on a massive scale.

Or of 15 people out of 19420

Originally posted by pawnhandler
Or of 15 people out of 19420

I bet you didn't count me did you? 😛

Originally posted by pawnhandler
Or of 15 people out of 19420

Salute to all those gf junkies who held their silence. The Robert Frost

line, "The strong are saying nothing until they know" comes to mind.

Originally posted by Very Rusty
I bet you didn't count me did you? 😛

Of course I did, my very fluffy friend! I counted by avatars. My bad -- there were two without.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Salute to all those gf junkies who held their silence. The Robert Frost

line, "The strong are saying nothing until they know" comes to mind.

I said nothing because the earthquake was Monday and I thought it awfully strange to assume that no one on the web site thought about it, cared about it, discussed it, prayed (for those so inclined), had a moment of silence about it, etc., until it was brought up in this thread and one in debates -- four or five days later. My assumption was that most people have a personal life elsewhere in which they dealt with the horrendous tragedy according to their personal custom, without any need to make a personal show of it. It's nice that this thread is here for those who needs are more public, but bizarre to use people's silence as a barometer of their empathy. This isn't just for you, but for anyone who thinks that what people post on one web site is the sum total of their interior existence.

[/soapbox]

Originally posted by pawnhandler
I said nothing because the earthquake was Monday and I thought it awfully strange to assume that no one on the web site thought about it, cared about it, discussed it, prayed (for those so inclined), had a moment of silence about it, etc., until it was brought up in this thread and one in debates -- four or five days later. My assumption was that most p what people post on one web site is the sum total of their interior existence.

[/soapbox]

soapbox? I don't know about that. But very nicely said!

I think people sometimes just want to put it out of their minds, as if it never happened, and move on.

I have been called many things on here, even a lady, "fluffy" is new for me 😉 !!

Originally posted by Very Rusty
soapbox? I don't know about that. But very nicely said!

I think people sometimes just want to put it out of their minds, as if it never happened, and move on.

And that brings up the question:

Which is worse, laughing about it or looking the other way and pretending it didn't happen?

Originally posted by pawnhandler
I said nothing because the earthquake was Monday and I thought it awfully strange to assume that no one on the web site thought about it, cared about it, discussed it, prayed (for those so inclined), had a moment of silence about it, etc., until it was brought up in this thread and one in debates -- four or five days later. My assumption was that most p ...[text shortened]... what people post on one web site is the sum total of their interior existence.

[/soapbox]

Pawnie, the crux issue is Mike's request. To honor or disregard it is a matter of personal choice. At the very

least, though, this incidental public yardstick reveals varied senses of timing, decorum and good taste.

Originally posted by HandyAndy
And that brings up the question:

Which is worse, laughing about it or looking the other way and pretending it didn't happen?

Two valued judgement, Andy. Order of the day is tertium quid.

Originally posted by HandyAndy
And that brings up the question:

Which is worse, laughing about it or looking the other way and pretending it didn't happen?

It is strange, but in difficult times, People have different ways of dealing with hardships. Some do indeed laugh, some look the other way, some pray, some get intoxicated, some send money, some go to the place and try to help. It doesn't always mean disrespect, but their way of dealing with it.

I would not want to judge anyone for how they deal with it.

Originally posted by pawnhandler
I said nothing because the earthquake was Monday and I thought it awfully strange to assume that no one on the web site thought about it, cared about it, discussed it, prayed (for those so inclined), had a moment of silence about it, etc., until it was brought up in this thread and one in debates -- four or five days later. My assumption was that most p ...[text shortened]... what people post on one web site is the sum total of their interior existence.

[/soapbox]

What I said was "Holy *blank*, that's *blank*. What the *blank*?" It was accompanied by feelings of deep sympathy and the best of wishes for all involved. You can't post this sort of nonsense if you only want sympathetic responses though. People will react in ways that range from complete non-caring to hysterical punning, but those are all ways of expressing the same fear, sadness, remorse or whatever - people like to hide from things. My reaction involved swearing a lot, but that's my way. Others make jokes. Others express their feelings in a touchy-feely-girly-wimpy sort of way. It's the way of things.

I think (so long as we have no honest-to-god sociopaths here) that we all feel a certain loss with the loss of any life in the world, and damage to this extent creates an even more profound reaction whatever that reaction happens to be.

All that being said - I sure hope that no one gets the zombie virus over there because there is land all the way to western Europe and Southern Africa from China, so a lot of people are *blank* if it happens.

Originally posted by st00p1dfac3
You can't post this sort of nonsense if you only want sympathetic responses though.

It isn't nonsense. I didn't ask for any sympathetic responses. I asked for each to give a minute of their time to reflect, and maybe realise just how lucky they are.

If it was a footballer who'd died at the yankee stadium or old trafford I bet you wouldn't hear a pin drop or somebody joking in the stadium - they'd get battered to a pulp.

As this is just an internet forum anything can be said. However, it does demonstrate the school boys from the men!

As for zombies, it would appear that virus already hit this site! 🙂