WingColors

Now, I think this is a really nice idea and I don't want to be the first to squash it or anything but...it's pretty unrealistic.

And perhaps not even a "good idea" - no offense. Having a moment of silence for those who've passed may be an honorable act, but silence inevitably equates to inaction and very little difference has been made in the world through inaction.

Just my two cents and please don't take offense, I am not an expert on this by any means.

I have to agree with clicknation, silence doesn't really DO anything.

Yes it may be a moment to stop and reflect on the horror these people went through but it goes nowhere towards solving the bigger issue.

There's a black ribbon wit the VT logo on it making the rounds on Facebook (which I can't get at from work) that I rather like. I think that would be a more fitting post. There's something very simple about it that I find appealing.

Here ya go...

Yes, that's it. :) Thank you.

I encourage people to post their thoughts and use that image, linking it back to vt.edu.

As has been said, there's already been too much silence on the issue. What we need now is talk, then action.

I think this is ridiculous.

I'm sorry if that offends anyone, and in no way mean to detract from the pain VT and friends and family of the victims are going through.

The fact is these kind of demonstrations are next to meaningless. They accomplish nothing. At the absolute most they make a few people feel better about themselves for adopting a cause. It's empty.

If you want to help someone you offer your time and effort in their time of pain or need. Are there organizations or charities that have sprung up to aid VT, or the family members and friends of the victims? IF so help them, directly.

Silence never solved anything. Silence is what allows numerous tragedies -- many far worse than the shootings at Virgina Tech -- to take place each and every day. I'm not saying the incident wasn't significant. I'm sure those involved and their families will be thinking about it for the rest of their lives. But, it's important to keep some perspective.

In times like these...no, scratch that. In any time, it's important to talk about things like school shootings, the impact they have on the populace, and how best to move forward. I understand wanting to honour the dead, but why not do that by speaking up in their defence?

Bill Maher, speaking about the silence following 9/11, said "Feelings are gonna get hurt so that actual people won't, and that will be a good thing." I think it's an important point to keep in mind when tragic things occur. It may be painful, but silence accomplishes little in the grand scheme of things.

But, then again, that's just my viewpoint.

This is something I whipped up with the quickness, just to show some support.

Edit- It's a .png, so sorry if it looks weird in IE Here is the .PSD

I will include the sign and a link back to vt.edu! I think it is great.

About silence, I do have another opinion ( obviously) and I would love to hear your thoughts about it.

This event is all about breaking patters and making people think and talk. Imagine what we would do if only for one day all media worldwide would turn black in memory of this event. No pictures, no rumors, no debates - nothing except a symbol to force us to think. And nobody else to share your thoughts and emotions with then the people who are around you.

It would have a powerful impact on the lives of many. Well, we can´t turn down all media as bloggers - but we are the blogosphere.

It´s not about NOT talking to each other - this would be ridiculous! It´s about making people think and talk. But not by producing content as we always do and will keep doing - but by giving them a moment to think and reflect.

That´s the reason why this event will be in two weeks - by then it would be enough said and I believe that it will be the right time to take a moment off and reflect about it.

What do you believe?

It´s about making people think and talk.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

Dead air to media is lost money... they will not broadcast nothing to make a quick point. Sure you may get a talking head who will pause for a moment but you can't MAKE people talk about something simply by being quiet.

@carmodyarc Thanks.

Perhaps if you could actually get everyone to participate you could drive your point home to some people.

But the fact is, you can't, you never will be able to accomplish that. It's like the ribbons on the car. Ok, well if you feel the need to advertise what you do and don't support, good for you, but it's not accomplishing anything except advertising for yourself.

My point is to do things that matter, and affect the problem or help people overcome the effects of the problem itself. These are empty gestures, well intended I know, but ultimately empty.

When there's little else you can do what's the harm in an empty gesture?

Besides, if even one victim's family is even remotely touched by the outpouring of grief in so many forms, then it was entirely worth it.

Just my opinion...

When there's little else you can do what's the harm in an empty gesture?

Why not donate funds to go towards the funeral costs for their lost children? I don't know about you but someone who generously donates to help ease my burdens in time of great grief would be MUCH more well received than someone with empty words.

@RightOn
Sure, by all means!

I meant for people who can't do something concrete to help, just making light of the situation is plenty.

Something is better than nothing.

I'm sure that some kind of victim's assistance fund is in the works as we speak, if you have the resources think about making a donation.

When there's little else you can do what's the harm in an empty gesture?

Ok. I don't think there's harm in it, I just don't think there's much likelyhood of help in it either. I do agree that something is better than nothing, but I think a lot (most?) people get deluded into thinking they're helping a cause by their stickers and such, when truthfully that's hardly ever the case.

Please read this. It put tears in my eyes:
http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/silence-is-a-memoriam-not-a-reason-to-stop-blogging/

People express grief and seek to provide comfort in times of tragedy in all kinds of ways. If that means being 'silent' for an amount of time or placing a ribbon on your site, by all means do so.

However, to hope that the entire global, US or even Virginia-based blogosphere is going to be silent is a pretty high-hoped venture that'll have a hard time catching any lift. The likelihood of it getting even small amount of media attention is nill.

However, to not get totally down on your idea, what about considering adding a realistic call-to-action to your movement.

Something like...Be silent for a day. Step away from the blogosphere and into the community. Volunteer, serve a need for your neighbors for the day...

Think about it like this. Have you ever done something for someone who misses or hasn't seen their kids in a while -- or perhaps their kids are grown adults now? Ever have one of them say with a ton of gratitude and a gleam in their eye -- "you remind me so much of my son / daughter" after you did this nice thing?

Right now there are parents of at least 32 kids in more pain then you could ever imagine. No doubt their motivation to do the simplest errands is gone -- sucked away in the vacuum which is their unfortunate loss. What's going to bring a little bit of sunshine back into their lives is not going to be arguments over gun control or fault laying or silence without action (also known in Christian circles as faith without works or prayer without faith or action). Your silence and showing of love to someone else just might be the respect and positive, affirmative movement they are needing right now.

Don't think that need is limited to the parents either. All day yesterday I embraced my children, too young to even understand -- concerned more than I ever have been about what kind of world they are growing up in.

I doubt I was the only parent not directly involved in this incident who did that.

To be out with my son yesterday occasionally seeing folks genuinely smile at us, offer to open a door, be of some type of service and just do small things, made me feel better.

If you're going to support, then do more than just show it -- show the world we "do support" those who are hurting.

Yes, silence doesn't do anything. But it doesn't mean you should shut up.

I mean, when's the last time you heard funeral being extremely noisy?

I don't understand how people relate this to silencing our thoughts?

Every funeral I've been at has been really noisy, and I've been to quite a few. I there's a greater, secondary tangent-type conversation going on here.

People always like money, especially when it helps them bury children that they never could have planned for, every little bit helps.

As for "empty words" - I think you'll find that most people don't find anything empty about someone saying the standard "I'm so sorry for your loss."

I thought they would as well, until I had to attend seven funerals in the last two years. People want to be comforted, and familiarity is comfort.

You know it was sad, but do you know how many people die a day, and how many are shot and murdered. I for one respect those who lost their lives but I do not know them nor do I believe it should be such a National Tragedy. Yes it sparks up worries about it happening else where, but there has always been that possibility, just now people realize it.

It's awfully US-centric to expect the "entire" blogosphere to go dark for one day to support a tragedy at one school in one country.

Did the blogosphere go dark when those kids in the Russian theatre ended up dead? What about when that plane crashed in Russia a couple months ago? Hell, what about the bus accident a month or so ago that killed all those students? And that was INSIDE the USA.

The entire world is full of tragedy, but it's only when its close to home that it seems to matter? This sort of NIMBY makes me ill.

The only reason they're calling for it is because the media is harping on it as if it was the end of the world.

Not to say it didn't seem like it for all of those students and parents involved but life moves on.

Those who started it are not americans. They are three twenty somethings from turkey, greece and germany.

They don´t care about the nationality - they care about the people!

Then they need to call for a global lockdown anytime a "tragedy" occurs.

No offence but YES it was a tragedy, but so is what happens to thousands around the globe every day.

Shut down the blogosphere everytime a tragedy happens... hell we might as well turn off the servers for good.

I'm going to say good call on the 'US-centric' nature of this idea, even though it wasn't fostered by Americans.

Everyone who mentioned the fact that tragedies go unheard all around the world are absolutely right. Everyone who said America is so hypocritically jaded when it comes to violence, horror, and sadness are absolutely right.

A moment of silence is only going to reaffirm those facts.