Tom Keefe points out in a comment to my previous post that Facebook put a real "face" on the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting. That folks far removed from the VT campus were given a chance to connect in a personal way with the students and faculty there.
And it's not only social networking sites. I thought it was interesting that The New York Times also provided an interactive online forum. See it here
It's generated a lot of comments and it too puts a face to the names you might only hear briefly on a TV network news report.
I think it's valuable for all of us to be aware of the consequences of such a horrible act and to feel a connection. I also know that I need to distance myself from it now and again, that it feels like it's too much.
I wonder about how much my 13-year-old daughter is taking in and what effect that might have on her and others her age. You used to be sheltered from the harsh realities of everyday life because the information flow was so limited.
But technology has made the world a small place, and while there are huge benefits from that, I also think sometimes it's important to step in and monitor that information flow so that it's not overwhelming, especially for young people.
Strange words maybe from a strong advocate of all things high-tech, but perhaps it's all tinged by it being a Friday after a week filled with horrible news from Virginia to Baghdad.
Comments (1)
Tim, we ALL have to be careful about how deeply we immerse ourselves in the details of this tragedy. Our ability to absorb, process and respond to stressful news differs person to person. Each person's threshold may lower or raise over time, depending on other circumstances.
My 13-year-old son has been talking about it at school and with us at home. I'm more concerned with my 11-year-old daughter, who has more fears in general, and who has a harder time expressing her emotions. We definitely have limited her exposure at home to the details of the massacre.
My wife and I are planning a driving vacation to South Dakota, which will be a great chance for us to put the technology aside (except for the DVD movies that the kids will watch along the way) and to soak in the goodness that also is part of this life.
Balance!
Posted by Tom Keefe | April 20, 2007 1:46 PM
Posted on April 20, 2007 13:46