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I can't believe some people are human

Posted by , 28 December 2004 · 37 views

Let me ask you a simple question: Do you know what major event happened on Saturday night/Sunday morning?

Do you know? Do you care?

In case you don't know, an earthquake struck under the surface of the indian ocean, causing a tidal wave that has killed, so far, 60,000 people.

I have to ask whether you know because judging by the posting patterns on this board, virtually no-one seems to care. At all. We have 2 topics going and collectively they have received 23 replies. Meanwhile, topics about an asteroid maybe hitting us in 25 years time has had twice as many posts and views. A topic about what people got for Christmas has had almost 3 times as many replies. Out of the 23 replies, most were from Brits, Canadians or Europeans. Only 3 were from Americans even though the vast majority of members here are American!

And yet on the other side of the planet, 60,000 people have died and many more will be found or die as a result.

The world was shell-shocked when 9/11 killed 3000 people. This is 20 times more than that.

My point is why doesn't anyone seem to give a damn? Forget about what might happen in 25 years time and just for a few minutes forget about what you got for christmas. Just read about what has happened in Asia and if you can, do something to help.

Anyone with a heart should read http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/4125619.stm





Scott B
Dec 28 2004 09:56 AM
This annoyed me as well. But what do you expect? If it doesn't involve America then they don't care. To many, an Asian life or an African life is less important to them than an American life. It is really sad sad.gif

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/ It's on the front pages in America, but little is said by Americans.

The Guardian reported stories of parents watching their children get dragged away by the wash. crying.gif

DĒn
Dec 28 2004 12:28 PM
I haven't replied simply because I can't express what I feel. I still can't comprehend it myself, I sit and read the news reports and watch TV and it does feel like a movie. It's like I'm watching Sky Movies instead of Sky News, it's just unreal.

As for the Americans, well most of them probably don't even know where the Indian Ocean is, or have a clue how far or how close the countries involved are.


Karl
Dec 28 2004 05:12 PM
I could not agree more Rikki.

I was shocked as i watched it unfold with others in Argos on the TV's and now 60,000 its beyond comprehension, to think a part of the world is being destroyed, 60,000 people have lost their lives  you just cant put it into words i guess.... its mad

Barn
Dec 28 2004 08:02 PM
It's an interesting, but very sad topic.

People know what the death of one person feels like and anybody who has ever lost somebody can understand the pain that the victim's family and friends are feeling. We sometimes feel the pain with them, as well as for them.

None of us know what 60,000 deaths feel like. I don't even know how big  60,000 people would look. I'm not sure how you'd scale up the feelings of one death to so many. I'm not even sure if they should be scaled up... whether 60,000 deaths should feel worse in our minds than one. Do we try to apply mathematics to grief?

The emotions in my head at 9/11 were to do with the visciousness of the attack, with the thoughts of the dozens of people on each flight. I'm afraid to say that I struggled to put any more thought into the number of dead in each tower than "wow... that's a lot of people".

What do you feel when you read the stories? I'm going to be absolutely truthful... my main feelings are ones of bewilderment. I read the stories, I see the death toll rising by 10,000 each time I visit. I know it's a tragedy, but what does it mean in human terms? I simply don't know how to feel for every friend and family member for every one of those 60,000 victims.

Davy
Dec 29 2004 02:57 PM
I gave $50, and although it's not much, I hope it helps.

Sam
Dec 29 2004 08:28 PM
QUOTE(Dan)
I haven't replied simply because I can't express what I feel. I still can't comprehend it myself, I sit and read the news reports and watch TV and it does feel like a movie. It's like I'm watching Sky Movies instead of Sky News, it's just unreal.

That's the same with me, Dan. I often can't think of something to say with these sorts of disasters and the topics at the Forums, I don't tend to reply in. I read them and read the articles but can't bring myself to putting it into words.

I just watched The Day After Tomorrow before hearing about the event and in Geography we've just finished a section on Tsunami waves. It's rather terrifying and my heart does go out to all those affected.

Matt
Dec 30 2004 04:36 AM
It's hard to actually comprehend what's happening. I don't really know how to encapsulate my feelings on hearing that, so far, 80,000 people have died.

I think the western world has become numb through movies. "The Day After Tomorrow" featured disaster after disaster with nearly half the world wiped out and we call that entertainment. Of course there is a line between reality and fiction but it's easy to become numb to it.

I think 9/11 was so shocking because a group of people set out to purposely kill innocent people. They plotted and planned a horrific attack which through its simplicity had a profound effect. Not only were 3000 people killed that day and Manhattan altered for life but America, and the rest of the world, realised that all it takes is one plane and a few people to strike fear into a nation.

Stephen
Dec 30 2004 01:31 PM
I just wish there was something I could do to help, donating just doesn't seem enough

Rikki
Dec 30 2004 08:42 PM
My mum and I spoke about going there to help if that was a possibility, but I think troops of people not trained in this sort of stuff wouldn't really help anyone and would hinder efforts.

Kyanar
Jan 01 2005 09:52 AM
I think there really isn't much us regular people can do but offer our condolences to those who have lost life or family, or friends.  But even then, that doesn't seem like much either.

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