Am I wrong?

[Aikouka]

This happens almost all the time something relatively tragic occurs. We take it upon ourselves to make sure we show some utmost sense of remorse over the event through any means necessary... regardless of how necessary they are! My thoughts on this tend to come about every time an event like this occurs and were rekindled the other day when I logged into Facebook to check for any pertinent information.

I look at the front page that lists changes to your friends and it's practically filled with messages such as "So-and-so has joined My-Old-High-School supports VT." Now, it's in my best interest to throw the disclaimer here, as people tend to read like they're Jessie Jackson and stop whenever they find something even remotely and possibly offensive without actually reading the rest to understand... I am quite supportive of movements because of this event that matter... such as the memorial fund, etc. But these groups are somewhat bothersome to me, because I don't see them the same way that some may.

I tend to think on a fairly logical manner... everything has a logical point, regardless of what someone says. Now, looking at these Facebook groups... what exactly are they? Nothing other than people joining to show some sort of support. The thing is... what's the purpose of showing support in such a neutral manner? The reason I mention neutral is... this isn't like buying one of those gold ribbon magnets that supports the troops... part of the money you spend on one goes to a fund for troops. These groups serve no purpose. What do they do other than show all of your friends that you're a do-gooder and emotionally supportive person... nothing. Why not just donate $5 to the fund and leave it at that... there's no need to let all your buddies know so you can win e-brownie-points with them.

So what's the point? Am I wrong in being so cynical about these worthless groups?

 

[A Casual Fitz]

It's just like this morning when someone shoved two balls of yarn and scissors on my desk and asked me if I wanted to cut some to make a bracelet in honor of the VT school colors today. It doesn't really bother me what other people do as long as it doesn't affect me really.

 

[Aikouka]

Well, even looking at that example, Fitz, they could've donated the money that it took to buy the yarn to the memorial fund and served a far greater purpose rather than showing off their support and dedication. Albeit it isn't a lot of money, but it's better than $0 .

 

[thirdeye]

I can see it from both sides really. Some people feel they NEED to do something (no matter how useless it is) just to make themselves feel better. However, I agree with you and can't quite grasp how wearing a color on certain day really matters (or something as equally useless).

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: thirdeye
I can see it from both sides really. Some people feel they NEED to do something (no matter how useless it is) just to make themselves feel better. However, I agree with you and can't quite grasp how wearing a color on certain day really matters (or something as equally useless).

What I'm looking at is why they think they need to do something that's worthless... what's the compelling reason, because there's no such thing as no reason to do something. I believe the only reason people join these Facebook group is purely as a social thing in showing their friends and the people in the group that they're a caring individual.

Something similar happened with those Live Strong bracelets about 2 years ago... wearing them became such a common thing that they served no real purpose other than becoming a fad. The more you had, the cooler you sure as hell were.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
Well, even looking at that example, Fitz, they could've donated the money that it took to buy the yarn to the memorial fund and served a far greater purpose rather than showing off their support and dedication. Albeit it isn't a lot of money, but it's better than $0 .

What is the purpose of the memorial fund btw? Regardless of the purpose, I find it interesting that any time there is a national tragedy some type of fund is set up so that people can send money and thus feel better about the tragedy as a result.

(I have nothing against the funds. Just pointing out the psychological benefit they offer to the directly unaffected masses.)

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

It used to piss me off when I got back from deployment, and I seen all of the ribbons on peoples' cars. And I think about how they could have just written some of us sailors on deployment a letter, and it would have made our day. Then someone told me that they got back from deployment from the middle east, and he was quite touched when he got back, and seen all of the vehicles with the ribbons, and it was nice to be in peoples' thoughts, however brief a time. I never thought about it like that. I still would rather send a care package though, but now I see how it goes both ways.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
Well, even looking at that example, Fitz, they could've donated the money that it took to buy the yarn to the memorial fund and served a far greater purpose rather than showing off their support and dedication. Albeit it isn't a lot of money, but it's better than $0 .

Those were 2 separate thoughts. I was agreeing with you on the first part and then just stating that it didn't really bother me if people want to serve no purpose on their own time.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
What is the purpose of the memorial fund btw? Regardless of the purpose, I find it interesting that any time there is a national tragedy some type of fund is set up so that people can send money and thus feel better about the tragedy as a result.

(I have nothing against the funds. Just pointing out the psychological benefit they offer to the directly unaffected masses.)

To create a memorial . As right now there's some sort of make-shift one on the campus. I also don't need to donate money to care about the situation there, I care because I care, not because I show it through some physical manner. It's all superficial for most.

 

[ggnl]

There's a distinction that can be made between meaningful and meaningless gestures in the face of tragic events. Meaningful gestures seek to address the emotional and physical needs of the victims. Meaningless gestures often only take into consideration the needs of the unaffected bystanders, like the person across the country that doesn't know anyone affected by the events, but still feels compelled support the cause to mollify their own sense of outrage.

 

[GTaudiophile]

A big problem in this country is media sensationalism. Plain and simple. It's over then top, overblown, overdramatic. And then they are not doing that, they are not reporting. Instead they are spinning. Be it CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, PBS, FoxNews, Rush Limbaugh, etc.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
What is the purpose of the memorial fund btw? Regardless of the purpose, I find it interesting that any time there is a national tragedy some type of fund is set up so that people can send money and thus feel better about the tragedy as a result.

(I have nothing against the funds. Just pointing out the psychological benefit they offer to the directly unaffected masses.)

To create a memorial . As right now there's some sort of make-shift one on the campus. I also don't need to donate money to care about the situation there, I care because I care, not because I show it through some physical manner. It's all superficial for most.

Sometimes they call these things 'memorial funds' but the money is not always given in full to the construction of said 'memorial'. And all memorials are not always structures. Thus the question... so keep the confused emoticon to yourself buddy.

 

[Farang]

I agree that some of these memorials seem pointless. However at my school they put up a little memorial to all of the victims on campus, and I thought it was nice because our schools are very similar and everyone here was upset at the situation. I mean the size of the town, its place among the state's colleges, the town it is in, are all very similar to ours.

But if your just in an office or something I don't really see the point.