Silence as a response to the murders? I am not sure I understand the point of One Day Blog Silence. At the site is written: Silence can say more than a thousand words. Yes, that's true in certain situations but to me this is not one of those situations. And maybe the response of bloggers should never be silence in the face of horror.
From the blogosphere, here are some responses to this idea of silence. The first one calls for the opposite: let April 30 be a day during which bloggers reflect and speak.
From Carson Brackney's Content Done Better post Virginia Tech, Cho Seung-Hui and Why Words Matter . . .
I understand paying respect to the dead. I know that moments of silence have long been a means by which we acknowledge those who are lost. I think anyone who feels that’s the right thing to do should take that moment of silence.
I dont, however, think they should let one kid with two guns add productive discourse to the list of casualties.
I’m blogging on April 30, 2007. I’d like you to write, too.
From Diane Levin's Online Guide to Mediation post Why I will not be observing One Day Blog Silence . . .
But I have to ask, why? Why be silent? What is the point? Why not use this as an opportunity to speak out? To rage against the machine? To stand up for whatever cause you believe in that will reduce human suffering or end violence?
From Jay Tea's Wizbang! post Do not go gentle into that good night . . .
[I]n proper context a moment of silence can be very powerful. Blogging is not one of those contexts.
More importantly, I think that silence is precisely the wrong message to send. There's an old aphorism that "silence equals consent." Silence is passive. And passivity is precisely the wrong lesson to take from the massacre.
From Deborah Ng's About: Web Blogs post A Day of Blog Silence? I'm Sorry, No. . . .
Yesterday, I blogged about how bloggers were the first people to get the news out to the world. Do you see why it's so important for bloggers NOT to be quiet? We need to discuss the issues, not maintain silence.
Amen.
Interestingly, I feel differently. Sometimes there is so much discourse it can be overwhelming to the point one cannot even sort out how they actually think or feel about the horrors in the world. Issues and terrifying images get tuned out or blog-surfed, channels changed on the radio or the tv when we can't deal with horrors. The message gets lost precisely because there are too many people talking at once. No one is saying that if there is breaking news that bloggers should maintain silence but imagine bloggers collectively stepping back from their keyboards, not thinking about who's posting what, or their internet business, leaving the keyboard and the clogged blogfeeders and just think and reflect. The next day, imagine the collective reflections being posted.
Of course, everything in life is optional and maybe everyone has done their thinking and moving on...but since the tragedy, the blogosphere has already been filled with responsible and constructive outrage. Silence....it's rare and a lost treasure in the cacophony.
Posted by: Susan Cartier Liebel | April 24, 2007 at 06:28 PM