My Friends of Norrath
A (very) long time ago in Ultima, a single gamer passed away; this person was well known on our server, and I cannot remember what the circumstances of the passing were. What I do remember vividly was what the response of the people on our server was.
This person's guild petitioned a GM to place a monument to this individual within the virtual world. As part of this, a server-wide vigil was held. Life literally stopped on the server for a brief time (with almost no exceptions).
As most of you know, yesterday a tragedy occurred in Virginia that took the lives of many sons, daughters and faculty members of Virginia Tech. While I had no family or friends there, I found the pictures of medical personnel and law officers carrying these children from the buildings to be particularly painful. This is the second time in the near past where our children have been thoughtlessly taken away from us in a senseless act of violence. It seems we are in violent times, as our children our being taken by wars abroad, and senseless violence at home.
Sanctus Covenir will hold a non-denominational vigil, guild-wide, to recognize not only these children and the faculty, but all of our children everywhere who are perishing due to war and violence on Sunday April 22 at 8:00pm EST. We will sponsor five minutes of peace on the Unrest server at the Keep of the Ardent Needle in Antonica to honor these children, the faculty, and our soldiers abroad (who are also our children) who are surrendering their lives to this trend of violence.
I recognize that this is but a small token gesture, but our history has proven that a small token gesture can change our future. Had Rosa Parks shown apathy and refused to leave her seat on that bus so long ago as was the culture at the time, who knows what we may have missed; a small act on her part that changed our history forever. If for no other reason, if what we do by this token act is to let one person who was hurt by this senseless event know that we care, then it will have been a success. The MMO world is strange place; we do not know who sits behind the keyboard, controlling the avatar that we see. It could be that one of those people you interact with could be a friend, parent, girlfriend or boyfriend of someone who was injured or was killed.
I had hoped that we could gather enough people to make a difference; to perhaps show one person that was hurt by this tragedy that is sitting behind a keyboard somewhere in Norrath that this community does care. Maybe that is not possible, but on Unrest, I know that at least a few people will be at the Keep of the Ardent Needle Sunday evening at 8:00pm EST. Whatever you decide to do is up to you; and I would fight to the death to defend your right to your perspective on this, regardless of what I feel. That is what democracy is all about. I do appreciate the time you folks have taken in reading this post.
I ask that each of you consider this, and perhaps speak with your guilds to support this effort Norrath wide. I have posted a note about this on the SoE forums (Newbie Area) and on the SoE Server Board for Unrest.
Safe travels my friends.
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 11:20am by jjnichols
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Sunday April 22 - Five Minutes of PeaceFollow
I don't mean to sound callous but geesh, five minutes of peace while logged into a video game? to what purpose? What does that even mean?...you're going to refrain from killing make-believe mobs for 5mins?
...and you compare this to the seemingly slight but highly courageous actions of Rosa Parks?
I dunno, I have two college kids. I've spent time talking with them about this. I attend (on a very part time basis) our local university where they'll be doing a candlelight vigil that I may or may not take part in.
This REALLY happened. I'd feel pretty shallow memorializing a real life tradgedy in my lil' make-believe escape world.
I would suggest logging into EQ 5mins later than you might and use those 5mins to write down your thoughts in a blog, write an editorial, talk with your children, visit with a lonely neighbor, or one of a million other things that might matter, even a little bit, to the real people in this world.
BTW, your subject title give the date of this event as March 22 instead of April 22.
...and you compare this to the seemingly slight but highly courageous actions of Rosa Parks?
I dunno, I have two college kids. I've spent time talking with them about this. I attend (on a very part time basis) our local university where they'll be doing a candlelight vigil that I may or may not take part in.
This REALLY happened. I'd feel pretty shallow memorializing a real life tradgedy in my lil' make-believe escape world.
I would suggest logging into EQ 5mins later than you might and use those 5mins to write down your thoughts in a blog, write an editorial, talk with your children, visit with a lonely neighbor, or one of a million other things that might matter, even a little bit, to the real people in this world.
BTW, your subject title give the date of this event as March 22 instead of April 22.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
120 civilians were blown up in Iraq, today ... How come we don't hear call for erecting a monument to them?
Quote:
I'd feel pretty shallow memorializing a real life tradgedy in my lil' make-believe escape world.
Gotta agree with this statement
7 posts
Thanks for the correction, it has been a busy morning.
EQ2 is truly just a video game, but it is also a medium of communication, no different than TV, a blog, radio, mail, email (etc). You see this different than writing a blog, I guess that I do not. You have just selected a different method of communication, of expression.
This is not about five minutes of not killing mobs; this is about the community of people that are members of this virtual world stopping whatever they are doing for five minutes, and joining with other members in one place to remember those of have passed, those who have been wounded, and the families of those who were impacted by this event. I respect that you would feel shallow by doing this; and that you have selected another way to express your feelings. I hope that you would respect those who would choose a way that you do not agree with. The folks behind each of those avatars you see in EQ2 are real people; neither you nor I know if behind these avatars are friends or family members that have been impacted by this tragedy. I suggest that maybe your selections for how you choose to deal with this should not be forced on anyone else.
EQ2 is truly just a video game, but it is also a medium of communication, no different than TV, a blog, radio, mail, email (etc). You see this different than writing a blog, I guess that I do not. You have just selected a different method of communication, of expression.
This is not about five minutes of not killing mobs; this is about the community of people that are members of this virtual world stopping whatever they are doing for five minutes, and joining with other members in one place to remember those of have passed, those who have been wounded, and the families of those who were impacted by this event. I respect that you would feel shallow by doing this; and that you have selected another way to express your feelings. I hope that you would respect those who would choose a way that you do not agree with. The folks behind each of those avatars you see in EQ2 are real people; neither you nor I know if behind these avatars are friends or family members that have been impacted by this tragedy. I suggest that maybe your selections for how you choose to deal with this should not be forced on anyone else.
7 posts
Regarding the comment about the deaths in Iraq. Any sensless death is a tragedy. But I guess there comes a point when the scope of an event far exceeds any amount of reason we could apply. Should we be outraged by the deaths in Iraq? Yes. However, there are some things that complicate this. Each time I get into a car I acknowledge that there is some risk to driving; I know that there is a chance that I will be in an accident, and I accept that risk by driving. The same is true with the soldier and civilians involved in war; while I do not like either, each of these examples has identified risks. I do not want to make the deaths of soldiers or civilians in Iraq trivial at all. However, there is a known, recognized risk in being a soldier or just being in Iraq. Anyone who travels there and has sat through the security brief required would tell you that,
The 32 people that were killed at VT knew of no such risk. Do you believe that they woke up that morning, headed for class knowing that there was an acknowledged risk that someone might enter my classroom and shoot everyone in their class? There is no such acknowledged risk. Do you believe the parents weighed going to college against a possible risk of being slain in a classroom? When your child gets their first car, you acknowledge the risk your child will die in a car accident. When your child joins the armed services, you acknowledge that he/she may never return. Is the point then that we should accept that attending college should be akin to sending our children to war? I am sorry; I do not and will not accept that. A classroom in any school should not carry the same risk as living in Iraq.
I had hoped that we could gather enough people to make some undefinable difference; to perhaps show one person that was hurt by this tragedy that is sitting behind a keyboard somewhere in Norrath that this community does care. Maybe that is not possible, but on Unrest, I know that at least a few people will be at the Keep of the Ardent Needle Sunday evening. Whatever you decide to do is up to you; and I would fight to the death to defend your right to your perspective on this, regardless of what I feel. That is what democracy is all about. I do appreciate the time you folks have taken in talking about this.
Safe travels my friends.
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 11:39am by jjnichols
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 12:04pm by jjnichols
The 32 people that were killed at VT knew of no such risk. Do you believe that they woke up that morning, headed for class knowing that there was an acknowledged risk that someone might enter my classroom and shoot everyone in their class? There is no such acknowledged risk. Do you believe the parents weighed going to college against a possible risk of being slain in a classroom? When your child gets their first car, you acknowledge the risk your child will die in a car accident. When your child joins the armed services, you acknowledge that he/she may never return. Is the point then that we should accept that attending college should be akin to sending our children to war? I am sorry; I do not and will not accept that. A classroom in any school should not carry the same risk as living in Iraq.
I had hoped that we could gather enough people to make some undefinable difference; to perhaps show one person that was hurt by this tragedy that is sitting behind a keyboard somewhere in Norrath that this community does care. Maybe that is not possible, but on Unrest, I know that at least a few people will be at the Keep of the Ardent Needle Sunday evening. Whatever you decide to do is up to you; and I would fight to the death to defend your right to your perspective on this, regardless of what I feel. That is what democracy is all about. I do appreciate the time you folks have taken in talking about this.
Safe travels my friends.
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 11:39am by jjnichols
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 12:04pm by jjnichols
Quote:
I do not want to make the deaths of soldiers or civilians in Iraq trivial at all. However, there is a known, recognized risk in being a soldier or just being in Iraq.
This is just retarded. You think that just because civilians that are living in Iraq should expect that they should die?? That is the dumbest %@@^ing that I have ever heard. It is like saying that since some one lives in a neighborhood that has gangs in it that they should be expected to die. What do you think the insurgents are? They are just gangs that use different types of tactics. The tradegy that happened at Virginia Tech could have happened anywhere. If you want to honor these victims do something other than trying to do it in a computer game. There are better things that you could do to honor these people. An example is to stop playing EQ or what ever game that you are playing for a month and donate that money to an organization that will be set up to help out the vicitms families. To have a vigil in an virtual world is just retarded.
Also if you are tyring to set this up for a EQ2 server. Maybe you shouldnt have posted in on the original Everquest board.
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 3:51pm by doorsofpercep
7 posts
I apologize for putting this in the wrong place.
Doors
If a parent sends his son or daughter to college, do you believe they are prepared to have them killed? If your son or daughter goes to Iraq, a country in a civil war, where there are civilian and military deaths every day, do you expect that there is a possability your child would be killed? For that matter, if your son/daughter makes a trip into a neighborhood known for gang activity, do you expect that their may be some trouble associated with it? Perhaps you feel it is fine that we equate our classrooms with countries in civil wars or neighborhoods with gang activity, I choose not to.
Civilians in Iraq, a country in civil war, know they are in danger; it gives them the opportunity of CHOICE. They can take action to protect themselves; they can leave the country; however at least they are AWARE that there is danger. The same is true of your example regarding gangs. Do you believe the professor that lost his life blocking a door shut so his students could escape was aware of that danger BEFORE he came to work? Do you think any of those kids in the classroom were AWARE of the danger and could have made an informed choice not to go? They had NONE of the choices that the examples you gave had.
Regarding the word "retarded," do you recognize the meaning of that word? Perhaps you should think about the number of people you insult when you use it, besides of course, your target, me.
Doors
If a parent sends his son or daughter to college, do you believe they are prepared to have them killed? If your son or daughter goes to Iraq, a country in a civil war, where there are civilian and military deaths every day, do you expect that there is a possability your child would be killed? For that matter, if your son/daughter makes a trip into a neighborhood known for gang activity, do you expect that their may be some trouble associated with it? Perhaps you feel it is fine that we equate our classrooms with countries in civil wars or neighborhoods with gang activity, I choose not to.
Civilians in Iraq, a country in civil war, know they are in danger; it gives them the opportunity of CHOICE. They can take action to protect themselves; they can leave the country; however at least they are AWARE that there is danger. The same is true of your example regarding gangs. Do you believe the professor that lost his life blocking a door shut so his students could escape was aware of that danger BEFORE he came to work? Do you think any of those kids in the classroom were AWARE of the danger and could have made an informed choice not to go? They had NONE of the choices that the examples you gave had.
Regarding the word "retarded," do you recognize the meaning of that word? Perhaps you should think about the number of people you insult when you use it, besides of course, your target, me.
Boy oh boy do I hate HATE hate ...when serious political debate/discussion creeps in where it doesnt belong... >.<
Quote:
Civilians in Iraq, a country in civil war, know they are in danger; it gives them the opportunity of CHOICE. They can take action to protect themselves; they can leave the country; however at least they are AWARE that there is danger.
What action can these civilians do to protect themselves? They cant realistaclly leave the country as you say. The borders are closed off both going in and out. Can they own weapons? Well yes they can, but when soldiers come to search the neighborhood for insurgents and they are found with weapons, what do you think what happens? We say oh its ok you can keep this? Hell no we confiscate any weapon that we find. Give information to turn in insurgents? This gets many people killed doing this- do you know how many times while on patrol we found people dead laying in the middle of the street? Would you expect people to stay in there houses at all times? Do you know that most of the suicide bombs that kill the civilians are in public areas? Also- if you expect them to stay in their homes, do you know how many mortars and rpgs hit civilian homes?
What you are saying in your posts is that just since a rare tragic occurence happened then we should stop everything that we do. Did you try to set up something like this for the attacks of 9-11 or the attacks that occured in London?
7 posts
Look Doors, you believe as you wish. Facts are facts; at least the civilians in Iraq are AWARE of the danger and can have some degree of choice. In fact very few civilian homes are the targets of suicide bombers and RPGs; they offer to low a death count to be an effective weapon of terror. The people you find dead in the streets knew of the danger when they walked out of the door.
Can the civilians of Iraq leave? Yes in fact that can. The surrounding countries are having difficulty dealing with the number of immigrants they are recieving.
Bottom line is, none of those kids or faculty had the benefit of knowing they were in danger; they believed they were in a very safe place. If you believe that Iraq and our schools are the same, then that is your belief.
And in fact, the MMO I was involved with sponsored an in-game charity drive to help the victims of 9-11, and we all got together in RL and went to a benefit event for the London bombings, so please do not question my motives or morals.
Doors, if it bothers you so much that I am trying to do this, than vote with your feet and don't come. By all means, go on with whatever you are doing and pretend this didnt happen. But dont call it names, and please dont ridicule those who have an idea that is different than your perception of the world simply because it is different.
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 7:12pm by jjnichols
Can the civilians of Iraq leave? Yes in fact that can. The surrounding countries are having difficulty dealing with the number of immigrants they are recieving.
Bottom line is, none of those kids or faculty had the benefit of knowing they were in danger; they believed they were in a very safe place. If you believe that Iraq and our schools are the same, then that is your belief.
And in fact, the MMO I was involved with sponsored an in-game charity drive to help the victims of 9-11, and we all got together in RL and went to a benefit event for the London bombings, so please do not question my motives or morals.
Doors, if it bothers you so much that I am trying to do this, than vote with your feet and don't come. By all means, go on with whatever you are doing and pretend this didnt happen. But dont call it names, and please dont ridicule those who have an idea that is different than your perception of the world simply because it is different.
Edited, Apr 18th 2007 7:12pm by jjnichols
7 posts
Saeel, you are right, and I apologize. I came here simply to offer the EQ2 community a chance to get together as a group to offer our condolences and remember what we have, and what was lost. I apologize for dragging politics into this; and I will stop that now.
Safe travels my friends.
Safe travels my friends.
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