# 9/11 moment of silence was observed at 8:46 except for the Today Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456 "2012-09-12T01:11:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/41 "2012-09-12T21:41:19Z")
I’m glad someone had the balls to break rank and skip it. I’ve had it with the 9/11 circle jerk. Enough already. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/42 "2012-09-12T22:01:14Z")
I too am outraged that a network didn’t observe a completely-made-up moment of silence for that sacred 11th anniversary. 8:46 a.m. never forget! Nearly 3000 people died that day. They deserve better than to be used as political footballs. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/43 "2012-09-12T23:24:34Z")
I would hardly call the 9/11 ceremony a made up moment. Our President and First lady led the ceremony yesterday. The Port Authority and NY Fireman were at Ground zero yesterday for the ceremony. Sure, someday the time will come to let go of the past. But, that should be signaled by our Nation’s leaders. Some President will call a halt to any official ceremony. Until the, I will continue to pause for a minute or two and remember. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/44 "2012-09-12T23:37:44Z")
Fine. Just don’t generalize your opinion about what is an appropriate length of mourning to the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/45 "2012-09-13T01:15:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Sure, someday the time will come to let go of the past. But, that should be signaled by our Nation’s leaders. Some President will call a halt to any official ceremony. Until the, I will continue to pause for a minute or two and remember. If you could try pausing for a few weeks instead of only a minute or two, I’m sure people would appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/46 "2012-09-13T11:09:43Z")
At this point, these moments of silence and tributes and memorials and similar observances are simply opportunities for public displays of breast-beating. NBC didn’t owe anyone any observance, and doesn’t deserve the “how dare you!” response it’s getting. If you felt the need to beat your breast on 9/11 at 8:46 a.m., there were plenty of other opportunities to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/47 "2012-09-13T12:11:50Z")
I think I’d be more interested to know how much of this is actual outrage or how much of it is manufactured outrage by competing networks. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/48 "2012-09-13T12:26:08Z")
The first I saw of this was on Gawker, so you may draw your own conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/49 "2012-09-13T12:46:34Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > At this point, these moments of silence and tributes and memorials and similar observances are simply opportunities for public displays of **breast-beating**. I read this as “breast-feeding”. I’d pause for that. ---
**Author:** ![Hookit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71e660/32.png) [@Hookit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hookit)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/50 "2012-09-13T13:16:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > An average of 3503 people die every September from auto accidents. Where is their memorial and moment of silence? At some point, you have to move on. We got the guy who planned the attack. The people who carried it out are all dead. Time to get back to normal. Dump “God Bless America” at ballgames (the song sucks anyway) and let’s get moving forward. Yes,because dying in an accidental car crash is totally comparable to being murdered in a wide scale terrorist operation.Go take a look at yourself in the mirror,douche. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/51 "2012-09-13T13:30:44Z")
I wanna see footage of the Kardashian boob collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/52 "2012-09-13T13:50:19Z")
> [@Hookit](#): > > Go take a look at yourself in the mirror,douche. Don’t insult other posters in this forum, please. You can do that in the Pit, but not here. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/53 "2012-09-13T14:03:41Z")
Several years ago, I made it a point of calling my mom on January 5. Why? My dad died on January 5, 2005. After a usual pleasant conversation, the subject of the significance of the date came up. My mom certainly remembered its significance. However, she told me that we should not make a date important just because of that. Birthdays and anniversaries are important (including my dad’s birthday and my parents’ anniversary), but the date someone dies shouldn’t get special attention. That is a sad enough day without having a gnashing of teeth and outward expression of mourning and grief. Instead, use that day to live, not die. Seems like 9/11 could be treated the same way. I don’t care much about the Kardashians, but let’s just move on. This year, 9/11 was Tuesday. Big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/54 "2012-09-13T14:06:39Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > At this point, these moments of silence and tributes and memorials and similar observances are simply opportunities for public displays of breast-beating. So the Today Show just gave us a different kind. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/55 "2012-09-13T14:26:11Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > I read this as “breast-feeding”. > > I’d pause for that. Can you imagine the blowback if someone dared breast-feed at a moment of silence ceremony? God forbid the kid belched. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/56 "2012-09-13T14:45:21Z")
> [@Hookit](#): > > Yes,because dying in an accidental car crash is totally comparable to being murdered in a wide scale terrorist operation.Go take a look at yourself in the mirror,douche. Dead is dead. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/57 "2012-09-13T15:45:21Z")
> [@Hookit](#): > > Yes,because dying in an accidental car crash is totally comparable to being murdered in a wide scale terrorist operation.Go take a look at yourself in the mirror,douche. A touch. A touch, I fear. You have wounded me deeply with your rapier-like wit. Huzzah! You are today’s **Winner Of The Internet**. I bow before your masterful debating skills, my position reduced to slag around me by your relentless evocation of logic and rhetorical brilliance. All bow before **Hookit** , the Master Debater. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/58 "2012-09-13T16:18:29Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > An average of 3503 people die every September from auto accidents. Where is their memorial and moment of silence? At some point, you have to move on. We got the guy who planned the attack. The people who carried it out are all dead. Time to get back to normal. Dump “God Bless America” at ballgames (the song sucks anyway) and let’s get moving forward. Agree on all counts! I think it is safe to assume 99% of us on this board remember full well the events of 9/11 and do not need to be reminded. Nor do we have to hold hands and bow heads and genuflect at the mere mention of the date/time. I am not a big fan of public displays of grief and remembrance - and I am also not a fan of mandatory displays of patriotism to prove I am an American. So yeah, call me a curmudgeon, but I prefer to remember and honor certain events in my own way and do not need to be, nor want to be, coerced into doing so. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/59 "2012-09-13T16:49:34Z")
This is what “moments of silence” sound like to me: In a few minutes, you will notice that I will stop talking for a moment. That is because I am going to be remembering an important tragedy from the past. I’m very sensitive that way. If you keep talking during that time you are a horrible jerk but it’s entirely up to you whether you want to participate in the moment of silence. Really, it’s OK if you want to hate America. The first rule of moments of silence should be, you don’t talk about moments of silence. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456/60 "2012-09-13T19:31:58Z")
Enough with the recreational grieving over 9/11. We don’t demand that people stop everything and display the proper emotion every December 7th, or November 22nd, January 28th, April 14th, etc. You want a country where everyone displays grief in unison, move to North Korea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-moment-of-silence-was-observed-at-8-46-except-for-the-today-show/634456.md?page=4)