# Where were you when stories
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [September 11, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683 "2009-09-11T13:37:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/1 "2009-09-11T13:37:19Z")
With all due respect, I don’t think there’s really anything to be learned about endless regurgitations of how “I was at work and then I heard that an airplane hit the WTC and I was like WTF and I went home and watched it on TV and when the second airplane hit I was just OMG because holy hell, and it was so sad.”
Why must we do this every year? Why? I mean, it’s one thing to remember 9/11 and another thing to think there’s something especially interesting about every Non New Yorker, Non Washintonian narrative about seeing it on TV, as if everyone has a unique perspective.
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### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/2 "2009-09-11T13:48:49Z")
So, where were you when they shot JFK ?
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### Author:  [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/3 "2009-09-11T13:52:50Z")
> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> So, where were you when they shot JFK ?
I was in my third grade classroom. My teacher, a nun, started crying when the principle came in and told her. The principle was also crying.
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### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/4 "2009-09-11T13:56:40Z")
OK, less assholish answer : you’re wrong.
I think there are really few memories that everyone will share. Few moments in each person’s live that other people will connect to. For one thing, 90% of what we’ll remember is random and personal. I remember the smell of the first girl I kissed. Do you ? Remember her smell, I mean ? Of course not. You never met her. We can’t talk about that. I remember my high school german teacher, I think every one in my high school does, she was so peculiar. But nobody else will.
And then, there are those events any one can talk about, and that were important to anyone, enough to leave a mark. Events where History (with a capital) happened and everyone knew it, even at the time. For good or bad, 9/11 is one of those. Something to connect people. So, yeah, in a sense, there’s nothing at all to be gained by such threads. No new perspective, no incredible discovery, no flash of understanding. We write these threads to remind ourselves that we’re not alone.
It’s small talk. That’s why it’s in MPSIMS.
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/5 "2009-09-11T13:58:25Z")
> [@sinjin](#):
>
> I was in my third grade classroom. My teacher, a nun, started crying when the principle came in and told her. The principle was also crying.
Your teacher would be cracking your knuckles with a ruler right now, and so would your principal. 😃
Where were we all when Challenger blew up?
I tend to agree with the OP; these little stories don’t add anything to the big picture.
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/6 "2009-09-11T13:58:45Z")
> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> OK, less assholish answer : you’re wrong.
How can a preference be wrong?
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/7 "2009-09-11T14:10:38Z")
> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> So, where were you when they shot JFK ?
I was nowhere near Dallas, and I can prove it.
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/8 "2009-09-11T14:31:03Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#):
>
> I was nowhere near Dallas, and I can prove it.
How is “I don’t think there’s anything to be learned” a preference?
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### Author:  [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/9 "2009-09-11T14:34:50Z")
I think it helps people to connect over a tragedy. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone shared that day - different experiences, different stories, but everyone went through the same astonishment and fear and pain and anger in their own ways. Everyone in the country went through the tragedy together, and sharing the “where were you when” moments reflects that.
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### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/10 "2009-09-11T14:37:13Z")
I still remember where I was when Farley the dog died in “For Better or For Worse.”
I was reading the paper when it happened.
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### Author:  [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/11 "2009-09-11T14:38:14Z")
> [@Antigen](#):
>
> I think it helps people to connect over a tragedy. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone shared that day - different experiences, different stories, but everyone went through the same astonishment and fear and pain and anger in their own ways. Everyone in the country went through the tragedy together, and sharing the “where were you when” moments reflects that.
Yeah, but all they’re doing for me this time are reminding me exactly how how much the country got fucked around in the next few years, and the fact that 8 years after our shared tragic national etc. there’s still a muckin’ big hole where the WTC used to be.
USA! USA! USA!
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/12 "2009-09-11T14:40:19Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> How is “I don’t think there’s anything to be learned” a preference?
Fine. Then this: I think by now, having heard one billion of them, that if “I saw it on TV/I heard it on the radio” stories made me feel connected to someone I would have by now. Instead, I feel a rupture. I feel less connected to people because I think those stories are lurid, vapid, self-serving, and obnoxious. I think it is poor form to make other people’s tragedies a story about how you found out about it. I didn’t feel disconnected before. I just assumed that you were saddened and horrified by 9/11, just as I was. When you lose me is when you make it a story about you when you weren’t there.
People who were in NYC, or have strong connections there? Absolutely they can tell their stories and sob on each other’s shoulders. Otherwise: stfu and let them have their day of remembrance.
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/13 "2009-09-11T14:42:47Z")
> [@Frank](#):
>
> Your teacher would be cracking your knuckles with a ruler right now, and so would your principal. 😃
Only a matter of time before somebody did that.
So anyway, I’m kind of on board with the OP, but I don’t really care much either way. Yes, the events of September 11, 2001 belong on the category of things we will always remember, like the (faked\*) moon landing or the JFK assassination, but I do grow weary of everyone gathering around the water cooler with their obligatory “I was shaving when I heard it on the radio” stories.
\*Kidding!
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/14 "2009-09-11T14:45:12Z")
I do find myself exaggerating the offense to make a point. I mostly just find the stories boring. I don’t really care if other people tell them but I would like to get through the day somehow without hearing 500 of them.
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/15 "2009-09-11T14:46:44Z")
> [@cricetus](#):
>
> I do find myself exaggerating the offense to make a point.
And you did a damn poor job of the latter.
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### Author:  [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/16 "2009-09-11T14:48:38Z")
> [@cricetus](#):
>
> With all due respect, I don’t think there’s really anything to be learned about endless regurgitations of how “I was at work and then I heard that an airplane hit the WTC and I was like WTF and I went home and watched it on TV and when the second airplane hit I was just OMG because holy hell, and it was so sad.”
>
> Why must we do this every year? Why? I mean, it’s one thing to remember 9/11 and another thing to think there’s something especially interesting about every Non New Yorker, Non Washintonian narrative about seeing it on TV, as if everyone has a unique perspective.
With all due respect, every year, on Sept 11th, I know–just **know** –that someone on here will create a pit thread about Sept 11th. I logged on today knowing, for certain, someone will have started a thread pitting Sept 11th because it happens every. single. year. I don’t think there’s really anything to be learned about endless regurgitations of how “I saw this Sept 11th tribute on the tube and OMG, holy hell, make it stop! Why do they keep forcing the memory of Sept 11th on me?!”
Why must we do this every year? Why? I mean it’s one thing to dislike all the ten years later and 20 years later, but the moaning about the moaning about Sept 11th is almost getting just as tiring. 😉
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/17 "2009-09-11T14:50:47Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#):
>
> With all due respect, every year, on Sept 11th, I know–just **know** –that someone on here will create a pit thread about Sept 11th. I logged on today knowing, for certain, someone will have started a thread pitting Sept 11th because it happens every. single. year.
>
> Why must we do this every year? Why? I mean it’s one thing to dislike all the ten years later and 20 years later, but the moaning about the moaning about Sept 11th is almost getting just as tiring. 😉
I’ve only read some of those threads, but not participated. I can still say that, without question, there is a lot more moaning going on in this thread.
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/18 "2009-09-11T14:52:32Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#):
>
> With all due respect, every year, on Sept 11th, I know–just **know** –that someone on here will create a pit thread about Sept 11th. I logged on today knowing, for certain, someone will have started a thread pitting Sept 11th because it happens every. single. year. I don’t think there’s really anything to be learned about endless regurgitations of how “I saw this Sept 11th tribute on the tube and OMG, holy hell, make it stop! Why do they keep forcing the memory of Sept 11th on me?!”
>
> Why must we do this every year? Why? I mean it’s one thing to dislike all the ten years later and 20 years later, but the moaning about the moaning about Sept 11th is almost getting just as tiring. 😉
I get your point, but I haven’t seen 'em before. I don’t drop in every day. And this is about the only place where people would have the gall to complain about 9/11 stuff. If I did it on FB I’d probably lose about 100 friends and be called a terrorist.
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/19 "2009-09-11T14:53:49Z")
So my conclusion is that there are people who just posted a long boring story about their 9/11 experience and they think I’m wrong because otherwise they are.
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-you-when-stories/509683/20 "2009-09-11T14:55:19Z")
> [@cricetus](#):
>
> So my conclusion is that there are people who just posted a long boring story about their 9/11 experience and they think I’m wrong because otherwise they are.
I haven’t done any such thing. You’re free to check.
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