You, insensitive pig, SMILE at a time like this?

The BBQ Pit
1

Today, in First, I heard the gut-wrenchingly sad news. I was on the verge of tears for the majority of the day, and am still low, but also very angry.

(this is my first time, ever, in the Pit, but I think this topic carries enough justification to breach my Pit virginity)

The person sitting across the row next to me smiled, and looked like a child on his birthday, watching the television. He eyes freaking glowed at the thought of thousands dead!

How can someone be so callous? I don’t understand it! It took about all of my will to stop myself from grabbing his double-chin, and smashing his empty head through the window!

Pig: here’s a hint - you won’t get anywhere in your life with that mode of thought. I know you’re just posing, in an attempt to get people to think you interesting, but I know firsthand that this only leads to people avoiding and hating you.

Cut your hair, clean up your language, shave, lose those morons you call friends, take a bath, stop listening to whatever other music you listen to to ‘rebel’ and for God’s sake, brush your teeth. Lose that half-closed-eye, drooping, slobbering, slouching posture; you’re not fooling anyone into believing that you’re a deep, strong, smart, interesting person. On the contrary, you’ve proven yourself a shallow, weak idiot.

Quit wasting your life on trying to be tough, or whatever it is you think you are.

(I feel better now.)

2

Not to defend him, but some people, when nervous, smile. I found myself doing it a little. I had no idea what else to do, other than to flash a going-to-be-okay-in-the-end smile. I know I shouldn’t have, and I feel bad for it. There was really no other thing that crossed my mind. Tragedy brings out the best in us, but it also brings out the worst. Please don’t think I thought it was funny. It was horrible.

3

I dunno, I would say the person who is almost moved to violence is weaker than the person who is moved to happiness.

4

I was in my homeroom watching it, and people were wandering in and out of the rooms, telling jokes about it. I was crying. How could you make a joke? That’s disgusting.

5

Very dark humor is going to flow strongly in the coming weeks. It is a very human way of coping with extreme tragedy. Which isn’t to defend the insensitive pig in question, because I’m also sure there’s a minority of sociopathic fucks who thought it was just the neatest thing ever. But with many people, it may simply be a reaction to something bigger than they’ve ever coped with.

6

While I won’t call it a justification, I think that the reality of this just hasn’t really hit most people yet. It is completely surreal to me just that I’m sitting here thinking about this – I still have to check the news every few minutes to make sure that, yes, this is real.

I can comprehend the Oklahoma City bombing. One truck bomb, a few-story office building, and 168 people dead. That’s within the realm of my imagination. But this? No way.

I mean, I’ve seen those buildings. They’re huge. And you’re telling me that they’re just gone?! As many people have said, if this were a movie, no one would believe it.

So again, while I’ve been moving through the day in a nervous and jumpy state of disbelief and sadness, I really can understand that a lot of people just really haven’t comprehended what has happened. A lot of things changed in this country today, and we can’t expect society to immediately shift along with it.

7

People in my math class were speculating about what the government should do and how the precautions they were already taking were “stupid” and “a waste of time.” Yeah, yeah, you’re a high schooler, you know fucking everything. :rolleyes:

My orchestra teacher was making very inappropriate jokes about the witnesses being interviewed on TV. I told her that this was not the time for jokes. She gave me an evil glare, as if I, as the child, should not be correcting her, as the adult. Way to act like an adult, you inconsiderate moron. I hate you.

8

I had a couple of students ask if anything was going to happen out here, another few ask what was going to happen in general. I kept the TV on through the first two periods as news was coming in. Some of the kids had an air of calculated indifference, but I suspect that was a pose to cover confusion and a little fear.

What bothered me was my coworkers - other teachers - cracking jokes about how Israel was sure to get their $6 billion in aid this year. I was so upset I left the staff room and finished my lunch in my room.

9

I watched ABC and CNN all 3/4 (block scheduling) hours of the day today, 'cept for a spanish quiz in the last class (I know I failed. I felt like I was going to throw up, how could I take a quiz?) Luckily, our teachers were really understanding. However, I did hear many people go “OH my god, why are all these people crying, not like it was THAT bad…” Fucking Assholes.

~C~

10

i was smiling at first, but mostly out of nerves and disbelief. then, i actually saw what happened. now, i’m in the proverbial fetal position.

11

In defense of this poor guy…when I get really, really upset, I sort of grin. It’s more a baring of teeth, really, but can be mistaken for a huge grin. It’s gotten me in trouble a few times. As though that matters.

I still cried…but I grinned like that, first. I wasn’t callous…just reacting.

Nick (N12007; I don’t remember your handle here) if you read this mail me remmorph@aol.com.

12

Kinda depends on exactly what moves them to happiness, doesn’t it?

13

My sister has an unfortunate tendency to get giggly at funerals. It’s her way of maintaining control.

While I haven’t thought of any sick jokes to make about this, I will…and I’ll tell them to the right people. Because if I can’t find something in any situation to laugh about a little, then I might have to start screaming…and then I might think of allthe horrible shit in this world, and maybe I’d never stop.

14

Me too MysterEcks. When my mom died (exactly a year ago yesterday) I was the one cracking jokes after the morticians came and picked her up (she died in her bed at home, I found her in the morning) up until her funeral.

Yesterday, I couldn’t help but make a joke or laugh at something idiotic or anything that could be slightly humurous. I alternated between laughing and trying desperately not to cry. I felt if I cried I wouldn’t be able to stop. (Although after listening to the description of people jumping out of the windows of those buildings I couldn’t hold the tears in any longer.)

Luckily I was either alone or with my SO who does the same thing.

15

I was the same way at first–incredulousness, a half-laugh, “What?” as my coworker told me.

I had an undescribable emotion as I watched the south tower fall live on TV. That incredible sinking feeling is as close as I can come.

When I went upstairs for lunch I told my coworker I would check out the window for approaching airplanes (we work in a hospital).

In the cafeteria they had the news going on the TVs usually reserved for the in-house station. I can’t remember what came up–maybe the series of still photos showing the plane hitting the south tower–maybe films of rescue efforts–but I welled up with tears.

We’ve all been through a lot this last 24+ hours, and some of us have been all over the map emotion-wise, trying to find some way to cope.

I managed to get a donation appointment with our Pheresis department today, at the very end of their workday (the Red Cross usually comes but they’re pretty tied up right now) Maybe that’ll make up for one slug who’s sitting with his or her thumb up their ass.