Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Storm Warnings

I have been reading some blogs that have left me dumbfounded. I didn't think we needed a how-to behave blog guide for times like this, but I was wrong. So:

Ten Things to Guide Bloggers During the Aftermath of a Disaster

1. Making a five-dollar donation to the Red Cross is wonderful, thank you. Every little bit helps. Alas, it does not make you Acting President of the United States.

2. Natural disasters do not take race into consideration when they occur. They kill you no matter what your skin color is.

3. Try to be kind. I know it's hard, we're all angry and outraged, but try.

4. If you've never been through a major hurricane, don't tell people what they should have done during theirs.

5. Might want to avoid gushing about the great time you had at the Maui Writer's Conference. While you were nattering on with that Big Important Author in the Tiki Bar, a whole hell of a lot of people were dying in many horrible ways.

6. Might want to avoid bitching about the lousy time you had at the Maui Writer's Conference. While you were being snubbed by that Big Important Author in the Tiki Bar, those same people were still dying horribly.

7. Saying Katrina is none of your affair and then speculating on how hard this disaster is going to affect your personal income makes you sound like Ebeneezer Scrooge. Do yourself a huge favor: Shut up.

8. Don't say there is nothing you can do. You can still pray, or donate blood, or offer sympathy, or post donation links, or write letters to your government representatives. There are a thousand things you can do.

9. Saying anything along the lines of "Those people in New Orleans deserve what happened to them" makes us want to throttle you. Judge not, okay?

10. If you didn't get hit by the hurricane, aren't homeless, aren't financially wiped out, etc., then consider this: maybe for once it's not all about you.

26 comments:

  1. Amen, Sister. If #10 can apply to you, be thankful beyond all imaginable belief. If #10 has always applied to you, "gird your loins" 'cause your day is coming. (I hope it doesn't, but you just never know.)

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  2. Ahhhh, now I realise why the Maui post made me feel so uncomfortable, I couldn't finish reading it...

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  3. Anonymous2:37 PM

    Love your list!

    Author Vicki Hinze has posted a page of I think mostly RWA authors from throughout the gulf coast region, how they fared, and various ways to help.
    http://www.itgirlsseries.com/hurricane.htm

    Wendy

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  4. Anonymous4:06 PM

    It's true that the natural disasters don't discriminate based on color. Natural disasters don't discriminate, period.

    What's been getting to me about this whole mess has been the human component of THIS particular hurricane's aftermath: how aid has been delayed and FUBARed again and again and again and again. Just when I think I've read all the horrorshow details, I'll stumble across another.

    And that human component? FULLY able to discriminate based on color and class.

    This is rampant speculation on my part, but I don't think middle- or upper-class victims of natural disasters would've been adied with quite the incompetence or suspicion many New Orleans natives have been. It's a gut feeling I have, but I'll admit up front it's nothing more than a gut feeling.

    OK, it was bolstered by the fact that 700 (relatively affluent) tourists and hotel workers got ushered to the front of the evacuation line at the Superdome after being in there for a much shorter period than the other evacuees.

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  5. One of the sad things about growing up is realizing just how childish adults really are.

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  6. Anonymous4:58 PM

    I don't think middle- or upper-class victims of natural disasters would've been adied with quite the incompetence or suspicion many New Orleans natives have been.

    It's not just NO. Poverty stricken areas of MS and AL are also still waiting for aid. No FEMA, no RC, nothing in these counties and small country towns a week after. But that doesn't seem to be on the minds of the media as much as NO. Sad.

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  7. Anonymous5:05 PM

    I agree with those who believe this whole experience is a demonstration of failure from the top. Now I'm focusing on how marvelous the writing community is. I applaud everyone's efforts, large and small, and it makes me proud to be among you. Re: #10 - it's only about me to the level I wish to be part of the solution.

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  8. I don't know. After so much horrifying news a quick head trip out to a re-cap of a writer's conference in Maui might not be so bad. Link please?

    What? Maui gets hurricanes too !

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  9. Anonymous6:32 PM

    I would have thought 7 and 9 would go without saying, but sheesh - I think you should name and shame, particularly for 7. I can't even imagine *thinking* something like that, let alone saying it.

    I've seen some nasty, nasty stuff on various blogs lately (mainly ones I read quoting other ones I wouldn't read if my life depended on it). I just don't understand some people. The human race has a long way to go.

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  10. 11 If you are a priest, even in a non-English speaking country, post some charity links at least.

    I can understand if non-US people don't want to comment about the politics (I did it in some comments on other blogs though not on my own) but the suffering of the people should not be ignored, and definitely not the charity opportunities.

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  11. Great post. I have been stunned by the things I've been reading lately. I've stopped visiting some of those blogs and instead used my time to pack up supplies to ship to the survivors.

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  12. I can understand if non-US people don't want to comment about the politics (I did it in some comments on other blogs though not on my own) but the suffering of the people should not be ignored, and definitely not the charity opportunities.

    That's part of this whole rotten mess. Many countries, including mine, have offered aid in all sorts of ways and it's been refused. About the only effective thing anyone can do is donate to the Red Cross, and even they are having trouble getting access.

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  13. I'm glad I haven't been reading many blogs lately. I've been too busy trying to find out what happened to 23 of my relatives in the storm area. I think if I'd come across some of those comments you say are out there I'd go ballistic.

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  14. maui? hurricanes? aren't they typhoons in the pacific? huh...isn't the air/water temperature too consistent. I vaguely remember from earth science that you need hot and cold fronts to hit one another and causing the big storms.

    heyyyyy wait a second, ferfe, were you being ironic or something???


    Wonder if anyone will post about the conference in Ithaca this weekend?

    Last question...how long before we can whine about our personal miseries again without looking entirely clueless? I'm so caught up in raging and fretting about Katerina and when I see other topics addressed, it's hard to focus.

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  15. sling words,

    I'm sorry and hope you find your relatives safe and sound.

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  16. Anonymous12:10 AM

    I second Kate, Sling Words. Hang in there.

    Kate wrote: ...how long before we can whine about our personal miseries again without looking entirely clueless?

    I don't think it's insensitive to talk about our own troubles. God knows, we've all got them. I guess what steams me is when I read about someone whining about some potential aspect that hasn't even affected them personally yet while families are searching for each other and the relief workers haven't even finished recovering the bodies of the victims.

    Let me give you an example: Aside from my personal troubles, I happen to have two series of novels set in New Orleans. One is on hiatus at the moment, but the other is my present bestseller. Do you want to hear me bitching about all the rewriting I have to do on the book in progress, and the three other books I've outlined, all because of Katrina's destruction? Of course not.

    Yes, I have a lot of work to do, and redo, but will I complain about it? No way. It would be utterly disrespectful to the folks in Houston and Baton Rouge and all the other places of sanctuary out there who went through hell and came out of it with little more than their hearts.

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  17. Sling Words, I hope you get good news soon.

    PBW, I was wondering what, if anything, this would do for Darkyn and the Jessica Hall series (are there more coming?). Thanks, indirectly for answering, and what a nightmare for you. (But I'd rather have to do that than what New Orleans and Gulf Coast residents have to contend with.)

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  18. Anonymous10:07 AM

    Jean wrote: PBW, I was wondering what, if anything, this would do for Darkyn and the Jessica Hall series (are there more coming?).

    Sales of my last two Jessica Hall novels were quite good, and they're still selling, so I planned to pitch the third novel, Caine and Moriah's story, in the spring. The central setting for that book is now gone, and Katrina would have also destroyed Caine's business, which was a focal point in the story. I'm looking at a major overhaul on that one.

    The second Darkyn novel takes place mostly in Chicago, so no worries there. The third was originally set in New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale, and now also requires massive rewriting (the pub date was also moved up to June 2006, so I'm working against the publishing clock.) I also sold two more Darkyn novels last month; one that was planned to take place in the Garden District, and one that bounced between New Orleans, Chicago and Ireland. Both of those outlines have to be reworked.

    (But I'd rather have to do that than what New Orleans and Gulf Coast residents have to contend with.)

    Exactly. You won't hear a single whine about work out of me.

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  19. Sling words I'll keep your family in my prayers.

    PBW point well taken. I've tried to be nice...really.

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  20. Anonymous11:47 AM

    5. Might want to avoid gushing about the great time you had at the Maui Writer's Conference.

    I haven't read anything about the Maui conference and can't find it, so there could have been insensitivy there I don't know about, but I've come up against this in "real life". When talking in a store with family member about having taken my kids to Boston this past weekend, the woman behind me started berating me for my insensitivity, very loudly.

    I know that every dollar is vitally important to the first responders and emergency services right now. They're saving lives, and it takes money. And I've given money. I've given blood, and then I've given more money.

    But that $52 billion and countless more billions needed to rebuild their lives will come from us, too. And with recession already a cloud looming on the horizon before this horrible tragedy, it's more important than ever to try to keep our economy strong. Commerce and travel are a vital part of that.

    And no, that's not why I took my kids to Boston. I took them because we'd promised we would. I'm sure mine is probably an unpopular opinion, but there it is.

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  21. Anonymous12:50 PM

    Shannon wrote: I'm sure mine is probably an unpopular opinion, but there it is.

    I think you're trying to wear a shoe that doesn't fit, Shannon. As your trip relates to my ranting, you're not talking about self-serving writer conferences or name-dropping to impress. You're not congratulating yourself on your dazzling wit, or inviting people to feel sorry for you for some bit of superficial publishing idiocy. You're not even shoving subversive politics in everyone's face. You took your kids on a family trip, got them away from the images on TV and enjoyed a respite you probably all needed. Anyone who knocks you for that needs some sensitivity training.

    I liked seeing those happy kid faces on your blog. I know people hate the word normal, but it was a normal moment in a horrific week. Normal works for me.

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  22. Anonymous1:27 PM

    Okay, I see the difference there. (Although I wish the woman in the store could read that.) I've gotten two emails complaining when I talk about Katrina on my blog, and two emails that accuse of me not caring when I've discussed anything else, so I think I'm going to keep my head down, help where I can and try for normal.

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  23. Anonymous1:48 PM

    Shannon wrote: I've gotten two emails complaining when I talk about Katrina on my blog, and two emails that accuse of me not caring when I've discussed anything else, so I think I'm going to keep my head down, help where I can and try for normal.

    Since I started blogging about Katrina, I've gotten about sixty hostile e-mails accusing me of being everything from a FEMA-loving Bushwoman to a reverse racist (I think that means I favor black people over white people, but if I'm wrong, please correct me.)

    In case anyone is actually interested, I strive to be a colorblind pacifist, but I don't always succeed, especially with the peace part.

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  24. Hooboy... I've posted Katrina Posts and Non Katrina Posts ... because I post what I feel.

    I can't focus on something that's thousands of miles away ALL THE TIME, so if I post about my current problems or something wonderful that happened to me then I don't think I should be judged for it. Nor does it make me insensitive because I 'gushed' or 'bitched' about something else entirely.

    Perhaps whoever posted about the Maui conference was in the same place as me. Just because I don't post All Katrina All the time doesn't mean I haven't done my share, I just happen to think that action is WAY more important than talking or blogging.

    I donate to the Red Cross regardless of the state of the world, but because of Katrina I went to the Red Cross to volunteer as a local disaster relief worker. So you'll excuse me if I decide to not post again and again about the people dying in a horrible way but instead to focus on my own life. Because actually, my blog is all about me.

    My actions speak much louder than my blog could anyways.

    Ok, I'm not really being nasty. I'm a bit PMSy and over exposed to Fox and CNN both...

    Keep up the great posts on your blog, PBW.

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  25. Anonymous12:35 AM

    Codewords, yes, God.

    I read something so offensive tonight I thought my head would explode -- it was that bad. I had a rant the size of Nebraska brewing, and then I remembered Friday was the planned day to start the auctions to benefit Larissa Ione.

    Goodbye, rant. Hello, helping Larissa.

    I just have to stop reading all this crap out there. I think for the time being I'm going to stop clicking on links and instead hang out in the Weblogs I Read neighborhood.

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  26. PBW, if you have access to the 8 Sep Wall St Journal, there's an article on the front page (completed a couple pages later) that may directly interest your reworking efforts for your NOLA based books.

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