News Breaks, And We Connect
Remember the days before computers? Yea, me neither. Baby boomers' kids are all grown up and our daily routines are far from our parents'. From ordering lunch online, (seamlessweb.com allows you to view menus and order and tip (!!) without ever picking up a phone), to getting a daily dose of puppy love, (my favorite is cuteoverload.com), the Internet has become so ingrained into my daily routine I can't remember the last time I didn't check my email before bed.
But the Internet holds more meaning for our generation than just procrastination and entertainment. It serves as a forum for ideas, networking, and even support. While covering the heart-wrenching bus crash recently, I wondered how the online community was reacting-- and I was pleasantly surprised.
Within hours of the accident, groups were forming on Facebook.com to offer support and comfort for students affected by the crash. By the end of the workday, four groups had formed with over 400 members nationwide. Titles of the groups ranged from "Praying For Bluffton" to "Bluffton University Support Group." I asked some of the group creators what they had expected to gain from making these groups. Laura Kaufman, a grad student at Northern Ohio University, created a group called "Thoughts and Prayers for University of Bluffton's Baseball Team." Laura told me the reason she created the group was to offer support, in any form, for those grieving. Her group now has 3,544 members.
These groups formed as quickly as details surfaced, and now, weeks later, they have grown exponentially, with over 8,000 members joining. One group is setting up fundraisers for the players' families. The group links to a website set up for people to make donations.
As the tragedy and mourning continue for parents who lost their children, siblings who lost their brothers and friends who will forever be lonely, I feel grateful to be a part of this generation. With our ability to come together in times of tragedy, even if it is just over a keyboard, we are more powerful than we ever could have ever imagined.