EDIT Apr. 30, 2007 7:11 PM: I just read Ed Lau's post today about SEO expert John Chow's allegations that the One Day Blog Silence event today was just an effective but unethical link baiting operation. Note, John Chow is a pro linkbaiter (controversy garners links), so think before you jump on his traffic bandwagon. Hmm.
While I believe in "innocent until proven guilty", I must say that a huge part of me was already conflicted about the goals at the start. In truth, I was sitting on the fence about participating... Simply put, I don't believe that silence is the best way of honouring all victims of violence. Yes, silence can say more than a thousand words... but silence is not the answer here. Voice... is action... that may lead to awareness or solutions to complicated issues such as gun control and the growing impact of mental illness on society. Gung-ho to back up your conviction? Donate to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.
I put up the graphic on the 29th and tried not to blog on the 30th only to show my respect for a few bloggers (whom I hold in high regard) who felt strongly about ODBS, otherwise I wouldn't have posted it. I have removed the backlink to the ODBS site NOT because I think unquestionable proof of guilt exists, but because the event is now over.
Now... Think. Act. Speak.
Adieu for now,
Massa P aka "fruity"
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First off, I firmly believe that John Chow will do and say anything in order to drive more traffic to his blog and up his links. He is indeed an SEO Expert because he is quite capable of wrangling the system to suit his needs. For example, he used to bash PayPerPost and its members. He even went so far as to say that sponsored posts brought down a blog's integrity. He got several PPP members hopping mad and they blogged about his post and linked it. He got what he wanted.
To top it off the guy is now signed up with, that I know for sure, PayPerPost and Review Me. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
As for the OBDS I refused to take part in it because 1, as you mentioned, in most instances silence does nothing and may only serve to exacerbate the situation. Secondly, I found it to be highly stupid. 33 people were killed at Virginia Tech that Monday, but just that weekend over 200 people were killed when a single bomb went off. But that bombing didn't take place in the US so apparently bloggers felt a day of silence for those victims wasn't merited. What really got me was the selfishness of it. Every day children are killed in school shootings and knifings, but these happen in low-income neighborhoods so it doesn't make the news. But as soon as the white middle class or the rich people's kids get shot at… Well, it just seems so prejudiced and judgmental. Were those victims anymore tragic than those killed elsewhere?
Unity bites people back again! Apathy forever!
Off-topic:
Where the heck are you? One Day Blog Silence? Sheesh, it's more like Two Week Blog Hiatus! Write something.
OT: I dreamt about you just this night. In my dream Ewan McGregor was holding a humongous dummy board (or whatever you call it) telling me to say, "Summer is Fruity and Oaty!" I wonder what the heck that means!
Hmmm no new posts? Anyway, dropping by to say hi!
I've heard of that One Day Blog Silence event, but didn't join in since I don't blog enough to "qualify". Let's see if the domain will one day turn into one of those dead sites that link / redirect to a web hosting site, though, then we'll know whether this is a linkbait.
I have to admit I honestly don't know enough about the VT incident. Sure, I'm on the other side of the Atlantic, but I really need to turn the news on once in a while…
I had noticed the use of the day of silence on blogs, but wasn't too sure what I thought about it. And I still don't. I agree, silence is not the way to move forward and resolve the issues (in this case), but I guess some simply don't have the words they feel would contribute to the situation, so choose silence instead.
Very well said! While I understand the purpose of the campaign, I don't think it's very practical. I guess they're trying to replicate the 'one minute of silence' that we give to honour those who have passed, but it just doesn't work in the blogosphere. In this case, words are sure to speak louder than silence.
Like what John Chow had said, I also believe that this is just part of the Link Baiting campaign. That's the main reason why I didn't participate…
What's wrong with the human race? We're the only species of animal that destroys each other. We're so corrupt.
Enter the rooftop layout contest. You can win great prizes like money and advertising! You will have so much fun during the contest, so don't doubt and enter. The rules are very easy! Good luck!
I was thinking of putting something like this on my blog myself, but changed my mind. I don't really see why I should. I mean, if you really want to express what you feel about something, you gotta say it.
No noise from onedayblogsilence.com though…
Putting up the ODBS graphic is what Filipinos would do as a show of "pakikiramay" or just a simple show of support.
It's just like wearing those ribbons, black (mourning), pink (breast cancer) and red (AIDS) or that yellow wrist band (cancer). [Unless you think they're fashionable...]
Some people speak out.
Some people keep silent (and will just shoot at anyone).
Both are as powerful…
I do understand people wanting to show signs of respect, but I don't understand why they would take a tragedy and turn it into their own personal gain, monetary or otherwise. There are bloggers who take important news to the level of mocking just for the sake of hits to increase Technorati, Alexa, and Google rankings… I just hate what the blog world is slowly coming to.
April 30, I did my usual blogging activities. I even put up a new post for good measure. It's not that I don't care about the victims of Virginia Tech, but I think it's ridiculous to show your concern by being silent about the whole thing. On the other hand, reacting vehemently is not going to work either. What we need is action, something solid and tangible.
In the meantime, understanding the circumstances, the background and reasons for the massacre will do. So it sticks in the gut and we never forget.
I didn't even hear about the One Day Blog Silence for VT… Though, usually I don't participate in those type of things anyway.
I didnt really believe in the ODBS. I already suspected there was a hidden agenda riding on it. I even had an entry on my blog on the 30th. But I guess, to each his own. If some people believed in it, I respect that.
Funny thing happened to me, I read your blog and didn't have the chance to comment on it then when I did, it was gone. I think it was a good idea to not blog for a day for VTech.
The ODBS idea was a bit out of proportion and hopefully it wasn't that popular in the end. I think the more people speak out the better, as it can help to prevent similar situations worldwide with the many alternatives that can published in blogs.
It's sad when people want to profit from people's suffering, in this case the Virginia Tech Massacre. But just to repeat what I've said on this issue:
While doing something might be deemed better than doing nothing, it's just similar to fasting. I mean we sometimes skip lunch, breakfast — for no reason at all or being too busy. But when you fast for a purpose, it is not just simply skipping meals — it's skipping a meal for a cause whether it's for health or spiritual reason. In this case, we sometimes miss blogging, blog hopping, and blog commenting either because we are too busy or for no reason at all. So doing nothing or doing something would have made no difference at all, unless you want to view it in another way… and I respect that.
Bloggers might feel the need to blog about it again and again while others might just want to post the image in their blog or those who are able can give to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. Whatever they do as long as it is in solidarity with the victims — it's good.
We did think blogs are for speaking out, right? Blah. Too bad I was too busy to blog. I was about to do a book review of sorts: "To Suffer Thy Comrades" — stories of the people who suffered from the CCP/NPA purges years ago. I just felt it was timely.
This type of post isn't really your sort of thing, is it? Look at you, wearing your "I can be serious-y" clothes. Do they fit on you?
I want a return of the adventures of inanimate objects, Max the Fat Cat, food porn and cryptic mixed metaphors… but pass on the Peter Petrelli EMO stuff. A few e.e. cummings poems, good to go.
Well, I just kept my thoughts about this matter to myself.
Very enlightening! I have never thought about it that way.
Mhmm… you are right! We should be speaking what we had mind… and all that and maybe there was a hidden agenda behind all this as well. Got me thinking.
There are different ways of showing our support for the victims. This just wasn't mine.
Ulterior motives aside, ODBS isn't gonna solve anything, but it will (hopefully) get a few to remember and to start thinking.
I just read the link, and yes, what John Chow said makes sense.
I considered participating, but I didn't see how the victims would benefit from the event.
I still really don't get it about ODBS. Maybe I am too dumbstubb to quit talking for a day… If some people can take this idea, I am happy already to know that, but no not me…
Kiss
Fendi
The point is that you paid your respects to the victims of this horrible tragedy. Bravo for speaking out.
Since I am doing a blogathon, I felt the silence relevant for my own archives and for myself (since I'm one of those people who actually thinks about the thing they're participating in on the day). In a few weeks, I may remove the backlink to the site if pro linkbaiter John Chow's predictions prove to be true.
Tsk tsk tsk… I never knew of a possible ulterior motive of the ODBS til now… I am gonna check the blog you mentioned now and I just might remove the link from my blog as well. People can f**k anything up… OK, I give him the benefit of the fifth amendment.
I seriously forgot about this. It was on my link roll for the longest time, I but forgot to make an entry out of it.
I didn't join the bandwagon for the One Day Blog Silence because I'd rather reflect on the event. I just find that life goes on, so I just posted my daily.
I agree. Blogging is about speaking, so why would we be silent? We should preach!
I was going to put this up in my blog, but decided to back out since I don't see any reason for doing so.
Like what you said, silence will not resolve any issues on the Virginia Tech Massacre. Why do we have to shut ourselves up when we can speak up against the said issues? I think that will be of more help to the victims.
Of course, that's just my opinion.