h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am deeply touched by this tragedy. What I want to know is this: Are all our h2g2 friends from the effected areas okay?

My thoughts have been with everyone effected one way or the other by this. Keep the faith, the world is praying for you...

I am alive and fine, but am currently stuck down here at a conference in New Orleans and am desperately wanting to get back home. The feeling of utter powerlessness in the face of horror is overwhelming. Thankfully, none of my friends and girlfriend seem to have been injured, but I do not know the status of employees at my company near Wall Street, and I would have normally exited right at the subway stop.

I'm glad to hear you and yours are okay; I've enjoyed your posts and the site wouldn't be the same without you.

When I got up this morning and turned on the TV, I couldn't stop shaking for an hour. I have feared this for so long and somehow, I never imagined the enormity of what happened this morning.

SC

Good to know that you are ok.

Sorry, I don't know what to say.. The whole situation is too much for me to make any sensible comments...

Amator

Shea has reported in fine.

I find I don't know where in the US the american researchers come from...

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***B

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Ask the h2g2 Community' to 'Talking Point: 11 September, 2001'.

When I first heard about the destruction in New York I was hoping the Shea was okay - I was so relieved when I saw her posting on-site.

I just want to add my heart-felt sympathies to all of our American researchers - yesterday made me realise how much I value all of the wonderful people I have met through H2G2 and actually how upset I felt at the thought that some of them may have been affected.

Clive

Well, I still haven't heard back from an email sent to my company boss, and I am worried greatly. Even though we're on the other side of southern Manhattan, that's only 6-7 blocks away and many coworkers commute through the WTC. Also, I know a mother of two cute six-year old twins who worked at the World Trade Center, and I have no word on her. Clearly, in the course of things, I came out relatively lucky, in that none of my immediate friends and family have been killed or maimed, but that is an empty comfort, and I am numb with grief.

Mr. Cogito,

It's so good to hear that you're ok. Please keep us informed about other researchers if you find out some news.

This is all too much for my imagination. I stood on top of the WTC some years ago, and I just can't imagine that it's mo longer there ...

And all those people who just wanted to earn their living there ...

It's disgusting.

Jeremy

HOW CAN YOU BATTLE AN ENEMY WHO HAS NO VALUE FOR HIS OWN OR OTHERS LIFE??

How can you fight an enemy who not only isn't afraid of death but is longing for it?

The solution is though. The recieving party let it be the US., Israel, Russia etc. must be willing to take harsh methodes to use.

What does a terrorist care most about? - His people and the honor.

It should be communicated to all potential terrorist that does he/her decide to take their life in a terrorist action, the retaliation will be on their FAMILY! Which results in that it is not only his/her own life his is taking, but his mother, father, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister and so on.

This is a though solution. But consider the alternative - a lot of martyr's...

I'm a peace loving citizen, but I'm against the wall and so are we all!

Peace and Gud speed to us all.

Alex

I've been saying this to people all day - that entertaining thoughts of vengence and retaliation, while understandable, only serve to increase the evils of this world.
If you are a peace-loving, as we all are, the aboslute best comment we can make are messages of condolence to the bereaved and the confused.

A good friend of mine said yesterday:
" to everyone directly affected by this tragedy - either in America or just frightened."

The thoughts of everyone at h2g2 are with the people of America as they struggle to come to terms with the violence of yesterday.

Clive

I'm sorry but I really can't believe that you mean this. Creating martyrs only leads to more fanatacism and more atrocities (from both the 'civilised' nation's side and the 'terrorists' side)

This is the most heart-wrenching and appalling tragedy any of us have ever seen or heard of, but a hot-blooded response in this vein can only result in destroying humanity. Rather than ending the threat, this will only perpetuate it. An innocent is an innocent, no matter what a relative is responsible for. Would you really like to see the world's leading democracy starting a war against women and children.

I don't have an alternative solution but I truly hope that one can be found before civilisation is completely destroyed.

My heart goes out to all affected.

J

On another note, I have been in email contact with Dr. Funk, another NY-based researcher and assume he's alive and well.

First, I would like to thank BBC America for their continued coverage throughout the night. I, as an American, am just floored by what happened yesterday. We are in shock all across the U.S. The magnitude of what has transpired in the previous day is just starting to hit me. The death toll is starting to climb, and no one knows where it will stop. Retribution will be had. It will not be hot-headed and indiscriminate. It will be cold, calculated and decisive. The governments that have assisted, and continue to harbor the group behind this will be punished. How do you punish a government? Can you haul them in for questioning? To think you could is almost ludicrous. Bombs will fall. Yesterday, Retired General Norman Schwartzkopf said it best when he said, "the difference between them and us is the fact that in the Gulf War, we put our personnel in great danger to try to avoid innocent casualties." These people will be set forth as an example. I used to be like many people advocating non-violent means, but after yesterday, the Arabs responsible do not have a leg to stand on. Violence is the only thing they know.

Bossel and Shea, have you been in contact with any other New York based researchers? How are they doing? I know it's difficult establishing contact, since phone lines are overloaded, and email is not always easy to arrange, but I am concerned about other researchers I have not heard about yet.

Mr. Cogito, I just want to let you know that from 14th St. down, the City is closed. You may not get word from work directly for a while.

I've also heard that NYC Student and Batty are okay.

Researcher 184194, please don't start blaming "Arabs" ... they haven't confirmed who is responsible yet. After Oklahoma City, we saw that jumping to conclusions isn't necessarily the right thing to do.

I couldn't agree with you more, Shea. After all, it could have been China as much as Iraq.

I fear for the lives of innocent people in whichever country it DID come from. I've heard Bush talk on the news about attacking the COUNTRY which 'let' the terrorists carry out their disgusting work. But in my mind this only means one thing: the deaths of more innocent people, which WILL enrage the government of the terrorists' country, whether they sanctioned the original attacks or not.

I'd just like to add my condolences and sympathy to everyone affected in NY and Washington, to anyone with friends and family there, and to the h2g2 community as a whole, who no doubt feel as distressed and horrified by this situation as I do.

A for everyone who is suffering in any way right now. My thoughts are with you, and I pray that mindless revenge will not become the inevitable phoenix of this tragedy.

I just heard from KayKay. She's fine, and she's gotten word that her family and friends that work in the WTC are fine as well.