The worst-written 9/11-related entry on LJ

[matt1993]

I feel like I should say something about 9/11 today.

But there's not much I can say about it that a) people haven't said already and b) I haven't said in this entry from four years ago.

The only vaguely-9/11-related entry I could potentially write that would be unique is if I finally replaced this userpic with the more legible version seen here (EDIT: That entry was friends-only for some reason, so here is the updated userpic itself [EDIT IN 2019: Welp, in 2017 I actually did replace it, so now it'd make more sense to show you the OLD version.]) and posted about that. But having September 11 be the day I update a userpic parodying my 8-year-old self's questionable grasp of reality doesn't seem like the best thing to do in memory of 9/11... yet, at the same time, I feel extremely obligated to post something that's somehow interesting and in good taste. And I can't.


I don't know why I'm really posting this... I just feel like if I don't at least post something today, people are going to wonder why I didn't (or why I already didn't post anything on September 11 in 2012, 2013, or 2014), and if I do post, people are going to wonder why I'm not writing enough. Yes, I do remember being woken up really early one morning in 2001 when I was 8 and being told about something that was happening that I didn't really understand at first, and then watching the news (which either reran a news clip from earlier that day or my family recorded it, I don't remember which), and hearing about it at school, and I remember being kind of scared at some point... but that's about all I remember of my experiences from the day itself, and I've said most of it already.

Just tell me what I'm supposed to say on September 11! And whether updating this userpic today would be a good or bad idea! I feel like I'm expected to know whether it's a good or bad idea automatically, but I don't...

Comments

[glowing-dragon.livejournal.com]

You don't have to say something just because it's 9/11! If you've already said what you needed to say, then that's fine! (I was going to say something about whether you feel obligated to post on December 7, but I don't think you do)

Nobody who truly cares about you as a person will think less of you for not posting anything related to 9/11, I promise. I actually think it might make better sense to post it on a random date a few months from now so your post isn't lost in all the remembrances and memories.

[matt1993]

Thanks :)

I just felt like since I tend to post about dates that are pretty much meaningful only to me (e.g. 2/06, 12/06, or the anniversaries of /crazymegavideo/'s debut, PrtSc Land, or Ours Will You 1-Up), I needed to post more about dates like September 11 and December 7.

9/11 seems to be a touchy subject in general nowadays - for instance, Super Mario Maker has already become a bit controversial for being released on September 11 in America (because the 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. is two days later, but that would be on a Sunday this year).

Achievement Unlocked: Finally wrote an entry or comment that my Invinciblican userpic is completely relevant to

[glowing-dragon.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

Yeah, I can understand why you thought you needed to post about September 11. There's nothing wrong with posting about dates which are significant mainly to you only, of course!

I've heard about the SUPER MARIO MAKER controversy, but I really don't think it should be too much of one. Yes, it's an important date to some people, but is that going to be a verboten date FOREVER? I mean, come on. If someone thinks the release date is touchy, then they don't have to get it on that date.

YAY!

[matt1993]

I've heard about the SUPER MARIO MAKER controversy, but I really don't think it should be too much of one. Yes, it's an important date to some people, but is that going to be a verboten date FOREVER? I mean, come on. If someone thinks the release date is touchy, then they don't have to get it on that date.

Exactly. Now if Mario Kart 8 (which happens to have an airport-themed track - and Bob-ombs, like in all Mario Kart games and almost all Mario games since SMB2) had been released on September 11 in America (it wasn't, by the way), I'd see why people would have a problem it. But Super Mario Maker? It shouldn't be THAT much of a controversy, especially if Nintendo's actual reason for releasing it then was because of the 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.

[glowing-dragon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I could see why people would have a problem with it in that scenario.

I mean, do people really expect Nintendo to be psychic and know the dates of all future world disasters, so they know not to release games around those dates? That's ridiculous.

[matt1993]

Super Mario Maker was released 14 years after 9/11, so in this case people aren't expecting Nintendo to be psychic, but it still shouldn't be that big a deal since it's being done to celebrate the anniversary of a game that was released 16 years (minus two days) before 9/11. (And even if it weren't, it still shouldn't be that big of an issue - video games are fun, and having fun shouldn't be considered inherently offensive to survivors of tragic events.)

I'm not saying that those affected by 9/11 should never take offense to anything; I'm just saying that Super Mario Maker shouldn't be that big a deal. :)

[glowing-dragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, I understand what you're saying. If we completely avoid disaster dates on calendars for new releases, there would be maybe TWO days where stuff could ever be released.

No, it shouldn't be inherently offensive to people who have survived tragic or traumatic events. I can understand why they might take offense to some things, but this doesn't seem like a huge deal.

[pathvain-aelien.livejournal.com]

You don't have to say anything about it if you don't want! I think as usual, you are worrying too much about how people are going to perceive you or judge you. I certainly didn't write about it or post anything about it on FB, and I don't think that makes me a bad person. It's fine if you do and want to, and fine if you don't. Either way.

[matt1993]

I just felt like people would wonder why I made a post about the 5th anniversary of the debuts of two recurring dream-characters, but not a post about the anniversary of 9/11 or another serious tragedy.