HEAD'S UP DU'ers. This Needs to Be Said Regarding Charley

This is mostly addressed to wards some of the DESPICABLE, INSENSITIVE, VILE "Who Cares?" comments I have seen today regarding Hurricane Charley.

I have a message for ANYONE who is even THINKING about posting or has already posted "Who Gives A Shit" comments regarding this storm, and it's impact on many people's family, friends, and loved ones.

Don't you even THINK about it.

This is NOT a POLITICAL DISTRACTION, this is not a MEDIA DISTRACTION, this is not a DISTRACTION of ANY KIND to deflect from Bush, Iraq, or ANYTHING else we are concerned about.

This is a CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE that is STRENGTHENING.

It is going to be the WORST DISASTER since Hurricane Andrew, and this is not to be taken lightly. This could cost lives, and it will affect HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

It seems some people have a problem with all the attention Charley is getting.

My Message to you:

DEAL WITH IT.

Many of us have family and friends that are in DANGER. One of my Best Friends is in the path of this Storm and I cannot contact her. Many of us are worried sick.

This is the REAL WORLD, and this is REAL WORLD STUFF.

If you are somehow offended by all the constant coverage, or by people's concerns for their loved one's, then I would highly suggest you do one of two things:

1. TURN THE CHANNEL.
2. DON'T READ THE THREAD.

I am in absolute AWE at some of the disgusting, insensitive comments I have seen here today.

STOP IT.

RIGHT NOW.

And for those who have family and loved one's in the path of the Storm, my heart and thoughts are with you. And any fellow DU'ers who might be in the path of the Storm, please take care and know all of us are with you, and our thoughts and Best Wishes and Deepest Concerns go out to you.

Take Care Of Yourselves.

That is all.

i have a good friend who's right in its path

all i can do is hope she's ok...unfortunately, that's all she can do either

Nothing funny here.

and his wife and kids. I ain't laughin' either.

lives in Ft. Myers. We haven't been able to get in touch with them, either, and are very worried.

Indeed, this is very serious :(

anyone who doesn't understand that this thing is a flat out disaster right now.

and there are several DUers sitting right in the path of it.

This one is going to be about like Hugo-

The US can't afford this one, either.

:( I pray everyone will be ok.

Won't come close to Andrew.

That is pretty callous.

I suppose people are tired of the Infotainment hype and Carnivalesque Lies, but that's no excuse for saying stuff like "Who cares?"

Even IF it's all Infotainment Hype outside of the Danger Zones, that doesn't justify callous remarks.

.. if there are any, they are few. I'm sure you're being sincere, but coming into a new online community, and chastising other people, is a bad way to get going. Ignore the idiots who post immature things about hurricanes, and you'll be fine.

I hadn't read but also have family and a friend in the path.

But I am hardly "New". Don'tr assume that someone with less than 1000+ Posts is new. I have been here for awhile, and I was a longtime lurker before I joined. I know my way around here fine.

As for Chastising those who would be insensitive,I'm sorry, I will not apologize for that, with all due respect and nothing personal directed at you.

the sad state of politics today will be that George will rush down to Florida to be with Jeb and the people of Florida. Remember *'s grandstanding after 9/11 in the wreckage of the WTC? How much do you wanna bet that he will be on Sanibel Island on Saturday doing a photo op?
Bush will politicize it.

you're talking about.

the OFFENSIVE posts have been deleted from LBN.

but you would think you were reading freepers blowing off the deaths of Iraqi citizens to read what a FEW so-called "DUers" have posted today about what our loved ones are facing RIGHT NOW in Florida.

sickening.

Glad to know those were deleted...... I wouldn't think that would be covered by the rules, so much else goes by.

Kanary

doing the news. Charley is definatly news, although not of the good nature, but it's definatly more important than spin on swiftboatvets, sensitivity, biceps and gay politicians.

Best blessings to those folks in Florida...

I was getting mighty tired of it, but when expressed in those terms, I get the message.

It would be nice if ANYTHING else was going on in the world, though.

It's at times like these that we're reminded of the herd instinct of people, and that doesn't bode well for any of us.

are with everyone in the storm's path and all their loved ones who have to watch helplessly as this monster comes ashore.

My parents winter on lake tarpon, but are thankfully up in the midwest right now, watching and waiting to see if their home stays intact. They are relieved it is going south of them, but sad for all in the path.

I saw those insensitive comments on the other thread and was saddened to see they came from people with hundreds of posts to their credit. How they can't tell the difference between a genuine news story and shark bite nonsense is beyond me!

Peace to all, including the cynical.

I saw a couple of "is this God's way of punishing for ....?" threads.

I guess my sense of humor is gone. All I could think of was Reagan and crew saying AIDS was God's punishment for homosexuality.

I'm glad I read further down that the insensitive posts have been deleted.

I'm sending lots of good thoughts and prayers to those in Charley's path.

I have been reading most of these posts and have not seen any negative posts. My brother's father-in-law lives there and my Dad's girlfriend has a condo there. I hope there is not much damage

Of the "who cares" variety and the "if you have relatives down there they are toast" variety. Disgraceful.

You think man can do bad things to each other? Man hasn't got shit on Mother Nature. Hurricanes are some of the most destructive forces on earth and to flippantly joke about them is totally not cool.

I can't help but think about the guy who keeps building and rebuilding his house on a flood plain. Or barrier island, for that matter.

The area of Gulf Coast that can be affected by tropical storm activity spans Texas to Florida and, in more recent years, the entire eastern seaboard as far north as Nova Scotia has been impacted by tropical storms and hurricanes. I will submit that we cannot relocate the entire population of the Gulf Coast and eastern seaboard. Most of us are not living on barrier islands. So this is why people are getting a little freaked by comments that seem cruel.

Or near dormant volcanoes.

Or near rivers that flood.

Or where blizzards sock people in & ice storms break the power lines.

'A hurricane hitting Florida? Geez, how often does that happen?"

Trying (poorly) to be clever,until another poster pointed out that it has been 5 years since a hurricane hit here.

that was a cat. 4 that got almost no attention until the night before it hit. like charley, brett jumped 2 categories, going from a cat 2 to a cat 4 in the span of 2 hours.

there is nothing like having to pack up your things in your little car to make you realize what you truly value. i left alot behind, locked the door, & kissed it good-bye, not expecting to see it again.

it took me 5 hours to get to san antonio from corpus (usually can be done in 2 to 2 1/2 hours or so). the roads were jammed with people & cars & for a long time, i feared that the storm would come on shore while i was stuck on the damn freeway.

so my thoughts & prayers are with those in florida right now. hopefully, most folks made it to shelter & are not "riding it out."

cat. 4s are storms to run from, not ride out.

dg

He is doing fine. The storm has hit south of him. His power is back, and he is cooking dinner.

I don't doubt bush will try to use this to bury some bad news.

They are not representative of DUers at all.

"disruptor's" if you know what I mean.

Good luck to Florida DUers and all who have relatives who will be affected by Charley.

It needed to be said.

This is serious business affecting thousands and thousands lives.

Here is possible political spin: The Department of Homeland Security reportedly has dropped the ball in disaster preparation, because of an excessive focus on purported terrorism preparation.

I thank the poster for saying it like it is.

This is nothing short of despicable.

Kanary

Fortunately the storrm seems to be staying in less-populated areas. By the time it nears Orlando it will be much weaker.

Check out article linked at this thread here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x617773

everyone. One of my oldest and dearest friends lives in Orlando.

I hope that everyone stays safe. And I do not resent this being on the news--it IS news.

:hug: for you....

You have a lucky friend. :hi:

Kanary

It's definitely nothing to take lightly. My thoughts & hopes are with everyone in the storm's path and those with friends and family there.

:grouphug:

I have family in Florida, but luckily not in the path of the hurricane. I do have a cousin in Sarasota, but I think he is safe. I had lived in South Florida most of my life and can't count all the hurricanes I have weathered. They are very scary. Luckily, I had moved up here to Georgia before Andrew hit, but I have seen some almost as intense. The only good thing as compared to tornadoes (which we have a lot of in Georgia)is that at least you have warning and can run the other way.

they changed their travel plans (not because of Charley) and left FL for their yearly visit early.

worried about their home but, they are safe. thanks for the concern.

I'm here alone and it's making a bullseye for my city. I'm taping up my windows, moving possible projectiles, worried that I'll lose my beloved trees, my home, even my life...and people think it's a joke? Is ANYTHING off limits to these insensitive, self centered gits? I haven't even heard from any family members today, and only two friends. One sent me an e-mail that just said "Hey-heard you got some weather." that was it. Well hell, at least she said something.

Thank you for your concern, TheWatcher; at least we're getting some good vibes from SOMEONE.