The irony: SL and global friendships

This is NOT to stir political discussion or to make light in any way the tragic events in London this morning. But when irony and coincidence fold in upon themselves and affect our lives, it deserves mention.

A very dear friend of mine who I've known online for almost 10 years commutes to London every day. This morning he overslept because he was up too late in Second Life, feeding this addiction that so many of us have developed.

As a result, he wasn't on his usual train -- and his usual train was in Liverpool Station when one of the bombs went off. If he hadn't stayed up late and made his normal train, we could be minus one SLer of high integrity, a treasured friend and a loving father. I don't like thinking about that possibility.

I was moved this morning when I kept checking with all of my British friends as they came online, and so far everyone is accounted for. Relief washes over me ...

I don't much care if it's coincidence or fate. I'm just thankful my British SL friends are ok. I hope yours are too.

Ive become a forum ho, and i think this deserves a bump...

I think its fair to say, you just experienced, on a smaller scale (im not trying reduce your emotions) what ppl who like me, that have family in London must have felt as they counted their blessings today..

What people who have family in India (like me), what they felt when the Tsunami hit last Christmas...

What families of War heroes feel everyday when they scan networks upon networks of information to confirm that their loved ones havent become another war statistic

... what people felt when the towers went down 4 years ago.. and the overwhelming emotion that ensues when u stand at ground zero

And well, the media likes to have their own flavour of the week - in that stories are reduced to archives, those whose lives are affected.. relive the stories day after day..

So to that I say,... Lest we forget.

Thank you, Rice. Well said.