Here’s yet another anecdote that proves your point.

Our neighbor, affectionately called Jetcar Bob because he was one of the pioneers in putting jet engines into cars (actually set a Guiness book of record years ago) was rushed to the hospital with a life-threatning ailment. He fought like hell and made it through a 24-hour cycle.

And he managed to hang another couple days when we heard from his wife. She felt if Bob could hear from the people who cared about him it could make the difference in his will to fight.

We did more than leave a message for Bob.

Thanks to the Internet, we sprung into action researching Bob’s exploits, the drag races he won, who he competed against, his circle of buddies, etc.
From this research we built a list of people who would know Bob then again turned to the Internet to dig out email addresses and phone numbers. Hey, thank goodness privacy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

We then contacted all of these folks with a simple message: JetCar Bob is in the hospital. If you care about him, email a note to his wife letting him know how you feel.

The notes poured in, each one read to Bob by his wife.

Bob recovered which his wife believes can be partly attributed to all the well wishers, some connecting with Bob for the first time in 20 plus years.

Amazing.

P.S. It still makes me cranky that Big Daddy Garlits didn’t reach out to Bob. Apparently the bad blood between the two didn’t dissipate over the years.

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About fixing social media, it is really hard to understand. As one of the commenters above me said, the internet is doing what it was meant to do. He raises a very good point. After the infamous train robbery (many movies were made of it), the robbers dashed into a crowd of thousands of running soccer fans who were all wearing what the robbers were — a black and white striped shirt. The police were then looking at thousands of identical people, and only five of which were who they were looking for.

In the same sense, as a thirteen year-old, it is almost impossible to find someone I can relate to on the web that is my age and enjoys the same writing/blogging style as I do, instead of just blabbering garbage on facebook or myspace. But there is someone out there, out of the millions of kids my age. And without the internet, it would be IMPOSSIBLE to find them. With the internet, you could just say it is VERY HARD to find them. So my point is that we need to build off that. Many people won’t admit it, but the internet is still in the stone age.

Finding MS_Tylee (and not putting you down or anything) was pure luck. And that really sucks. She was probably one of the hundreds in that chat room who actually could help you. And that’s why we need to create an internet chat room where you can find people in terms of an emergency that will really help you. This is totally do-able, but the only obsticle is filtering the people who don’t need to be in this chat room out and the people who do should get in without question so they can get to their problem.

In the same sense, there should also be a chat room where you can casually meet people your age and talk to them (not talking about relationships here). This could be useful for everything from business meetings to my problem. I could go rambling more about this, but I guess thats not very healthy for this comment section.

My point here is that the internet is endless, nothing here is impossible. Anything can be created and done. And as all of us are well aware, this is good and bad. The key is creating something else that forces people of all ages to grow up and help other people and get things done. If they don’t want to do that, they can go to facebook and then waist their life away

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With Gratitude!

I’m so sorry for your losses. When my mom was dying, it was like my heart broke every day — and you’re right, I wish I could have her back again, even frustrated with me.

I am a little humbled by your comments, even as I realize that once again the Internet is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

I’m hugging my kids a little tighter, too — and thinking of you and yours. — M.

As far a social networks, 1995 was the year I was born in, and I am only beginning to truly understand the amazing depth that the internet really has. One of the flaws, though, is that there are people who have nothing to do on facebook and people like you in 1995 who really have a purpose. We need to fix that somehow, and it seems hard to me.

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I lost my aunt to brain cancer in 2004, the same night I passed my EMT exams. My good friend lost her 12-year-old niece to cancer this time last year. And my ex-wife beat cancer two years ago (we’re still very close). Cancer has hit close to home for me and I’m acutely aware that I could be next.

My point being that we all need a good kick in the butt sometimes to keep us focused on what is really important in life. This is a post that I will bookmark and refer to on days when I feel overwhelmed with the “noise.” I am also forwarding to my family and friends.

Thank you, Merredith for taking the time to share your story. Know that it is making a difference! Tonight, I will hug my son a little tighter and be thankful for the time I get to spend with him. I will try not to get frustrated with him when he gets cranky because I know so many people who would give anything to see their children being cranky again. I also know children who could give anything to see their parents get frustrated with them.

God bless…