Tweet first, then act

A place to discuss casual topics amongst spiritual friends.
Post Reply
Individual
Posts: 1970
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:19 am

Tweet first, then act

Post by Individual »

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookou ... -it-happen" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last night in front of an audience of hundreds at a presentation at the University of Southern California, TV personality Bill Nye — popularly known as the "Science Guy" — collapsed midsentence as he walked toward a podium. Early indications are that Nye is OK, but what's odd about the incident isn't so much Nye's slight health setback as the crowd's reaction. Or, more precisely, its nonreaction, according to several accounts.
It appears that the students in attendance, rather than getting up from their seats to rush to Nye's aid, instead pulled out their mobile devices to post information about Nye's loss of consciousness.
More at the link above.

The guy on the news made a funny comment. He cited one tweet, "OMG. Bill Nye just passed out on stage. Somebody get that man some water." Instead of getting up to get the man some water, they tweeted about it. :)
The best things in life aren't things.

The Diamond Sutra
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Tweet first, then act

Post by Ben »

That is interesting.
There was a well publicised event here in Australia about a month ago.
Ex-prime minister, John Howard was being interviewed on Q&A, its a weekly televised panel discussion/interview where audience participants can ask questions and viewers can send questions via video, and twitter. They also feature a stream of tweets at the bottom of the screen, comments from, predominantly, peanut gallery. John Howard was on his own with Tony Jones fielding some questions and comparing/adjudicating. During the program, one guy took off his shoes and threw one of them at Howard before being escorted off the set. I was watching Q&A when it happened and my impression was that it was a lame copy-cat of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Dubya. It was (the shoe-throwing incident on Q&A) was a dumb political stunt. But more interestingly, just before the incident, somoeone had tweeted words to the effect of "someone should throw a shoe at John Howard". The author of the tweet was interviewed the next day and apparently, just as surprised as everyone else that someone in the live audience threw his shoe at John Howard.
The world is weird, sometimes.
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
Individual
Posts: 1970
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:19 am

Re: Tweet first, then act

Post by Individual »

Ben wrote:That is interesting.
There was a well publicised event here in Australia about a month ago.
Ex-prime minister, John Howard was being interviewed on Q&A, its a weekly televised panel discussion/interview where audience participants can ask questions and viewers can send questions via video, and twitter. They also feature a stream of tweets at the bottom of the screen, comments from, predominantly, peanut gallery. John Howard was on his own with Tony Jones fielding some questions and comparing/adjudicating. During the program, one guy took off his shoes and threw one of them at Howard before being escorted off the set. I was watching Q&A when it happened and my impression was that it was a lame copy-cat of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Dubya. It was (the shoe-throwing incident on Q&A) was a dumb political stunt. But more interestingly, just before the incident, somoeone had tweeted words to the effect of "someone should throw a shoe at John Howard". The author of the tweet was interviewed the next day and apparently, just as surprised as everyone else that someone in the live audience threw his shoe at John Howard.
The world is weird, sometimes.
Sounds like it was a gandhabba. :)
The best things in life aren't things.

The Diamond Sutra
User avatar
Modus.Ponens
Posts: 3853
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:38 am
Location: Gallifrey

Re: Tweet first, then act

Post by Modus.Ponens »

Two interesting stories, although the first one is disturbing.


:offtopic: Ben, is your avatar a gong from the vipassana retreats?
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Tweet first, then act

Post by Ben »

Hi MP
I found the picture while browsing an online shop selling buddha-rupas. I was doing a bit of 'window shopping', and noted that they were also selling burmese gongs, similar to the ones that are used in centres associated with SN Goenka. I just downloaded the pic and decided to use it as an avatar. As you know, its sort of emblematic for anyone who has done a ten-day course (or longer) in that sub-tradition, and I guess I like it.

In case you don't know, I am heading off to Myanmar in less than a week for a long retreat and a mini-yattra,visiting sites that are connected to the tradition in Burma.
Out of respect to Individual,I am happy to continue this tangent elsewhere,or via pm, so as this thread can remain on-topic.
kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
retrofuturist
Posts: 27848
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Tweet first, then act

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Ben,

Well you posted first, and then intend to act... so I guess it's on-topic!

:meditate:

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Post Reply