Just sayin’ be careful what you post and say.

I don’t know these people. I don’t know what went on. The details are none of my business. It’s none of anyone’s business except those actually involved. People really need to get off the “I need to be in (read: getting down on them) everyone else’s business” train and start worrying more about themselves.

I do think it’s great to help out and I believe it is ok to want to varrify a story before you help out. Unfortunately, especially in the blogger/twitter world that’s what its come down to. But please people… be careful what you are passing on. I’ve heard people say “yeah she tweeted about her son and a half hour later was tweeting about her chickens.”

Really? Get some information, people.

I really hope nobody has to ever go through something like this!

Andrea and mswiggie, I totally agree… and with her hubby being in the military and overseas, who knows how much family she has close.. maybe twitter was her fastest, easiest “its right there in my hand right now and I HAVE to do something” way of getting the word out quick. For crying out loud she was asking for prayers, not like she was exploiting him.

I am an EMT and I’ve seen the whole realm of grief/stress that happens as a loved one is dying. I’ve seen people completely whig out and cry/scream. I’ve seen people who are totally in shock and can’t even look at you. I’ve had to peal people off of their loved one (and even us!), and I’ve seen people chit chat with someone in the kitchen, or call 10 different people and tell them their loved one is gone like they were calling them to bring home a loaf of bread… while we’re working on their loved one in the living room.

People handle it in different ways, and it’s not our place to get down on them for it.

Thanks for your comments.

As soon as I heard from the Sheriff’s office, I contacted the local media in Orlando, then twittered and updated my blog so that the people who WERE unsure could know, and proceed if they wanted to donate to the family.

It’ll probably last for a few days since one of my responses was to McGraw, so I’m being lumped with her into a category of mean people who have no heart.

Thanks for your comment.

I hate to say it but I wish it WAS a hoax. It broke my heart to see that his passing was confirmed. I wanted it to NOT be true. But since it his, I hope now that Shellie and her friends will just IGNORE the other stuff and cope with this loss.

You know what bothers me though? Those that are saying “hey, it’s natural to question a story before sending in money especially if something seems a little odd about it…” are now getting lumped in and called assholes with someone who took those doubts to another level. There’s a difference in being reluctant to blindly believe something and outright accusing someone of lying about a child’s death.

The name-calling and the attacks are just ridiculous! And, honestly, I see most of it coming from people who should be more concerned with supporting their friend than worrying about what some stranger on the Internet is saying. It just adds fuel to the fire if you ask me.

*sigh* Sadly, I’ve seen it before in the Mom blogging community… don’t you DARE speak out or disagree with one of their own or you will suffer their wrath! Maybe that’s why I never really fit in… I’m too much of an independent thinker.

However, you make a great point that many will see it tagged as a hoax and think of it as such. I don’t remember tagging it as “hoax” but if it’s there, I’ll remove it.

Thanks for your comment.

I always suggest that when people want to give financial donations, they do so through an earmarked fund with the hospital, local organization or house of worship, etc. There are a whole host of reasons why this is a good way to go about things.

However, the post to which you linked has as one of its tags “hoax”. I don’t have any issue with people going off to verify and reporting the results–but tweeting about that process in a way that strongly hints you don’t buy the story is insulting.
Wait for verification, yes–but there is no need to rush to judgment, assuming the worst in people. The implication that a story like this is a hoax is hurtful, especially when we know that the mom is on Twitter and seeing this. I believe that people are reacting to those insinuations at this very sensitive time.

Yes, tweeting out pictures is differently than how I think I would mourn–but I don’t think we should be in the business of judging how another chooses to mourn.

STILL – I know we live in a social-networking world, but to tweet that way, when she did, then post pictures so soon afterwards? Then get on the next day? I get you’re grieving but step away from the internet. It’s a comment on how much the online world & validation on it rules lives today.I think that’s what a lot of people (though silent) take issue with.

No I’m, not hating; before her support train gets on & chews me out. But seriously, think for 2 seconds. Would you be posting online at a time like that?

Thanks again for a well thought out post.