Heartfelt Sympathy!

[Sun-SSS]

I mean, someone in the world knew that thousands of people were going to die and could do nothing about it.

Could do nothing about it? OrCouldn't be bothered doing anything about it? Looks like tha latter to me.

 

[Sun-SSS]

i aint reading all this shit..........j/k

Of course you're not. Some of the words are of more than two syllables. Go to the casino.

 

[Jenem]

Sun-SSS, you're making a lot of assumptions on what can be done (and barriers that can be crossed without advance preparation) in one hour. Read RitalinKid's long post - it makes sense.

As for what I said about your response to Watercrystal - I DID see her post, but I took it for what I think I know of Watercrystal - that her sympathy goes beyond the dead bodies. I am sure (and forgive me if I put words into your mouth, Watercrystal) the dead bodies prompt her sympathy on the whole.

 

[Jenem]

For you to get on radio or TV may be hard, but how hard is it for your governments?

How far do you imagine people “going about their business” are from a radio or TV?

Do you think towns are without police to take charge in emergency? If you were in Indonesia and the military (they have military based everywhere) started telling you what to do you (screaming in the street, if you want to put it that way) you wouldn’t want to let them know you thought they were nuts. You’d want to do what you were told, and do it quick.

Getting angry may not be much use, but neither is getting complacent

when i am going about my business i am nowhere near a tv. sometimes a radio, but only if i'm inside somewhere that one is on.

and no, obviously i don't think towns are without police or a nearby military presence. you are missing the point of what is being said. it is not as easy to communicate with foreign governments as just making a phone call. some guy from NOAA (or wherever) has to be able to reach the president of usa (who was vacationing in Texas and didn't even come back to hold a press conference until 2 days later) and NOAA guy has to get past all the levels til he finally can get clearance to even talk to the prez. i am using usa as an example, but i know it's no easier in canada and i am sure it's not elsewhere. and even once a phone call actually gets made, as RitalinKid said, the govt on the receiving end would be asking for proof. are you expecting the local Thai government, which has a thriving tourism industry, to evacuate their towns on an unproven word? if it was a false alarm, that sort of thing could really damage the local economy. they just wouldn't do it. it's simply not realistic to expect something like that. optimistic, yes. realistic, no.

or do you think they could have made all these phone calls and provided proof in time to communicate with the local radio and tv stations of those areas in one hour?

what needed to be done was to have a prepared warning system in place that was understood by the population of the areas. since nothing like this had ever happened in that region before (and due to political issues etc as mentioned earlier), no system was in place. you know what they say about hindsight.

just out of curiosity (i'm not being snippy, i am really just asking) are you familiar with the way the warning systems for this type of disaster work? the bouys and etc?

 

[Wabbit]

Of course you're not. Some of the words are of more than two syllables. Go to the casino.

<--puts on moderator hat.

Sun, there is no need to get personal and rude. She did say she was joking. Can you play nice please?

 

[RitalinKid]

It's frustrating that in a day of global communications we couldn't get a warning to 100,000+ people. The Pacific Rim is protected by the buoy system that Jenem posted about. India and Sri Lanka had not employed the system mainly because the threat wasn't as real as it was in the rim where seismic activity occurs more often. It's so tragic that this had to happen for a system to be put in place.

 

[Sun-SSS]

<--puts on moderator hat.

Sun, there is no need to get personal and rude. She did say she was joking. Can you play nice please?

I think breaking into serious discussion with [i aint reading all this shit] is rude, joking or not. Nice, you want? Well, I can promise not to be idiotic…

 

[Sun-SSS]

It's so tragic that this had to happen for a system to be put in place.

As I've said, there is a system in place.

 

[Wabbit]

I think breaking into serious discussion with [i aint reading all this shit] is rude, joking or not. Nice, you want? Well, I can promise not to be idiotic…

That's debatable, but the point is that she didn't call you names. Please don't resort to name calling on this forum. Everybody deserves respect and the freedom to be able to enjoy the forum without being insulted.

Thank you

 

[Sun-SSS]

you are missing the point of what is being said.

We could argue till the cows come home about who is missing whose point. I think I see your point—I just find it distastefully complacent.
A lot of the points you make seem to me to smack of desparation. [Thailand would ignore warnings because to take them seriously would damage its tourist industry? Be serious, please!]
Everyone must know that the US. is not left leaderless when the President goes on vacation. And no one needs presidential permission to communicate with people in other countries anyway. Scientists of all countries talk to one another all the time. And scientists in a serious panic hold some sway over their governments.
To be sure, an hour's warning is not much, and would probably have had only limited effect. If only ten per cent, then only 14,000 or so people might have been saved. According to your logic, it seems, not enough to make the effort worth while

 

[Sun-SSS]

That's debatable, but the point is that she didn't call you names. Please don't resort to name calling on this forum. Everybody deserves respect and the freedom to be able to enjoy the forum without being insulted.

Thank you

When did I call anyone a name? What name? Please try to be accurate if you're going to throw accusations around.

 

[RitalinKid]

As I've said, there is a system in place.

Yes, and if you had read my post or cnn.com, you would know that India and Sri Lanka are not involved in it. They have no bouys or advanced warning systems in place. In 2 to 2.5 years, they will, but only after this tragedy.

Sun, I know it bothers you that this happened, but why are you being so snappy? It's no one's fault, especially no one on this board. In your defense, you didn't call anyone a name, but your comments to lahondas would've have been better received if you were joking. Then, it would've been pretty funny.

 

[Sun-SSS]

Yes, and if you had read my post or cnn.com, you would know that India and Sri Lanka are not involved in it. They have no bouys or advanced warning systems in place. In 2 to 2.5 years, they will, but only after this tragedy.

Sun, I know it bothers you that this happened, but why are you being so snappy? It's no one's fault, especially no one on this board. In your defense, you didn't call anyone a name, but your comments to lahondas would've have been better received if you were joking. Then, it would've been pretty funny.

I read your post. Did you read mine? Go back to my original and see what I am on about. I'm not talking about who is and who is not "involved in" any system. Unlike you and others, I don't think that not being involved with or contributing to a system should disqualify someone or some country from being warned when that system indicates that catastophe is likely.

What you might call snappy, I might call forthright. I see no merit in pussy-footing around. And some of us who think we can write competently see no need of smileys and things to indicate that we consider something amusing, like canned laughter on TV so-called comedy shows.

As for it being nobody's fault, there we differ, as should be clear by now. Of course it's not anyone on this forum's fault, but I am critical of so many adopting the role of apologist for those whose fault it is. Brainwashed, I dare say, by CNN, the greatest propaganda machine since Goebels.

 

[Wabbit]

Well, in fact he did insult her

Of course you're not. Some of the words are of more than two syllables. Go to the casino.

Telling somebody that they can't understand because the words have more than two syllables is calling somebody an idiot, isn't it? If I tell you that you can't understand this post because I am using big words what do you think I am implying? That you are very smart? Or that I might be calling into question your intelligence. IE: You are an idiot

Everybody has different opinions and we are all adults. We can discuss without resorting to insults be they direct or implied.

I'm not gonna get dragged into an infinite argument on this. Just let's all get on ok? Points been made so now let's move on and talk about books or something

Let's all play nice now or you all get sent to your room with no ice cream!

 

[Sun-SSS]

Well, in fact he did insult her


Telling somebody that they can't understand because the words have more than two syllables is calling somebody an idiot, isn't it?

Ah …so now I just implied someone a name? You're making less sense with every post, Wabbit. [And eek! No! I'm not calling, or even implying, you a name!]

And whether you think so or not, calling what someone else posted shit is an insult worse than any I am guilty of. And anyone who does it had better be ready to take some sarcasm in return. And if you want to get legalistic, it might be an idea to parse the one-liner you find so objectionable. There is nothing in it to say she couldn't understand it because it had words with more than two syllables; only the suggestion that she couldn't be bothered reading it, would rather dismiss it as shit, for that reason.

 

[Wabbit]

As I said, I'm not getting into an infinite argument with you on this and for sure not getting into an argument of semantics.

Let's get back to discussion the topic in hand!

 

[hay82]

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. weather agency didn't have the phone numbers nor staff to alert all Indian Ocean coastal countries when it saw the first signs that tsunamis could be heading their way, its top official said Thursday. He cautioned that the Caribbean and Atlantic also lack an early warning system.

In the face of stern questioning by some in Congress over whether enough was done, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said his agency did all it was responsible for doing in warning 26 countries in the Pacific.

''We cannot watch tsunamis in the Indian Ocean,'' said Conrad C. Lautenbacher, the Commerce Department's undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere and a retired Navy vice admiral, noting that no warning system exists for all 11 countries where the death toll has now topped 117,000.
Taken from http://www.boston.com/dailynews/365/wash/US_Lack_of_phone_numbers_staff:.shtml

I know most people would like to blame someone, but I can't see who we should blame.

 

[Ice]

I have been following this thread but have been reluctant to post - personally I don't think an hour is a very long time at all for a message to filter through, which has resulted in such devastation - though there should be measures in place that if such an earthquake occured, then a message should get out to all nearby provinces - I guess this may come as a result of this tradegy, which is no consolation to those whom have lost family and friends but hopefully it will prevent this type of thing happening again

It shouldn't have affected the ships I don't think - there are reports of scuba divers being unaware of what was going on until the got back to land.

Does anyone know what time the Tsunami hit on Boxing Day? A friend of mine from work was flying out to Sri Lanka either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, and no one has been able to get in contact with her to find out how she is and if her family (whom she is going to stay with) are okay

 

[hay82]

Does anyone know what time the Tsunami hit on Boxing Day? A friend of mine from work was flying out to Sri Lanka either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, and no one has been able to get in contact with her to find out how she is and if her family (whom she is going to stay with) are okay

Found this... This happened in the morning of Sunday, 26th, around 10 o’clock in the morning Sri Lanka time. ... Not sure when 10 o'clock sri lanka time is but about 4 in the morning england time. Hope your friend is okay.

 

[RitalinKid]

I wrote a nice fat response, and it really hurt to erase it, but regardless, the Wabbit is right. It's an endless argument, an argument over paradigms. I agree with the Wabbit that we should just leave the thread to those wanting to discuss the details and express their sympathy.

I'm sure we will have oppurtunities to discuss our differences some other time, Sun; I know we both have plenty to say. That's why I joined this forum, to listen to international people with international views.