GridStream Productions

Here's a totally wierd little thing my friend did to me. Figured I'd share, since it really kinda puts your life in perspective. Yeah, most of you weren't alive for the first few...


Where were you when...

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
not born. That's right, I'm not THAT old.

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Still not born. Yet.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
I was *gasp!* Watching TV. Yes, I was alive and TV was invented. Imagine that. I was all whiney and stuff coz I was too young to appreciate how much more important little grainy-looking bobbing guys in big white suits were than Sunday cartoons. Gimme a break, I was only four.

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
I was completely oblivious to the entire thing, babysitting a neighbor's bratty kids. I didn't find out till the next day when I went to school that anything odd had happened. I distinctly remember, to my shame, thinking "Hey...was it like Vesuvius and Pompeii?" I'm afraid I was pretty detatched as a teen.

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
I remember seeing it on TV after school and being really upset. I never figured out why, since I wasn't a big fan.

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
Pretty sure it was another school day thing. I was completely freaked out. And I felt really aweful for Brady.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
I saw it while staring openmouthed at a bigscreen TV at college with a bunch of other space geeks. One of the single saddest days of my life.

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
No recollection of where I was whatsoever. I hate to say it, but it was weeks before I knew there'd been an earthquake.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
Again, I don't recall. Though I DO remember the party that weekend to celebrate the event. I managed to get thoroughly wasted and almost broke my wrist when the party was crashed by a small pack of nazi skins.

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
I was out back smoking with my boyfriend and his best friend and caught the headlines through the sliding glass door on the TV. Being part of the "Bomb Iran" generation, I was pretty enthused. Until a few hours later when I realized that some of my friends were probably there. Turns out one was. He died recently. I miss him.

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
Worked through the entire thing. Found out later and sighed, because Janet Reno was being a big old b'tch and obviously not giving a rat's bum about having burned a bunch of people to death. I still wonder how long it will be till that kind of thing happens again.

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
Caught bits of it on TV at a bar and thought "WTF? Not OJ..."

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
I was working. Didn't know till the next day. Didn't think much about it. Wondered what they were trying to prove by blowing up a government building. I distinctly remember having thought "Okay, I hope they catch the f*ckers and give them the death penalty." In hindsight, I no longer believe the death penalty is much of a deterrant, since the people who do that crazy stuff don't much care if they die doing it so long as they proove their point. Oh yeah. And they're crazy.

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
Don't remember and I didn't really care at the time. My job and my boyfriend were making me crazy and I didn't have time to feel bad for a celebrety. I decided that it was indecent the way the press was eating it up and shoving it in our faces. I turned off the TV for a solid month.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
I was playing AO. Someone said somebody flew a plane into the World Trade Center and I scoffed at them. I honestly didn't believe it. Until I got a phonecall from a friend who was freaking out, and turned on the TV at his insistance. I will NEVER watch CNN again. Ever.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
I don't remember. I found out the next day from a friend. I felt really bad.

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
Home, doing the dishes. My boyfriend (same one from the first Gulf War) was watching something I thought was goofy when the president announced we'd gone to war again. I was thinking "why don't we just do it right the first time and get the hell out?" Of course in retrospect, my version of "doing it right" would have been seriously overkill. Especially considering the fact our president's a lying, dishonest dictator who didn't even need a real excuse.

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
You know, I just found out about this a couple of weeks back. I have no clue where I was when it happened. I don't even know the whole story. I can't seem to find it in myself to be shocked anymore. I wish people would cut it out and find some other way to express their displeasure than killing innocents.


What does all this tell me about myself? Perhaps it shows me how desensitized I've become to the world around me over the years. I remember things from twenty years ago better than I do tragedies that have occurred since after 9/11. It's an extremely sobering thought.

How does a person remove the calluses from their mind once they've built up?

So what about you? Where were you?

i dont really understand the meaning of thi topic ut... herei go:

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
not born.

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
not born.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
not born.

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
not born.

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
not born.

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
not born

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
not born

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
i was 1 year old, still living in LA, so i was pretty safe

however, there was a little eartquake in LA in 88 or 89, a small one, couse my sister was playing with me in my little thignie-where-you-put-babys-with-wheels-on and she just left me on the street, and we were living in the hills then! lol lucky mom saw it and came before i rolled to far.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
still 1 year old.

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
3 yeas old, still dont have a memory hehe.

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
5 years old, things like that dont stick to a 5 year old's memory

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
6 year old, i probly luaghed at the tv lol.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
7 year old. still no memory of it

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
i was 9 years old, i remember i felt sorry for some princess tat died, was more of a feiry ttail to me hehe

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
i got home from school, sat down to watch some tv, zapped through a couple of channels, got stuck on CNN, cant really recal what was onthen, but a few mins later they just interupt te thing and i see a plane going into WTCi was like "WTF o0?", by then the first plane ad just crashed into it, i saw the 2nd one hit live :/ was horrible when you saw little dots(ppl) jumping down to get crushed on the streets below.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
at my fathers resturant, with a bunch of drunk gamblers who didnt care...

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
saw it when i was riding ome from school, on a newspaper stan

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
in school, was sitting in the cafeteria, and then they said it on the news.


thats that

Where were you when...

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
not born.

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
not born.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
not born.

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
not born.

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
not born.

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
not born.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
4 Years old, cant remember takin any notice of it.

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
never heared of it.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
lots of discussion bout it on tv, dont think i have fully understood what happened there.

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
They cancelled Karneval for it. cant remember much more.

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
hu? what you talking 'bout?

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
think there was something on the news about it. uninteresting

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
Dunno, cant recall it, I think i heared about it some month later, maybe i m confusing it with some other bombing...

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
lots of stuff about in on tv. the english royals isnt something i m interested in, I only remember those guys carrying the coffing where walking like drunk.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
the first thing in this list that isnt so long ago i cant remember exactly.
me was watching tv, and on some private channel they started talking about it. looked like a fake so i switched, but on nearly every channel they where showing it. took me a couple of hours till i believed it.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
heared bout it in the evening news,

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
dunno where i was exactly, but that was the first time our chancellor did something right.

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
seen it in the news.

when you hear stuff like that on a daily bases, its easy to forget and ignore that stuff.

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
not born. That's right, I'm also not THAT old.

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Still not born. Yet.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
I was 1 wee old - don't really remember it...

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
I heard about it, and saw all the pictures in Time and what not. Probably had us talk about it in school, but don't remember much. Mainly just the crazy pictures showing thousands of trees laid out like matchisticks on the ground...

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
I was first getting into the old Beatles albums around that time so it kinda hit home a bit.

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
Honestly, even at that age being pretty anti-Republican I think I was almost sorry he didn't do a better job

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
Think this happened during a school day, and was maybe my earliest time of seeing a great tragedy that is then replayed time & again on TV for all us to stare at in horror...

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
I heard about this mainly cause I have a few relatives who lived in SF at the time. They still do, but some technically now live outside the city and just work there...

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
All I really remember is seeing this either on TV or again in a magazine like Time

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
I remember the pictures from Baghdad of the tracer bullets or AA fire going up into the green sky....

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
I heard about it, and it kinda solidified my ideas about how law enforcement generally pans out in our country...

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
This happened as I was drving out to visit my relatives in SF so I was out of touch at the exact time, but after I got there it was kinda shocking (and later we all came to despise Court TV, right)

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
I was out of work and caught it on TV right away. At the time my sister was working as an air-traffic controller trainee in Oklahoma City so it kinda hit home a bit more than it might've otherwise. Still kinda crazy to get attacked by a terrorist from your own country & all

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
I was actually over at a friends house & we had been watching a Babylon 5 episode (I think), then after we noticed these news items on the local channel while surfing.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
I had gotten up earlier than normal t drive my neice to school. Then I went back home to sleep awhile before work. Alarm clock woke me set to my favorite rock station, but they weren't playing music. They reported that a plane had run into tone of the WTC towers. I pictured a small 1 engine plane running into the side of one of those giant buildings, kinda wondered how it would happen and what crazy person would do such a thing. Took a shower and then heard them say another plane hit the other tower, then before leaving heard that one tower collapsed!! Tuned to CNN before driving to work, and then was pretty much in awe of the greatest tragedy I'd ever seen.... pretty much still....

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
I found out about it pretty much after it happened. Kinda opens your eyes abit again about the dangers of space travel.

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
For one thing I tried to quip "It's only a repeat" to family & friends, but look back & know this would never occur had the guy who won the election be in office...

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
They are calling it their 9/11, and I know it's a tragedy, but the numbers are a bit different. Still it seems to have affected the outcome of their elections, and that's possibly what the terrorists were going for (at least in the short run)

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
Not born

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Not born

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
Not born

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
Close, but still not here

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
Not born

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
Still not born

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
Same year, but eight months before, so not born

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
I barely remember this. My father is a Baseball Writer, and was there at the time (was the World Series final there?). My mother was elsewhere, and I was with my grandparents. I recall padding down the hall to see my grandmother look very worried on the phone, and she tell me something happened there. My three year old mind didn't put it together, but I later on was told by my father what happened.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
Never paid much attention to the news when I was young, so probably playing with my legos in the living room.

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
Going to preschool, if memory serves.

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
Preschool/school.

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
I believe I was in the basement play with my legos and watching TV when the news about it came on. All I can recollect is (and at the time I didn't know who OJ was) some guy being chased for a long time in a white car.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
At school, iirc, but we didn't learn anything about it.

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
At home, just woke up. Heard about the news from my Mother.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
Now this, this will always be fresh in my mind. I just have to think about that day to flash back.

I was a Freshman in High School, and had just left Second period (Algebra...*yawn*). I was heading to Third period (Latin II...*double yawn*) when I passed one of the several Teacher's lounges in the school (we have one for every wing: 1 for the Math/Language wing, 1 for the English wing, etc). I noticed the news was on (which was strange, because they usually had Regis & Kelly, or whatever the hell is on in the mornings), but didn't think much of it. I entered Latin II, and prepared for another thrilling day of Latin.

Just as the school Announcements were about to air on TV, one of my classmates (his name was Justin, if memory serves) ran in, breathless. He told the class something about the Towers being hit. At the time, I had no clue what the towers even were. He insisted that our teacher turn on the news. Lo and behold, he was right. We watched as the Second tower fell, and then the news about the Pentagon being hit came on. That felt like a sledgehammer blow to my stomach. The Pentagon was something I saw countless times in my life. We pass it by every time we go to Crystal City, or the Pentagon City Mall, or National Airport. Having it hit just shook me something fierce.

Anyway, I remember the entire classroom watching in a stunned silence. You could have dropped a pin and hear it hit the floor. Right before Fourth period, Dr. Paci (our principal) came on the Intercom, telling the classes to not put on the TVs (too late for some classes). As I sat down in Fourth period, I got a message to go to the Attendance office. There, I found my mother and father (thank god, they hadn't left the house yet), ready to take me home. We drove over to the Middle School and picked my brother up. We went home, and I spent the rest of the day just in a fog.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
I was asleep when my Mother came downstairs to my room to tell me what happened. I at first thought it was a dream, but I turned on the news, and she was right.

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
Can't exactly recall, but probably here at home.

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
At home, iirc. I was working on a paper when I heard something on the News, and saw it.[/i]

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
Not born

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Not born

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
Not born

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
Not born

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
Not born

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
Not born

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
Not born

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
Not born

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
Cheering on as a fetus.

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
Sucking on a pacifier.

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
Some cult shootout? Not sure, actually.

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
Too young to have cared

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
Wasnt aware at the time

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
Was watching CNN eating my corn flakes, but I couldnt grasp what had realy happened at that point.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
In 3rd period science, about to dissect a frog, when we heard that the United States had been attacked over the intercom from our principal. We all went home early.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
Doing my rounds of CNN as I heard about it, dropped the glass of milk I was carrying, shattering it all over the floor, and stared in dumb confusion.

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
12:ish AM 03/19/2003, laying awake on my kitchen couch watching an American cruise missle strike an Iraqi restaraunt in downtown Baghdad, too interested to go to sleep.

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
Was playing Halo for X-Box, when the cover of a Time magazine with a bloodied man hugging a woman, caught my eye. I couldnt believe it. And now they blame us and he party that had supported the fight against terrorism was ousted in the election.

I forget most of it but when princess di was killed. i wuz liek, yeah, whats the big differenence between a girl dying in a car crash and a random guy you dont know getting hit by a car. i thought, when i die i want the whole world to know! i was flipping through channels and heard a princess died, most all the channels were covering it (new channels) so i thought, big deal. it happens all the time, all over the world, in your backyard, on your skin. things die.

and most everything else i dunno. but i was moshing inside my moms wound when the earthquake came, i was in the earthquake as a fetus.

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
Not born

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Not born

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
Not born

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
I was still a fetus.. not quite born yet.

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
Born, but only 6 months old.. like I remember that.

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
still too young to remember.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
I remember going to school, and coming home to see my parents watching TV and looking really sad.. when they told me what happened.. I watched the TV with them, and was pretty heartbroken. (I was, and still am a big space nut)

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
I remember hearing about this one on the news. At first, I was thinking "cool!" (hey.. i was 9 years old.. anything involving earthquakes, war, or destruction is "cool").. then i heard that people died.. which kinda ruins the "cool" part.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
I remember thinking "this is one of those days that you remember forever".. I dont remember what I was doing at the time, tho. hehe.

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
Sitting by the TV, sucking in every moment of "Prime Time War".

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
The news media here in Houston covered it with every reporter they had.. and they also grabbed their brother Harry, the bum on the corner, and the kids walking to the candy store to cover it too.. BIGTIME overkill.

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
I remember watching it on TV. They interrupted some show I was watching to show it... I do remember turning it off after a while.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
This is one that I watched closely, and my dad and I had a bet going whether it was foreign terrorists, or domestic ones. I won.

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
I remember hearing about it, thinking "oh, thats sad", and then going on. The news media did some serious overkill, and I never have taken British news media (except the BBC) seriously since.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
I was still asleep when the first plane crashed into the tower, and one of my coworkers called me at about 8:30, and simply said "turn on the TV".. I asked him "huh? why?", and he just replied "Turn it on. NOW.". So I walked over to the TV, turned it on, and after about 30 seconds of silence, I just said "Holy Sh**". I still, to this day, remember Peter Jennings, one of my most respected newsmen, saying "Oh.. My.. God.." When the first tower collapsed. It sent chills through my body when that happened. Heck.. just remembering that moment still gives me chills. I STILL had to go to work, tho, but all there was on the radio was news.. AM, FM.. didnt matter. We went home after about 3 hours, when nobody had come in, except to listen to the radio we had going.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
I was going to go to the Auto Show here in Houston, when my alarm woke me up at the right time, and the first thing I hear is "Today is a tragic day for America". To say the least, I was immediately awake, and going for the TV. I didnt move from the TV for about 45 mins, when my parents called, and I had to go get the phone. I still have the front page of the paper from the day after that.

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
I was trolling the TV, when I came across a Fox News screen talking about "America at war". My first thought was "oh, hell. what now?".

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
At work. As usual now. (I do find it interesting that the trains were attacked EXACTLY 2-1/2 years after 9/11.

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
my mother wasn't even born yet O.o

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Yeah, she was born now, but I wasn't

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
see above..

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
They were working on my sister this year >.<

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
Sissy was almost born

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
They were only missing me for this one

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
I was only just over one for this.. I was probably in my mom's arms

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
Almost 6 at this time.. I Was in kindergarten so.. *doesnt remember*

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
See above...

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
I was in first grade, and I don't recall anything...

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
In 3rd grade now.. and don't recall it..

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
I remember watching this on TV when I was at my aunt's house, and I did't understand what was going on, I just watched it, cause well, I dunno why.. But I remember she was calling my mom and grandma and her friends talking about the guy being chased.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
5th grade year.. and at the time I don't remember how I found out, but I know I didn't really understand it.. plus at the time I was more concerned about my cousin's recent death than anything else

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
I had just got home from school, and this was right when I first moved to Colorado.. My step-mom was watching it, and she was on the phone with my step sister and my dad telling them what happened. It didn't really effect me much, as at the time I didn't really know too much about her.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
I was a Senior in highschool, and I was sitting in the library, cause that was my class, I was a teacher's assistant for my first period. I heard the School District Head Cop guy on the phone in the office next to me, and he was saying how something had to be intential. At the point he said he had it on the TV, I turned on the library TV and stood there in shock. I then cried as I watched the second plane hit. In the middle of 2nd, the principle called the seniors down to let us know we have to set the model for the younger students, and be there for them and stuff.. I was scared, at the time Brad was of draft age, and we all knew we were going to be sending men out,and I didn't want to see him go out if he had to.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
I heard about this through AO OOC channel when Iwas on an alt.. I told brad and it really wasn't discussed much.. Even though I did live in Texas at the time

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
I honestly don't remember this.. I never really watched TV or anything so I didn't see it on there.. I remember watching the Pressy on a few times about that time though.. This was about the same time I was in a big fight with Brad too though...

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
I don't recall hearing about this O.o
At the time though I was acting Supervisor in my department at work and so I was probably in a meeting for work cause it was a Thursday and those are meeting days for the Sups

I read the first post and just breathed a sigh. It's somewhat depressing.
Anyway, the only one I really remember is the 9-11 thing. I woke up to go to school; mom and sister were in mom's room watching TV. I walk in and ask whats going on, and saw what happened. I was pretty numbed about the whole thing :/.

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
Well... I find this one obvious, as all others, I was yet to be...

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
The world was still without it's saviour (that or it's undoer, not quite sure, but still not born...)

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
I dunno... I think my parents might have... Oh wait... shit, even they were too young to care... I think... How old is my mom anyway... Hmm... Never mind...

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
Aha!... No, wait... still not born...

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
Read above... Filter out the "Aha!" bit...

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
We're gettin closer, but still no prize! ^^

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
Was too busy plotting nursery domination to care (the world was still a bit too big at this stage) Saw it later on some discovery programme tho while drinking tea... Funny, I remember that... Was watching a space programme...

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
Was oblivious to this as well, was plotting kindergarden domination now... And the death of a little kid who took my pacifier... Locked him in a closet... Hehe, I was such a "nice" little kid... ^^

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
Remember watching that on the tellie... Never understood what was so great abot knockin down a wall... Not till later anyway... Gave me the idea of building a wall in the living room tho, to keep my brother out... Mam (mom for you non-brit's) wasn't to thrilled about that... That was the first time I was grounded hehe...

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
My domination plans had now moved to 1 grade, and thus, a war didn't concern me... I had my own to fight... Kick me out of the pillow room... I'd show 'em! ^^

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
I still don't know what that is...

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
I only ever found out this guy existed when he stabbed his wife... Erh... when he "Alegedly" stabbed his wife...
Tho I must have been what... Fourth grader by now?

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
The what building in the where? I'm guessing this is one od those "You gotta be a yank to know" kinda things...?

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
Uhm... I remember making a rather cruel joke about that (Funny as hell if you've got a morbid enough humour) and generally finding the two facedness of Britain sickening... She was called a disgrase to the country by the media, the royal family hated her, and she was generally VERY unpopular back home... But as she died, she was everyones little darling and boy were they sorry... It was tragic yes, very... But stick to your principals none the less...

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
Came home from school, had a cup o' tea, and as I turned on the telly, I saw what I at first assumed to be a bad movie... Found it so very unrealistic... Had a meeting at school that night... Uhm... With the teachers... Apparently our class had beatan all school records of drop outs and teachers claiming they never wanted to see us again, and apparently they thought I had som'n to do with that... Hyppocrits!
Anyway, told 'em what had happened, and they didn't believe it either, and the principal called me a chaos factor and told me not to be... All in all an odd day...

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
Read about that in the paper... Was prolly plotting world domination (yes, the world was ripe for my taking by now...) and it caught my eye... Saw it on the telly the same night, drinking tea n' all... Thought must be a rather painfull way to go... I mean, disintegrated n' all... Ouch...

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
Was NOT surprised at all... A very Anti-American view had spread over Denmark at this point... Our government had a lot to do with that... I didn't really care, I just remember everyone stooping to the ultimate low of pointing the same old fingers and saying the same old "it's all their fault, capitalistic pratt's" shit... Yet does anyone ever back it up with a real argument?... Nope! So f**k 'em!

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
Had my midterm exams... Didn't find out till 3 days later... Felt kinda bad as one of my mates has family there... His uncle overslept and as thus was 10 min late, missed his train... And lived... Not a nice feeling...



Tm

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
The what building in the where? I'm guessing this is one of those "You gotta be a yank to know" kinda things...?

Sorta - put it this way - before the attacks of 9/11 this was the most deadly terrorist attack on U.S. soil.... Oh and it was done by fellow citizens of the U.S. of A.

I know alot about the oaklahoma city bombing, and I wasnt even born

Tacz wrote:I know alot about the oaklahoma city bombing, and I wasnt even born

You're 13 right? Maybe you don't know as much about as you think.

I was in my sophmore year of college in Virginia at the time. But I was born and now currently live in Oklahoma, so it definetly hit home.

Well, probably more than your average European. Timothy McVeigh, tsk tsk, tsk, rot in hell.

Well, I meant the fact that you said you weren't even born yet....but the bombing happened in 1995.

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
I think my father was born around this time...

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Probabbly being entertained as a thought as sperm number #3,827,291,012 who died a horrible death of being a disfigured sperm and lost all hopes and his goal to want to mate with an egg.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
Sperm #4,937,011,129 (a distant cousin of #3,827,291,012), meets with what we call the horrible death of the fabled hardwood floor.

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
The idea of my being born was entertained. Probabbly later in a few months though sperm #275,390,123,761 around this time finally entered my soon to be mother and began to fertilize

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
3 months away and 8 days from being born.

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
I was 14 days old... so I was proabbly brest feeding, and probabbly enjoying it.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
Was too young to remember, so I'm doing to say I really don't remember at all.

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
I was watching television, I really don't remember what, and I saw this and that horrifying sight of seeing the bridge fall upon itself.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
I was watching it, watching television again. Still a bit too young to really know what was going on, but I was happy (me thinks).


The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
I have no recolection of this at all.

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
I remember seeing this and not understanding until many years later what was going on. I dunno.

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
Really watching and saying "GO OJ GO!"... once again tooo young to understand but I was happy though.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
One of those wierd things, I had just turned on the television, I think I was home from school that day and I saw it and I just gasped. I couldn't believe that something that crazy would happen. I remember being highly upset and thought that this was a situation like the world trade center bombing about three years before. (which is also missing from this list ). I just remember being shcoked and very angry.

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
Up late when the news broke. I was actually talking with my mother about it as it was breaking on the news. I didn't know what to feel, but this also happened not too soon after Mother Teresa died, and I felt that for some reason those whom helped a lot in the world were also slowly being taken out and away from our lives.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
Ohhh... fond memories this one was. I was on the porch of my family's house typing up a report that was due sometime later on in the day for a class, when my mother called me and told me not the leave the house. I thought it was just first an accident when she told me, but I then turned on the news EXACTLY WHEN the second plane sliced through tower number 2. I was upset and calling friends and family, and I would never forget the next few days. I didn't know weather to be scared or upset, or to kill someone or cry... but I know I was frightened... and I know I really wanted to kill someone for what was done.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
I found out only later, I was somewhere (I don't remember where), but I was severely disgusted.

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
At home, counting it down, much like I counted down shock and awe... figured it was a somewhat f**ked late birthday persent.

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
At work and getting ready for what may be a show the next day.

As much as I like this list, there are things I feel a missing here... Nelson Mandela being freed, Illian Gonzalez, The Subway Series World Series in 2000, First WTC Bombing, Miachel Jackson's Black or White release... a few other things I can't think of.

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)

Not born.

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)

Not born.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)

Not born.

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)

I was one year old. So, don't remember.

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)

I was one year old. So, don't remember.

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)

I was 2 years old. So, don't remember.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)

I was seven years old, and wasnt too interested in international news. Although I believe I have a very faint memory of it on the TV, but that may have been influenced by repeated showings of the footage over the years.

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)

Ten years old. And this wasn't big news for me in Australia so I can't recall.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)

Probably at school, but I do remember watching it on the news later that night.


The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)

Not sure where I was, but I saw it on the news that night.

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)

Same as above.

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)

Watched it live late at night on Aussie TV. I just remember saying to myself "What kind of car chase is this? He's in third gear!!!!"

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)

Honestly, I don't remember. 15 at the time, and was probably holed up in my room doing homework.

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)

Saw it on early morning television as I was getting ready for university.

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)

It was about 1:30am, and I was in the Anarchy Online ARK IRC chat room. Heard the news from an American ARK that the first plane had just hit. I went to the next room, turned on the television, and spent the next 6 hours or something watching the tv. I saw the second plane hit just after a family member came into the room - watched the towers crumble together. Also remember coming back to the ARK chat room 7 hours later, where a huge talk about USA, Arabs, and so forth was going on. Alot of emotions running in that room.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)

I believe I was surfing the Net. Read about it over at FARK.com.

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)

I was at work, but at lunch saw the news on television.

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)

Surfing the Net again. Flicked on the news after I learnt about it.



Not a whole lot of "I remember exactly where I was!!" type responses, but yay for TV and the Internet informing me. :p

Hey Cosmik

Where were you when...

Pearl Habor was bombed? (12/07/1941)
Not born yet..

John F. Kennedy was shot? (11/22/1963)
Not born yet..

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon? (07/20/1969)
Not born yet..

Mt. St. Helen's blew? (05/18/1980)
I was only a month old.. In Idaho

John Lennon was shot? (12/08/1980)
6 months old..In Idaho

Reagan was shot? (03/30/81)
Almost a year old.. In Idaho

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? (01/28/1986)
I was in school and we were watching it all on the TV.. It didn't register really at that age.

The 7.1 earthquake hit San Francisco? (10/07/1989)
I never heard about it.

The Berlin Wall Fell? (11/07/1989)
My sister was stationed in Germany at the time.. I actually have a piece of the Berlin Wall and it's certificate of authenticity.

The First Gulf War began? (01/16/1991)
I was saying goodbye to my brother in law, who got sent away for it

Burning of the Koresh/Waco Compound? (04/19/1993)
Just days after turning 13.. Never knew about it.

OJ Simpson was chased in his White Bronco? (06/17/1994)
I watched it on TV at home.. didn't really think much of it.. I didn't really know who OJ Simpson was.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed? (04/19/1995)
Again..Didn't know about it. I'm sheltered or something.

Princess Di was killed? (08/31/1997)
I was actually online with a friend of mine named Shannon.. We stayed awake all night talking together and watching her funeral. It was very sad

Terrorists destroyed the WTC? (09/11/2001)
I was at work.. at K-25, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.. I got a call and was told to turn on the tv (Yeah I had one in my office..) and was just scared to death. We didn't know what to do.. and seeing as though we were at a plant that made bombs.. and a huge target for terrorists.. We were severely under high alert and I asked to be sent home.. I watched the rest from my couch and just spent the day in tears. I literally fell asleep watching the news and woke up watching it.. for days I couldn't be pulled away.

The Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas? (02/01/2003)
I found out that night on the news..

The Second Gulf War began? (03/19/2003)
I was at home watching the news.. (I tend to do that alot more often since the WTC attack). I thought it was stupid and still do. I was mainly worried about my brother in law having to be sent back again.. which thankfully never happened.

The trains in Madrid were attacked? (03/11/2004)
I never heard about this...


I can't recall where exactly I was of course on the ones I didn't hear about later.. but I don't leave the house much so odds are I was probably just hangin around.. So many I didn't know about.. I've never been a news junkie.. It's usually always bad news and that's just so depressing.

I'm not sure who started the list of events and first asked the question. Obviously, it was someone even older than I am and it had to be an American, because all of the events have a very North American impact. I'm not entirely sure of the original intent of the question, but answering the question to myself was something that made me think and made me evaluate the impact the world around me has had on me. It showed me some things about myself that I honestly wasn't all that aware of. I feel the knowing is valuable. So I had to share.

First of all, it revealed the power of the media on my way of life and my perceptions of the world. That's a little frightening, as journalists don't always responsibly, accurately or impartially present the facts. More often than not, what we are told is wrong. Not just in North America, but everywhere. Irregardless of what country you inhabit, how much of what you know about the world is true? Even in this age of convenient global personl communication, how much do we REALLY know about what is actually happening? Sobering thought.

Second, it showed me how desensitized I have become to violence, tragedy and grief. I cried for John Lennon, a man I never knew and an artist I wasn't particularly fond of. But I didn't care about Princess Diana, who had tried to change the world in her own way, for the better. I'd already lost my innocence and some of my ability to be compassionate. I've seen so many people die and suffer that it's lost its impact. It took something on the scale of seeing people falling from the windows of the World Trade Center to make me feel the pain in a personal way again. And since then, I have found myself closing my eyes to the world, unwilling to watch for fear of being subjected to some even more terrible horror. And I find myself asking the question "How did I become this way?" Because knowing how it happened gives us the answers to finding our way back.

And finally, it showed me something even more distressing. It showed me the heavy emphasis that our world culture places on tragedy over triumph. Every day, something wonderful and meaningful happens in the world, somewhere. Just as every day something aweful and regrettable occurs. But something wonderful, something positive is not reported on or remarked on. The media more often than not opts not to share the happy and positive news. They focus our eyes and our minds on fear, pain and horror, and in our distress, we are unable to see the wonder, the triumph and the HOPE that transpires in our daily lives. And this realization makes me ask the oldest question. "Why?"

Why DO they focus so sharply on fear and horror? Why should the events that shape our perceptions and our lives have to be almost entirely negative in nature? What has changed in our societies from the generations before us that we should be more easily drawn to the horrors that surround us than to the great strides forward that humans have made? Why should an act that results in nothing but death and terror be accorded as much airtime (if not more) than an advance that placed other worlds within the reach of humanity?

I don't have any answers to these questions. I think the answers are extremely important. It's very strange, I think. I think I've been subconsciously asking these things for a long time. They are very SaintBootay-esque questions. Perhaps that's why I roleplay. It might be a subconscious need to pose and answer questions such as these in an environment that makes it "safe" and more comfortable to explore such issues. Science Fiction has always been a medium for posing very touchy moral questions and offering up possible answers.

So what do YOU think?