September 11 and the Birth of Blogging

I wasn't blogging that dark day, but had I been I am sure I would have recounted my tale here. Several pioneers, including Dave Winer, did just that. Wired is right when they say that 9/11 gave birth to the power of the blog. Perhaps that's the only good to come of September 11, 2001. With that in mind, here's my 9/11 story.

Death was two miles away. I was in midtown on 9/11. I got to the office about 8:50. When I arrived my colleague told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. We all tried to hit the major news sites with no so such luck. So, like millions, we were glued to the TV as the towers fell. Had I knew who Dave Winer was, I am sure I would have been following his site too.

Soon after the towers fell, we all realized that there was no point in staying in the office. Thanks to an incredible act of kindness of someone on adjoining floor, a colleague of mine and I managed to get a car service to go back to Long Island. On a normal day the ride would have taken an hour. That dark day it took over eight.

The car service was a dozen or so blocks away waiting for us. As we headed uptown on foot (no one was walking downtown that day) I stared at the hundreds of faces. Each one look liked the lost a loved one. They were stunned and many were crying. Heads were craning to wherever they could find a TV. Smoky air began to drift uptown, clouding what had been a beautiful day. To this day when the sky is blue here, it only rekindles memories of that dark day.

The next few days are memorable. I remember crying for days, even though I was fortunate enough to not have lost anyone close to me. To this day I cannot watch the footage of the Towers falling without at least tearing up. It's been five years and I have not forgotten what those bastards did to my country and my city - and others like Kuta (Bali), London and Madrid. I honor them by going forward and it appears so has everyone else.

Through blogging, we now have a way to commune online in ways we could not before. Let's not ever forget how important this is or take it for granted. And so, as dark as September 11 was, it helped accelerate the growth of our medium. It's the silver lining that laced the dark smoke clouds of that horrible day.

Comments

[Will]

The blue sky is haunting. Just like this morning.
Unrelated. Have you posted about The Broadcast Treaty?

[David Koopmans]

Thanks for your personal account Steve. I watched it happen on live television from Australia and with millions of others felt a connection and affection for the people of New York that is hard to explain.

Still the greatest City in the world.