Hey, Lex, I'm gonna tell you a story.

[Phox]

... This makes me want to cry. Seriously.

[Cainad (dec.)]

It's never an 'isolated incident', is it?

I mean. When you realize, there were these guys doing that. Then there were the people smuggling them. Then there were the people on the other end. Then there were the people using the product. Then there were the people who, in some way, these events all touched.

This is probably the most important paragraph posted on PD in 2009, and not because it references my OP.

Huh, I never gave it much thought. Applies to pretty much all of the Horror that news likes to package into little stories and let us forget that it is, indeed, never truly isolated. Monsters don't live in a vacuum.

Had to go back and re-read the thread... I don't think I'll ever forget the punch-in-the-gut that came with having it all spelled out.

[Don Coyote]

Fuck dude. Just fucking fuck. Should not have read that now.

[Juana]

Jesus Christ, Roger. on the OP part and on what it was.

[Luna]

Fuck.

Just, fuck.

ETA:  I wish I had a more eloquent response to this, I really do.  It's not every day you read something that reaches in and rattles your soul.

[Adios]

I think I shall vomit and spend the rest of the day rocking back and forth in my bed. Goodnight.

I just joined the club.


Roger, I wasn't ready for that.

Anyone who is ready for that needs to have their head examined.  This is why, when my children asked me if there were really any monsters, I told them "Yeah there are, but they look just like you and me."

I first read this in your MSY book and it chilled me to the core.
The bolded part is an everlasting truth.

[Kai]

This thread is my standard for horror. Fear is one thing; I could jump if someone sneaked up behind me.  Horror isn't quick and instantaneous though, its a deep down feeling that something is really really wrong. No one writes better horror than reality.

[The Wizard]

Jesus Christ...I'm so sorry. This shouldn't happen to anyone, ever.

Great piece, but it has teeth...

[Precious Moments Zalgo]

Thank you, Roger, for shooting those people.

I think I get the whole fear / loathing / horror thing now.

[Placid Dingo]

Bump because I missed this previously and it's a chilling conversation.

[Cardinal Pizza Deliverance.]

Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have
Have you ever felt pain so powerful,
So heavy you collapse?

No? Well . . .

Never had to, knock on wood.
But I know someone who has,
Which makes me wonder if I could.

             - Mighty Mighty Bosstones

[EK WAFFLR]

It's been around 24 hours since I read this thread.
I slept, but I had terrible nightmares.

I.. don't know what to say. 

[Luna]

It's been around 24 hours since I read this thread.
I slept, but I had terrible nightmares.

I.. don't know what to say. 

I know how you feel.  I'd forgotten how this thread was titled, so I didn't know what it was, and went back to the OP.  Recognized it after a sentence...  I almost just clicked out, but I sat here and read the whole thing, the OP, and all the responses.

There is bad shit in the world, my friend, and sometimes it touches someone we know.  We can't end the world's bad shit, not all of it.  People are fucked up, and some are fucked up in ways that defy any rational understanding.  It might be nice to be able to pretend that shit like this, or worse, is going down...  But, ignoring it won't make it go away.  Maybe nothing will...  at least not until some idiot presses a big red button and we leave the place for the roaches.

[Doktor Howl]

It's been around 24 hours since I read this thread.
I slept, but I had terrible nightmares.

I.. don't know what to say. 

I know how you feel.  I'd forgotten how this thread was titled, so I didn't know what it was, and went back to the OP.  Recognized it after a sentence...  I almost just clicked out, but I sat here and read the whole thing, the OP, and all the responses.

There is bad shit in the world, my friend, and sometimes it touches someone we know.  We can't end the world's bad shit, not all of it.  People are fucked up, and some are fucked up in ways that defy any rational understanding.  It might be nice to be able to pretend that shit like this, or worse, is going down...  But, ignoring it won't make it go away.  Maybe nothing will...  at least not until some idiot presses a big red button and we leave the place for the roaches.

The amount one person can do to improve things is very limited.  However, doing anything is better than doing nothing...And most times, what needs to be done is far less dramatic than what happened all those years ago.  Sometimes the best thing to do is refuse to tolerate evil in your presence...For example, someone talking racist filth.  Don't just ignore it and walk away disgusted, call them out on it.

It's the little things that generally matter.

[Luna]

It's been around 24 hours since I read this thread.
I slept, but I had terrible nightmares.

I.. don't know what to say. 

I know how you feel.  I'd forgotten how this thread was titled, so I didn't know what it was, and went back to the OP.  Recognized it after a sentence...  I almost just clicked out, but I sat here and read the whole thing, the OP, and all the responses.

There is bad shit in the world, my friend, and sometimes it touches someone we know.  We can't end the world's bad shit, not all of it.  People are fucked up, and some are fucked up in ways that defy any rational understanding.  It might be nice to be able to pretend that shit like this, or worse, is going down...  But, ignoring it won't make it go away.  Maybe nothing will...  at least not until some idiot presses a big red button and we leave the place for the roaches.

The amount one person can do to improve things is very limited.  However, doing anything is better than doing nothing...And most times, what needs to be done is far less dramatic than what happened all those years ago.  Sometimes the best thing to do is refuse to tolerate evil in your presence...For example, someone talking racist filth.  Don't just ignore it and walk away disgusted, call them out on it.

It's the little things that generally matter.

Truth, this. 

Right now, I'm working on some of the crap that needs to be shoveled out of my own head...  There's some stuff in there I don't need any more, and it's gone rancid.