Tom
09-08-2010, 08:38 PM
You will all know /b/ as a hive of scum and villainy. You will know that its members, collectively referred to as "Anon" or "Anonymous" give the internet its reputation as a place for stalking, pornography, criminal activity, and general discontent. So you might be surprised to hear that /b/ could be capable of performing an utterly selfless deed.
On 4th September 2010, an old man, William J. Lashua, was to have his 90th birthday alone, in the Ashburnham, MA American Legion. When one Anon saw the a flyer asking people to wish William the best for his birthday, he posted it on /b/ and the old man immediately captured the hearts of those people who we all thought didn't have any.
Rather than agreeing to track this man down, or torment him, Anon decided to organise his birthday party for him.
On September 4th, William J. Lashua was startled when he received hundreds of birthday cards, a dozen different cakes, five huge UPS deliveries of gifts, and all manner of floral tributes and party snacks. Several /b/rothers in the area and even further out turned up to help make William's 90th birthday the greatest birthday anyone could ask for. He's not a celebrity, but just for one day he was treated like one.
This is the spirit of human love and kindness at its very purest, and it's something you would never expect from the "Internet Hate Machine." This event has restored my faith in humanity and I can't imagine what we could achieve if we all showed each other this kind of love and respect, even to complete strangers.
For the first time ever, I am proud of my species. William J. Lashua fought and saw his friends killed in Europe, during WW2, and this is the kind of world he fought for.
UzqNkIkj3rE
On 4th September 2010, an old man, William J. Lashua, was to have his 90th birthday alone, in the Ashburnham, MA American Legion. When one Anon saw the a flyer asking people to wish William the best for his birthday, he posted it on /b/ and the old man immediately captured the hearts of those people who we all thought didn't have any.
Rather than agreeing to track this man down, or torment him, Anon decided to organise his birthday party for him.
On September 4th, William J. Lashua was startled when he received hundreds of birthday cards, a dozen different cakes, five huge UPS deliveries of gifts, and all manner of floral tributes and party snacks. Several /b/rothers in the area and even further out turned up to help make William's 90th birthday the greatest birthday anyone could ask for. He's not a celebrity, but just for one day he was treated like one.
This is the spirit of human love and kindness at its very purest, and it's something you would never expect from the "Internet Hate Machine." This event has restored my faith in humanity and I can't imagine what we could achieve if we all showed each other this kind of love and respect, even to complete strangers.
For the first time ever, I am proud of my species. William J. Lashua fought and saw his friends killed in Europe, during WW2, and this is the kind of world he fought for.
UzqNkIkj3rE