Am I heartless if I don't jump on the bandwagon re: world disasters & tragedies?

[Prim_n_Proper]

I noticed that there almost seems to be a bit of peer pressure to jump on the bandwagon when natural disasters such as the Haitian earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, etc occur.  I do feel terrible for the victims, but I don't want to feel obligated to repost status messages about it, nor revolve myself around it in a public arena such as Facebook. 

Is it poor etiquette to not post nor comment publically on disaster issues? 

[hot_shaker]

I noticed that there almost seems to be a bit of peer pressure to jump on the bandwagon when natural disasters such as the Haitian earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, etc occur.  I do feel terrible for the victims, but I don't want to feel obligated to repost status messages about it, nor revolve myself around it in a public arena such as Facebook.  

Is it poor etiquette to not post nor comment publically on disaster issues?  

No, not at all.  I care very much about what's going on in Haiti but I don't feel the need to broadcast this.  Also, I don't feel like there's anything I could write to give justice to the gravity of the situation and the depth of my concern.  This is the exact same reason that I don't blog about major events.  

I gather that most of my friends must feel similarly.  There have been very few status updates regarding the earthquake in Haiti.  The first I heard about the tragedy was from a status update from the American Red Cross.

[klm75]

I agree.  There is no need to say anything.  I have seen two people say anything on Facebook.  One, also a military wife, to say that her husband has left to help and that she might need some help while he is gone.  Two, she was letting the rest of us know that her sibling, who lived in Haiti, is okay.  I respond to personal message such as these two, that is about it.

[Hushabye]

No, I don't think it's rude.  In fact, when people start jumping on the bandwagon and post potentially dubious ways to donate to the cause, I think it's sound *not* to hop on there with them.  Not all the places you can donate to are legitimate.

[Lisbeth]

It's not rude.  If you can't donate or otherwise provide assistance, even if you feel sympathetic, you don't have to do anything.

[audrey1962]

Even if you do donate, I don't believe it's necessary to broadcast it.

[Amava]

Absolutely not heartless and definitely not rude.

[Yvaine]

Even if you do donate, I don't believe it's necessary to broadcast it.

Pod. Not posting about something doesn't mean you don't care about it.

[Starchasm]

Not rude at all! (Although I did just get done posting about my favorite charity's efforts - they're not usually a first responder and I wanted to get the message out).

Just don't be like my friend and post "Bob Smith wishes his life was going as well as a Haitian trapped under a building. but its not. why won't the world send me money?"

And then get mad when people don't respond kindly.

[Amava]

Just don't be like my friend and post "Bob Smith wishes his life was going as well as a Haitian trapped under a building. but its not. why won't the world send me money?"
And then get mad when people don't respond kindly.

What a troll. I would have big trouble not to post a choice response to that too, if such a thing showed up in my newsfeed! But attention is probably what he is going for. 

[Sirius]

A group of ladies from my church were in Haiti on a mission trip when the earthquake hit.  They're okay.  I'm sure our church will have a lot of things going on, and I prefer to restrict my monetary donations, etc. to a known source. 

[Nurvingiel]

I agree with PP. Just because you don't status it doesn't mean you don't care.

[SisJackson]

No.

I have a couple of FB friends who have posted something along the lines of "To show our support of the victims of the Haitian earthquake, there will be a one hour Facebook 'moment of silence' with no posts at such-and-such time blah blah blah."  I will not be participating, and I will not be reposting the message.  I feel I can be more of a benefit in other ways.

Like the bra-color spam, this sort of message does little to actually help the victims of the earthquake.  What is really needed is cold, hard cash.

I also feel that just because you don't give, it doesn't mean that you don't care.  It just helps more if you can.

[kingsrings]

Why am I not surprised to hear of yet another ridiculous FB event?? And I suppose when I go to my friend’s profiles today, I’ll see a bunch of statuses stating that.

[kherbert05]

I don't donate to causes to get a pat on the back. I personally dislike people who parade around saying look at me, I'm so good look what I did to help the poor unfortunates. They are helping to make themselves important not to actually help.

Political things are different. I am politically active in the correct arena. (I impressed a volunteer during the last election because I refuse to put a bumper sticker on my car. I try to be a neutral as possible at school - while teaching about our system of government - so I will not promote any candidate or cause on campus. The volunteer liked my reason and left em alone after that.)