User blog comment:Flamefang/Darkness Amidst a Sea of Light/@comment-893709-20110918044145

Just to clarify how I was comparing 9/11 to this situation:

1. In the aftermath of tragedy people unite. They come together regardless of the many differences they may exhibit and mourn. This is what happened to the US, and much of the world, after 9/11 2001. This is also what happened on 9/11 2011 as people remembered. Yet, Hog, despite this precious moment of unity, decided to shatter it with his pretentious message. This is how I viewed what I was writing when I was writing it. 2. If you compare this wiki to the US in the aftermath of 9/11 we experienced a similar unity, though this time in anger and retaliation to HBH's attack. This wasn't the message I originally intended to send but it can be interpreted this way. 3. If you compare the wiki to the US before and after the attacks, and compare HBH to the attack itself, you could say that he's tearing apart our unity in a similar way. Again, this wasn't the message I originally intended to send but it can be interpreted this way.

On a final note: Dago, I don't understand how you consider my 'manipulation' 9/11 to be so offensive. Yes, I manipulated, utilized, used, something to achieve a desirable outcome. That is what manipulation is by nature. I took advantage of it. In this day and age we have a certain aversion to the words 'utilize', 'manipulate, 'use', and 'exploit'. Yet, at heart these words have two meanings. To take full advantage of or to seek or achieve an end by means. Of course there is a reason that we view things this way. The last century was filled with the worst examples of this imaginable; world war, fascism, communism, proxy war, etc. However, also keep in mind that every time you argue with another and win, every time you play a video game and defeat an opponent, every time you score in a soccer match, you are manipulating others. You are exploiting them. For something to be classified as exploitation in the way you are viewing it the end result of whatever took place has to be disproportionate, as in one side loses some while the other gains. However, I'd argue that what I used here is an example of neutral manipulation. As in, I took to my benefit without harming the other. I see no harm done to 9/11 or what it represents in the hearts of thousands around the world. Apparently nor do many others on this blog. If you do, well then you are choosing to view it this way, and we must simply agree to disagree.