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Feeling About Paris

2015-11-13 · letter vlog · Hank · 2:40 · watch on YouTube

Topic: World affairs · mode: Personal essay · tags: timely hook, heavy topic

Filming while people are being killed in Paris, Hank says this is a time for feeling rather than analysis, that any emotional response is appropriate, and that he wants to think about the rescuers, the bereaved and the lost.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — As Hank films, people are killing people in Paris; no time for analysis, only feelings; a friend in Paris has not been heard from

  • ★★★ Hank says that as he makes the video, lots of people are killing lots of people in France, in Paris. — 00:00:01
  • ★★★ Hank says he can think of nothing else and feel nothing but feelings: there is a time for analysis of why people are the way they are, but this is not it; it is sadness, fear, anger. — 00:00:08
  • ★★ Hank has a friend in Paris right now who has not tweeted or posted on social media, which is terrifying. — 00:00:40 · Twitter

00:00:48 — The urge to analyse through one's worldview is flawed; any response (disengaging, watching live feeds, being terrified) is appropriate

  • ★★★ Hank says we all want to analyse at once, taking our worldview to say it would not have happened if the world were as we wish; that will always be flawed, and is especially flawed now. — 00:00:48
  • ★★★ Hank says whatever response people have is appropriate: disengaging, staring at live feeds from Twitter and Reddit, or being terrified for friends, family, themselves or just people. (hedged) — 00:01:20 · Twitter, Reddit

00:01:53 — Nothing useful to say; tentative maxims, one of them John's; wanting to think of rescuers, the bereaved and the lost

  • ★★ Hank says there is nothing useful he could say, tentatively offering 'hatred is not the correct response to hatred' and 'the world is broken, but hope is not crazy', calling one 'a John Green one'. (unsure) — 00:01:53 · John Green
  • ★★★ Hank says it is hard not to think about the global effects and those on Europe, but right now he wants to think about those who risked their lives to help, those who lost people, and those lost. — 00:02:07 · Europe

00:02:32 — Sign-off

In the description and comments

  • ★★ In the description Hank reports he has heard from his friend, who is safe with his family: a relief, though it does not make him feel less awful. — video description
  • ★★ In the description Hank thanks the first responders and bystanders who risked their lives, thinks of the bereaved, and says he is trying to stay focused on sadness, not anger at some unknown specter. — video description
  • ★ The description links Facebook's Safety Check page for the Paris attacks to see whether friends are safe. — video description

Threads in this video

Mentioned

Central: November 2015 Paris attacks · Paris

Also: Europe · France · Reddit · Twitter

Only in the description or credits: Facebook Safety Check

Also centred on Paris: My Least Relatable Story: The Parisian Dentist

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