A Burst of Reality in Social Media

We spend so much time in social media that it’s easy to forget real life. Yes, social media is “real life” but I think you know what I mean.

I just found out from a friend that blogger and Twitter user Meg Porter (@megapixel) was killed in a car crash last week.

She was 24-years old. Just a kid, really, with a huge life ahead of her.

I’d chatted a few times with Meg a while back but, like so many other connections, never really had  a chance to get to know her really well. But I do recall her making me laugh a few times with her words.

Even though I didn’t know Meg as much as some of my other online friends, the news of her death still came as a shock and upsets me. So much life taken away in an instant. So much for Meg to live for.

Meg was a great video blogger, and her videos show you a lot more behind the person. She also took some great photographs and you could tell that a brilliant, creative mind lived inside this young lady.

We move in such fast circles and fast times, always chasing the newest application or technology, that we can forget there are real people and real things happening every hour, every day away from our computer screens.

Meg Porter was one of these people. Her sad death is one of these real things.

While social media is the space we live in, let’s make sure we enjoy the space away from it too. We never know when it might end.

My thoughts go out to Meg’s family and friends – I’m sorry for your loss.


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190 Responses to A Burst of Reality in Social Media
  1. Lolitalacubana
    July 2, 2009 | 5:17 pm

    RT @DannyBrown A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @tweetmeme)

  2. Lolitalacubana
    July 2, 2009 | 5:17 pm

    RT @DannyBrown A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @tweetmeme)

  3. TimBrownson
    July 2, 2009 | 5:31 pm

    RT @tweetmeme A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr

    • BarbMcMahon
      July 2, 2009 | 7:09 pm

      RT @TimBrownson RT @tweetmeme A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr – great post

  4. TimBrownson
    July 2, 2009 | 5:31 pm

    RT @tweetmeme A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr

    • BarbMcMahon
      July 2, 2009 | 7:09 pm

      RT @TimBrownson RT @tweetmeme A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr – great post

  5. Aronado
    July 2, 2009 | 7:09 pm

    RT @DannyBrown A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @tweetmeme)

  6. Aronado
    July 2, 2009 | 7:09 pm

    RT @DannyBrown A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @tweetmeme)

  7. BuzzEdition
    July 2, 2009 | 7:26 pm

    So sad…RIP @megapixel — A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado)

  8. BuzzEdition
    July 2, 2009 | 7:26 pm

    So sad…RIP @megapixel — A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado)

  9. BuzzEdition
    July 2, 2009 | 7:46 pm

    @meghangunz car accident babe …link in the article http://bit.ly/FiWvr

  10. BuzzEdition
    July 2, 2009 | 7:46 pm

    @meghangunz car accident babe …link in the article http://bit.ly/FiWvr

  11. canofpopcom
    July 2, 2009 | 7:56 pm

    RT @BuzzEdition: So sad.RIP @megapixel – A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado) mAkes u think

  12. canofpopcom
    July 2, 2009 | 7:56 pm

    RT @BuzzEdition: So sad.RIP @megapixel – A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado) mAkes u think

  13. amyvernon
    July 2, 2009 | 8:17 pm

    RT @absolutelytrue: RT @BuzzEdition: RIP @megapixel – A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado)

  14. amyvernon
    July 2, 2009 | 8:17 pm

    RT @absolutelytrue: RT @BuzzEdition: RIP @megapixel – A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado)

  15. ThereinLies
    July 2, 2009 | 8:20 pm

    RT @BuzzEdition: So sad.RIP @megapixel – A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado)

  16. ThereinLies
    July 2, 2009 | 8:20 pm

    RT @BuzzEdition: So sad.RIP @megapixel – A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr (via @Aronado)

  17. applemacbookpro
    July 2, 2009 | 8:25 pm

    RT @AmyVernon RT @absolutelytrue RT @BuzzEdition RIP @megapixel A Burst of Reality in SM by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr via @Aronado

  18. applemacbookpro
    July 2, 2009 | 8:25 pm

    RT @AmyVernon RT @absolutelytrue RT @BuzzEdition RIP @megapixel A Burst of Reality in SM by @DannyBrown http://bit.ly/FiWvr via @Aronado

  19. Mario Remedios
    July 2, 2009 | 4:09 pm

    This is a truly a sad story. Thanks for sharing this. My condolences to her family and friends.

  20. Tim Brownson
    July 2, 2009 | 4:28 pm

    I must be honest and say I didn't know her on Twitter, but it sent a chill down my spine. This to me seems more 'real' than the news about Michael Jackson. I can relate to this as a 'there but for the grace of God and all that' a lot more.

    I often wonder when people just disappear of the social network scene, what happens to them. I guess most of the time it is some innocent maybe even prosaic reason, then other times it's horrible news like this.

  21. Aronado
    July 2, 2009 | 6:08 pm

    Danny,

    Thank you so much for writing this. I knew Meg fairly well, she was an amazing, creative, and fun young lady. This is a tragedy ;( I will miss her for *real* even though I never met her IRL.

    We just can't take these relationships for granted online or offline.

  22. CTK1
    July 3, 2009 | 4:25 pm

    @amirmasud Hey why would you want to do that? And hey @DannyBrown has some thing that shows Tweets in his blog posts: http://is.gd/1mCVC

  23. CTK1
    July 3, 2009 | 4:25 pm

    @amirmasud Hey why would you want to do that? And hey @DannyBrown has some thing that shows Tweets in his blog posts: http://is.gd/1mCVC

  24. BlakeBevin
    July 5, 2009 | 2:33 am

    Oh My God, I just found out a Twitter Friend, @megapixel, Died a couple of weeks ago at 24. Jesus. Rest in Peace, Meg http://bit.ly/zkivA

  25. BlakeBevin
    July 5, 2009 | 2:33 am

    Oh My God, I just found out a Twitter Friend, @megapixel, Died a couple of weeks ago at 24. Jesus. Rest in Peace, Meg http://bit.ly/zkivA

  26. bjam331
    July 5, 2009 | 9:15 am

    great blog post from earlier ths wk… rip @megapixel … RT @DannyBrown: A burst of reality in social media http://bit.ly/1aySn1

  27. bjam331
    July 5, 2009 | 9:15 am

    great blog post from earlier ths wk… rip @megapixel … RT @DannyBrown: A burst of reality in social media http://bit.ly/1aySn1

  28. blancastella
    July 8, 2009 | 2:33 pm

    I too was saddened by Meg's death. Back in April, I had seen a tweet that she was planning a trip to South Beach. I tweeted her that I would connect her with some nice young people here so she could have fun. I even told one of my best friends son about her and if they didn't mind adding her on Facebook so they could connect and DM'd her the email of this nice young guy.
    She eventually told me her trip was cancelled…unfortunately her life now has been cancelled…I literally cried that day and thought about her and her family's tragedy. I was also amazed at the power of the connection of the twitter medium. It sunk in that day how you can really make some nice connections even if short lived.
    My last tweet with her was that I was trying to play twitter cupid…I know that cupid in heaven is giving her lots of love now because she shared it in her tweets.
    @blancastella

  29. mayhemstudios
    July 9, 2009 | 11:25 am

    A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

    • zaibatsu
      July 9, 2009 | 11:41 am

      RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

      • openthink2
        July 9, 2009 | 11:45 am

        RT @zaibatsu: RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

      • BurbiaCentral
        July 9, 2009 | 11:45 am

        RT @zaibatsu: RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

    • ModelSupplies
      July 10, 2009 | 11:16 pm

      RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

  30. mayhemstudios
    July 9, 2009 | 11:25 am

    A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

    • zaibatsu
      July 9, 2009 | 11:41 am

      RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

      • openthink2
        July 9, 2009 | 11:45 am

        RT @zaibatsu: RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

      • BurbiaCentral
        July 9, 2009 | 11:45 am

        RT @zaibatsu: RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

    • ModelSupplies
      July 10, 2009 | 11:16 pm

      RT @mayhemstudios: A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

  31. notoriouslb3
    July 9, 2009 | 11:35 am

    RT @DannyBrown A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr

  32. notoriouslb3
    July 9, 2009 | 11:35 am

    RT @DannyBrown A Burst of Reality in Social Media | danny brown http://bit.ly/FiWvr

  33. mayhemstudios
    July 10, 2009 | 3:19 am

    A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

  34. mayhemstudios
    July 10, 2009 | 3:19 am

    A Burst of Reality in Social Media by @dannybrown tribute to @megapixel. http://bit.ly/2MWFVw

  35. ModelSupplies
    July 10, 2009 | 11:24 pm

    What a beautiful voice and sadly ironic song. She is an incredible loss to the world. Very nice tribute. Tragic.

  36. ModelSupplies
    July 10, 2009 | 11:24 pm

    What a beautiful voice and sadly ironic song. She is an incredible loss to the world. Very nice tribute. Tragic.

  37. ModelSupplies
    July 10, 2009 | 10:24 pm

    What a beautiful voice and sadly ironic song. She is an incredible loss to the world. Very nice tribute. Tragic.

  38. ModelSupplies
    July 10, 2009 | 11:24 pm

    What a beautiful voice and sadly ironic song. She is an incredible loss to the world. Very nice tribute. Tragic.

  39. Megan's Mom
    July 13, 2009 | 12:00 am

    Danny, this is Meg's Mom. I want to thank you for taking the time to do this very sweet tribute to my precious daughter. I also want to thank all the nice people that commented so tenderly about Megan. She was our only child, still lived at home, and with every second that goes by, it gets harder to know that she won't be coming home……we are heartbroken and miss her terribly. For those of you that have children, hug them often,tell them you love them even when they are mad at you….and, spend time with them, even if it's to just ask them how their day went….they will notice. Again, thank you all for being so kind……with genuine appreciation, Megan's Mom

  40. Danny
    July 13, 2009 | 1:21 pm

    I never knew Meg was an only child – I can't imagine how you must feel at the minute.

    How Meg was viewed online says a lot about how you must have brought her up, and I'm sure everyone's thoughts are with you and your family. She was certainly a well-loved character and I'm sure she was as proud of you as you are of her.

    My sincerest warmest wishes to you.

  41. benatkin
    July 16, 2009 | 4:02 pm

    I noticed the same happened with me. A friend I know in real life and on twitter just mentioned her death, and a chill went down my spine, too. It's not just that I'm reminded that just about anyone's life could get cut short by a car accident, it's that I'll miss what she could have contributed to my friend's life, and indirectly contributed to mine. I also can't help but think I might have got a chance to enjoy her creative work and insights myself, as it was being created (I enjoyed the video that was embedded in this post).

    In my experience, the most common thing that happens when people disappear from the social network scene is that they come back. I'm really starting to believe that social networking is transforming society.

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