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“Earthquake devastation” photo courtesy FamousDC.com
Of course, an earthquake isn’t always something to joke about, especially when we’re talking about the Northeast. Trouble is, we can sometimes be serious to a fault (insert rimshot).
SEE: Earthquake aftershocks possible but not likely in New Jersey
I know it wasn’t the first thing I thought happened when the floor began shaking this afternoon. Remember: We have nuke plants in our area. We’re also thinking again about 9/11 as the 10th anniversary approaches. Who knows? Maybe the Rapture forecasters were off by a few months.
On a scale of O to 5.8, the collective anxiety level was probably somewhere around 2.5.
Thankfully, this wasn’t “the big one.” So, as the potential for aftershocks fades (I’d advise turning phones OFF vibrate),
people naturally are waxing humorous as a cathartic release. Jerry DeMarco Publisher/Editor
I expect we’ll see earthquake-related advertising (just like mine), as well as photos like the one above. Or questions such as: “What will this do to property values? Who is responsible here?” This IS New Jersey, after all: The “Sue Me” state.
We might even get contextual explanations, such as the fact that earthquakes are caused by the shifting of tectonic plates, while cups and saucers somehow are not affected.
I think Groucho would’ve loved that one.
It’s times like these when we can appreciate social media. Tweeters kept one another updated, especially in those areas struck by cellphone trouble (of course, that no doubt was the result of scores of people calling one another, the State Police and their local cop shops).
“OMG” turned up quite a bit on Facebook. No surprise there.
Some people were genuinely frightened, though. No matter what you may say or think, the very fact things shook is enough to make many around here quake in their boots. This isn’t the San Fernando Valley.
(Of course, it you were horizontally occupied with someone at the time, you could lay claim to superpowers. Or you could say you were ROF but not L-ing. So the quake did have its advantages.)
Twitter and other social media addresses were rife with wisecracks. People had blasts — literally.
Then there were those who didn’t feel anything except cheated.
To them, I say: Listen very closely right about now.
Hear that rumble?
That’s California laughing at us.
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