The first 24-hours
To get this ball rolling, I will be posting three more survivor stories this week — one on Wednesday, another on Thursday, and the third on Friday. From then on out I will only post one a week, on Mondays. I want each survivor to have her/his space and time, but I’m sure these first few won’t mind being warriors for the new cause — because that’s exactly what they are.
I wrote what follows as an email to a friend today, then decided to share it here — because it isn’t about me. It isn’t about me doing some magical thing, it’s about you taking up this cause as your own. It’s about you, all of you, and I have never been more awestruck in all my life.
***
So I launched yesterday around noon. After that, things got crazy. I had a vague sense that things were crazy, but I didn’t really have the time to sit down and think about it. I just knew I was really busy and really distracted, and went to bed really late with a headache and the realization that I hadn’t eaten all day.
It continued today and around noon I decided to stop everything and really take stock, because I figured I would appreciate being able to look back someday. So I sat there and added some stuff up.
The first 24-hours of Violence UnSilenced:
2,250 hits on violenceunsilenced.com
1,329 hits on okayfinedammit.com (where comments were closed)
106 comments
126 emails (not including the 44 between the designer and I)
51 mentions of the words ‘violenceunsilenced’ on Twitter, not including my own — (a fun illustration of this is to go to www.summize.com and type in ‘violenceunsilenced’ and also ‘maggiedammit’)
10 direct messages on twitter
22 new twitter followers
9 Facebook messages
an instant Technorati rank of 7 right out of the gates, with 22 blog reactions
a request for an interview on blog talk radio next week
an email from a journalist in L.A.
a request for a Q&A on another blog
another blogger actually made a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wnxaSs4wZY
the editor of BlogNosh magazine requested a badge to put in rotation on her (megapopular) site for free
countless numbers of Diggs, Stumbles, and Google Reader shares (no way for me to track this)
#2 spot on Kirtsy.com for the day
and, most importantly: 32 new survivor stories sitting in my inbox ready to publish
Crazy, huh? And that was all by noon. I cleared my blackberry at noon and when I left my office today at 3:15pm there were 143 brand new messages on it.
I’m having a beer.
***
Thank you all again for collectively taking up this cause and making it your own. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s survivor story.
28 Responses to “The first 24-hours”
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That’s so awesome!
Wow. In the crazy world we live in, in these tough and painful times, it’s sometimes hard to remember, but yes. YES. People are good.
It’s kind of amazing what this interweb community can do. Now, keep it up!
This is spectacular; chill bump and tears in the eyes inducing, even.
FABULOUS! This is a wonderful creation and much needed. Kudos!
Obviously, this site is a much needed outlet. Thanks for creating it.
This is all sorts of awesome.
I’m really not all that surprised to tell you the truth.
It’s soooo good to see something like this site to be so well received. I see great things for this place Maggie. I really truly do.
Reading that gave me giant, honest to god goosebumps.
I think that this blog is such a wonderful thing. And I’m not the least bit surprised that you are having such success. You will give a voice to countless people. Thank you.
Telling our stories heals. Reading other’s stories heals. This is the good that women do. We become vulnerable for eachother, to lift our sisters up.
I’ll write my story sometime this week.
Good grief — I forgot to mention how many people added badges to their own sites! I don’t even know how many, I still have dozens of unopened emails in my inbox. I am working to add each of you that have ‘taken the pledge’ to the blogroll as quickly as I can. If you know you should be there and don’t see your name within the week, please email me. Some of this stuff inevitably falls through the cracks.
(I also know that many of you had trouble with the original badges. I’m told the code is now fixed, so give it another whirl if you would be so kind.)
Thank you.
I’m not surprised that the blog’s been well received, but the volume is mildly surprising. More surprising to me is that the prevailing sentiment hasn’t been outrage or even sadness… what I’ve seen has been gratitude.
Then again, I’m not all that surprised. One of the comments on YouTube was :“Scary. I hope that this blog-space will allow women to share their stories in a space that is free from judgment and will be a help to women who need it..”
It does. And that? Is why these survivors are so very grateful.
Ya done good Maggie. Real good.
Have your beer, dearie — you SO deserve it. CONGRATS!
this is fantastic!!!! (the website I mean) I’m so happy for you for starting it – part of the journey I believe
I can’t imagine that some of the stories make you happy reading them, but keep it up – many people just need a voice, and I believe you’re helping them find it – GOOD GOIN’!!!
and yes, Cary was right – I do know her – many like her – it’s painful to see, but around each of us every day – so easy to get there and very difficult to leave
thank you again
Hey Maggie,
I just sent you an email, but then noticed the badges weren’t working on my site. Along with congrats, I just thought I’d add this FYI. Don’t know if others are having any difficulty. My template’s kinda’ wonky.
All the best,
Tasses
[...] domestic violence blog Violence Unsilenced. She has been overwhelmed, saddened and encouraged by the initial response. Read the first of the Survivor Stories [...]
Congratulations on a HUGE success. Of course, our success will be in the numbers we see read these stories and get the courage to walk out of these horrible situations.
Only someone who had been there, and done this could understand this pain — I felt that was probably you too Maggie.
A big hurray for Cary also for being brave enough to be the first. Great job.
anonymous victim –
this site is too carefully built to have been put together quickly. and i prefer the term “survivor,” too.
Its a success – congrats!!!
That is so beautiful.
I am looking forward to adding my story to your inbox soon =)
I have spread the word in every way I can think of. I hope to post about it in the near future, but I want it to be the best post I can write, so it could be a little while. I am not surprised it has gone so well, I hope you continue to have the great success, it really is a great site and I am sure will help many.
It’s an incredible awesome response. I’ve posted the link on my Facebook page. (Hugs)Indigo
Great site. Wrote a post linked to you here…
You are doing a wonderful thing here! I love it! I have tweeted this, blogged it, put your badges up, stumbled it, etc…. I do hope that many will see this and be empowered to leave DV situations and that those that have left will find healing in sharing their stories!
Thanks for mentioning that YouTube video. I’ll add it to the queue for our NoshTube feature on Blog Nosh Magazine. Gladly.
[...] so encouraging. As of 2-17-09, after only 24 hours, she had 2,250 hits and 106 comments. You can go here and see all of the numbers. It truly is [...]
you’re doing wonderful things here, maggie dammit!