St. Louis Mourning Online

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If you're in St. Louis, you've probably already heard of Ryan Hummert.  He's the young firefighter that was shot in what appeared to be an ambush of rescuers in Maplewood this morning.

This afternoon, we're getting a look at what may be the future of saying goodbye.  Hummert, 22, like so many others his age, had a Facebook page.  I came across it this morning after his name was released. By this afternoon, a second page had popped up.  This one is called "Rest in Peace Ryan Hummert."  It's growing with each passing moment.  I logged on to find 182 members.  I refreshed a few minutes later to find 206. 

The outpouring of support on these pages is a wonderful thing.  I'm sure it will become an online support group for those who knew Ryan Hummert, and for those who are simply moved by his story. 

How quickly does all this move?  People from as far away as Denmark and South Africa have already signed up as members.

This, to me, is an example of a couple of things.  First, it shows what a warm community the web can be.  The comments section here is full of the sort of verbal embraces we all need when faced with tragedy.

The other thing that stands out has to do with privacy.  Each one of us needs to decide for ourselves just how much we want to put out for the world to see online.  Why?  Because the world can see it whenever it chooses.  Ryan was clearly proud of his work on the Maplewood Fire Department (as he should have been), and I suspect he wouldn't have minded his Fire Academy pictures landing suddenly in front of so many eyes. (He had 118 photos posted on his page which is now linked on the Post-Dispatch site, among others.)

Others out there might not have given much thought to the ramifications of having a Facebook or MySpace page that's "open to the public."  Anyone can look you up for any reason good or bad.  Most of us are comfortable enough with the lives we lead, and careful enough with the pictures we post that this wouldn't be a bad thing.  But when you put a picture online, you might want to think if you (or anyone else in it) would mind if it turned up in the paper or on TV.

I'm glad Ryan Hummert's pictures are available today.  He was out on the front lines, taking care of all of us.  To see in photos the pride he took in being a fireman, the joy he exuded at a Cardinals game, and the fun he had with his friends is a wonderful tribute to the man.  He deserves any accolades we can give him.  The web is giving us a different way to celebrate him.  Celebrate, we should.

In the time it took me to write this,Ryan's group grew by 55 members.