This year, the anniversary falls, for the first time, on a Tuesday morning, and perhaps some or other cable network will re-present the events in real time – the first vague breaking news in an otherwise routine morning show, the follow-up item on the second plane, and the realization that something bigger was under way.
Here's how 9/11 unfolded in an IRC daytrading chatroom. There are transcripts from many chatrooms that day, but this is the one that brings it all back for me, since I was in a chatroom very similar to this one that morning. I'm somewhat inured to the video footage by now, but these transcripts get me shaking with anger:
people.redhat.com
08:45:47 #value-stock.com <ron1> gm everyone
08:46:05 #pitstock <Zyllwmn> morning
08:46:37 #green <bertl> watch da plug, gettin a few buys this am, and someone was sayin it was a dead pos yest, hehe
08:46:53 #daytraders <smakagator> no bad news this morning?
08:46:57 #daytraders <smakagator> morning all
08:47:41 #daytraders <BigWave> the bad news is futures are not locked up so we fall harder
08:48:51 #s&p <Dball> s&p nasty dump
08:49:02 #s&p <Julian^> news?
08:49:21 #s&p <Dball> 5 pt dump
08:49:41 #daytraders <DoubleDown> futures
08:49:45 #s&p <think> wtf
08:49:48 #daytraders <dieMSFTdie> I'm just sorry i covered at a loss, should have waited
08:49:54 #green <bertl> rut rho, someone crashed into world trade center
08:49:57 #pitstock <Meowdell> bomb blast at World Trade Center being reported 8:47 eastern
08:49:58 #green <bertl> airplane
08:50:05 #green <neato> omy
08:50:14 #pitstock <Meowdell> oh.. now being reported as: DJN: *DJ Airplane Hits NYC's World Financial Center - Witness
08:50:16 #daytraders <BigWave> snp red
08:50:16 #s&p <Dball> SP8 pt dunp
08:50:19 #daytraders <skunk> what gap?
08:50:25 #daytraders <twende> tank
08:50:26 #s&p <Brixer> Hey, what news came out now ?
08:50:26 #green <bertl> holy shit
08:50:27 #daytraders <Str8> woah
08:50:27 #daytraders <think> any news...futs dumping
08:50:28 #daytraders <Slocum3a> bad news?
08:50:29 #daytraders <twende> wow
08:50:30 #pitstock <raven> holy crap
08:50:30 #daytraders <BigWave> naz red
08:50:32 #s&p <Dball> CNBC OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
08:50:34 #daytraders <dieMSFTdie> wow, world trade tower in flames
08:50:34 #daytraders <twende> world trade center
08:50:35 #daytraders <Ingo> whats up with futs?
08:50:36 #daytraders <DoubleDown> oh my god
08:50:37 #daytraders <BigWave> oh man
08:50:38 #daytraders <Slocum3a> plane hit world trade
08:50:38 #daytraders <lele> oh man
08:50:39 #daytraders <locust> plane hit world trade center ?
08:50:40 #daytraders <twende> hit by plane?
08:50:40 #pitstock <Meowdell> holy cow
08:50:41 #daytraders <SharpEye> WOW
08:50:41 #green <bertl> cnbc
08:50:42 #daytraders <neato> someone crashed into world trade center
08:50:43 #s&p <think> world trade center manhattan on fire
[...]
09:04:48 #s&p <MrDebt> this is terrorism
09:04:49 #daytraders <BigWave> oh my
09:04:50 #daytraders <Micha> fut ouch
09:04:50 #daytraders <ABC_> wow..SP future crash
09:04:53 #daytraders <cheers> both wtc smoking
09:04:53 #value-stock.com <BoyB> second explosion in other building, now they are saying it could have or could be terriorst
09:04:53 #pitstock <Meowdell> the second building is on fire now
09:04:56 #daytraders <xspike> futs crashing on a plane crash
09:04:57 #daytraders <soox> second explosion - second airplane
09:04:57 #daytraders <traduer> where in the heck is the airforse
09:04:59 #green <littleduke> saying 2nd plane
09:04:59 #daytraders <Finisar> holy cow i just saw the second plane hit!
09:05:01 #daytraders <Blackwood> CNN - second tower now on fire since explosion in the last minute
09:05:01 #daytraders <BigWave> second airplane
09:05:03 #daytraders <soox> oh my god
09:05:05 #pitstock <Linz> wow
09:05:06 #daytraders <cobra> omg!
09:05:09 #daytraders <smakagator> wtf
09:05:10 #daytraders <rebs> what is going on please?
09:05:11 #daytraders <locust> bomb the bastids
09:05:12 #daytraders <cheers> another plane attack
09:05:14 #daytraders <soox> this is crazy
09:05:24 #value-stock.com <BoyB> now they are saying a second plane hit the other tower
09:05:25 #daytraders <BigWave> some one had to catch second plane on tape
09:05:27 #daytraders <Finisar> this is sick
09:05:28 #pitstock <chillman> think it is a commercial airline??
09:05:33 #s&p <bullius> where the f is our military
09:05:34 #daytraders <xspike> suicide traders
09:05:38 #daytraders <Yeti> morning friends. What's happening ?
09:05:39 #daytraders <cheers> futs tanked
09:05:40 #daytraders <Red_Span> This would be a 2nd Pearl Harbor
[...]
09:41:25 #daytraders <ChiefLodgeSkins> Fire at the pentagon?
09:41:25 #green <Sopwith> ken, we going to get kneejerk reaction of everyone hating palestinians for next long while, truth is they are all pretty evil
09:41:28 #green <bertl> [09:33] <sunnyyyy> MSNBC explosion at pentagon
09:41:32 #green <bertl> [09:33] <sunnyyyy> MSNBC explosion at pentagon
09:41:35 #daytraders <GreenIz> pentagon said they felt something like an explosion just now
09:41:39 #green <WidgetMan> all tradin halted now ?
09:41:43 #daytraders <captj> damn
09:41:44 #daytraders <manta8> you want a socialist country? remember this the next time you vote
09:41:45 #daytraders <DoubleDown> omg
09:41:45 #green <littleduke> [09:33] <sunnyyyy> MSNBC explosion at pentagon
09:41:47 #daytraders <Jz28> you people are sick
09:41:49 #daytraders <wnr> Fire on the pentagon
09:41:59 #s&p <think> fire at pentagon rumors
09:42:01 #value-stock.com <Leeker> now pentagon?
09:42:05 #green <cashflow> widgetman : there is some trading but the exchanges are closed
09:42:06 #daytraders <schaeffer> NASADQ says mkt closed until 11:30
09:42:07 #pitstock <az2u> nbc reporting possible explosion at the pentagon
09:42:12 #daytraders <Gravitas> omg, attack on the pentagon ? :-O
09:42:15 #daytraders <Mercuryy> they're talking about traffic!
09:42:16 #daytraders <CRASHSOON> like i said, there will be other attacks
09:42:16 #daytraders <RevMcD> mkt update? NYSE closed....NAZ 11:30?
09:42:21 #daytraders <Montana> my god the pentagon
09:42:21 #pitstock <jeannie> omg
09:42:22 #daytraders <CRASHSOON> now there are 3
09:42:22 #green <WidgetMan> This country gonna have to re-evaluate how free we want to remain imo
09:42:24 #daytraders <pepper-> pentagon on fire
09:42:24 #daytraders <BigWave> boy or airfotce was on da ball 18 min later and they did not shoot that plane down i am very dissapointed in them
09:42:24 #value-stock.com <Leeker> what happened in pentagon..
09:42:28 #daytraders <Gravitas> so who thinks we should cut defense spending now ?
09:42:29 #value-stock.com <Leeker> terroist attack?
09:42:29 #s&p <think> on NBC now
09:42:30 #daytraders <BigWave> airforce
09:42:38 #daytraders <GreenIz> they're evacuating the building now
09:42:41 #s&p <think> pentagon explosion
09:42:43 #daytraders <sjack> shit
09:42:53 #daytraders <rasty> is the pentagon talk BS? give me sources..
09:42:55 #daytraders <Gravitas> there could be a wave of attacks today ! I have a bad feeling :(
09:42:56 #pitstock <Meowdell> large fire at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
09:42:57 #daytraders <_actech1> serious reprisals coming....
09:43:03 #daytraders <DogsOfTheDow> You cant shoot planes down in NYC the are hundreds in the air at any moment
09:43:04 #daytraders <Gravitas> jihad !
[...]
09:59:19 #value-stock.com <SanJuan> Sears tower is being evacuated too
09:59:20 #daytraders <cobra> what happened?
09:59:20 #daytraders <smakagator> omg
09:59:21 #green <kengumbo> another explosion
09:59:21 #pitstock <YUK> exactly
09:59:24 #daytraders <Gravitas> Huge explosion !
09:59:25 #value-stock.com <TJ^> not sure yet
09:59:26 #green <neato> another explosion
09:59:26 #daytraders <smakagator> another explosion
09:59:28 #green <littleduke> holy shit
09:59:29 #value-stock.com <SanJuan> 3 attacks so far
09:59:29 #daytraders <cheers> another exposion
09:59:31 #green <littleduke> this is nuts
09:59:31 #pitstock <YUK> world markets should close
09:59:33 #daytraders <ironaction> oh my see all those people
09:59:33 #green <hawkfan> oh my
09:59:39 #daytraders <locust> oh man this is a war now
09:59:39 #daytraders <cobra> wtf!
09:59:39 #green <markdoc> this is organized..planned
09:59:41 #s&p <SnPTrader> exactly bandit.......... if i'm going to die anyways, i'll do my damndist to save as many innocents as i can..............
09:59:42 #pitstock <Meowdell> CNN reporting that there was just a huge explosion at one of the world trade center.. second tower
09:59:43 #daytraders <cheers> crazy
09:59:43 #value-stock.com <Lars> where was the third at
09:59:44 #green <cashflow> obviously
09:59:44 #s&p <trader22> you guys watching cnn?
09:59:47 #pitstock <British_bull_trader> palestinian denies responsibility - cnbc
09:59:48 #green <hawkfan> one tower just collapsed
09:59:49 #daytraders <brad321> where
09:59:49 #value-stock.com <TARS32> oh my got the building blew up
09:59:50 #green <cashflow> im surprised someone could pull this off
09:59:50 #daytraders <cheers> this is disaster
09:59:52 #daytraders <meg> tower collapesed!!
09:59:53 #daytraders <smakagator> wtc
09:59:54 #daytraders <dmtrader> omg another explosion
09:59:54 #s&p <chi-palestine> cbs
09:59:55 #green <toto> prayers, everyone say prayers
09:59:55 #daytraders <[JJ]> TOWER FALLEN
09:59:56 #s&p <chi-palestine> here
09:59:57 #pitstock <British_bull_trader> shittttttttttt
09:59:58 #daytraders <Gravitas> must be hundreds dead in the trade center :(
09:59:58 #s&p <think> cnn here
10:00:01 #pitstock <kha> I don't think they're through with US yet
10:00:01 #green <cashflow> doesn't make me any less infuriated though
10:00:03 #green <neato> i sure hope that the military is on high alert
10:00:05 #s&p <think> damn
10:00:06 #daytraders <\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\> omg
10:00:06 #pitstock <British_bull_trader> another?????????????????/
10:00:07 #s&p <SnPTrader> yes 22
10:00:10 #value-stock.com <TARS32> god
10:00:12 #s&p <Bysel> whats happening in NY now ?
10:00:12 #value-stock.com <TJ^> pentagon lrs
10:00:12 #pitstock <British_bull_trader> another?????????????????/
10:00:14 #daytraders <Gravitas> die :'-(
10:00:15 #daytraders <hey> 3rd one
10:00:15 #s&p <think> holy shit...look at that
10:00:17 #s&p <Bysel> base of tower ?
10:00:18 #daytraders <\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\> 2nd building collapsed
10:00:18 #value-stock.com <TARS32> world trade center
10:00:18 #daytraders <DogsOfTheDow> maybe as many as 2K in the top of the tower
10:00:18 #daytraders <smakagator> appears to be a 3rd explosion
10:00:20 #pitstock <az2u> omg
10:00:21 #value-stock.com <SanJuan> 2nd building is colaping
10:00:23 #s&p <chi-palestine> ?
10:00:25 #daytraders <smakagator> at wtc
10:00:25 #value-stock.com <hey> another one
10:00:28 #value-stock.com <fisher> trade center came down
10:00:29 #value-stock.com <CV> shit
10:00:29 #daytraders <marq> gold gonna hit $300 today
10:00:29 #value-stock.com <CV> shit
10:00:31 #daytraders <cobra> can't believe this
10:00:34 #daytraders <\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\> whole bldg has collapsed southern tower
10:00:35 #value-stock.com <Lars> oh no
10:00:36 #value-stock.com <TJ^> jesus
10:00:38 #daytraders <Montana> man it's crazy
10:00:38 #pitstock <az2u> trade center collapsing
10:00:40 #value-stock.com <SanJuan> whole building
10:00:41 #s&p <chi-palestine> holy cow
10:00:41 #s&p <trader22> what the FUCK is going on today?
10:00:43 #s&p <trader22> jesus
10:00:43 #daytraders <marq> southern tower collapsed
10:00:44 #s&p <trader22> sorry
10:00:44 #daytraders <Gravitas> the intent is to bring down those buildings ! I wouldnt be surprised if another plane comes crashing in soon :-o
10:00:45 #daytraders <DogsOfTheDow> God the entire tower #1 collapsed
10:00:46 #daytraders <cheers> third explosion inmanahattan
10:00:46 #s&p <SnPTrader> i was thinking the same thing 22
10:00:48 #daytraders <Hammer> man tower gone?
10:00:48 #s&p <intradaybandit> Did the tower COLLAPSE.
10:00:49 #s&p <chi-palestine> did the building collapse?
10:00:50 #daytraders <ironaction> i dont see the buiilding
10:00:52 #daytraders <cobra> get outta NYC
10:00:52 #daytraders <LEVEL7> oh god
10:00:53 #green <cashflow> i think ill pass now
10:00:54 #daytraders <locust> tower came down ?
10:00:54 #daytraders <eddie> Is this just the beginning?
10:00:55 #daytraders <smakagator> reporter says she can smell the explosion
10:01:00 #daytraders <oldmankangnews> ONE OF WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWERS COLLAPSES AFTER PLANE
10:01:00 #daytraders <oldmankangnews> (Reuters 09/11 07:00:39)
10:01:02 #daytraders <twende> OMG
10:01:02 #daytraders <dieMSFTdie> tower is gone
10:01:04 #daytraders <dieMSFTdie> omg
10:01:04 #s&p <chi-palestine> that smoke is spewing all over the place
10:01:04 #daytraders <seamold> Typica terroist action to set off delayed bomb to kill people responding to help
10:01:06 #daytraders <twende> tower gone
10:01:06 #daytraders <paola> one tower fell!
10:01:06 #pitstock <oldmankangnews> tower collapsed
10:01:07 #daytraders <Mercuryy> this is horrible
10:01:07 #daytraders <alw> gone!
10:01:07 #daytraders <clifton1> where is third explosion?
10:01:08 #pitstock <Linz> speculation buildings will need to be pulled down
10:01:08 #green <moonpie> OMG, '
10:01:08 #daytraders <jay62> omg
10:01:08 #daytraders <Gravitas> eddie; Yes, Im afraid :(
10:01:09 #s&p <SnPTrader> damn these bastards......... damn it damn it
10:01:10 #daytraders <paola> oh my god!
10:01:12 #s&p <intradaybandit> I don't see the second tower...oh my god...it fell!!!
10:01:13 #daytraders <kk> tower gone wtf!!!
10:01:13 #daytraders <rrod> this is sad
10:01:14 #daytraders <oldmankangnews> tower collapsed
10:01:15 #pitstock <flower> one of the two towers collapsed per cnbc !
10:01:15 #daytraders <Gravitas> jihad !
10:01:15 #daytraders <traduer> look at that
10:01:15 #s&p <Bysel> tower cllapse
10:01:19 #daytraders <cheers> wtc collapased
10:01:19 #value-stock.com <Trader194> COLLAPSED
10:01:20 #daytraders <traduer> oh my god
10:01:20 #value-stock.com <navy> i'm on a borrowed computer at our home office..just heard
10:01:21 #pitstock <Linz> sheesh
10:01:21 #green <neato> one of towers collapsed
10:01:21 #daytraders <PizzaMan> all international markets are falling... quote.yahoo.com
10:01:22 #value-stock.com <Trader194> :(
10:01:22 #green <moonpie> twin towers clasped
10:01:24 #daytraders <DogsOfTheDow> Entire tower is down Cant see it anymore
10:01:24 #daytraders <paola> this is thw ww3
10:01:25 #daytraders <kk> holy god please help us
10:01:25 #daytraders <BigWave> man oh man
10:01:25 #s&p <think> omg
10:01:26 #daytraders <golfy> oh my god |
