Paris Friday the 13th 2015

November 13, 2015 3:09 PM

My wonderful secret quonsar last year was Parisian. I am thinking of him and his family right now. I'm sure there are other Mefites thinking of each other right now as well. Thread to connect and check in.

News streaming of out central Paris right now tells us there have been multiple shootings, an explosion, a hostage situation and many many people hurt.

posted by infini to MetaFilter-Related at 3:09 PM (47 comments total)

This is all sounding really terrible. Please do check in, Paris-area folks.

Also, there's a thread on the blue for general discussion and aggregation of news, so please head over there for that stuff instead of doing it in here.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:11 PM on November 13, 2015 [3 favorites]

Could we get an idea of what should be posted on the Blue and what should be here so things aren't too out of order?
posted by solarion at 3:15 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Checking in from Paris, stayed home tonight. The Bataclan is a great venue, been to several concerts there. Heartbreaking.
posted by ellieBOA at 3:16 PM on November 13, 2015 [19 favorites]

Could we get an idea of what should be posted on the Blue and what should be here so things aren't too out of order?

Pretty much all general discussion should go over on the blue, so we don't have to parallel general conversations running. Stuff for here is mostly what the post says: checking in, checking on folks, trying to figure out if MetaFilter folks are okay, things related to that.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:18 PM on November 13, 2015 [3 favorites]

I'm at home drinking a stiff drink, i've checked on almost all my friends, they're fine.
posted by SageLeVoid at 3:20 PM on November 13, 2015 [11 favorites]

Fraula's commented on the blue
posted by ellieBOA at 3:22 PM on November 13, 2015 [6 favorites]

ellieBOA, I thought of you and Fraula right away. I'm glad to know you're safe. I'm so sorry.
posted by barchan at 3:22 PM on November 13, 2015 [9 favorites]

Checking in as well, am okay though in shock. Stayed home when I'd wanted to go into town, would have gone through Châtelet to go to a bar with new friends, egads.

They struck very popular Friday night areas :(
posted by fraula at 3:23 PM on November 13, 2015 [15 favorites]

Thanks barchan, this is horrible. I'm on the other side of the river but high enough I can see over Paris, lots of helicopters and sirens.
posted by ellieBOA at 3:23 PM on November 13, 2015 [4 favorites]

motdiem?
posted by infini at 3:24 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

motdiem2 posted on the blue
posted by infini at 3:26 PM on November 13, 2015

Also commented on the blue. Good to hear from them, we had a two person meetup a few years ago!
posted by ellieBOA at 3:27 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

I'm here infini. Just got the idea to check metatalk. Thanks for your thoughts.

I'm safe. Got news from a friend of a friend who made it out of the bataclan.
My sister is trapped in a bar near the events.
This is super stressful. Thank you for being here.
posted by motdiem2 at 3:28 PM on November 13, 2015 [22 favorites]

Glad you're ok motdiem, hope she manages to leave, taxis are taking people home for free.
posted by ellieBOA at 3:30 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Thank you all for checking in. I am so sorry!
posted by madamjujujive at 3:30 PM on November 13, 2015

If you or someone you know if outside in Paris and needs a safe place, the hashtag #porteouverte on twitter is being used to help people find other people willing to let them into their homes until it's safe outside.
posted by Lutoslawski at 3:30 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Now I want to stop pretending this text is calm and cool and just burst into tears, shaking.
posted by infini at 3:34 PM on November 13, 2015 [7 favorites]

Sending you a long distance hug, infini and anyone else who needs one. I wish we could all gather in one room with cocoa and blankets and other soothing, comforting things waiting to invite everyone else in to be cared for while they feel.
posted by Deoridhe at 3:42 PM on November 13, 2015 [10 favorites]

Hugs to everyone.
posted by motdiem2 at 3:45 PM on November 13, 2015 [3 favorites]

"I wish we could all gather in one room with cocoa and blankets and other soothing, comforting things waiting to invite everyone else in to be cared for while they feel."

Me too. I don't know if energetic support does much but I am sending it out to anyone who needs it right now.
posted by xarnop at 3:48 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]

*gathers all France based mefites into big squeezy hug*

OMG I was SO worried about y'all

*squeezes motdiem2 harder*

OMG OMG let us know about your sister

and thank you Deoridhe
posted by infini at 3:49 PM on November 13, 2015 [10 favorites]

My brother is there at the minute, which we didn't know til he texted "I'm in Paris but don't worry, I'm safe" at which point my Mum started freaking out. He's staying with a friend but not sure when the borders will be reopened for him to get out again. Hugs to the French MeFites and hope your sister gets home soon motdiem2.
posted by billiebee at 4:10 PM on November 13, 2015 [10 favorites]

yeah if y'all don't see me commenting, no worries, my friends are all OK as are their friends and families. just... in shock...
posted by fraula at 4:21 PM on November 13, 2015 [6 favorites]

Best thoughts to people in a horrific situation.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:30 PM on November 13, 2015

Je suis desolee, mes mefites parisiens. J'espere que votres amis et familles sont en securite.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 4:34 PM on November 13, 2015 [5 favorites]

just talked with my sister - she's safe and has found a place to stay for the night.
posted by motdiem2 at 4:35 PM on November 13, 2015 [25 favorites]

Thank you motdiem2
posted by infini at 4:41 PM on November 13, 2015

Thinking of all of you tonight, Parisians.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:55 PM on November 13, 2015

I was in Paris a few weeks ago, in Bellville, near the Goncourt metro station, just a few blocks from one of the attacks. Such a beautiful city, such beautiful people, my heart breaks and breaks again wondering what comes next.

Be safe, everyone.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:02 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]

I just saw the news, and my heart is breaking for everyone. Please stay safe out there!
posted by Diagonalize at 5:07 PM on November 13, 2015

"I wish we could all gather in one room with cocoa and blankets and other soothing, comforting things waiting to invite everyone else in to be cared for while they feel."

So much this.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:42 PM on November 13, 2015 [5 favorites]

Thank you for making this meTa, and thank you Parisian mefites for checking in. My heart goes out to you.
posted by rtha at 7:40 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Very glad to hear from Parisian Mefites. We are thinking of you.
posted by Songdog at 8:18 PM on November 13, 2015

My heart goes out to you, French MeFites.
posted by Miko at 8:31 PM on November 13, 2015

I'm so sorry, Parisian and French Mefites. I hope you are all safe and sound. Glad to hear from those of you who have checked in. What a horrible tragedy...it just boggles the mind.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:19 PM on November 13, 2015

Peace and safety to all. What a horror.
posted by Going To Maine at 9:29 PM on November 13, 2015

Hugs.
posted by nims at 3:08 AM on November 14, 2015

Was talking to my brother, he said it feels very eerie and overwhelming. City pretty much in lockdown and people being warned not to be out and about. The friend he visits there had friends at the gig but they all got out thank God, "ran for their lives". With so many dead and injured there are thousands mourning today. My heart goes out to them.
posted by billiebee at 4:55 AM on November 14, 2015 [3 favorites]

Peace and love to the people of Paris. Crying for you today.
posted by holborne at 5:37 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

In the other thread I posted about my resolve to carry on with my plan to visit Paris in December. I wanted to come in here and say "I mean it," and I will be posting an IRL thread in a couple weeks and I want to be able to hug you in person when we do meet.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:22 PM on November 14, 2015 [3 favorites]

Is there anything we non-Parisians can do?
posted by Going To Maine at 8:25 PM on November 14, 2015

EC, have a chocolat chaud at Cafe Angelina or Laudrée for me! They'll give you whipped cream, but taste it first before gilding the lily.
posted by brujita at 9:26 PM on November 14, 2015

A friend of mine was in the Bataclan, he escaped very narrowly by an emergency exit guided by the chief of security of the venue, he was covered in blood but he's fine.
Another friend lost 2 friends there.
Another friend lost one of her coworker.
posted by SageLeVoid at 11:46 AM on November 15, 2015 [5 favorites]

My thoughts and love are with you all, SageLeVoid. Please, let me know if there's any way we can help you or your friend.
posted by Deoridhe at 1:09 PM on November 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

My niece lost 3 friends in the Belle Equipe shooting. She actually dined there the day before. Another relative lives 20m from this restaurant and saw what happened in the street below from her window. A cousin lost a friend at the Bataclan. My wife and I are both working in Parisian universities and we're dreading what we're going to find out tomorrow, as these areas are popular with our students.
posted by elgilito at 2:54 PM on November 15, 2015 [7 favorites]

*hugs elgilito and family in big squeezy hug*
posted by infini at 10:13 AM on November 16, 2015 [2 favorites]

Big hugs elgilito. Paris universities were devastated by the attacks - so many students and researchers among the dead. Walking today around science po, you could really feel everyone was mourning.
posted by motdiem2 at 3:02 PM on November 16, 2015 [1 favorite]