Memorials sometimes go viral in an entirely different way. A recent worldwide pay-it-forward movement was triggered by the sudden and tragic death of a Pennsylvania teenager from epileptic seizure. The family of 18-year-old Alyssa J. ONeill went to the local Starbucks and bought 40 pumpkin spice lattes -- Alyssas favorite -- and gave them away to strangers with the hashtag #AJO written on the cup. The story, and the random act of kindness, went viral. The ONeills have received pictures of #AJO coffee cups from as far away as Sri Lanka. Donald Joralemon, professor of anthropology at Smith College in Massachusetts, said these kinds of pay-it-forward tributes have been in the culture for centuries. But its like on steroids now, Joralemon said. Because of the power of mass media and social networks, it just speeds it up and spreads it at a far, far more rapid pace. -Glenn McDonald
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 20:37:31 +0000
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