Thanks, Facebook (Editorial)

Anyone who watched “The Social Network” likely came away from the film about Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, thinking Zuckerberg, somewhat incongruously, is a socially maladroit misfit.

Maybe he is, but his creation has proved to be a blessing to tornado-weary Arkansans.

We’ve watched in fascination as posters on Facebook pages dedicated to “Mayflower & Vilonia Arkansas Tornado Relief & Recovery” and “Vilonia Tornado 2014” worked to reunite tornado victims with storm-blown photos and other mementoes found near Cave City, in Batesville and in Wilburn.

And there was this: “Have a group of about 15 with chainsaws, ready to work. Need to know where they can most be put to use. Contact me ASAP if you can use them.”

Even more poignantly, the Facebook page “Pets Lost & Found From Arkansas Tornado” was trying to reunite cats, dogs and even a lizard with their owners. If amid all the sad news you needed your spirits lifted, all you had to do was click on “REUNITED!!! Buddy is home!!!!” (As one poster said: “Anyone who says dogs do not smile should look at this picture!”)

In the midst of the outpouring of aid, two men were accused of trying to steal copper wire from the debris and residents reported contractors identifying themselves as “FEMA-approved contractors” when, Faulkner County spokesman David Hogue said, there is no such thing. The good and the helpful, however, appeared to far outweigh the bad.

Nothing will bring back the lives lost, and recovery will take years, not days, weeks or months. But somehow Facebook, of all things, that time-wasting repository of all-cap political tirades and annoying games, has proved to be this state’s town square, where bulletins are posted and people meet and a calico cat named Ms. Pickles is returned to her family.