then when everyone I told who wouldn't listen but remembers who told them was preparing makes me their target. Call me paranoid but others can ring the bell so that I can quietly prepare unnoticed... If all my neighbors have generators I'll get one too, but how likely is it that anyone who really doesn't believe that Y2K is TEOTWAWKI is going to spend $000s on a remote possibility. Better I keep my mouth shut, spenf the $ on extra food candles and cordwood so if my neigbor comes in need I can provide, rather than being a beacon on a dark landscape...If Y2K remains a background issue till late 1999 that suits me fine cause it gives me more time to prepare for my family and neighbors. That's why I'm rooting for Clinton digging his heels in on resigning-his shame will occupy the front pages a while longer...Is this selfish or warped?

-- jeff brown (jefftix@yahoo.com), September 17, 1998

Answers

Jeff, it is hard to be a futurist, which is what we are. No one believes you can actually predict the future. I think as long as you are taking care of your own, you will have to leave other people the responsibility to do the same. If people observe you preparing, tell them that you are into emergency preparedness. Ask them what they would do if the truckers went on strike and no food got delivered to the grocery store. It will give them something to think about.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), September 17, 1998.

Until such time as a visible Y2K related impact occurs that affects people on a personal level (probably next year), I would not be shy of warning people. Most will not believe you, and the of the few that do, most will not actually do anything, just sort of think "Well ... hmmm ... maybe I ought to do something someday...". BUT, once the personal impact starts happening (e.g., year 2000 fiscal year rollovers in 1999), then you will want to be very cautious about what you say to whom.

-- Joe (shar@pei.com), September 17, 1998.

I was just watching a Fox News report about a couple in Russia and how they were handling the crisis over there. They opened a shed and there was a years supply of food and other essentials. They had just come back from waiting in line for several hours to by flour and cooking oil, and were placing the supplies in the shed. Folks, this could happen here! The reporter said many Russians were holding dollars and then converting the dollars to buy supplies. When the dollars run out, rioting and looting could begin. And then there's Kosovo......... Take care of your families now!

-- Dave (dave22@concentric.net), September 17, 1998.

Amy, I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the future. Here goes:

The future will happen. It will extend for an uncertain amount of time from right now. We will not be certain what will happen (read that from a Book written about 2000-odd years ago.) until it happens. 8<}

Plan ahead prudently, for whatever level of the upcoming troubles you feel comfortable avoiding. That is: much of the upcoming troubles will be unavoidable at the global/national level. What you do now will minimize you and your family's discomfort until things recover.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 17, 1998.

I think that's good advice, and I had never thought about emergency preparedness before at all. I expect to live another 30 years and at some point I will be glad for all that I've learned here and done to prepare. I actually have a big house now, so what the heck, fill it up. We had lived in apartments for years, I don't know what I'd do if I was still there.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), September 18, 1998.