Okay let's get the disclaimers out. This is second hand.

The scenario, at work during lunch talking with a crowd of DGI's. Needing a vacation, you out too... turns to lets turn the lights out and go home... turns to Hey if the lights go out for a couple of days some friends of mine are already planning to loot the (name of a particular mall). I laughed this off but he continued "hey I might join them. You know its like survival of the fittest."

Seems he lives in edge of the bad part of town and has friends who might not be considered the fine upstanding moral individuals we see on T.V. I pressed and there really are people already planning to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself.

Up until now I assumed (yes I know) that riots and looting were spontaneous acts. There are some who are waiting for the ITS ALL FREE sign to go up and that sign is the power going off and staying off. This didn't seem to be posturing and I take his knowledge as sincere. Then it hit me if the power goes off on the rollover, its not like a regional outage with the expectation that they will come right back on in a couple of minutes. Thats why all bets on predicting human behavior are off, any infrastructure problems will feed into any rumor anybody has heard and be amplified by the shock of all the DGI's seeing the weakness of the system.

There are predators that are preparing to hunt. They smell the rabbits scent and are stalking. For the first time I realize what the 7-11 toast zone really could mean.

Take care and around the rollover take precautions.

-- Squid (Itsdarker@down.here), December 08, 1999

Answers

Last February, I was living in a poor neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri. I asked one of the local gang members if he had ever heard of Y2k. He looked surprised, and said, "Yeah, sure, Y2k means T2L, time to loot." So months ago, when most people had hardly heard of Y2k, I'm talking with someone who can barely read, and he not only knows about Y2k, he knows a flip little street phrase for it.

Got my free online book on coping with y2k in the city?

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), December 08, 1999.

Normally, I have a handle, but not this time. I've been "slumming" for the last 2 weeks (so I can get into this girls jeans, hey I'm Human). She's got a good heart but a barrio upbringing. She's hanging out with some unsavory San Francisco types. She's making plans for her best friends young child to get out of town because of what's going to happen as far as riots go, come Y2K. I agree, the predators are licking their chops. Be careful.

-- youdontknowme (youdontknowme@whatever.com), December 08, 1999.

What do you bet that they take electrical equipment first?

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 08, 1999.

Squid,

Are they talking about Northland, "C.C.", "E" or "T" malls?

Thx.

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 08, 1999.

You MIGHT be surprised at some of the plans people here have for places like Wicke's Lumber, 87 Lumber, Home Depot, etc.

Somthing about loot it before the cretins burn it. If they burn it, it's no good for NOBODY. If it's looted, at least the looter has the ability to build with it. (They were talking about lumber, plywood, palets of cement, etc.)

nothing surprises ME anymore

-- you-might-be-surprised (not@THIS.time), December 08, 1999.

I've been thinking about what the Big Bad Guys are planning.

Is the Mob Y2K ready? I can see the Russian Mafia getting ready to exploit a "distressed" environment. They some experience in that area.

Black markets? Protection rackets? Smuggling of hard to get items?

The mind boggles.

-- Lewis (aslanshow@yahoo.com), December 08, 1999.

Lewis, I recall reading a commentary by Gary North one time suggesting that in the inner cities, it will indeed be the organized criminal elements that are not only ready to exploit, but are well practiced at exploiting, Y2K. Think about it: They normally deal entirely in cash anyway, the "goods and services" that they offer are illegal anyway (no hesitation on their part as to whether to do it or not), and the territory ("turf") is well understood. The only new wrinkle would be having to negotiate (e.g., payoff) with the military rather than local cops.

It will not be fun in the cities....

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), December 08, 1999.

Predators are very real and mentally preparded to do what they plan to do with little conscience. Those that have "advertised" their preps are the most vulnerable. "Coffee Chat", with those co-workers will lead to further conversations about YOU elsewhere.

Had a CHILLING experience with a predator this summer. Camping on a lake N. of Atlanta. Chitty chatty that I am, talk turned to Y2k. The guy seemed cool up until this point. The stuff he spewed made my skin crawl! He and his buddys were planning to KILL all the yuppies and take their children as slaves. This guy was so nutzoid, he believed he was going to divide and conquer and add to his "family" Manson style.

The VERY NEXT week, this guy and 2 of his buddys KILLED the maintenance man at this same campground. They dumped him LIVE into the lake after beating the shit out of him, to hide the body. All because the maintenance man asked them to turn their radio down.

One less predator in jail now. How many left?

-- farf (farf@ontheweb.com), December 08, 1999.

Deb:

They were talking Polaris, (just kidding), E Proximity seems to be the key.

-- Squid (Itsdarker@down.here), December 08, 1999.

Squid,

"Polaris" - funny! :-P (If they hit Polaris, they're only gonna find corn stubble...)

Thanks for the warning about "E". I'll be sure to keep family away from there (too expensive for my tastes anyway).

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 08, 1999.

Always be kind no matter what happens.

You never know when you are entertaining an angel.

-- your (consciousness@home.now), December 08, 1999.