I had a conversation with another Y2K aware person yesterday. He's around an 8 plus on the scale. Like almost all of us, he said that he hopes it won't be that bad. Then he added the qualifier that he "wouldn't mind some moderate Y2K problems" for the folks that have been laughing at him for preparing and taking Y2K so seriously. In short, he wants to say "I told you so". This is not the first time that I've heard this opinion. Perhaps you feel this way too, or have heard something similar.

Have you ever had someone say "I told you so"? Maybe you felt a bit angry, or felt regret for not having listened, or were resentful, or perhaps you didn't have much reaction at all. People like to be right, especially when there is a heavy price for being wrong. Hearing "I told you so" only makes it worse. Now suppose you were the one that did the telling, and they didn't listen, to their detriment. Do you think you really will feel vindicated or happy? If you do, then think again.

Have you thought at all about the folks you have spoken to about it, and what they might be thinking and feeling after or during Y2K? Assuming that their expectations were very wrong and what you told them was much closer to reality, they most likely will not be very happy that they didn't consider what was said more carefully. They won't need to be reminded with an "I told you so". Can you picture feeling very happy about being right, when they probably suffered for not listening to you? It is ironic that comfort would come from being wrong.

It seems to me that those of us that have at some point tried to help others 'get it' also put our personal credibility on the line. This means different things to each of us. For example, suppose you are a well-known person and have publicly gone against the three-day storm crap because you have come to the conclusion it is going to be much worse. If Y2K is a mild impact there will most likely be no shortage of "I told you so's" coming your way. If it turns out you are correct, your personal credibility stays intact - but people that didn't listen to you may not be intact. Not much comfort there. This puts folks in an unusual position, don't you think? Being right or being wrong both may have some unpleasant ramifications.

If there is potential grief with both being right and being wrong, then is there a comfortable alternative? Some think that there is. For example, the rationale of the person I was speaking to yesterday. It goes something like 'I hope Y2K is not as bad as I expected and warned against, yet at the same time I hope that there will be some impact, but that nobody gets seriously hurt'. They want at least some things of consequence to happen so that they are proven right, with the ever-present caveat of 'nobody getting seriously hurt' needed to assuage the conscience. This ensures personal credibility remains viable. How convenient. This way of thinking may make sense to some from an emotional point of view, perhaps as a defense mechanism, yet it is at variance with logic and reality.

People don't want to see others hurt. They want to be right. But if they are right about Y2K being bad people will be hurt. You can't have it both ways.

When it comes to Y2K, wanting to be wrong should be unqualified - without looking forward to saying "I told you so", without the illusory comfort of convenient alternatives to right and wrong, but with the realization that if "the best" happens, it will outweigh the corresponding loss of credibility and all of the sure to come "I told you so's" from others. Besides, it is possible that "the best" is going to be bad enough.

Right and wrong. Few things in life really are black and white. Most of us who think it will be bad hope to be wrong, and know within ourselves that there is no substitute for right and wrong, no convenient, comfortable alternative, no acceptable qualifications. There is only reality, and our attempts to deal with it as emotional and sometimes irrational human beings. For those of us that believe Y2K will be much worse than a three-day storm, the price to be paid for being able to say "I told you so" is suffering, misery, despair, fear, injury, ruined lives, and possibly death.

Do you really want to say I told you so?

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@told.youso), December 18, 1999

Answers

We are sincerely hopeful that the people that we could say, "I told you so" to do not look us up if the situation gets back enough for us to say that. Neither my spouse nor I are planning to answer our front door immediately after the rollover...

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), December 18, 1999.

I pray every night that Y2k is the famous "Bump In The Road". I really hope that we are totally wrong. I don't believe, at this time, I could ever say: "I Told You So". I would rather swallow my pride than watch people panic or die because of ignorance brought about by the government and aided by the mainstream media. However, I wonder if the government and media would ever say to the American people: "Sorry, we were very wrong for telling you that Y2k was a "Bump In The Road". Somehow I doubt it!

-- Ruth Edwards (REath29646@aol.com), December 18, 1999.

Do you really want to say I told you so?

Not to those who, through no fault of their own, could not prepare sufficiently for whatever occurs. But to those who derided, ridiculed, and attacked anyone who tried to warn others to prepare: Absolutely.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), December 18, 1999.

No, I am not interested in "I told 'ya so." I am far more interested in, "we're all ok." All that I've done to prepare for whatever happens is no great loss as nothing will be wasted.

But, nudging 70, I really hadn't planned on some major event to come along to ruin what I considered to be the "quiet years" of putzing, reading, gardening, and doing what old folks do. Complain, know it all, and hand out free advise, even if we didn't know what we're talking about. Well, can kiss all that goodby.

Saying "I told you so?" That's the least of my worries.

-- Richard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), December 18, 1999.

You're thinking about it way too much.

Go see a movie. Read a book. Play with the dog. Admire the Xmas lights. Get laid.

Time is short, & discussions like this one go nowhere.

It's all a cosmic crap game. Everyone's money is on the table & the dice are about to roll.

-- stop worrying about (what@people.think), December 18, 1999.

Deep done inside for us there will be the satisfaction of making the wright call. But knowing what potentially may be happening come Jan. I cant see those who have been around this forum for a-while saying or doing anything that will attract attention. WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK. Folks that have looked at this indepth have a tremendous amount of fore-thought to help alot of very scared, paniced people. You will be saying I told you so, by offering cool-headed solutions to a people who are trying to kram into serveral weeks, all of what you have been analazing for mounths if not years. I believe most hear at this forum will be major helpers in the mouths to come. We all share the same planet, but live in different worlds...---...

-- Les (yoyo@tolate.com), December 18, 1999.

In regards to Y2K not being an event, I can't imagine saying 'I told you so' to anyone...not the people in high places who have poo-poo'ed it, and certainly not friends and family who have not listened.

Eighteen months ago we began warning people by loaning out our credible videos, presenting our take on what the problems were, and then giving our prep resources. We were not long winded, not did we continue to remind them. I can't say that anyone actually got it, but we did tell them that, at any time in the future, we could be counted on to help them with preparations. We purposely got prepped early so we'd be available.....however, we find that even now we are continuing to prepare.

I like to be 'right' as much as anyone, but in this case, it would be much easier to say..."I was wrong"....than to see anyone suffer the consequences of Y2K and all of the fallout from it. I'd gladly be reminded that my vigil was for naught...

The only thing I would regret in the past eighteen months was the time I have spent (countless hundreds of hours) in research and preparation, that might have been spent on something more fun.

But......I really don't think I'll be saying "I was wrong"......

-- Kenin Marble (kenin17@yahoo.com), December 18, 1999.

Yes, especially to the people who laughed.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 18, 1999.

No, it would be more like, "YOU STUPID IDIOT. I TOLD YOU SO...MONTHS AGO."

-- GoldReal (GoldReal@aol.com), December 18, 1999.

All scapegoats have one thing in common: they had something that other disgruntled, jealous people wanted. Therefore, the best reason for not saying "I told you so" is to cover your own butt. We don't want the " aggravated" coming after the prepared's stuff by making the prepareds into scapegoats first (using govt of course to do it).

-- AlvySinger (steverromano@eaton.com), December 18, 1999.

No. I want to breath a sigh of relief. I want to eat crow. I want to sleep in heavenly peace. I want to take a vacation on the money I save next year by not having to go to the supermarket. I want to grin sheepishly at all of my DGI relatives and say, "Well, maybe I went overboard, but I did it because I love you all." I want to hug my children and take them to the movies and to the park and anywhere else they might want to go. I want to take a long shower and eat all the ice cream I can eat next summer...maybe I'll even have an ice- cold beer. Every night I pray that the knowledge I've been given is wrong, that I've somehow mixed up the message.

-- Sad (wishing@homefor.BITR), December 18, 1999.

Yes, I will be saying I told you so to the people who so smugly laughed at me. I'm a sick puppy.

-- Ivanna B. Lichtenfelt (robotman70@hotmail.com), December 18, 1999.

Rob,

Thank you for a well-reasoned and courageous question. I'm not sure if I'm qualified to answer, because I've never tried to convince anyone that I know what will happen. I have said that I don't know what may happen, but I've seen sufficient cause to think it would be wise to be prepared for more than a bump in the road. If someone expressed interest in preparing, I always told them not to make decisions they would regret if nothing happened. I've advised that people try to purchase only what they will have use for even if Y2K is a BITR.

If anyone has acted on my warning, I will laugh with them if Y2K is the proverbial bump. On the other hand, if my precautions turn out to have been needed, I would feel only a deep sadness. I have prepared enough (physically and mentally) to help, without admonishment, those that I can. There have been opportunities in my life where I could have said "I told you so" on the occasion of someone else's forseeable misfortune. I believe that to do so would be the hallmark of a small mind and a weak spirit.

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), December 18, 1999.

Rob, well said!

I would expect most of us here have pointed out pot-holes before, and know how shitty it felt to kick someone when they were down by not heeding our warnings.

I think most folks here, who have struggled with this info for so long, are more likely to start balling rather than become vindictive.

DWGI's will be numb with shock, whereas we'll see their hardships today and predict where that will put them tomorrow. It will be a tremendous burden. Insight always is.

-- Hokie (va@va.com), December 18, 1999.

It will be hard to say I told you so, when these sleepers are suddenly aware of what happen, and they come at you loaded for bear, and demand you hand over what you are so proud of. I told you so will sound a bit hollow then. That is if you can speak around the extra hole you find in your face.

-- Notforlong (Fsur439@aol.com), December 18, 1999.

Sometimes I feel like I do, sometimes I feel like I don't. I would rather have them say to me "I told you so." I want a new remodeled kitchen! I want to hear the news of a cure for cancer, see the space photos, hear the next gold recording, read the next best seller, see my grandchildren thrive.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), December 18, 1999.

If you know what's good for you and the DGI's, you'll immediately get VERY ANGRY. Then, after you have established WHO is NOW in charge, you'll forgive them and help them all you can.

Yes, I'll blow my top at first. I'll be VERY ANGRY (on purpose...not the "emotional" type anger where you lose self-control...the other type.) I'll get over it quickly and begin doing what needs to be done to help those STUPID IDIOT DGI's survive.

8-)

-- GoldReal (GoldReal@aol.com), December 18, 1999.

Id be delighted to be completely wrong. Its my dime. And being prepared when living on shakey ground (Silicon Valley) is always wise.

OTOH, Ill keep the local neighborhood soup pot simmering. And help... wherever needed.

Id rather just be... than... be right.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 19, 1999.

Unlike most people here, I do hope that I'm right. But then I'm picking that not too much will happen. I believe that there will be some failures, but that in most cases they will be manageable.

I promise that if I am right then, in general, I will not be saying "I told you so" There are a few exceptions to that statement, as there have been a few doomers who have sent me some really insulting e-mails in an attempt to convince me not to post here. Those ones WILL receive personal messages after its all over.

However most people on this forum, both doomer and polly, are sensitive to each others beliefs, and whatever happens will still support each other. Therefore there should be no need for recrimination from anyone.

Malcolm

-- Malcolm Taylor (taylorm@es.co.nz), December 19, 1999.

OOOOOoooh yeah! you better believe I will be here to say "I told you so!" The jerk-wads like heller, milne, a@a.a, brett, FLAME AWAY, will continue, that get so mean and nasty, and have been for a couple of years now, need to be taken down a notch.

Feeding crow to the dimwit doombrood is gonna be FUN with a capital F!

[don't count on it SP--Sysop]

-- Super Polly (FU_Q_Y2kfreaks@hotmail.com), December 19, 1999.

Looks like the sewer is backing up early...

-- (TrollPatrol@sheesh.now), December 19, 1999.

Uh, Hokie,

When you said, "I think most folks here, who have struggled with this info for so long, are more likely to start balling rather than become vindictive," did you mean by any chance that they'd start bailing? Just curious.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), December 19, 1999.

I'm Here - No, I think he meant bawling as in crying for the sheer joy of being wrong! Jees - what a strange twilight zone we are in - praying we are wrong and not regretting how much we sweated to take care of something that might happen but we hope won't happen. Kinda perverse isn't it?

-- Valkyrie (Anon@please.xnet), December 19, 1999.

Well, my Dad and Mom aren't preparing. Neither is my brothers and Sis....they have young kids that I love dearly. I have freinds that aren't prepping. I see families...old people...kids...and realize few or none are ready. Winter is coming in...no way that I could possibly save more than a few-if I can get to them.

So I hope I'm wrong.

Most who posted on this thread seem to be good people. A few are jerks...some wanting to gloat if they are right. Hope someone shoots you if you are that low on the 'humanity' scale...

Any so-called 'Pollies' like the one that posted up a few threads being a jerk...hope your ass gets shot off as well.

Like I said before...I'm tired of people like you. Do us a favor and eat your gun. The rest with compassion...God bless and best of luck that we are wrong and if not- remember your hearts and hold steady.

-- Satanta (EventHoriz@n.com), December 19, 1999.

I see no use in saying "I told you so." Even now the DGIs get irritated when I mention preparing for the unknown. They resent that I cause them to doubt their smug complacency. When the hard times come, any words to the effect of "I told you so" might make them fly off the handle and attack me in frustration. Or else they'll plot to steal preps to "get even".

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 19, 1999.

ooohhhh Squire I bet it makes you feel real cool to put your dumbass comments into my post. Did you know that makes you an editor rather than a moderator? I bet you didn't.

We'll see what my lawers have to say about you changing my posts. There is precedent for this kind of lawsuit. Thank you in advance....the legalese will drag out ALL the players behind the scenes....NONE of you pompous anonymous fools will be able to hide from the subpena's.....

ha ha ....f'ing HA!

[Into threatening lawsuits for everyone cpr? Uh, super polly? tough. This is a moderated board--Sysop]

-- Super Polly (FU_Q_Y2kfreaks@hotmail.com), December 20, 1999.

If I should enocounter a situation regarding Y2K that deserves an 'I Told You So' along with someone I could properly say that too, I imagine my response is going to be "I don't know what you are talking about" followed by the click as I close my door, followed again by the clank as I drop the bar.

My family and friends are going to be just fine. People who laughed at our concerns are no longer friends.

-- Art Welling (artw@lancnews.infi.net), December 20, 1999.

There will be no I-told-you-sos from this household. It's been a policy from its inception thirteen years ago that this family unit NEVER says, "I told you so." That foul phrase is among the most destructive in the English language.

Over a year and a half ago we reasoned that the people in our neighborhood would prepare for Y2K as they do for an imminent hurricane--which, from past experience, I can tell you is very little. We have not mentioned our preps to anyone around here beyond mumbling something about, "The Red Cross recommends three days. . ." when the subject has been broached.

For us, the question is moot.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 20, 1999.

As previously stated by SUPER POOPY......I am mean and nasty and shall have no remorse for anybody who had been warned and chose to do nothing.

"Tough titties" might be my chosen response over, "I told you so". I can give 'em an 'I told you so' with a single glance (done with the proper facial contortions), followed by an immitation of an 'Art Welling click and clank'.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), December 20, 1999.

Upon further reflection (during egg collection) I have decided to reserve my all time favorite phrase for upwardly mobile yuppies and anyone wearing a ball cap 'backwards' with their pants falling off:

"Life is hard and then you die"

I just can't wait to use that one. Must be the holiday spirit or something.

Happy "don't you wish you were me" New Year! BWAAAAAHAHA

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), December 20, 1999.

I'll bet this would have been a real interesting thread to read -- 6 months ago! (Sorry, Rob -- I really do love and RESPECT you!)

I've got my 3 year old dtr today and all week since her daycare's out and we're going Christmas/y2k shopping -- her mom's turned back into a DGI -- that propaganda seeps through.

I don't want to say or hear "told you so's" to anyone anything anytime -- it feels cheap on either end and I don't want to associate with or be that type.

What this thread tells me is "WAKE UP -- SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HIT YOU-ME-ALLOFUS UPSIDE THE HEAD" whatever it may be whenever, get off your butt and stop cogitating over this -- see you all over the holidays when i have home and puter to myself -- watch out for SMUGNESS is all its life-threatening forms

-- jor-el (jor-el@krypton.uni), December 20, 1999.

Although my thoughts on the unfolding of Y2k are very close to Malcolm's, my thoughts on any sort of "I told you so" are right in line with Old Git's. We all have opinions based on the data available at a given time and our interpretation of that data. As new data comes in we evaluate our opinions and at some point make decisions. If our decisions prove to be faulty, I don't think we need others telling us what we perhaps already know.

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.com), December 20, 1999.

As long as FLINT can say, "I told you so", I will feel at peace and know that all is well. Seriously. If Flint has a mental breakdown and starts posting that he was "wrong", it will mean TEOTWAWKI for everyone, world-wide.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), December 20, 1999.

There are exactly two things, one of which I will say: probably Mid- March or so:

either:

I am available to eat crow from 9:00am CT - 11:00am. I have some major consumer spending to do the rest of the day, including test- driving '66 Mustangs and/or '68 Bronco 4X4s.

or:

Here, here's some dried milk and chocolate: your kiddo won't know the difference from fresh..... and take some of this peanut butter with you too....

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), December 20, 1999.