Infomagic was right all along,.....it's going to be a "10."

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

A quote from Infomagic on 4/6/99:

"But the delusion is not realty. The systems really are going to fail, the economy really is going to collapse. I used to think that most people would be intelligent enough to eventually realize this and to at least make some preparations for their survival.

But not any more. I think the delusion will be maintained (or even inceased) until the very end. Because of this, very, very, few people will be prepared and the death toll will be even higher than I previously thought".

Tonight, I went to Menard's and Farm & Fleet for last minute items and was struck how unprepared the public really is. A pile of low-cost generators didn't attract any attention, while shoppers hunted for their last minute Christmas list items.

Yet, I don't think that preparations were ever really possible for the vast majority of people. For example, the free standing stove industry was happy that their sales doubled this year to 160,000 units. When you consider that there are about 50,000,000 households in the US, this production rate is too little, too late. With about 97% not readying themselves, they have placed an all or nothing bet on the outcome of y2k.

-- Sure M. Worried (SureMWorried@bout.Y2K.coming), December 23, 1999

Answers

Don't worry. Those of us who come into, read, and or post information in these forums are one tenth of one percent of the total population. We're nuts. Hysterical. Crazy. Doomers. End of the Worlders. Yet most of us are ordinary people who happen to think for themselves, rather than take at face value what is told to us through radio, television, newspapers or magazines.

Our intutitive instincts tell us that "something is wrong" and we can't put our finger on what that something is.

Now, the people who are paying no attention are those who wouldn't pay attention to the Second Comming.

They are locked into their immediate life, the here and the now. There's no past, no tomorrow, only today. So, don't expect these non-thinking people to go out and draw a conclusion on their own. It's far too easy to read today's headline and let someone else do their thinking for them. That way there's more time to plan the evenings entertainment, getting out of work early, or whatever else serves the moment.

This doesn't imply that we are any smarter than anyone else, just simply more perseptive. We think. News is breaking momentarily about minor "glitches" and more importantly what major and minor cities are suddenly doing, "just in case." If one thinks, this is an indication that there is a problem(s) somewhere and precautions should be taken. While the end of the world isn't at hand, the end of the life-style we've all been living may be.

-- Richard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), December 23, 1999.


I agree that most people are probably betting on all or nothing for Y2K. However, some of us who are hedging our bets are still not getting gennies or wood stoves. It may be that we don't have the room, or money, or space for fuel, or tolerance for the noise. I have been prepping for a year and have no plans to get a generator. I live in a warm climate so I can withstand a few cold nights until spring starts - around mid-February. :-) That way I'll save one of the 160,000 generators for somebody who really needs one.

-- Margaret J (janssm@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

I DONT THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE COMPUTERS THAT ARE Y2K COMPLIANT SO I THINK THE PROBLEM IS FIXED IM ONLY 14 AN I DONT WANT TO HERE THAT THE WORLD IS GOING TO END MY MOM AND DAD HAVE NOT GOT ANYTHING FOR Y2K AND IM WORRIED IM GOING TO DIE I NHAVE NOT LIVED MY LIFE YET IM NOT READY TO DIE PLEASE TELL ME THE TRUTH ABOUT Y2K.

-- ERIC MICHAEL PARKER (NOSAJ623@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

Eric, I'm a dad. Listen up, there are kids inthis world TONIGHT, liing right here on this very same planet....who have NEVER played a video game, eaten a hamburger or seen a picture of a nekkid white woman. If you love your parents, tell them you dont want any Christmas gifts this year, instead you'd wish they'd buy a few extra groceries, just in case. The "world" as we know it has only been around for about 100 years or so, what with electricity and all......& while it's ben fun, it's just a blink of an eye. Be glad you were alive to see it at all. You'll remember enough about it to tell your grandchildren someday.

-- INever (inevercheckmy@onebox.com), December 23, 1999.

eric....

calm down, because getting upset won't help you OR your family

nobody can tell you how hard Y2K might affect you because nobody knows.......we're all just planning for something that we hope never happens, kinda like having car insurance.......it's just that most of us are convinced that we're headed for a demolition derby :)

INever is right though, if you're worried tell your parents that you'd rather have them stock up on some canned goods than get you that extra playstation game or cd

you'd be surprised at how much basic food you can stick back for very little money

there are some good people here on this forum, and if you ask questions they do their best to help you

have you tried to talk to your parents about Y2K yet? there is a lot of information on the internet that might make them think twice if you can get them to look at it, and there are plenty of people here on this forum that can point you to such articles

main thing..........stay calm...........they won't listen if you're ranting...........calmly show them facts

God be with you........

-- mebs (andrea@mebs.lurking), December 23, 1999.



Eric one more thing, when i was about your age, i figured the whole world would be blown up and gone by now. and lookie...in a few days it'll be the year 2000. we made it here alive!!!!

-- INever (inevercheckmy@onebox.com), December 23, 1999.

I used to think the saying that 'sick people bloom with good health before they died' was an old wives tale--till I saw it happen to someone with my own eyes. Maybe our world is now blooming with false health, and will soon die.

-- Ocotillo (peeling@out.===), December 23, 1999.

Eric: I am truly sorry to see your message. Yes, at 14 you haven't lived your life yet. I sincerely hope you get to live to a ripe old age, just like I hope that for my own two son and daughter (twins) who are the same age as you. The truth is that none of us know anything for sure; but a lot of us know "they" (govt or big business) have been lying through their teeth. I work in I.T. and I understand from personal experience how even the people fixing problems have not thought about the BIG picture at all -- they are focussed on tiny little details. Others, especially Managers, just lie to the Directors. Nobody wants to hear anything gloomy... Me, I tend to be pessimistic. I have seen too many foul-ups from trivial things and I know how involved it can be to fix them, when everything you need is on-call. I sold my house in Sydney, Australia, two years ago. My wife had said "Over my dead body!". So once it was sold she took most of the money and moved in with her parents. My kids had been scared by the things I talked about (just as you are), and since I had started yelling at my wife a lot, the kids were getting scared of me. They chose to move in with their mum and grandparents. They built another floor on the grandparents' house. I had some money, but not much, so I looked for an affordable place a safe distance from Sydney. And I found one about 800 miles away in Queensland, the next state. And I stored food and stuff. But my wife and kids aren't going to come there. They think I am crazy, and my wife and son now hate me. My son won't even come to the front door to talk to me. The other day when I visited them, he sat at the dining table and cried. But he wouldn't move even though his mother, grandma and grandpa asked him to go and talk to me. So I'm what this forum calls a "GI" -- in that I "get it" -- but I am now back in the city of Sydney, working an I.T. job right up to New Year (& Millenium)'s Eve, because I ran out of money. (I had been "prepping" and hadn't had a job for 18 months.) Just over one year ago, in October, I was baptized as a Christian. I admitted I was a sinner (I failed to hit the mark in lots of things), I believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again to wash me clean of those sins, and I accepted this gift of Grace as being the only way to "make the grade" into Heaven. Since there is nothing more I can do for my wife and children, I have accepted I can only pray for them. I pray morning and night every day for their safety, and that they will be spiritually saved. The Bible promises that if I am saved (spiritually) my family will be as well. I hope they will be physically saved from harm too, but in the largest city in Australia, only God knows... I hope my religous talk doesn't turn you off completely. I don't think I would have been too impressed by such talk even a couple of years ago, never mind as a 14-year-old. But I write this from the heart. I do care about your anguish. I have no idea how bad things are going to get, but by accepting Jesus as my saviour, I hope to be able to help my loved ones. They won't let me help them directly. I can't _tell_ you to become a Christian, but you could do much worse. I do believe it to be THE true religion, and it will give you hope and comfort. None of us are going to live forever. (I know you know that). But wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to look forward to meeting your Maker? May the Lord Jesus bless you, and your family. David Harvey, vk2dmh@hotmail.com

-- David Harvey (vk2dmh@hotmail.com), December 23, 1999.

If Eric is a 14yo kid then I must be Cindarella!

-- Porky (Porky@in.cellblockD), December 23, 1999.

Eric,

Action WILL take away your fear.

Try this, then tell us how it goes:)

Go into the pantry and take half the stuff and put it in your closet, or the garage, or hall closet, and tell your parents why only if they ask. It is their job to protect you, and I am sure they are doing what they think is best, but more security is always better...

Now it is on you. Ask your mom if she will give you 3 dollars if you do the dishes tonight. That can buy 12 cans of food. Ask your dad for 10 dollars to rake the lawn tomorrow, or wash the car. That will buy 3 canned hams and a 20 pound bag of rice (well, actually it would cost about 11).

Unfortunately, the adult responsibility for preparing is on you, and this extra food, any food, will make you feel safe and so take that pain away.

I think that once YOU get started then it would be moving for at least one of your folks, who would then start pitching in. Rinse jars or old soda bottles to fill with tap water.

A 20 pound bag of rice at K-mart costs 5 to 6 dollars, and will feed you for a month. You boil water (even on sticks in the back yard). Put rice in a thermos a third to half way up? Then fill up with boiling water. It's good to eat in 2-3 hours.

This rice mixed with a can of vegetables (3 for one dollar on sale!) can get your family through a day. If your folks chip in, then you could live high on the hog.

But if it is "rough times" then at least by one car wash you have a 30 day security supply, and that buys time for your folks to organize something long term.

Now have at it, and go raid the pantry!!!

If your family goes to a church, talk to the pastor about his food pantry. Ask to see it. this is your security too, and will help you feel safe. But the most important thing is that EVERY DAY YOU do something to stash a little more food and water away. EVERY day.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 24, 1999.



Eric:

Hint: don't hide any extra food under the Caps Lock key. ;-)

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), December 24, 1999.


Whenever things went wrong with my business,(usually), or some other disaster struck, like my youngest son destroying his car in a single car rollover, we picked up the pieces, decided on an alternative, did something positive, like get the unused truck running. Then when discussing the problem I'd tell him to think of it as an adventure.

You would be surprised at how resilient people are and how fast they can adjust and work out a problem.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), December 24, 1999.


Hokie, David, and mebs, Eric thanks you I'm sure. I thank you for taking the time to help a child. Eric, tell your mom and dad to come and read this:,br>
Hi Eric's mom and dad,

God is using your son to warn you that there is trouble ahead. You really don't have time to read through the information on this forum and become convinced.

However, I'm sure you both believe in insurance. We all pay a lot every year for insurance just in case. Your son would like you to buy some y2k insurance. It really won't cost you much. Let's see:

How do you heat? If it's with electric at all you need a kerosene heater. 170 tops, Fuel can 10, fuel 6 = 176 (I personally would get much more kerosene, say 25 gallons.)

Water? Is it city or well? In any case you need a gallon a day for each adult let's say for 30 days. A couple of plastic barrels filled with tap water, or a pool would do if you have one. Let's say you need barrels = 50

Food? 50 lb bag of rice at Sam's 10.79. Buy two - 22

Bags of beans 50

So y2k insurance will cost you 300 dollars. You can get it in a day. Do you love your son? I'm sure you do. It would make him feel happy and safe.

If nothing happens, as the old saying goes, put the heater away for some future emergency, put the barrels in an out of the way place, and give the food away to the local food bank.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss y2k further, you may feel free to email me. I will be happy to talk to you on the phone. I'm a pastor and I know the value of peace of mind. God bless you and Merry Christmas.

Pastor Bob Brown

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), December 24, 1999.

David, Congratulations on your salvation. God hears your prayers, be patient.

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), December 24, 1999.

RE: Generators.

We are prepped, and wife and I are GI. We NEVER considered buying a generator. We thought it would be a waste of money. It would only prolong the inevitable if things are bad, a kind of denial. Besides, the gas could be used much better for chainsaw and truck. Wood fuel and transportation are of much greater value than light. Also, noise and light would attract attention.

Anyway, just our opinion. Maybe some others feel the same, and that's part of why gen's are not selling.

-- MegaMe (CWHale67@aol.com), December 24, 1999.



I haven't seen Infomagic in ages.

-- Amy (leoneamy@aol.com), December 24, 1999.

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