change in general public's awareness?

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You folks noticed any changes in awareness lately? In the last 24 hours I have had two acquaintances start talking to me about Y2K. Neither one of them had any way of knowing that I knew anything about the topic. The first was a co-worker who said her brother was storing 2 months worth of food in his attic. The second was a young woman who said her boyfriend (works in executive position in a NYC bank) wants them to be out of the city for Y2K and had some other "plans" in the works for their safety.

I thought it was amazing that I had these two conversations in the space of 24 hours. Are people becoming more aware? What is the barometer reading today?

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), April 14, 1999

Answers

Saw a neighbor last night. Asked him what he thought about Y2K. He replied it was a scam on the part of computer people to make more money. Very adamant, so all I said was , "Hmmm, izzar right?" His work is soemthing to do with supermarkets but I don't know what.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 14, 1999.

Yes I have noticed this too. Yesterday my father, who I have been talking y2k to for a year, read me an article in a newsletter called "Tax Wise". It was quite an alarming article and encouraged subscribers to order storable food from a particular vendor. Now my dad is starting to respect my concerns and preparations.

-- a mom (yes@change.com), April 14, 1999.

I'll repeat the story I got from a neighbor when I mentioned preparing for Y2K. He assured me that it was a bunch of "hype" but all those "gloom and doomers" were sure to cause a panic so he was going to prepare for a month or so "til they can restock the shelves and the banks".

So there you have it - if you're not going to prepare for Y2K - at least prepare for the panic that is sure to happen. Sheesh!

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.net), April 14, 1999.


Seems in Texas, awareness is rampant. I'm hyper-sensitive to it, though, having worked on community awareness (hurts less for your brother to look at you cross-eyed than your mayor)...

Rice, beans - the Pet rocks, Rubik's cube, lava lamps - the last fad of the twentieth century. Cool.

I'll claim it in 2010.

-- Lisa (lisa@work.now), April 14, 1999.


Same here. People who were on my "clueless, but get helped 'cause they gave birth to my God son" list started asking me about possible preperations they should make. (Like I know what's going to happen). Gave 'em the "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" speech. Told to call me when they needed details. Seems I'm not the only one with...

eyes_open

-- eyes_open (best@wishes.net), April 14, 1999.



Lisa is right. Y2K awareness in Texas is quite high. Smart people down there :) Gov Bush seems to have done a good job with the state agencies, from what I read, anyway.

Awareness will grow; nothing can stop it. And, unfortunately, when the first words out of gov't officials' mouths are, "Don't panic," a lot of people will instantly reason either:

a) they are from the government, so they are lying; or,

b) why are they telling me not to panic unless there is something to panic about?

Or some combination thereof. Just a guess.

-- Drew Parkhill/CBN News (y2k@cbn.org), April 14, 1999.


My friend/neighbor I told about Y2K is a manager of the only apartment complex in town. Feeling responsible for 'her people' she called the Mayor. He recommended AGAINST storing food, etc.

I found out the Mayor is also the local vet. (As in animals, not Vietnam.) I intend to give him the report I'm making on this topic, and I'll be pushing every preacher in town to talk with me about it and perhaps let me hold a meeting in the church at night to talk with the congregation. These people may not believe... they may not prepare... but I am going to be sure that I can't look back and think, "I could have done better or tried harder." When people's lives are at stake -- like mine! -- I have to at least try.

The owners of a local propane company are Y2K aware, to the point that they changed their whole billing to paper last April just in case. And I mean they had quickbooks or some simple PC package, not anything complex. They're old-time locals. The man is known and liked by the farmers and they all eat breakfast in a little eatery. He has brought up Y2K. The local rednecks say it's a conspiracy by the gummit and computer people to try and scare them but they're not scared, no siree. If they don't believe a fellow yokel who is an older man who owns a business, they are never going to believe a California city girl who moved here recently.

I have my work cut out for me I guess. I am wondering if I should push the armageddon buttons with the preachers, just to make sure they really DO take this seriously. On the other hand, not being religious, I'd probably end up burned at the stake before all this is over if I do, so I'm leery. ;-)

My coworker the gunlord says he knows Y2K is serious and scary. But can't find a reason to get out of the metro city, and for the last couple of months has been really trying to have a child (a great thing, but anyone really clued in here would worry about having their wife ready to deliver in Jan2000!). He does have mega ammo, does reloading, has tons of guns. I said, you bring your guns to my house and I'll feed you, then I won't have to spend megabucks on defense that I wouldn't be an expert on using anyway. He agrees. We'll see.

My other coworkers think it's a joke, paranoia, and as one said, they were surprised that I, who usually seemed so rational, would be taking it so seriously. I explain that there are very legitimate sources of info, senate committees that have done extensive review and research and talked with everybody in various industries, etc. They don't want to know. They can't control it so they'd rather not think about it.

I'm a little obsessive. Partly because great focus and direction and drive is just part of me when I lock into an interest. But also because the survival issue sponsors even more of that. I try not to let my friends, coworkers, neighbors, family know that I take this SO seriously it's hard to think of anything else. People respond better if I pretend it's not THAT big a deal but hey, anyone with a brain would rather be safe than sorry.

Haven't noticed anybody getting a clue more than usual around me though. Darn it. It's lonely.

PJ in TX

-- PJ Gaenir (fire@firedocs.com), April 14, 1999.


Well ....the 4 or 5 GIs in Florida are all on this forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), April 14, 1999.

PJ,

Know what you mean. I too have noticed little Y2K awareness in my little part of the Lone Star State. Brother-in-law says "yeah, my boss just bought 900lbs of wheat in preparation for it. I think its a bunch of crap." Mother-in-law still has money in the stock market. She listens to my husband but doesn't really wanna get it. We are trying to prepare for our immediate family and hopefully we can feed our in-laws too. Some days...I just want to wack them on the back of the head and say "WAKE UP"!!!

-- Sharon (sking@drought-ridden.com), April 14, 1999.


PJ -- yeah, it is lonely out there. Even though I think awareness is gradually increasing, it's hard on the ego to be thought such a fool! But hey, I'd rather be wrong about stocking up than wrong about _not_ stocking up!!! It will be interesting to see how awareness changes in the next few months. I think one of the hard parts of this y2k thing is waiting -- trying to anticipate what will happen next and then doing more waiting...

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), April 15, 1999.


Spin working around here! Those few who were tipping that way have done a complete reverse and runnning the other direction!

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), April 15, 1999.

In New Orleans, most people are clueless. When I bring up the topic, they look at me like I'm from Mars and laugh. Or they say dumb things like, "well, if it's going to happen, it will happen." Or, "They're going to fix that! The bank wouldn't be giving me a loan to build a new house if anything bad was going to happen!" So, I rarely say anything any more, unless I am specifically asked, then I say, "prepare for a very long hurricane."

-- Scarlett (creolady@aol.com), April 15, 1999.

There's no change here in Central New York ether. I talk to people about it and they give me a mocking smile, and say I'm crazy. An economics teacher told me that" they won't let it happen, because they don't want it to, and it's too importaint that they prevent it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I tryed to explain it but he DWGI!! arragghhh.... My father also doesn't get it, and is investing more in the stock market.

-- Crono (CronO@timesend.com), April 16, 1999.

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