I never until now believed that people like Y2K Pro were being paid to try to disrupt this forum, because I felt that if I were in charge of recruiting such people, I would come up with a much more talented bunch. I know this has the flavor of merely a snide remark, but I'm dead serious.

But Y2K Pro in particular is so programmed that I'm beginning to wonder.

Let's face it, the posted messages in this forum vary greatly in quality. Some are pretty loopy IMHO, and a few are worse. Anyone who would actually welcome a 9 or 10 has to be in the grip of a particularly nasty mania. But I think most postings are fairly sensible, and many are extremely sensible. But none of that matters to Y2K Pro; he just repeats the same old thing no matter what the rest of us are discussing.

I am convinced that if our postings were to win a large number of Nobel Prizes (for literature, and contributions to the physical and human sciences) that Y2K Pro wouldn't change one iota. He would just keep on gassing away, same as before.

-- Peter Errington (petere@ricochet.net), August 24, 1999

Answers

He's irrelevant. Ignore him.

-- Tim the Y2K nut (tmiley@yakko.cs.wmich.edu), August 24, 1999.

Ahhh, come on now, Peter. Quite a few of us tend to grind our axe a bit too long, to coin a phrase. Pro's no worse or better than most of us vocal participants, as far as saying the same thing over and over goes.

I understand your irritation with him. I've tried to convince him that not all who take Y2K seriously are extremists bent on overthrowing the gov't, to no avail. Sure, he can be an irritant, but he's a little too obvious in his tactics. If he's a paid disrupter, he's not a very good one.

Besides, who knows, maybe there are paid provacatuers on this, and other forums, but I doubt that any of them are going to jump up and say, "Damn, you found me out...I'll be going now."

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), August 24, 1999.

I think we'd ALL be SURPRISED at the number of paid participants that frequent this site. We would also be surprised at WHO they are!!

Remember, these PR firms are PRO's at what they do. Money is no object for these MASTER SPINNERS.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 24, 1999.

Y2K Pro is trying to protect the aviation industry from we doomers.

If we keep hearing about FAA software glitches and near-misses and compounded lies re: compliancy, we may decide to scale back our (nearly entirely) discretionary travel $$s.

Y2K Pro puts aviation revenue over and above passenger safety, in my opinion.

[Note to Chuck: that may be a slight to Y2K Pro, but it's also a take]

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), August 24, 1999.

I don't see the reasoning in debating y2kpro posts. After reading a few of his posts, I just ignore them. I don't care enough about his opinions to agree or disagree. Exactly like I feel about my ex. I think of y2kpro as someones ex.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), August 24, 1999.

Outside a few cut and paste jobs Pro (snicker) post, the only firm he is getting paid from begins with a b and ends with a g.

-- (OJSimpson@jailhouse.com), August 24, 1999.

OJ, spot me a vowel or two?

Is Y2K Pro with The BORG?

-- need (more@letters.thanks), August 24, 1999.

If he's getting paid, they aren't getting their money's worth.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), August 24, 1999.

If he isn't being paid to present extremist polly/trolly views he is absolutely the most ignorant person on the web regarding Y2K.

Believe him at your own risk.

-- FL Boy (FLBoyY@FL.com), August 24, 1999.

If I had to guess, I'd say Y2K Pro is a chick. Just the way she uses language.

Not that it matters. He/She is not paid. No value.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), August 24, 1999.

I'll ask again. Since the Gubmint has admittedly hired public relations firms to dispel y2k fears, and y2k is acknowledged to be "internet driven", where would _you_ input opinion makers to disrupt a movement? Isn't this Forum one of the more obvious places to pose as a Polly? Personally, I believe only a few such types "act out" under different enames/personalities, while being paid to do so.

-- A. Hambley (a.hambley@usa.net), August 24, 1999.

Just a little paranoid today aren't we??

NO ONE IS PAID TO DISRUPT THIS FORUM. geez.....

Just a little full of ourselves too ya think??? We've had survey after survey on this little BB and there ain't THAT MANY people reading it. If there are, they ain't speakin' up.

Ray - hard to believe you're a grown-up 62 year old man. Extremely hard to believe. Were you always this untrustworthy of your fellow man? Something bad happen to you we should all know about??

Your bestest PAL,

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), August 24, 1999.

Beano commented:

"NO ONE IS PAID TO DISRUPT THIS FORUM. geez..... "

Beano, just how do you know this !!

Sounds like you are quite BITTER about something !!

Want to share with us, maybe we can help.

Your Pal, Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 24, 1999.

No, Sir Deano is just mad cause he's not getting paid to disrupt the ideas being discussed here......8<)

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), August 24, 1999.

Robert, I believe you may have hit the nail on the head, so to speak!!

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 24, 1999.

Why don't you try turning that question around for once? How many doomsayers are being paid for spreading fear across the internet?

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), August 24, 1999.

Sorry, but I think Y2KPRO is kind of funny. I love how people joke about tinfoil hats and I believe Pro came up with that concept. I also don't believe s/he is being paid. My favorite people from my side of the spectrum are Will Continue, Big Dog, and Old Git. Pro can't really hurt us, just ignore ProPosts and forget about the idea that s/he is paid. I wish someone was paying me to come here, (although little do my employers know, THEY ARE!)

-- (y2kfallback@yahoo.com), August 24, 1999.

You guys just don't get it. And you're supposed to be so smart. Yeah, right!

Do you honestly think anyone gives a flying hoot about the 1000 or so (and I'm being VERY GENEROUS in that number) loonies that converse here??? I doubt it very, very seriously. Definitely full of something here.......if it ain't yourselves it must be somethin' else!!

Robert - Sir Deano (actually the 'Sir' is not necessary but I appreciate the show of respect) does not get paid to but loves coming here for free!

Ray - what do they pay an old fart like you to come here?? You're 62 years old dude, I'd pay to see you act like it for once.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), August 24, 1999.

I wish someone would pay me to disrupt. Mo money, mo preps.

Think I'll go practice writing things like, "you scum-sucking, weasel-faced south end of a north bound jack ass! You wouldn't be able to spot a Y2K glitch if it had all of it's teeth planted deep in your greasy buttocks!", and then submit my resume...

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), August 24, 1999.

Peter, I have said this many, many, many times - but no I don't tire of repeating it. I believe it is a good idea to prepare for instances when our basic services are removed, for it is an eventuality that they will. Food, water, alternative heat and light sources are in the pantry of every prudent individual.

No, I don't think that Y2K will be a reason to use these supplies, but I have no truck with people who say that they should put a few weeks worth of preparation away - they may need them eventually.

My (unpaid) criticism is aimed at the mentally bereft, like some of the people you constantly defend:

"People who want to survive Y2K should be prepared to kill."

-- (its@coming.soon), July 27, 1999.

"Another Polly is dead. Good riddance. The rest will follow shortly anyway when TSHTF.

(its@coming.soon), August 15, 1999.

"Just about any sacrifice is worth getting rid of it (federal government) and moving BACK to a Constitutional republic with extremely limited Federal government powers. Even if it means the decimation of the population. If the population is 'content' to live under this tyranny, then they deserve to be wiped out as a result of Y2k. They do not deserve to call themselves 'Americans' because they have not the first clue what an 'American' is." -

Paul Milne, August 1, 1999.

Shut down all appliances. Trip the breaker to your house. When the GPS system crashes at midnight power is going start fluctuating. Without proper synchronazation, there will be meltdowns and rolling brownouts/blackouts!

Batten down the hatches, the roughest ride in history begins at the stroke of twelve!

n Tempest (in@tea.pot), August 21, 1999.

It won't matter because there is a killer meteor called Bolide that will hit us June 30th thereabout. June 29th will be my last post.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), June 12, 1999.

Get the picture? These are the Tinfoils that I oppose on my (extremely) limited spare time. Drooling white-wing, Y2Krackpots like these demand a rebuttal - and since Doomers almost never criticize their own - here we are.

If the moderates on this forum had the cojones to stand up to the INVAR's, Milne's, Andy's and the rest of the truly kooky, then I'd wouldn't be here. I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen however...

Paid? 'Tis to laugh

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), August 24, 1999.

To Y2K Pro:

You say "like some of the people you constantly defend." When have I ever defended extremist statements?

Awhile back, I laid a heavy dump on Paul Milne, in a post entitled, as I recall, "Reflections on the Childish Mind". There was some conspiracy theory involving Clinton (I don't recall the details, all I remember is that my answer agreed with TECH32's) where my answer spoke of "this nutty post". In other cases I would have said something except other forum members had taken care of things just fine.

-- Peter Errington (petere@ricochet.net), August 24, 1999.

Pro, It's like any other hang-out spot, whether it's a bar or a chat room, and no matter how grave the subject matter; there's always an inner-circle who think their s--t don't stink. They hang together and don't argue with each other, even if they don't agree. I don't need to name the ones here, everyone can pretty much figure it out.

But try to ignore the social protocols. What we're here to talk about is computer code. Don't make the mistake of letting fear of being identified with the lunatic fringe of people who are prepping, cloud your judgement. There's nothing that proves that the kind of scenarios discussed here can't happen. Just how much of a chance are you willing to take with you and yours? You buy your supplies now and if nothing happens, you live off your stores for a while anyway. What's the big deal? So you risk having to go without a steak dinner for a while, so what? Once you use up your stores, you go back to your normal routines. I'd rather risk that, than dying cold, starving and dehydrated in my unlit house.

I admire your persistence, and I really mean that. I always admire someone who keeps getting up and coming back for more, no matter how much they get knocked around. But sometimes defiance does something for you and sometimes defiance just plain does you in.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), August 24, 1999.

Got to agree with Deano on this one. Who would pay someone to disrupt this forum? It happens for free all day long for pete's sake. The mind be's a wonderful thing to have.

-- For (your@info.com), August 24, 1999.

Pro is not a she!!! Please, don't say that. Pro is a guy. Come on. What about it, Pro? At least tell us that much.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), August 24, 1999.

Someday, for lack of a small quantity of _______ (fill in the blank), Y2K Pro will likely suffer.

a) potable water b) food c) shelter d) potassuim iodate e) medicine f) other

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), August 24, 1999.

Do you suppose Michael Adams is paying anyone here?

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 24, 1999.

Who would pay someone to disrupt this forum? Well, how about the national mortgage company that Deano works for? If an employer like Deano's approves or encourages (during business hours) an employee to post pertinent happy-face information, or pats him on the head when he heaps scorn on posts about possible Y2K problems, then that counts as being paid for services rendered. If the employee posts after hours and receives benefits in the way of more approval from his or her employer, that also counts as being "paid." Does the same apply to posts at the other end of the spectrum? Sure! But which end of the spectrum do you suppose has by far the greatest approval and encouragement from industry?

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), August 24, 1999.

Not that it matters in the least to me, as far as credibility or credentials, but my langauge skills tell me that Y2K Pro is a babe. It doesn't matter. She doesn't contribute much to help people. She mostly wants to make fun of people.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), August 24, 1999.

Folks:

I think many of you are paying too much attention to Y2K Wannabe Pro. Since when does Wannabe Pro post anything of consequence? Pro almost always never cites facts or enters into reasonable debate. Can't you see through the insults to the facade? Wannabe Pro has no answers. This is much ado about nothing. Ignore Wannabe Pro until s/he actually contributes something intellingent to this forum.

-- sheesh (sheesh@sheesh.com), August 24, 1999.

Another jackass has stolen my material.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), August 24, 1999.

Yeah, c'mon, Y2K Pro, you are a guy, right???

Well, let me say this: If in fact you are female, you are surely butt ugly. No woman could ever act the way you do, unless she hated and blamed everybody. Well, no more than an average of three days a month, anyway....

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), August 24, 1999.

If anybody is paying anybody for anything, I just want to say:

I"M AVAILABLE!! (Hell, I've been making as ass out of myself for a year now, for free.)

Bokonon, maybe we can partner-up on this opportunity. You know, good cop/bad cop kinda thing? I'll be the "scum-sucking, weasel-faced south end of a north bound jack ass" and you can have the "mindless, paranoid, hudling in the bunker, tinfoil-wearing, doomer dumbass".

Whataya think? There's fortunes to be made on Y2K. Fortunes, I tell ya. We missed out on the "we're Y2K ready" bank-lawn-banner business, but we still might come out of this rich as skunks.

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), August 24, 1999.

ROFL King!

Hey, you tinfoil heads should be thankful you have Y2K Pro to bring an occasional dose of reality to your pitiful doomer lives...(this is just good natured kidding....)

Regards,

-- FactFinder (FactFinder@bzn.com), August 24, 1999.

I think we should all pay homage to the King! Pretty funny, King.

Godspeed,

-- Pinkrock (aphotonboy@aol.com), August 26, 1999.

Deano wrote to Ray:

"Something bad happen to you we should all know about?? "

Deano, man, I'm STILL impressed about the dual lightning strikes you survived! In my book, you're someone to be LISTENED to. Whatever warning Jah was sending you, I hope you'll pass it on to us, OK?

Pro chimed in on a newbie thread by a Don (I'll try to look it up) and he was quite sympathetic. What I took away from it was that he's here to help people who might get sucked in by our hysteria. He actually wrote more than a few sentences, and they weren't nasty!

Pro -- we're not ALL white-ringers. Bad computer code exists. We just don't know how much of it there is. If you're trying to rescue people, take a break and think about your role in this a little more.

We're all evolving in this as the year goes on. (Except, of course, for those of you who are Kansas residents, where evolution has been outlawed.)

-- jor-el (jor-el@krypton.uni), August 26, 1999.

Jor-el

Don't play outside when it's lightening. I'm fairly certain that was the message that was being presented to me anyway.....

You can bet your last dollar I don't anymore.........:-)

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), August 26, 1999.