I posted earlier today, I'm a newbie to this site, less than three days, already I fill a kinship to those who "get it" and I find it amazing, incredulous, and most importantly "disgusted" with the forum regulars who are considered "Pollys" "Trolls" (mostly thru their own admission) who have such a wealth of information available to them thru their participation in this forum and still don't "GET IT".

I mean, I can understand how the general public doesn't GI, but these folks aren't at the same disadvantage, they have a wealth of knowledge right in front of them, its abundant, most everything posted has links for you to look for yourself and judge the information on its merits.

These folks are going around telling their family and friends "nothing to worry about" just a BITR, they have it fixed. Yet, in just three days of quickly perusing this site, I see enough information that they should quickly, but shortly, start preparing their families for the inevitable changes in our lifes over the next (who knows how long?) period of time. Instead, they are wasting time shooting the crap on their computer. (Needless to say, that isn't a slight to those who are participating on the forum at this late stage in time who GI, my basic assumption is that the vast majority of your preparations are done and you are in the "fine tuning" statge, otherwise you wouldn't be here, at least that's why I stopped by, didn't have time to contribute before, busy, very busy!).

As I said, I'm a newbie on this forum, but I am a regular visitor to information (and opinion) sites for over 18 months. Yes, I visit Ed Yourdon's site ((Bye the way Ed, would have enjoyed your "Do Overs" better if I didn't have to deal with the cryptic messages I never bothered (Insert "took the time") to figure out, otherwise, a nice entertaining piece of fiction writing)) Michael Hyatt, Paula Gordon, Westergaar year 2000, Gary North's Websites along with many, many other's. I think you get the idea, I have some understanding of the potential for a few disruptions. I think all of us would have to agree, besides this forum, the most comprehensive Y2K place on the internet is Gary's sight, (Although Gary, I must admit my beliefs and yours, concerning religion are drastically different. But, KUDOS to you for your dilligence in staying on top of the latest, breaking info. concerning this "WORLD ALTERING EVENT" has been awesome, WHATEVER YOUR MOTIVES ARE).

Wish I meant "altering" in some other context than "People are not going to be happy" when they find out how duped they were. I guess it's the last good example of how people "believe what they want to" isn't it? Those folks throughout the world who survive (I sure hope it's all of us) (polly's, trolls and all) will certainly have a healthy respect for digging for more information before making decisions regarding the safety of themselfs and their loved ones. It's almost a shame they have to be shaken into reality.

I really, really enjoy how life is now, if I could think of anyway to preserve our lifestyle here in the USA where it is now, I would certainly do it. Unfortunately, I can recognize all the inter-dependencies we have in our modern world, along with so many parts of those countries we depend on for so many, many, many, many things (obviously not enough manys, but you get the idea) and realize they don't have a chance to be ready.

Too Late, Too Late, darn, don't you wish this had been common knowledge to the masses back in the early 90's, then maybe we would have had a chance, at least. Now, I don't think so!!!, I'm not a linear thinker, I take the whole spectrum under consideration, things aren't looking so rosy. It's already started, small disruptions, minor failures, strange happenings, This, all before the SHTF in less than three weeks. To say I'm frightend or scared would be a major understatement. UGLY people upset me, I think I'm going to be upset a lot when people recognize what happened, I personally think they are going to be real UGLY, hopefully I can stay out of their way.

To close on this rambling, I want to thank all of you for last evenings post with "LadyLogic", although as I've said to you before lady, that is such a misnomer, you have to change it to something more appropriate, I'll leave that to your imagination. OOPS, sorry. I'm sorry, after how you were abused last night, I was lame for that.....truly sorry this time.

To the following folks who contributed to my basic thought patterns over the past few days and also to my most recent visits to this forum, in no particular order: Ed Yourdon, Michael Hyatt, Gary North, Paula Gordon, Michael Taylor, Ken Seger, Robert A. Cooke, Richard Greene, Ken Decker, Robert J Crandalls, Phil Morris, "LadyLogic", "Cody", "Eve", "Me", "Crond", "Larry"", "Cherry", "Irving", "Snooze Button", "King of Spain", "James Bond", Gary (a@a.com) (Don't know why, but I think that's your lurker name Gary North, e-mail me whoever you are, it's a real address), "familyman", "c.hill", "ghost", "do it now", "duke 1083", "noone", "x", "tt" "Choirboy", "hawk", "gregg", "patrick", "catfish joe", "rc" and all the folks I haven't had a chance to converse with yet, sorry if I missed you. "I HONESTLY THANK YOU ALL, LIFE IS GOOD WHEN PEOPLE GET TO EXPRESS THEIRSELFS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE'. Darn, I realize this post is long, I guess I just had to get my complaints off my chest, thanks for bearing with me..............Michael

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 10, 1999

Answers

Ah...Michael...can you summerize? Just wondering...

-- Psychotic (y2k@doom&gloom.com), December 10, 1999.

Michael - Fear is counterproductive, not to mention that the fear of the unknown is in many ways worse than dealing with the problems once they are known. I would take Michael Hyatts advice and try to visualize different scenarios and the steps you would take. Also trust that God has been with you on this walk and will see you through like he always has before.

-- Amy (leoneamy@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

You are entirely welcome Michael. Don't worry about the post being long. Your message and thoughtful logic come through loud and clear. I wish you the best and hope you will continue to speak your mind in this forum as you see fit.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 10, 1999.

Hey Michael,

Yeah, I know the feeling. I guess at this point it just seems so surreal, it's hard to know how to feel. All my friends are doing nothing and I left them all in LA.

Thankfully, one way or the other, we'll know soon.

Best to everyone out there. It's such a shame that it came down this way, but it's way beyond our control - such is life.

-- Gregg (g.abbott@starting-point.com), December 10, 1999.

Troll, boot the bunker out!

-- Nausea (Sickup&f@fed.com), December 10, 1999.

I'll sumarize as shortly as I can, "PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ABSOLUTELY FREAK WHEN THE REALIZE WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON" Any Questions? Needless to say, It'll take a short period of time before everyone and I mean EVERYONE actually "gets it", look out then, I TRULY believe, it could get very UGLY, we have an inherently "soft society", at least here in the good old US if A. They are not going to be happy, not sure if there will "diddly squat" they will be able to do about it, but that doesn't mean they won't be unhappy about it.

Best wishes to all.........Michael

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 10, 1999.

Please try using 2-3 sentence paragraphs!!! I can't read this mess........

-- Vernon Hale (create@premiernet.net), December 10, 1999.

Sorry Vernon, I ramble.

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 10, 1999.

No. I am not afraid. Neither should you be. Each one of us must weigh the information and judge what is necessary. My personal opinion is that I am glad you found this forum. But panic is not the answer. You should sit down and take a few breaths, then rationally consider what you need to do. Time is awfully short, and I would say you are almost out of time--but not quite. Panic is not the answer. But do take action to hedge against what may or not be a disaster.

-- The_Grinch (high@bove.whoville), December 10, 1999.

Heya Michael!

Yep, ditto. I'm quite removed at this point from the holiday preoccupations of my co-workers, and am an annoyance to my roomie who tries desperately to ignore and ridicle, but really is soo fatalistic that he sees no point in prepping. And so in both of my environments I am the crazy one, heh. I love the line in "The Year of Living Dangerously" when, is it Linda Hut? (character Billy), narrates Mel Gibson entering the slum of Indonesia for the first time. He says something like "I watched you enter childhood last night, with its' opposite intensities." It's like Gregg said, surreal.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 10, 1999.

Christmas shoppers are ornery enough without adding Y2K to their hang- ups.

>"<

-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 10, 1999.

To me you are just folks in passing, what concerns me, (Oh, bye the way, thanks for all your comforting thoughts, THANKS!!)is that, I'm not "bent out of shape", I already recognize how interconnected everything is. My favorite friends and family don't understand, no matter how simple I try to explain it. These are some of the most intelligent people I've had the opportunity to share time with, yet, they don't GET IT in any way shape or form. Mayme it's me?????

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 10, 1999.

Hey Michael-no you're not a troll. Handle it Dude, you"re on the right track(just really late!) As we say in Bermuda "git crackin" and do what you can in the short time you've got left! Don't freak out,take care of you & your family 1st,and make 1st priority spiritual 2nd priority water & food.(But don't waste time between #1) All the best, & may God Bless!

on de rock

-- Walter (on de rock@northrock.bm), December 10, 1999.

Michael,

It almost sounds like you are saying your "goodbyes" ? Stick around bro. Life has much to offer given we get the bumps paved flat. Just concerned.

Rob

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 10, 1999.

On the first of next month, if I am wrong, then I made a mistake and my wife and I can have a good laugh. If the pollys and trolls are wrong, what do they say? Where's the shelter? Please, can I have some rice? I am sorry, honey, but I didn't think it could happen?

What will you say if you are wrong and it is an 8 or a 9? Any answers Cherri, Flint?

-- Mr. Pinochle (pinochledd@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

Once again, thanks for all your concern, the last thing I am is despondent, I'm about as prepared as I can be while still living in what I consider "A KILL ZONE", too damn close to a 7-11, In other words, too many responsibilities too close to what I consider an unsafe location and not enough of my own personal "salesmanship" to get people (ie. close family) to reconize the inherent dangers of living where we live. I still plan to maintain my optimistic nature, basically, I've understood the limitatitions placed upon my preps based my on obligations to mom, that certainly doesn't mean her ignorance has kept me from having other options. Hopefully, I'll be fine, no matter what she or my family believes. By the way, on a side note, my father and his wife bought a place in Florida so the weather wouldn't kill them, they are half-get its. Never would have even considered the possibility unless I gave them a heads-up. So, no matter what happens, they will have the benefit of the knowledge I shared with them. Hope we all do as well......Michael

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 10, 1999.

It may not be a problem for Cherri, Mike .. you, see the world itself is contained within her mind, and thus cannot have problems beyondher control. This may be true for Flint as well, but I understand he's prepped for the possibility that reality does not stop at the edge of his scalp.

>"<

-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 10, 1999.

Thanks squirrel, I enjoyed that, my feelings exactly......Michael

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 10, 1999.

I'm not Gary North. But I am a Gary. Middle name is Michael too. Internet forums can be very interesting. I learned to trade stocks by hanging out in the compuserve investers forum back in the ancient times (in internet years) of 1993 - long before today's trading mania (I also did alot of research and study). I traded alot up to 1998 and then I backed off a bit. It requires an intense amount of mental energy and I do have a life and day job.

I learned several other important schools of thought from internet forums long before the rest of the masses. I wondering if Y2K will fall into place as something else I learned long before the rest of the country by hanging around an internet forum. If so I'm going to be obligated to say thank you to some of the very same people (even though some of them are indeed certifiable (g) - the old smile sign from compuserve).

0

-- gary (a@a.com), December 10, 1999.

Michael,

Survival is based on positive mental attitude... far more than "preps." Many people have died in the wilderness for one simple reason... panic. Whatever happens, stay calm, stay focused, stay alive.

-- Ken Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), December 10, 1999.

I'll echo what Ken just said. What you carry between your ears is far more important than the gear you carry on your back. Be emotionally and intellectually flexible enough to bend without breaking.

-- Choirboy (choirboy@hellzchoir.edu), December 11, 1999.

Michael,

Hang in there and do listen to Ken's sage advise - stay calm and altert and don't panic.

As to why the general public just doesn't "get it", consider this:

The only people that are even considering Y2K are right here with you, both polly and doomer, on this board (or similar boards). The general public isn't participating in this debate. They only hear what the TV news sound bites say - and the sound bites simply parrot what some PIO has said in a press release. They're being told that its "OK" and that's good enough for them. There aren't any investigative journalists left in either the print or electronic news media for them to turn to. So what they are left with is the "If it doesn't bleed it isn't news" school of journalism. Y2K won't be news until there are bodies.

If the pollys are right, the news services will make Y2K a part of "The Lighter Side of the News" and have a good laugh at the doomers. If the doomers are right the media will appeal to the public's righteous indignation and demand an inquiry. So much for the media ...and why the general public doesn't get it.

-- Darby (DarbyII@AOL.com), December 11, 1999.

ROFL - Michael, while you're staying "calm and altert" stay alert too

-- Darby (DarbyII@AOL.com), December 11, 1999.

i'm scared but not as scared as i would have been. this is my "positive thinking" month. i told my friends i would not send them any more gloom and doom but would instead be focusing on preparing mentally and spiritually. so that is what i am doing.

honestly, i hope you believe in some one greater than yourself. it will be so helpful to alleviate your fears. here are some of my prep resources (that i will also take into the new year):

-Bible (New living translation--Life Application Study Bible-- awesome;makes it come alive; very understandable to any newbies too) -Tape series called "God, Satan, and Angels" by John MacArthur (www.gty.org) WOWOWOWOWOWOW!! helped my fear greatly! -"Spiritual Survival During the Y2K Crisis" by Steve Farrarr (wonderful stories of how God cares for us and true examples) -various spiritual sermons i have been taping from www.lightsource.com (especially from david jeremiah, david moore)and plenty of batteries and my little manual tape recorder.

honestly, from personal experience, if you listen to these things routinely, they will "creep into your soul" and you will feel like a new person (even when thing are bad).

GOD BLESS

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), December 11, 1999.

To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before. Prepare,prepare,prepare and hang in there Michael!

-- Bubba Smith (duck&cover@shtf.com), December 11, 1999.

Michael,

Don't let anyone tell you never to be scared. If you aren't at least a little scared, then human nature has been ignored. Folks, all I can say is remember: furby, cabbage patch, beanie babies, elmo, etc....... They get all out of sorts over not being able to give the kids what they want; I can't imagine what will happen if it would ever come to not being able to give them what the actually need.

Take care,

me

-- me (me@me.com), December 11, 1999.

Thanks for all of your responses! Appreciate them. It's kind of funny Bubba, your prepare, prepare, prepare comment. I just finished signing off with the same statement a few links up, I couldn't agree more, a shame I couldn't get other folks to do the same. OH WELL, at least I've given it every effort so far, I'm not done, still a short three weeks to go I just want to covince them to help themselfs, is that to much to ask?

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 11, 1999.

Fear is NOT counterproductive...we teach our children to not talk to strangers because we FEAR for their safety...we prepare them to deal with a potential kidnapper because there is evil in the world.

We do it because it might happen... even though it is a scary thing to think about. We do it because it is better to be safe than sorry. Better to be safe than dead.

Fear is not always a bad thing.

-- eubie (eubie@prepared&safe.com), December 11, 1999.

Michael...

.....I'll not be so presumptuous as to assume that I'm the "patrick" to which you give thanks, but I am posting to tell you that you are going to die, might not be today, might not be next week, may not even be next year. Nevertheless, our mortality is inevitable, and in my opinion, worries over something as natural as our death just doesn't make any sense.

.....Now worrying about those in your charge is an entirely different matter. I, too, am at times anxious over the future out of concern for the safety of my loving wife and two beautiful children, therefore, I have a tendency to buy as much insurance for the future as I can afford. I also live in close proximity of some extended family, and intend to gather them up in short order, should it become necessary. Some of them aren't even aware, so I haven't had to endure any of their opinions, (good or bad), beforehand.

.....That said, I think you should learn to accept your own mortality, learn to live with it and relax. I'm no raving "looney" to those I come into contact with, inspite of the fact that I place myself in the 10+ category. You simply have to live as though there was no y2k in your future at the same time you're facing the possibility of the worst-case-scenario. Perhaps that's where the "living in two worlds" type threads come from.

.....Chin-up friend, burdens are made for the shoulders that can carry them.

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), December 13, 1999.