Last night I was (politely) chastised for being off topic, even though I began my question with "OT". That, fine, I was off topic if the forum topic is Y2K.

It strikes me that we have no mission here anymore. Y2K items are few and far between, so politics, contrails, plane crashes and spaming abound.

Personally, when I get up in the morning & sign on, TB2000 is the first place I come because I know if there's been a disaster, an earthquake, or a UFO sighting, it'll all be listed in the titles of the posts. In less than a minute, you folks will update me on whatever interesting or important new occured. But it's NOT Y2K anymore.

So, I pose the question: Should the forum name be change? Should the forum end? Should the perameters be redefined?

-- ElCoyote (ElCoyote@Wasteland.com), February 23, 2000

Answers

I wouldn't dream of changing the name at least until Jan. 1,2000 and then only add a 1. Bug-related or not this is still Y2K news and the fuse could be a little longer than previously thought.

-- canthappen (n@ysayer.com), February 23, 2000.

Hey canthappen, wake up. January 1, 2000 came and went.

-- nobody (nobody@nowhere.com), February 23, 2000.

ElCoyote.....it seems like any news item is On Topic, anymore, and thank goodness.....this is the site where we news junkies keep turning to for our latest fix! May it always be so. Thanks to our generous reporters and other contributors.

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), February 23, 2000.

How about prefacing actual on topic posts with "Y2K:"?

I'll bite my tongue on the name suggestions. With great difficulty.. ;)

-- _ (_@_._), February 23, 2000.

How about prefacing actual on topic posts with "Y2K:"?

This is already being done.

-- (LOL@LOL.LOL), February 23, 2000.

YES

-- (nemesis@awol.com), February 23, 2000.

sorry, typo disease....I meant 2001....arrrggggh

-- canthappen (n@ysayer.com), February 23, 2000.

Because nobody in corporations or the government is telling the truth about y2k, the only way to tell if y2k was a non-event is to look at the events that are happening. For example, an oil crisis was predicted to be a likely effect of y2k problems---and that's what we've got.

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 23, 2000.

All the discussions here seem to relate to the Collapse of Civilization. We thought it might happen suddenly, but we were wrong; now it appears that it will be a gradual & on-going process. So, why not just call it the "The Gradual & On-Going Collapse of Civilization Discussion Board."

-- since that's (what@it.is), February 23, 2000.

Since:

Maybe in your mind. Who except the lunatic fringe has said anything much about the collapse of society? And why are you so fixated on it? Things break all the time.

-- haha (haha@haha.com), February 23, 2000.

haha- The eventual collapse of civilization is a fundamental Christian belief. If one truly believes and thus accepts what is written in the scriptures, then that will occur. If one holds steadfast a different view, whether or not of theologian origin, perhaps he or she will accept that view. It simply reflects ones belief system. Your belief appears to be different- and it`s just that, your belief. And that you are entitled to- at least for now.

-- NoJo (RSKeiper@aol.com), February 23, 2000.

I think the forum should be as Old Git put it: a neighborhood bar, where friends get together and discuss practically anything they wish (keeping within reasonable parameters, of course).

I would hope that out of this would come (as we're already seeing, to a pretty good extent) discussions that include, but is not limited to: philosophy, theology, child/family issues, specific religions, humor, art, economics, psychology, the sciences, politics, theatre, literature, music, current events, sports, and business/professional issues...for starters.

DISCLAIMER: The above list is not necessarly in order of importance, so ya can't get after me 'bout it. I picked 'em...out of a hat. Yeah...that's right! That's the ticket! Out of a hat.

And we should call it...hmmm...I like the 2000 for now. And all the readers would be looking in on each subject/thread as if through a window...Hey, I like that! And if they post, they'd be opening the window and going through...ok -- ok, I've got it!

"Windows 2000."

-- eve (eve_rebekah@yahoo.com), February 23, 2000.

Carl, you are providing this forum with volumes of cut-n-pasted news stories and for that you have earned our appreciation. When you stray from your clipping service and make ludicrous statements based on your unfounded personal beliefs, you are then exposed for the clown that you are. You state that nobody in corporations or government is telling the truth about Y2K. When did you acquire all of this secret information that would allow you to make this statement? You say we have an oil crisis. Oh really, it must be taking place on your planet because mine is just rolling along.

I like being informed but you are just another delusional fear monger bringing more BS on to the forum. I like Dee and Homer much better as they have the common sense not to spin the news they post here.

-- Sifting (through@the.rubble), February 23, 2000.

Sifting,
Your personal attack on Carl is not welcome here, tell us what you believe, and why. Name calling and put downs will not get your ideas heard.

-- Possible Impact (posim@hotmail.com), February 23, 2000.

Carl Jenkins

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), February 23, 2000.

Let's try that again....

Carl

Noone in corporations or government is telling the truth about Y2K??? This was said 'tongue-in-cheek' correct?? No way you were being serious, right??

Could be the 'boneheaded statement of the day' right there folks!!!

Carl, if things were really as bad as you think/hope don't you think you would be able to see a big difference in everyday life?? It's business as usual........

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), February 23, 2000.

Possible Impact

What do I believe? I believe you are a hopeless idiot and a brain- dead moron.

Why? Because you did not take the time to digest my complaint to Carl, which I felt was to the point and definitive. Instead, you let your mouth race ahead of your mind, a certain trait of the thinking impaired. Additionally, if you are aligned with Carls position then your stupidity has been certified, IMNSHO.

Have a great day!

-- Sifting (through@the.rubble), February 23, 2000.

How rude.

No excuse for it. Cut it out. . . .

-- zardoz (givecarl@break.ok), February 23, 2000.

Yeah, guys...As soon as I get up and do what I (apparently mistakenly) thought was a cute off-the-wall stand-up routine, I first get total silence and then a fight breaks out!

I just gotta practice more...I think the material was ok...musta been the presentation... :)

-- eve (eve_rebekah@yahoo.com), February 23, 2000.

Sorry eve,
Some rowdy out-of-towners were causing a ruckus over in the corner, I missed your performance up on the stage. I'll grab a pint and go watch.(grin)


-- Possible Impact (posim@hotmail.com), February 23, 2000.

Hi Eve.

I can only speak for myself but I enjoyed your spot of humor and was not directing any negativity your way. Carls posting efforts should not isolate him from ridicule when he makes the kind of outrageous statements as discussed. We have suffered through enough BS without him adding to it.

Zardoz.

And why would you have us give Carl a break? Do you agree with his histrionics?

-- Sifting (through@the.rubble), February 23, 2000.

Hooooold it! Who says there's no y2k issures? Don't you know that if, on Feb. 29, you die within five feet of ANY convenience store, you're TOAST?

-- jumpoff joe a.k.a. Al K. Lloyd (jumpoff@ekoweb.net), February 23, 2000.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

"This forum is intended for people who are concerned about the impact of the Y2000 problem on their personal lives, and who want to discuss various fallback contingency plans with other like-minded people"

Within this mission is a broad latitude for discussion. Many apparently unrelated topics, such as world tension or economic downturn, can be made relevant if there is some connection to how people might be better prepared. Many peripheral topics relate to the degree to which government sources of information can be trusted. Some observations may be presented in the spirit of looking for possible patterns. James Burke once did a series of television specials called Connections in which he continually showed how everything is related to everything else.

Some of the topics that interest me, and occasionally appear here, I fail to see the Y2K connection, no matter how hard I try. Privacy concerns, for example, seem to me to be of extreme importance, yet I can find no excuse for starting a thread about it here. (That doesn't stop me from chiming in when somebody else puts something up, though.) Similarly, the joke threads often don't have much of a Y2K connection. Most people can probably forgive that.

I fail to see, however, why thousands of busy people should care about what you should name your unrelated web page. It's not that I'm against animal sanctuaries. Far from it. I volunteer at my local SPCA, and donated a few hundred dollars to one just a couple months ago, in the name of ArsDigita.

You didn't tell us that you're expecting a lot of animals to be abandoned in an economic downturn, or about the challenges of making your sanctuary less dependant upon outside sources of feeds and medications. Frankly, I doubt that it even exists.

I don't recognize your handle. Certainly that's not a requirement for posting here, either, but seeing your immediate call to disband the forum, makes me suspicious about whether the original "Name This Webpage" post was so innocently off topic as you would like to appear.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), February 23, 2000.

Agree? Well, no.

I have a sister who is a devout Catholic. I have a brother who rails against "crazy Christers". It hurts her feelings; there's no need for it. I sort of agree with him, but . . . I wish he'd cut it out.

I am a rather angry person, myself, so it's easy for me to recognize it in others; it's easy to be angry with all the rampant stupidity around us, right? I'm trying to deal with it. Rudeness is so easy, and so painful for others. Why not be polite

-- zardoz (peace@lovedove.yeahright), February 24, 2000.

"When you stray from your clipping service and make ludicrous statements based on your unfounded personal beliefs, you are then exposed for the clown that you are. You state that nobody in corporations or government is telling the truth about Y2K. When did you acquire all of this secret information that would allow you to make this statement? You say we have an oil crisis. Oh really, it must be taking place on your planet because mine is just rolling along."

I wonder if the person who wrote this has ever bothered to read any of the many hundreds of stories I've posted here over the past month. I have no "secret information". Anybody with the IQ of a rock can see that the government and corporations have done everything they can to bury y2k. Oh, and, I was a reporter and broadcast news director with years of experience. I can say from personal experience that corporations and government spokespeople lie constantly. It's called spin or PR--take your pick for the euphemism for lying for pay....

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 24, 2000.

Who gets up when the kids have nightmares??!!

Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), February 24, 2000.

Sifting, Possible Impact,

Hi. No, I took no offense at all.

It's just that when I practiced my routine in front of my mom and dad (in their eighties and frail), they didn't laugh, but my mom said -- after only 10 seconds or so, -- "Oh, that's funny." And shortly afterwards my dad gave me the "thumbs up." :)

-- eve (eve_rebekah@yahoo.com), February 24, 2000.

Y2k pro et al:

I have no beliefs about y2k. I just look at the events that are being reported around the world, many of which (especially the oil crisis and the many problems with the nuke plants in former Soviet Union) were predicted to be the likely outcome if y2k occurred. Frankly, I'm very happy that things seem to be pretty much under control at this point and that computer professionals have managed to fix most of the problems that keep popping up. They deserve to be congratulated.

However, there have been and continue to be numerous y2k related problems happening on a daily basis as is well documented in the media reports presented on this forum and elsewhere. Why don't you can the insults and stick to the facts. I have no problem with skepticim as long as it has a factual basis. But all you seem to have to bring to the debate here is insults and distractions.....

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 24, 2000.

This is very simple Carl, did you say this:

"Because nobody in corporations or the government is telling the truth about y2k"

If yes, you are guilty of spreading pure bullshit. Most of the folks on this forum have a strong dislike for the 'fourth estate' so why should you be excluded?

-- Ra (tion@l.1), February 24, 2000.

Ra, if you believe the press releases from corporations regarding problems and government spin on most issues, I have a great bridge over the SF Bay I would love to sell you....

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 25, 2000.

Carl, I wish you would stop wasting time on these morons and go back to posting the news, which I greatly appreciate. They are just baiting you and they know it. They are laughing gleefully while they distract you from more important things. Don't be a patsy for 'em.

-- canthappen (n@ysayer.com), February 25, 2000.