I liken Y2K to a submarine beneath the surface. We all know it has to surface sometime, but when. It seems to me that when it surfaces in the mainstream media, some sort of movement to panic could possibly occur. The panic might be as bad or worse than the subsequent shutdowns of systems (sort of like yelling fire in a theatre). I seek for expert prognostication from the forum in forecasting the date and related events that will bring this submarine to the surface. How long do we have before this story is no longer underground news?

-- Rev. Stephen L. Bening (Gammadim@AOL.com), June 01, 1998

Answers

There is another article in US News and World Report dated June 8th, I just read it on Gary North's website, I believe that the media is starting to come around....also, in our local paper Ellen Goodman from the Washington Post wrote an editoral...she writes that she won't be in a jet circling with her bubbly champagne, but at home hiding under the covers on December 31, 1999. That's all fine but do the American people even get it??? They are so busy with their little lives watching their mindless sitcoms, will they even believe the press at this point? Too many people are in denial and they just don't believe that something bad could happen to them, they don't want to listen and I am sure most of them think that it can "fixed". Won't they be surprised!

-- Jane Van (clemone@emi.net), June 01, 1998.

Dear Rev., To quote B.J. Moose," Einie minie, chili beanie, the spirts are about to speak!" April 1, 1999.

sincerely yours, Jay Ward

-- R. Watt (rkwatt@hotmail.com), June 01, 1998.

I just got back from the library and read the U.S. News Report. If that doesn't rattle your cage, nothing will. I had to see this story for myself to make sure it was real. You have to follow Y2K daily or it gets shoved back in the recesses of your mind. It's almost to unreal to grasp...even when you follow it.

-- Annie (anniegaff@mailexcite.com), June 01, 1998.

Dear Annie

I would not say my cage is rattled, but I have my eyes wide open, my ears perked and my nose sniffin. I am trying to lead other people. A wise man once said that if a blind man leads another that both will wind up in the ditch. This looks like a pretty big ditch. If there is a way to keep from falling into it, I am not adverse to avoiding it.

-- Rev. Stephen L. Bening (Gammadim@AOL.com), June 01, 1998.

Stephen,

You said:

"It seems to me that when it surfaces in the mainstream media, some sort of movement to panic could possibly occur. The panic might be as bad or worse than the subsequent shutdowns of systems (sort of like yelling fire in a theatre)."

If the theater is on fire, what does one do? Slip quietly out the fire escape? There are times when panic is a useful motivator. This may well be one, particularly since the "public" his such high inertia. Only a small part of the entirety will actually panic.

As to your guess that the panic would be worse than the evernt, I do not see any way under the sun that it can be. We are heading toward what can reasonably be called TEOTWAWKI. You might not agree that that is where we are headed, but I beleive it. Greed and sloth will keep most persons from doing what needs to be done to cause society to survive, and, therefore, society will not survive.

George

-- George Valentine (George Valentine@usa.net), June 02, 1998.

When the submarine surfaces, you should also look for the scapegoating of programmers to get fierce. The Ellen Goodman column might be considered an opening salvo in public commentary. She puts the blame squarely on programmers who are too stupid to realize that 2000 follows 1999 (her words, not mine). I expect the criticism will get a lot worse. Seems to me programmers might want to consider bodyguard service in their next y2k contract upgrade. (That's a joke, son.)

-- J.D. Clark (yankeejdc@aol.com), June 02, 1998.

So how do you get someone to believe you, that this UGLY BUG could happen and to invest somewhere else?? People tend to put the blame on others to get the mud out of their face.

-- Willie (nochem@midsouth.net), June 02, 1998.

Dear Willie

Perhaps this will help you. I view my duty with Y2K with much the same responsibility as I do the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a duty to warn, to teach and to preach.

The prophet Ezekiel says that God held him responsible to warn. If he didn't warn, the blood of those he didn't warn would be on his hands. God told him that so long as he warned them, he was in the clear.

I try to put good, quality information from reputable sources in the hands of my relatives, friends and parishioners. I stay away from wild eyed, impassioned pleas. They will either see it on their own, or remain blind.

-- Rev. Stephen L. Bening (Gammadim@AOL.com), June 03, 1998.

I just heard an interview with Bill Siedman (sp), CNBC's chief economist. He was doing an interview about Y2K. One caller asked why the media had not picked up on this and he said, " We don't know much about Y2K, so how can anyone write about." Mr. Siedman.. You are a LIAR! He also said he was going to Japan in a few weeks to see about the banks there and would report back. MORE LIES I SUPPOSE!!! I hate the lying, perverted media. (sorry Pastor Chris)

-- Annie (anniegaff@mailexcite.ocm), June 04, 1998.

Dear Annie,

I don't think much of liars either. :) Keep banging and someone might open the door. ;)

http://www.lifetel.com/y2k2000.htm

-- Pastor Chris (chrisbr@ptinet.net), June 04, 1998.

The president is going to give a fireside talk to 'we the people' sometime in about two months. That's August. That is when it will go public. My guess is that it will be propaganda. But the issue will get a lot of media attention, debate, and talk.

-- Bob Brown (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), June 04, 1998.

This morning at a regional air traffic control center in New York some computers went down. They were trying to install some new software. It did not work. I heard this on CNBC. I wonder if this is Y2K related? I suspect so!

-- Hank (jesuscan@aol.com), June 05, 1998.