I watched the 700 Club y2k special last week. DeJaeger and Webster were the experts and did a good job but I felt DeJaeger, especially, was trying too hard to prevent people from heading for the hills or taking their money out of the bank. Later in the program the 700 Club y2k man(sorry I don't remember his name right now) said something to the effect that some experts say one thing in public but are doing something else in private. So, my question is Do you feel many of the y2k experts who are promoting working this problem thru and staying in town are really doing that OR do they have contingency plans that include stocking up on food and moving to the country???

-- Susan (jclont@mastnet.net), July 15, 1998

Answers

What Dejaeger said was not to panic.Pay three months of bills in advance and supplies to last that long. He said stay put and wait it out heading for the hills is not the answer also do not cause a run on the bank he said thats the coward way out. work together is what he said

-- Steve M (ltyw90a@prodigy.com), July 15, 1998.

Steve, thanks for expounding on what DeJaeger said. Again, it was a "feeling" I had....that DeJaeger was rather negative on those who feel they should go to the country or withdraw money. Again, the the reason I would like to know what the experts are doing in private is I feel that would be a good indicator of the seriousness of y2k.

-- Susan (jclont@mastnet.net), July 15, 1998.

Ed Yourdon has moved to New Mexico, North is in Arkansas, Hamasaki is helping a friend improve a rural retreat in case he needs it. Cowles already lives in a small town.

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), July 15, 1998.

There are a lot of people moving to the country for different reasons. Most people that I know who are new to the community wanted a slower way of life, better opportunities for their children to be home schooled, participate in 4-H, husband works out of the home, company moved here because land was cheaper for building facilities, good retirement area for the elderly, and lots of recreational sports, and affordable housing with land. I haven't met anyone yet who has moved here because of Y2K. Most of the people I mentioned are professionals; doctors, lawyers, computer programmers/consultants, utility workers, carpenters, and nurses.

-- Barb-Douglas (bardou@yahoo.com), July 16, 1998.

All I know is that Ed said in his book "Rise and Resurrection of the American Programmer" that anyone pursuing Year2k work should consider it a career ending move. Now he's making a career out of it. Of course he said that before the Gartner Group came out with their estimate that COBOL programmers would be making $500 an hour in the last half of 1999. I'm so confused. I think you guys and gals should all go learn COBOL.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), July 16, 1998.

Will COBOL and FORTRAN be obsolete 5 years from now? I wouldn't want to spend all that time learning something that will be of no use to me later down the road.

-- Barb-Douglas (bardou@yahoo.com), July 16, 1998.

DeJaegers comment about taking money out of the bank being the act of a coward is interesting.

He basically said the only thing he could in that situation. Look, if Pat Robertson sounded the alarm for every Christian watching the 700 Club to go to his/her bank in the morning and withdraw their money Pow! Instant bank run, followed quickly by instant bank holiday. If DeJaeger says the same thing on the 700 Club, and Pat doesnt disagree, same result. So, theres no mystery in DeJaegers comments.

However, if taking your money out of the bank is the act of a coward, does that mean leaving your money in the bank is the act of a brave person?

-- Paul Bednarek (paul_bednarek@quantumdata.com), July 16, 1998.

Since when am I obligated to have any money in the bank? And since it's MY money, I can move it around and do whatever I want with it. I find people who make statements such as "one being a coward for taking their money out of the bank," is a shallow minded person. I'm surprised Pat Robertson didn't tell the sheeples to take their money out and send it to him for safe keeping!

-- Barb-Douglas (bardou@yahoo.com), July 20, 1998.