Bummed Out and Burned Out!!!

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I'm bummed out and burned out with Y2K. No matter what I say or how radical or rational I am, most people just ignore me and the problem.

I have done my bit to save humanity. From now on, I'll answer honest questions if asked, but I'm not proselyting anymore.

I'm beginning to believe this society deserves what's about to happen to it...

-- Nabi Davidson (nabi7@yahoo.com), July 30, 1998

Answers

OR...as was said in the comedy movie, "Airplane"...

"They bought their tickets,..I say...LET 'EM CRASH!!!"

I hear you about the burnout...hang in there...be kind to yourself.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), July 30, 1998.


Nabi: You can't think that way. It is not up to you to save humanity, that is God's job. Sometimes we get off track of what really matters. Your family and you come first. That means get your act together, and quit worrying about everyone else. Knowledge is power. I know what is best for me and my family, and what I need to do to act accordingly. All this religion stuff is just a side issue to take your mind off of what is really important here. You and I have no control over what is going to happen in the future. But, we do have control over how we will meet whatever is headed our way. It may be a matter of life and death. Which do you choose for your family and yourself? Maybe it won't be as bad as some people are prediciting. Maybe it will be bad in certain areas of the country, maybe not in yours. No one really knows. I choose to follow my natural born instincts. You can only do what you can do and nothing more. I plan to be a survivor, some people are just jealous of that. And what is it that I have done to deserve something bad happening to me? That is irrational thinking...I just think doo doo happens, it doesn't matter who you are. Bardou

-- Playedbythegame (refusetogive@baloney.com), July 31, 1998.

Hi, Nabi:

I feel the same way everyday, but here's something to help bring you back into focus:

There are about 60 million children in American who can't do anything about the problem--- if people don't keep hammering at their parents, these kids will suffer, along with their grandparents.

Today on the morning news, there was a piece about Las Vegas trying to somehow wrangle its own airline, as carriers are cutting LV service, and I thought, holy cow, that WHOLE CITY is going to have to evacuate. They are completely dependent on the outside world, with little economic production capacity other than wagering.

-- lisa (lisa@yoyo.com), July 31, 1998.


NABI: When I first learned of the Y2K problem, I was numb. How could this be? How could it happen. My next reaction was, that it can and will be fixed, there's just too many smart people out there that won't let disaster happen. What a depressing time it was. The message is out there, and the information is out there, and it is up to every individual to take responsibility and to act accordingly. I feel that I am prepared and ready to accept whatever comes my way. It has to be that way, or you become immobolized. I think what you are experiencing now is called post-Y2K blues. I was feeling that way too, but you have to keep going on, and keep preparing. Take care of your responsibilities. We are all afraid that our cushey little lives will be no more, that we will have to suffer. Maybe in the long run it will make us a more compassionate society.

-- Playedbythegame (refusetogive@baloney.com), July 31, 1998.

I sympathize with all of the posts here. There is that natural progression that one goes through, and it took me months to come to grips with this thing, through lots of reading and investigation. Why should I expect others to accept it any faster than I did?

One thing that I have done, aside from being the wet blanket at Bar-B-Q's bringing up this grim topic over potato salad and burgers, is to write a long letter. I just sent it off to my in-laws, along with a printout of Ed's Preface to TimeBomb (available on this site). Basically, I wrote up a very brief overview of the problem (tedious, since most of us have become so over-familiar with this by now). But many have heard very little about it, given in optimistic sound bites, so I thought it important. I went on to offer a couple of brief examples of the potential ripple effect, and tried my best to convey that this is serious enough to learn more about it. Then, I described what we as city dwellers are planning. They are in the country and are in a bit more self-sufficient location. Lastly, I BEGGED them to go out right away and buy Ed's book (offering to reimburse them if nothing happens!), read it, and decide for themselves on what steps make sense. I pointed out the strength of the book as a clear, non-alarmist overview of the issues that provides a format to help the reader come to his/her own conclusions.

As an attempt to disarm their concerns (e.g., "Who IS this guy that married our daughter/sister!!??"), I admitted several times that this sounds crazy, but asked that they PLEASE educate themselves BEFORE judging me as a kook.

I closed by telling them how much we loved them and were truly concerned for their saftey and preparedness. I think this important in any warning message of this kind.

So far, so good. I just got an email from a sister-in-law who received it positively and did go pick up the book. She thanked me for writing, and is taking to heart the warning. They are in a good place. They live in the woods in a house my bro-in-law built. She said they will certainly have plenty of wood for the stove.

I am now thinking about modifying the letter for friends and aquanitances. Accompanied by Ed's preface, I think this could be an effective approach. It let's us pour our hearts out ONCE, instead of over and over (which gets exhausting). An additional benefit is the ability to reread a letter. A phone call or conversation is just air, disappearing as it is spoken. But just like the love letters my wife used to send me, I was able to reread them many times, soaking up more with each reading. It allows us to present the facts in as passionate a way as possible, crafting it carefully. It also takes off some of the edge which can come out in our voices, scaring people off. I think it demonstrates respect for others as well. Just a thought.

Steven Slaughter Slaughterhouse Design Chicago

-- steven slaughter (shousedesn@aol.com), August 03, 1998.



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