I don't understand all of the talk about "denial." I have not heard anyone say that Y2K is not a problem. The only "denial" I hear is the denial of the belief that Y2K will mean the end of life as we know it. As far as I can see, there is no widespread belief that Y2K is not a problem. Everyone agrees that it is a problem. It is the extent of the problem and the consequences that people don't agree on.

-- Buddy (buddy@bellatlantic.net), August 13, 1998

Answers

It's all about severity and duration.

It's a forgone conclusion that Y2K is real. If anyone says otherwise they are misinformed or spouting the company line.

j

-- j (yada@yada.com), August 13, 1998.

Buddy, your statement of "Everyone agrees that it is a problem. It is the extent of the problem and the consequences that people don't agree on. " is, as a New Zealander friend of mine says "spot on."

Unfortunately, terms like "denial" have begun to be used here by those at the Doom and Gloom end of the spectrum to imply a weakned psychological state in anyone who does not share in their all consuming pessimism.

In general, it used to to describe a person's failure to recognize a serious and *demonstrable* problem that is affecting their lives. It is often used in descriptions of alcoholics, illicit drug users and other people who frequenstly indulge in self-destructive behavior yet refuse to acknowledge that the behaviour has serious consequences.

If I understand your remarks correctly, I agree with you that there seems to be less and less true denial every day. The issue now is honest differences of opinion over severity.

Paul

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), August 13, 1998.

"Techno-thriller" Author, Tom Clancy interviewed on CNN

http://cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/9808/09/sm.04.html Sunday Morning News Off The Shelf: Tom Clancy Discusses "Rainbow Six" Aired August 9, 1998 - 8:51 a.m. ET ======================================== [dialogue about latest book snipped]

BATTISTA: What about the Y2K bug? Does that concern you?

CLANCY: Oh, God, no.

BATTISTA: That's a whole other book, don't you think?

CLANCY: Actually, I think somebody just made that up, and if the Y2K problem, you know, the Year 2000 computer problem is real, nobody's proven it to me yet.

BATTISTA: Oh, OK, that's interesting because we did have a huge debate on this show just a couple of weeks ago between two guys who militarily were at opposite ends of this. One had us at Armageddon in the year 2000.

CLANCY: Was it the Chicken Liken, the one who said the sky's falling? I mean, come on.

BATTISTA: Let's hope not, OK.

CLANCY: Yeah, the worse thing happens is we shut down all the computers. You know, we can still live without computers. I can remember living in a world that had no computers at all.

BATTISTA: That's true. I remember that, too. =================================

I don't know what the definition of denial is, but this seems to be pretty close to a working example...

-- Jim Smith (jdsmith1@hotmail.com), August 13, 1998.

"I don't know what the definition of denial is, but this seems to be pretty close to a working example... "

I agree. The root of the problem lies in the fact that the world has materially changed in the last 25 years, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK ANY DIFFERENT. Therefore, many people completely fail to grasp the magnitude of the difference between now and then.

That is why they cannot understand that we have crossed the Rubicon with regard to computer technology.

There is no going back.

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), August 13, 1998.

I see Tom Clancy's problem. All he has heard are the doom and gloom scenarios, and he doesn't believe them. He needs to talk to some industry professionals to get another point of view.

-- Buddy Y. (buddy@bellatlantic.net), August 14, 1998.

> I see Tom Clancy's problem. All he has heard are the doom and gloom > scenarios, and he doesn't believe them. He needs to talk to some > industry professionals to get another point of view.

Actually, it's been the industry professionals who have made me aware that y2k is going to have a severe impact on our lives. In my point of view those that claim y2k effects will be at the low end of the richter scale either do not fully understand the problem and/or *are* suffering from denial. No matter how hard I search I can't find a reasonable argument that convinces me y2k will have minimal effects. If you can, please share it with me and the world so we don't have to worry anymore.

tom

-- Tom (2scully@concentric.net), August 18, 1998.

Here's a tidbit about what the professionals are doing. The other day I spoke with saleperson at a solar gear company here in beautiful but damn-cold-in-the-winter Montana about availability of solar panels, batteries, etc. She said there is increased activity, but no shortages yet, because the manufacturers are hip to y2k and gearing up for it.

The interesting part? The increased purchase activity is coming not from 'nutcase survivalists' (and we have those up here) but from 'software engineers and electrical engineers'.

I'm a software engineer, and I'm thinking about my own little increase in solar electric activity.

I can't believe how hard it is to get people aware. I say, "everything is broken", and people give me a sideways look... I've spoken face-to-face to our newspaper editor, a city commissioner, a county commissioner, a public service commissioner, my state legislator, my state senator, and my US Congressman. The only one who seemed even mildly concerned was the public service guy, who is working on the utilities for answers. The others are mostly telling me to call someone else.

So I am... the solar electric saleslady.

Good luck to all.

-- Brady Wiseman (bradywiseman@compuserve.com), August 18, 1998.