Sometimes I get pulled aside in the hallway, and people asked me Y2K related questions or give Y2K comments in hushed tones. Then, when people pass by, the conversation stops...then continues once the passersby are out of ear-range.

I eventually lean over and ask: "Uh...Why are we whispering?" The response is usually: "Look, YOU KNOW and I KNOW...but I don't want the rest of the world thinking that I'm some crackpot."

This happened occasionally, but now the one-on-one impromptu meetings in the hall are becoming more frequent, with more people involved as the days wear on. Mostly in hushed tones, though.

I was wondering if anyone else was/is incurring similar experiences?

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), October 23, 1998

Answers

Absolutely. Can't really talk about it with co-workers, unless we're on a break, and even then, don't want to be overheard. Of course, I have to constantly resist the urge to shout out to anyone in earshot that I have knowledge that could save your life, but realized early on that that was not a wise strategy.

While I am very public about the need for awareness and preparedness, I still need to chose my words and my tone very carefully, lest I be labeled a wacko/fearmonger/crackpot/etc.

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), October 24, 1998.

Absolutely. Can't really talk about it with co-workers, unless we're on a break, and even then, don't want to be overheard. Of course, I have to constantly resist the urge to shout out to anyone in earshot that I have knowledge that could save your life, but realized early on that that was not a wise strategy.

While I am very public about the need for awareness and preparedness, I still need to chose my words and my tone very carefully, lest I be labeled a wacko/fearmonger/crackpot/etc...

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), October 24, 1998.

I have been FORBIDDEN BY MY EMPLOYER TO SPEAK ABOUT Y2K, AND AM FORBIDDEN TO BRING ANY PAPERS, PRINTOUTS OR PROOF OF WHAT I SAY ABOUT Y2K ONTO COMPANY PROPERTY!! They said "we don't want you scareing the other employees" How do you like them apples?

-- Ann (zyax55b@prodigy.com), October 24, 1998.

Ann:

I wondered more than once if one of my bosses would have a "talk" with me about the same thing. I only discuss this stuff with a couple of people at work, one of whom is my immediate superior. He's a real straight-up guy, so no problem there. I know he "gets it" and understands that preparation is like insurance. (He told me about pork 'n' beans at Wal-Mart selling at 4/$1.) Otherwise, I keep pretty quiet too. When someone asks, I tell them the truth, without going out of my way to alarm them. I have to remember what I'm there for - it's tough sometimes.

-- Mike (gartner@execpc.com), October 24, 1998.

Hey you all are lucky, most people i try to talk to are in serious denial. Most believe the silver bullet is on hand and no need to worry. However in a recent trip to a discount store, an associate there saw my huge purchase of candles for .73 and asked why so many, I stated y2k she said in a whisper her boyfriend is freaking out and thus began the discussion along with my writing out various websites for her and him. Once manager walked over, conversation ceased. I do temp work most places i go are believing themselves to be compliant, to prove them wrong, i plugged in some dates, they're systems went balistic. Anyhoot, even if some are compliant, cant run the doggone things with no electricity. ALOT of people are refinancing homes, getting the quick E loans etc...to just purchase stupid material things, adding onto homes., getting lower interest rates by refinancing so they can get further into debt.... I'm telling you it is very scarey...so many arent even aware. We are so blessed to be in the position to prepare. Most who are preparing are somewhat afraid to speak out, I for one dont want no undesirables coming to my home and hurting me or my family. I do believe there will be many deaths when this happens. Well, guess i'll go take a valium now, ok?

-- consumer alert (private@aol.com), October 24, 1998.

You are not alone. Are you Urban or Sub urban? Whatever, you need to make a lot of plans....and you need to arm yourself and your family. Take some good gun lessons and prepare.

-- Gene Williams (g.g.williams@mindspring.com), October 24, 1998.

I hope you realize that comments such as those on this thread are prime fodder for any monitoring government agencies who are looking for people to put on their "dangerous cults" list....

-- Shhhhhh (paranoia@outtogetme.gov), October 29, 1998.

Even though more people are becoming somewhat Y2K-aware, there still is a stubborn denial and now a "Yadda so sick of hearing about that crap" response. We are shutting down publicly speaking about it after this week; there's enough for the curious to find links. We "Got It" in 1 second from 1 sentence on the opinion page next to the editorial cartoons, a quote re power going out by a Senator.

We definitely feel like we're in a secret club with smart-awake fellow lunatics, savants, preppers, and the plain sensible salt of the earth folks. The more the spin is organized into a deceptive dependency trap, the more we are determined to evade the poisonous Spider.

Just want to thank you all for stopping by the secret club's meeting lodge and sharing news/tips/methods/prepping techniques with other Members Struggling Against Dis-Order. Nice to take the sanity dip!

Ashton & Leska in Cascadia

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 26, 1999.

Think Shhhhh is right? Is some narc sifting through all of this and making a list of everyone here?

-- spirit (spirit@iserv.net), January 26, 1999.

Well Tim, I'm working at home right now, so I don't have the experience with co-workers as you do, but I'm still in the Secret Club. Whenever we go to Costco or some other store for Y2K suplies, my husband hushes me and looks around to make sure noone is watching and heard us. We're talking in secret code now.

I have to supress the urge to shout on a bullhorn in the stores for everyone to prepare for Y2K, as I am the only sane one in the stores who's really got a grasp on reality. But the counter-reality police would take me to the asylum.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 26, 1999.

I think more people are talking about it where I'm at, but when it comes to talking about "preparing", I get strange looks, so I've still been hangin' low here :-)

-- Jenny (nosnart@GI.com), February 17, 1999.

Maybe after today, with the regular news media talking about the National Guard prepping for Y2K, more ppl will pay attention and check it out for themselves. Wonder what the mileage on those reports will be ;-?

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 17, 1999.

Leska: I would like to think so, but still have the opinion that until people get that Y2K affects them personally, especially their money or investments, then this hushed whispers stuff will continue. Don't forget also that for every report that treats Y2K with some realism, there are also the Readers Digest, Time Magazine, etc., articles that so many folks have read and made up their minds (incorrectly) about Y2K already. So while I think this National Guard story is helpful, it may also be somewhat limited in its affect, since denial is stil rampant and much misinformation needs to be 'undone'.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), February 17, 1999.

Ann,

Did you ask if you had suddenly been transported to 1936 Berlin or 1960 Moscow? Or...LOL...1998 D.C.?

Everything that is not forbidden is mandatory.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), February 17, 1999.

There's a person that I share a work area with that caught me surfing this forum during my lunch hour one day. I thought, "oh, no! I'm going to get persecutated, AGAIN".

However, he just smirked and walked away. A couple of days later, towards quitting time, he asked, "So, are you getting a generator?"

I told him that this was a stupid idea. "Why?", he replied. I told him that fueling the sucker would be a problem when it comes to cost and storage. He paused, pursed his lips, sighed, then asked "So you think it's stupid to buy a generator." I replied, "Well, for ME, yes. I've decided to go with a wood stove."

He said, "KEWL!", gave me a thumbs up with a big smile. Since then, we occasionally do prep talk during break or lunch, but it's usually when others are not around. I can totally relate to this.

-- Spirit (spirit@iserv.net), July 16, 1999.

Those of you who have actually met another person, in person, who is prepping are lucky. I have talked to, IN PERSON, exactly one person on the whole face of the earth who is prepping as I am: my HUSBAND. Yep, that's it, folks. Not one single other person I have ever come across has said anything other than "nothin's gonna happen!" Then I start to think, at this late date, maybe they ARE preparing, but don't want anyone to know, just like me. B/c nowdays, if it is ever mentioned at work, I laugh it off, just like everyone else around me.

Should we get a secret code word or something?

The emotional and mental dichotomy is killing me.

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 14, 1999.

I hate to bring this up, but with Y2K now at least being very much in the minds of a lot more people these days, you should be EXTRA CAUTIOUS. This forum offers great resources for the caring and sharing of Y2K preparation, as well as safety and security.

People who are known to be preparing can be viewed as targets. Either when times get bad, and so people know where supplies are, or even if nothing really happens, because of the presumption that you probably have a lot of cash hidden.

Let's be careful out there.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), November 14, 1999.

KOS,

Glad you reminded me about that, because I have noticed a "trend" recently that people should watch out for. In the last 4 days there have been at least 4 posts asking people to reveal what area they are in if they are preparing. In each case, the poster received responses by some who said where they lived and that their e-mail was real. Some of these people may not realise how much information a good hacker can get from a legitimate e-mail address. I am not accusing any of these posters of having criminal intentions, but I don't think I've ever noticed them posting before, and suggest that people be cautious. It is a shame that we have to feel this way, but these things do happen. Also, I have to wonder what purpose this would serve to "get acquainted" with someone in your area. When it comes down to it, we're all going to be on our own until it becomes clear who is willing to become part of the community spirit with non-violent, humanitarian interests. IMO, since most of us cannot prevent Y2K from happening, I think it is better to wait until after TSHTF, then you'll know who it is safe to hook up with. Best wishes.

Ocean County, NJ

Giles County, VA

Chicago, IL

South Florida

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 14, 1999.

PREPARING-- I wouldn't assume that noone else is preparing around you. I still haven't figured out WHY reasonable folk think they'll look stupid for preparing. I was chairing a meeting at my church one night about a month ago and mentioned y2k. I got a couple...nah..it's going to be no big deal. I was just on base today and everything's going to be fine. Sounded in the room like one of those "crowd murmurs" scenes in a movie. I said, "Oh really". I began telling how my family has decided to treat our preps as an adventure...that we felt great over the fact that we figured out how we could bake bread on the woodstove. That was one of my concerns over the last few months since that would increase variety of the diet if we have to rely on our canned meats. SANDWICHES!

One fellow says while looking at his folded hands on the table...Well, I did buy a generator this past week. (He was the first to reassure everyone in the room that all would be well) One by one around the room others told of their moves to prepare. There was a room with eight families represented that were doing SOMETHING to prepare. I was pleasantly surprised. Don't give up hope y'all. I think there's more of us out there than you imagine. We can hope and pray they're in the majority.

beej

-- beej (beej@ppbbs.com), November 14, 1999.

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

A few weeks ago I met five people from this forum. I had to drive about an hour to get to the nearest one. Other than that I have nobody. I've convinced my brother, 2000 miles away, to prepare for a month or so. As to whether he has actually done it yet I don't know. I do know a nearly self-sufficient farmer, but he doesn't believe Y2K specifically is something to worry about. This is very isolating.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 14, 1999.

FWIW, Aaaaaaahhhhhhnold Schwarzenegger today on one of the news shows mentioned that Maria Shriver (wife) is stockpiling stuff for Y2K.

Cool club we got here..............

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), November 15, 1999.