y2k on msnbc

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decent coverage on msnbc morningline today. had john grabow and the cio from california state govt.

talking head from show tried to downplay y2k. it didn't fly, both guests were prepared.

message is, get ready. not that most people will.

-- areseejay (areseejay@aol.com), December 04, 1998

Answers

"message is, get ready. not that most people will."

I received an e-mail from the Y2KWatch Weatherman which agrees with your statement. Here is a portion of what he said.

< Given my experience in life and in business, I strongly suspect that the "2% rule" applies to Y2k preparedness. The "2% rule" states that when a pending issue or event is likely to bring failure or disaster, only 2% of the people will have the psychological and emotional make-up to respond to the stimuli in a prudent and constructive manner. In order words, 2% of the people will get through Y2k ignorance and denial fairly quickly. Their flame will burn brightly.

In the U.S. Senate, only 2 out of 100 elected members (i.e., Bennett and Dodd) are voicing genuine concerns about Y2k. The 2% rule at work. Of the hundreds of people which have received my personal Y2k warning, only a handful have taken it seriously and are starting to prepare. The "plus or minus" 2% rule at work.

My conclusion here is that all of the time and effort spent sending the Y2k message is relatively unproductive. Only a fraction of the people will ever be capable of receiving the message before it is too late. Therefore, the best use of time is to counsel the "enlightened" on their personal preparations. Using the Titanic analogy, only a small number of the ship's passengers ever saw fit to participate in the lifeboat drills. As a result, these "enlightened" passengers not only escaped with their lives but were also able to guide a few others to safety. The rest is history.>>

What do you think? Are we wasting our time trying?

Best regards,

Anna

-- Anna McKay Ginn (annaginn@aol.com), December 04, 1998.


MSNBC put up alist of preparations including " don't by a new car", the producer's phone will ring off the hook from auto manufacturers. Plus Grabow said "have some cash on hand". A lot of people who watch their money watch MSNBC in the morning. They won't get to repeat that one too often without a call or worse from the Federal Reserve.

-- curtis schalek (schale1@ibm.net), December 04, 1998.

You didn't comment on the most important aspect of the show:

<<

talking head from show tried to downplay y2k. it didn't fly, both guests were prepared. >>

The guests were ready DESPITE the show's trying to mislead. The tone of the broadcast (the "editorial" aspect from MSNBC is still "....denial, ...the government won't let it happen."

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 04, 1998.


Why the advice not to buy a car? I say buy one, and keep your old one. If things go bad, let them repossess the new one. If things go REALLY bad...*you've* got a new car!

-- a (a@a.a), December 04, 1998.

If you want to get on a really good Y2K mailing list, check this out.

http://www.y2knewswire.com

Not as much religious hype at the Weatherman

-- Anti-Chainsaw (Tree@hugger.com), December 04, 1998.



Anti-Chainsaw,

I like to keep my finger on the pulse (so to speak) of all the diverse perspectives regarding Y2K. I do not discriminate against race, religion, political affiliation or age, just stupidity. I have my own filtering mechanism turned on constantly just like my virus protection. :)

I thought the 2% factor was an interesting topic. That's all.

Best regards,

Anna

-- Anna McKay Ginn (annaginn@aol.com), December 04, 1998.


a -

New_Car = Debt. Debt is a very bad idea as we move into a time of instability. "Make it do, or do without."

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), December 04, 1998.


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