Caught the last minute of the Comedy Special last night and he finished the program with y2k jokes (Gonna celebrate the millenium this year while there's still electricity, etc.) Then on the news page I noticed that one of the computer mags had an article about selling y2k merchandize on the online auctions, Ebay and Yahoo.I sell on Ebay a lot and know they have had y2k stuff for several months now. But the article which was kind of fluff, quoted them as saying they may open a y2k category. Do you think it has finally gone mainstream now?

-- Sue (deco100@aol.com), December 17, 1998

Answers

Almost. Wait about three more weeks.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), December 17, 1998.

"Y2K Nightmare" in Vanity Fair? Front page of USA Today. I think it is mainstream already, but most cannot think about events "so far in the future". They will "keep an eye on it". Beat the rush, prepare now.

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), December 17, 1998.

What couldn've been more 'mainstream' than front cover of Newsweek, summer, 1997 ? Doesn't matter much.

Hitler wrote his intentions clearly enough, people had years to get out. Most didn't.

-RC

-- runway cat (runway_cat@hotmail.com), December 17, 1998.

Every business and technical magazine (CAD, IT, HVAC, PC, farming tech., business training, business planning, construction, steel, concrete, piping, ....) I've read has begun refering to Y2K in many articles, and in some editorial/forecasting "editor" comments.

It is becoming mainstream. It will become mainstream when the New York magazine and media empires learn that they personally and professionally may be affected.

Watch NYC. when these guys who control what is written and printed and broadcast learn (and take to heart) that they may lose power, water, heat, phones, trucking (food + magazine distribution), paper and newsprint suppliers, cables, satellites, cameras, lights, controls, advertising budgets). When they learn (take to heart) that they may be personally affected by food riots, water shortages, no paychecks, or welfare riots, or when their older neighbors are affected by Medicare/tax/social security failures, ..

then it will become mainstream. Say about Oct-Nov-Dec 1999.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 17, 1998.

Yep, Robert, I agree with you about the New York thing. It'll take until late next year for them to get it, if not after the crash. As a New York Yuppie, I can attest that the average NYC Yuppie/Power Broker is totally out of touch with reality. I heard a story this morning that last night my boss (who does not want to get it) met some people for a dinner meeting and when he got to the table he said "Did you hear the news?" someone else at the table responded "You mean that we bombed Iraq and the impeachment hearings were postponed?" and he said "No...that Nicole Kidman's show on Broadway is absolutely FAB..."

Idiots...

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), December 17, 1998.

When Y2K special effects start hitting them and their families directly, then it will become mainstream. When shelves empty, to be refilled while electricity is on, they'll get it. Between now and that unknown "then," awareness will continue to grow, groups and individuals will prepare. When does the dam break? When something "really big" happens.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 17, 1998.

To the top

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), December 18, 1998.

I just commented to Hubby this morning that there has been a dramatic increase in awareness about Y2K among my patients. In the summer, when I mentioned it, I got completely blank looks. Some of the brighter ones had heard about it, but thought it was a virus (of the Michaelangelo type - hype, little action). Now, most know what the concerns are, whether or not they are personally concerned. A lot are planning to do 'something' next fall. Panic early - that's my motto.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), December 19, 1998.