There's a trendy sociology theory known as "six degrees of separation", meaning that any 2 people on earth can be "linked" through no more than 6 acquaintances, relatives, etc. For example, although I have no apparent connection to Germany at all, by hypothesis, there should exist a path of acquaintances/relatives of no more than 6 people between myself and the main big cat caretaker at the Heidelberg Tiergarten (zoo). Usually many fewer than 6 steps are needed (like 1 or 2).

By the "y2k hypothesis" it is "too late" to actually fix the code, "time has run out", it is "systemic", etc. So, for the people who are into "A Strategy" and "Declare y2k a national emergency", its is just an awareness thing. But I submit that awareness is already fully present. By the theory above, I propose The Corollary of y2k Separation, which runs:

Every person in American is one degree of separation from a serious y2k prepper.

This would be a neighbor, a co-worker, family member, etc. This means every American has a personal example of preparation and awareness available, not just external media, yet has still chosen not to care.

-RC

-- Runway Cat (runway_cat@hotmail.com), December 27, 1998

Answers

RC,

Be patient. They'll care sometime in 1999.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 27, 1998.

My wife's DGI family in Michigan started to talk about it after Chrismas dinner. Guess what they wanted me to talk about when we called that evening? I am sending out articles to three of them. The heard has its noses in the air.

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), December 27, 1998.

Hey, I'm the only 'prepper' I know, is that zero degrees ? If I stop prepping do I cease to exist ?

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), December 28, 1998.

How I wish this were true. I have tried and tried and tried to talk with my family about this, but my husband and I are quickly becoming the family nuts. We can no longer even mention it to my monther-in- law, she gets simply violently angry when it is even brought up. We are the only GI's we actually *know*. It's lonely, too.

-- Quietly Preparing (bill_n_kellie91@hotmail.com), December 31, 1998.