Went out to lunch today with some 2 coworkers and the subject of Y2K came up. Actually THEY brought it up so I joined in the conversation with some facts (they were relatively uninformed).

The topic of preparation came up and they asked me if I was preparing. I said that I was, but gave them no indication as to the scope of my preparations. I said the government recommended 3 days but that I thought that a minimum of 2 weeks made more sense...I figured they could "handle" this timeframe. (I'm personally looking at a 3-4 month prep, myself)

At that point, they both started hooting about "Roland is probably building an ark!!"", etc., etc., etc..

I had no idea how to react and was more than a little peeved, but tried to laugh along...pretty unsuccessfully, I might add.

So that's it for me. They're on their own. I've had it. I just have to keep telling myself that everyone laughed at Noah too, right up until it began to rain.

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), March 26, 1999

Answers

Some storm. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights.

-- Wiseguy (got@it.gov), March 26, 1999.

Learning that someone you know is preparing for a potential disaster is likely to evoke some strong emotions. Even if the preparation seems completely rational and prudent, one's own lack of such preparedness is still implicitly called into question. This is a possible source of their derision.

Imagine making fun of someone for 2 weeks of prep. Here in SoCal, that would just be one step up for personal 'quake supplies...

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), March 26, 1999.

I hope you made THEM pick up the check! (hehehehe)

-- Buffalo Bob (buff@hal.com), March 26, 1999.

Roland,

FWIW, almost the same thing happened to me about 2 months ago. At a company sponsored dinner after one of our meetings, my manager called me over to a table with about 8 of my professional peers. The manager and I had a brief discussion last summer and he know that I am a 10+ (at least in what I am trying to prepare for). He is an admitted 0. On of my peers said "Hey, we want to get a map to your "stronghold". I was pretty shocked and felt like I had been set up. I smiled sweetly, looked him directly in the eye and said "good luck".

ANY time the subject of Y2K comes up now my only response is to glibly quote something from the mainstream media. That seems to satisfy everyone that I'm taking part in the conversations and since news from the major media is gospel to these sheeple it seems to them I've said something substantive.

Yes, I know. I bothers me. I well understand misleading by distraction. But I work in a business (computer) where "getting along" is quite important. When I weigh risk of my continued employment vs. informing a group who resists unplesant news, guess which wins.

I am sorry about this but for me, and in this limited sense, my survival instints are already active. I am more than willing to help inform anyone who sincerly wants to know something. (I do have some small experience in this field). But I'll be damed if I'll embrace risk to do so for jerring idiots. I do enough of this in my family, where I fell the obligation is different.

--Greybear,who was already know as a pretty stogy ol bastard anyway

- Got Facts?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 26, 1999.

Roland: You have my sympathy. I reached the same point several months ago and no longer speak about y2k with anyone outside an extremely limited circle of like-minded family. Whenever someone asks me about it, I refer them to the Red Cross and end it at that. Beyond the ridicule factor, which didn't bother me as much as I thought, I've discovered that I've grown more cautious about letting the unprepared know just how serious I'm taking y2k.

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), March 26, 1999.

I guess a better answer would be a shrug, followed by, "Uhh, I dunno, what are YOU guys doing...?" and then take it from there. There ARE situations where appearing like a moron is the only safe course. (Better by far is not to have morons for friends/neighbors/co-workers, but most of us don't get much choice in the matter.)

-- it's ok to (lie@to.idiots), March 26, 1999.

Roland, I got jeered too and on this very forum for saying that I gave up telling people about Y2K a long time ago. Back a few months ago it was the thing to do on this forum, "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN!" I have noticed that the trend has changed the past couple of months here for that. When I was a "newbie," I would tell a few people and I got heckled and called a Y2K wacko. I decided right then that they can all eat manure and don't knock on my door WTSHTF. Haven't told another soul about Y2K UNLESS they ask if I THINK it's going to be bad. Then I do my supermarket scenario on them and let them figure it out from there. Don't worry about what other people may say or think of you for preparing, they'll remember that Roland has food and don't be surprised if they show up on your door step.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), March 26, 1999.

These folks are definitely not your friends. If anyone has divulged Y2K plans to business acquaintances like Roland or Greybear has, now would be a good time to start spouting a different line:

1. Print out every piece of pollyanna fluff and g-ment soothsaying you can lay hands on, either in the paper or on the net. Start showing this, in an offhand manner, to these same clods who have mocked you. It will mean swallowing some pride, but tell them that you feel like a damn fool for getting all het up about this "non-event", and were suckered in by the "doom-sayers". Let them know that you've given away all your extra food and preps to the local churches and hunger programs. Drive this point home, but not in an overt manner.

At this point, they will probably make a little noise about it, in the form of "old so-and-so really got taken by this Y2K idiocy, what a buffoon", or something along those lines. That's fine. Right up until the panic starts, you'll play along with everyone else. When it hits, curse yourself for giving away your provisions and wonder openly "what, oh what, am I to do?".

Lying to idiots who may kill you for your food isn't a sin.

-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 26, 1999.

bardou -- I have a great deal of respect for your consistency AND your views. You're right that the tone is changing, but for a reason. It's too late nationally and locally for major prep, while the danger of exposing personal prep grows apace.

OTOH, I have maintained (and realists like Hardliner agree) that long-term survival apart from a community (hey, five determined people count), if TSHTF, is going to be extraordinarily difficult.

So there is an inevitable push-pull here that we can't wash away. Knowing the risk, I had a county-wide newspaper column on Y2K (imagine THAT) until two months ago and pulled it. I wouldn't even have done that, except that our community, broadly speaking, is very homogeneous and supportive of its locals and my wife and I have many levers of support in it (believe me, I KNOW that cuts all ways, just stating it as fact: for instance, we can count on support from police that we know very well personally ESPECIALLY if order breaks down and so it goes).

That said, I have always basically agreed with bardou, especially with respect to urban and suburban areas.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 26, 1999.

Our daughter was upset when her fiance's father told her, "If things get bad, we'll just come and stay with you." He was making light of her attempts to motivate them to study and weigh the potential for harm if Y2K isn't "fixed". We are a large family that is challenged by the struggle to prepare, while they, if they so chose, have money and resources available. (for now that is) I have other friends that have jokingly said they would come stay with us. At those particular moments, I was not prepared to hurt/alienate them by stating the intention to not help. I'm not totally sure what I would do. My family comes first, but how do we really know how we will react when someone we love shows up, and is desperate for help?

-- Mumsie (Lotsakids@home.com), March 26, 1999.

I know the discomfort of being the recipient of jeering. My 2 grown married kids and spouses are DGI and think I have lost it. I have 5 little grandkids who don't get a choice in making a decision. My financial situation is such that I am not able to prepare for all on my own.

Makes me sad.

-- notthistime (sad@home.com), March 26, 1999.

*caution* *Bible verses to follow* Roland,

Obviously I have taken these verses out of context---they were trying to share the Gospel. But that doesn't remove the wisdom of the words. No way is y2k a religion, but it evokes a strong reaction none the less. Wouldn't want to think about anything bad happening you know, please don't knock me out of my comfort zone. Kill the messenger blah blah.

"And whosoever does not receive you or heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."

Matthew 10:14

And when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads!"

Acts 18:6

Blind people are blind people. You were honorable, you tried. Their blood is upon their own heads. These reactions are not new, it is human nature.----Deborah ;-)

"There is nothing new under the sun" ----Ecclesiastes 1:9

"In the world you have tribulation but take courage, I have overcome the world."

----John 16:33b

Been there, been there, been there.

Flame away.

-- Deborah, who apparently is very preachy today (infowars@yahoo.com), March 26, 1999.

That is a hard thing to endure. It does cause one to think a bit. IMHO there is enough news with a risk oriented slant that every person in the USA now has a choice to make. It is not your responsibility to baby people. If they chose wrong then that it for them. Do protect yourself, including making it impossible for people to find you or what you have.

-- D (C.D@I.N), March 29, 1999.