What would your reaction be?

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Just a little fun...it'll be interesting to see how we'd all react:

For argument's sake (and for the sake of this quiz) let's say that the clock has just struck midnight on Jan. 1. And, by golly, the lights really DO go out.

Think very hard for just a second before you answer this...and asnwer this as honestly as you can; would your first reaction be one of fear, or one of elation?

-- dan (dbuchner@logistics.calibersys.com), June 08, 1999

Answers

My reaction would be one of profound sadness at what is going to happen.

-- Bill (billvan@cheerful.com), June 08, 1999.

I'd be thankful I have a kerosene heater ready to keep me warm...

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), June 08, 1999.

Elation, no doubt in my mind. Justification. It would feel very good!

But then my thoughts would stretch beyond my own little piece of unreality. What is my wife's reaction? The neighbors? County? City? State? Region? Country? Continent? Hemisphere? A giant shudder, lifeforce coursing up my spine.

All this in a matter of a few seconds!

Peace to All,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), June 08, 1999.


My first emotion would be sadness at the thought of all the people who will suffer. I would then try to drown out those thoughts by trying to light the candles I had bought in case of the lights going out. I would then pray for civilization to stay intact until the power comes back on...

-- Crono (Crono@timesend.com), June 08, 1999.

I think the phrase, "Oh shit! I was right!" might blurt out.

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), June 08, 1999.


We're planning to be fast asleep, getting rest so we can cope with the next day if anything extraordinary is required. Will have all preps at the ready-set-go.

If the electricity is out on 1/1/oh oh we will be sad, hopeful it will come back on soon, and ready to stay warm with Polartec etc and live very simply until either we die or society becomes functional.

If the lights are on and stay on we will be VERY HAPPY!

xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), June 08, 1999.


My first reaction? I'd probably say: "Oops!" If there's no raging snow storm or heavy ice accumulation, then I'd tune into my police scanner. Nine times out of ten, when we have a power outage here, it means somebody's driven into a utility pole nearby. On NYE, the chances of a car hitting a pole are greater than at other times. My scanner will also tell me how widespread the power outage is and, eventually, what they think caused it and how fast it will be repaired.

If the scanner is dead? That means the power is out over a wide area (I can pick up other emergency systems) and double back-up systems have, for some reason, failed. At the same time, I'll be taking out the 4" battery-operated TV to see if anything's on the news. I will have checked for a dial tone somewhere in here. I'll already be listening to the Baygen to see if the BBC is reporting any problems anywhere.

If it starts looking like a Y2K problem? I won't feel a spike of anything. I never do in a crisis, I just get on with what needs to be done. It will be like anything else I research in advance, when it happens I just adapt, mostly in ways I've previously thought about/experienced before. Reaction will set in slowly.

Thre certainly will NOT be any elation, and there won't be much fear either. I might allow myself a little smugness but that will only be a tiny blip, then I'll start wondering about how many people aren't prepared. I'll stop wondering almost immediately because there's nothing I can do about unprepared people except get on with my life, doing the best I can with what I've got. Not much different to the philosophy I've always used.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), June 08, 1999.


Fear is past tense for me at this point. We're ready! That scenerio is precisely the one we prepared for. Truthfully.....my heart would begin beating faster, the adrenalin flowing.... and the fight announcer's voice would be heard in my head...."llllllleeeeett's get ready to RUUUUUUMMMMbllllllllllllle"

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 08, 1999.

FEAR! Absolute total chilling fear! Not for a short term scenario, but in case this is going to lead to a long outage in Canada, in January, in a huge city. Nightmares of suffering and looting. It does not bear thinking about. Can't go there.

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), June 08, 1999.

Dan I really don't think any fun could be made out of this at this late stage. There's going to be a lot of pain and gnashing of teeth next year even if the lights stay on. For once, think not what our reaction would be(if we are here now, then we will be ready) but think of your fellow Americans, who at this stage has been misled by our government and the press to make a joke out of the 'Y to K problem.' I wish that we could focus sometimes on this picture...a picture of babies..whose mothers don't breast feed...and need formula to feed their babies. And focus on our children whom have become accustomed to McDonalds or fast food from the grocery store. There will be millions of innocent victims next year. I think there will a lot of suffering...regardless if it's short term or long term I will be thinking and praying for the children on New Year's Eve. So Dan, I can honestly say that my reaction will be one of fear. sincerely, from a mother who used bottles and visited McDonalds more than once.....

-- lurker13 (lurker13@nowhere.here), June 08, 1999.


"Damn! The power really did kick off!" followed by the ususal as one tries to figure it out:

"Why?" (which could be answered by "Where?" and "How long will it be down?" Then "Who else is affected?"

then - "Alright who moved the matches? Who put the lighter in the wrong drawer? Ouch! Can't anybody keep the cabinet doors shut for once! (wife's comment from kitchen) Where's the portable radio? I told you to get it out earlier" ..... as we light an oil lamp and try to get back to normal - while trying to figure out whether this loss will be short or long.

The actual loss is easy to survive (for a short time) - but the secondary things (do you start the kerosene heater? Or wait till the house cools too low?) would be the biggest level of concern.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), June 08, 1999.


Ashton & Leska -- You're gonna SLEEP through the rollover? Really? No kidding -- you're gonna be fast asleep in your comfy beds when the Big Unknown finally arrives?

Really?

Naahhh. No way. I'd believe that Y2k will be a total "0" before I believe that ANY human being older than 5 is gonna SLEEP through it.

Don't know what kinda shape I'll be in -- but I'm DAMN sure I'll be wide awake.

-- already (starting@to.drink), June 08, 1999.


No one will know how they feel till the rollover.

-- GeeGee (GeeGee@madtown.com), June 08, 1999.

By midnight, I will already have seen power failures in major cities across the world; my heart will already be full of sorrow. The loss of power in our locality will hardly be a surprise. Nevertheless, the moment of realization--it's happening, for real, here and now--will no doubt produce for me a very heightened sense of alertness, as I accept that it's a whole new game now and that the rules are anybody's guess.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), June 08, 1999.

"already," after years and years of hospice work, where true sleep is impossible, YES it will be easy, welcome and at a premium to be ASLEEP that Midnight. Being well-rested and able to cope rationally and fully that First Day is important to us :^)

Of course if the power is on we'll want to click on the Forum in the morning and read how everybody is doing ....

xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxx

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), June 08, 1999.



"CPR, I'm comin' after ya."

-- Lisa (lisa@work.now), June 08, 1999.

I will be asleep! I am prepared so I can do nothing to change what will happen. The next morning will be soon enough for me to know if GN was right or wrong.

-- Carol (123@123.net), June 08, 1999.

I would check the main circuit breaker on the electrical panel.

-- Dave Walden (wprop@concentric.net), June 08, 1999.

If the power went off right now? Well I'd be pretty pissed because I don't back up my files on the AS/400 until later tonight. I guess it would be a moot point if the power never came back on...

If that were the case I guess I'd outfit myself into my ex Recon/Surv gear and have a little looksy around the neighborhood to find out how my fellow man is coping with the new shortage of luxuries.

Other than that I really don't know what I'd do. It would be one hell of a proverbial monkey wrench in my daily machine I know that.

-- (workathome@atl.ga), June 08, 1999.


Mr. Walden,

I am still chuckling. Congratulations on one of the most trenchant comments I have read in months.

Regards,

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), June 08, 1999.


I've already thought about how I will react if the bug bites so suddenly, and I'm not ashamed to tell, either. I'm going to cry. Not a 'waaaahhhh!' sort of cry, but the silent flood of tears that comes when something truly awful befalls one. We'll be able to 'afford' sometime for immediate grief reactions, because we're going to expect the worst. The grief will be because our hopes for the best will be dashed.

On the lighter side of it, I'm going to make danged sure that I know where the matches are, as well as the tissues and the toilet paper!

-- Arewyn (nordic@northnet.net), June 08, 1999.


Go downstairs and throw the generator switch. Then get out the guns, and keep them handy. Keep black cloth over the windows at night. Prepare (if necessary) to live off our cache for a period.

Hope and pray that it doesn't last long....

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), June 08, 1999.


Dan,

This is a question I have gone thru over and over with myself. The base instinct must be fear for any sane person. But along with that fear will be wonder, at that point I will know for SURE that TEOTWAWKI has come to pass. Up untill then it is speculation for most and, just plain childish fun for some. I will be out on the balcony looking at the stars as the clock strikes midnight, as will a billion other souls on our planet, I'm sure I won't be completley sober. I will however be very, very thoughtful.

"Let their be light".

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 08, 1999.


Frankly, I think my first reaction would be 'snore'. I expect to be asleep that night, same as most. I'm usually far too tired from working to stay up just to watch a stupid ball drop.

Whether I'm awake or not, you can bet the house breakers will be OFF. No way I'm trusting our electric company when it comes to surges. Just to protect our electronic/electric 'stuff' we will be running dark that night and probably the next few days after. I've already lost TV's and such to voltage fluctuations from our supplier. (hint: Emmersons blow up like THAT!)

If I wake up that morning to no power, I will first get on my ham radio and see how wide spread it is. I expect the bands would be buzzing. I might even listen to the radio news and see what's up. Then I'll walk next door and check the neigbors. The old guy needs power for his O2 machine and has limited bottled backup.

Then.... I'll throw a few more logs in the stove and cook breakfast. Probably pancakes, eggs, and bacon.

Fear? No. Why should I have fear? I actually might be happy if it stays off a while. That means I don't have to go to work. If it stays off a WEEK or more, then I will be worried.

Whether our power sails through fine or fails for all of next year, we are ready as we need to be. No need for fear, just life as usual. Aint that what insurance is all about?

-- Art Welling (artw@lancnews.infi.net), June 08, 1999.


Art, you said it SO well. (where do you get the BACON?)

BTW, I liked your piece on "are you prepared to be wrong?" so much, I CONTINUALLY reference it for those "on the fence", or who have familiy members that don't understand. That was a MAGNIFICENT essay....

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), June 08, 1999.


Art: Will you please repost the essay "are you prepared to be wrong?" I also thought it was excellent and want to print it if you don't mind.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), June 08, 1999.

If my lights went off? I'd think 0h darn- we used up too much juice and it's been rather cloudy this week. Then I'd check the battery gauge and see......Then- we'd probably hit the sack and let er recharge in the morning......

Anita- who only knows about power failures when the neighbors show up for water.....

-- anita (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), June 08, 1999.


That essay can be found at THIS LINK

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), June 08, 1999.

Art,

Please, I missed it the first time.

Lisa,

Don't worry about cpr, his neighbors WILL remember.

Kenny,

Are you really so isolated that you can't just glance out a window to see if your neighbor has lights? Ps...NOT a fan, I'm as well, or better preped than you ( indefinite time scale- 1 day to 20 years ). I would never poo poo Y2k as you do, you should be ashamed.

-- CT (ct@no.yr), June 08, 1999.


"Uh-oh - here comes a 3-day storm"

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), June 08, 1999.

I would be fearful even though I had made preparations for it. The fear would be based on the uncertainty at the moment as to what this means. They might come back on in five minutes or five days. No big deal at my location (New York City would an entirely different matter.)

Until I could make an assessment of whether this was the bump or the InfoMagic, I would be nervous.

-- Doug (douglasjohnson@prodigy.net), June 08, 1999.


Like Mr. Walden and Mr. Decker, I'll be checking the main breaker box with my Baygen crank flashlight to light the way into the new century.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), June 08, 1999.


I would be neither fearful beyond that which would be healthy for that kind of event (bad people like to play in the dark), nor elated. I would be annoyed. Then I would do what I have always done when the lights went out when I least expected it.

-- LP (soldog@hotmail.com), June 08, 1999.

If we are out in the Caribbee we shall be using oil lamps so won't know if the power goes off.The main Island supply works off a diesel generator or two anyway.No TV either so will be following progress via BBC world service. Oh Shit would be my internal response !Spoken out loud,if I have had too much of the Island Spirit!

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), June 08, 1999.

If so, we'll probably say, "Well, herrrrrre we gooooo", add another log to the stove, fire up a lamp or two, and listen to the radio for details.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), June 08, 1999.

I have to admit I would feel like Arewyn, very sad. Then I would immediately begin worrying about the coming summer's horrible heat and humidity. I am not a hot weather person.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 08, 1999.

Can you imagine the anxiety that millions of people would have wondering when the power would come back on. What would their comments be. Let your imagination run wild.

-- thinkIcan (thinkIcan@make.it), June 08, 1999.

Solar flares? Or somebody's idea of a joke, pulling the plug...

We'll be watching Peter Jennings telecast starting with that island near New Zealand that will roll over first and see what happens as the time change moves east.

mb in NC

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), June 08, 1999.


I would immediately cease and desist on the ice cream rationing and make a beeline for the freezer.

(I always seem to do my best thinking with a mouthful of Chocolate Chip Ice Cream)

seriously? say a very thankful prayer - for having the forethought to plan and prepare - followed by another prayer asking for the fortitude to carry out all the planning.

justme

-- justme (finally@home.com), June 08, 1999.


My first thought would be: "Oh, Drat! I really hate to be right when predicting disaster!"

But I'd also heartily second the idea of ending ice cream rationing in the household!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 08, 1999.


We shall be watching the news as the date changes across the world, we shall have a clue by then, so when 01-01-00 hits here, the tears will have been shed, the electrical supplies all shut off, prior to any outage. And then - we wait - possibly temorary, possibly not. But we are all in this together. I am prepared to help my neighbors & family in any way I can, and hope that it is short, but prepared if it is not.

-- wary-weary-ready (lurker@hotmail.com), June 09, 1999.

First things first. Is the power bill paid?

Then the phone. No dial tone? Did I pay it in time?

Then reality. Up the road to check a neighbor that has a major spinal cord injury and is on a ventilator. Move him to our house where there IS power. New log on the stove. Coffee pot on top....gonna be a long night. (By the way, the neighbor is prepping....solar chargers for banks of batteries for the vent....food, etc. Just because he's a quad doesn't mean anything is wrong with his brain).

Then about 5 or 6 am when it's obvious that the power won't be back for a while, feelings of sadness for all those that listened to the pollys, feelings of relief that MY family is warm and safe, feelings of uncertainty as to whats to come. Above all, feelings of comfort and love as I settle my loved ones and the neighbors that I have planned for into a warm, cozy sleep bag with the knowledge that...

"We must all hang together. For if not, we shall most assuredly hang seperately". (Winston Churchill)

God watch over us all for most assuredly "Something wicked, this way comes".

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), June 09, 1999.


Would I lower myself to indulge in feeling vindication? Maybe. Probably, though I would mostly experience a climax of extreme frustration, in knowing that FINALLY people would be ready to listen to (hope this works) my advice, but that it would be exactly at the first moment when there would be absolutely nothing that I could do for them, short of sharing with them what I need to keep to survive.

I might also feel a burden of responsibility to try to lead the neighborhood, while also feeling completely inadequate to the job, and fairly certain that I would not be accepted as leader material.

(BTW, the "hang together" quote above is often attributed to Winston Churchill. While he may have said it, Benjamin Franklin said it first. It does sound like something Churchill would say though, doesn't it?)

-- Dancr (minddancr@aol.com), June 12, 1999.


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