Recently I posed a question on another thread. I now realize that many people who my question was "aimed" at may have "ignored" that thread without having seen my question. With that said, I would once again like to pose my question here [copied below]...

There are a number of shows/persons such as Art Bell, Ed Dames, Jeff Rense etc. that present stories of the bizarre. Stories revolving around "secret science", "grand revelations", UFOs, time travelers, conspiracies, coverups, extraterrestrials, extrasensory powers, etc. These persons/shows are quickly dismissed and relegated to "nonsense" status by the mainstream public. (Even the most die-hard fan of this genre has to admit that 99% of the stuff is bogus and would make world headlines if it were even remotely true.) I think the majority of us here would agree that those who actually BELIEVE these persons/shows are quite naive. There are however, a number of people who enjoy this stuff simply for the entertainment value it delivers. Afterall...the presentations are often quite plausible and there's a certain "thrill" derived from wondering... "what if that were true?" Regardless of the reason, it's obvious that some people are more drawn to this type entertainment than others are. It is my guess that the majority of people on this forum would fit into this category. Which brings me to my observation. During the last few months of lurking in this forum I have noticed that a number of people have either quoted or made reference to these persons/shows. It is with those people in mind that I pose my question... Have you ever seriously considered the possibility that you may have been drawn into the "darker" side of Y2k because you are predisposed to this type of "shock theater"?

To anybody else that responds with an attack, please indicate if you "subscribe" to any of these persons/shows regularly, or even occasionally.

As I said, I've wondered about this for quite some time and am genuinely curious...

A "thanks" to those who have already responded to my question ("Dog Gone", "Ashton & Leska ", "Faith Weaver", "MinnesotaSmith" "Diane J. Squire"). I would very much appreciate hearing from any others here who have quoted or referenced those persons/shows which I described above.

-- CD (not@here.com), June 17, 1999

Answers

Q.) Have you ever seriously considered the possibility that you may have been drawn into the "darker" side of Y2k because you are predisposed to this type of "shock theater"?

A.) Yes I have, that is why I'm considered pretty rational. But just because I have an overactive imagination doesn't mean I'm wrong. "The people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world usually wind up being the people who do"

-- (still @ "5". and holding), June 17, 1999.

Do you have a link to the original thread?

-- do you (do@youhave.link), June 17, 1999.

I have been known to listen to Art Bell when I am up late driving somewhere, I have watched the Terminator Etal and see all of them for what they are, entertainment.

Y2K is not entertainment, it is as real as an earthquake or a Tornado. It is prudent to prepare in any event, Y2K or not. Y2K just puts a date on the problem, it the first Bonified "Disaster Prediction" date that has a good chance of real problems occuring. Some have gone over the deep end, some have not gotten into the pool.

What we do know, That Jan 1, 2000 will arive, and some computers will have problems. The question is "how big a problem?"

Keep the faith

Helium

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), June 17, 1999.

CD: Please provide a link to the thread where your post was originally offered. Thanks.

I realize you're taking a shot at the doomers on this forum, however you pose an interesting question. So I'll bite.

As far as I can tell, a very low percentage of regular posters are listeners of Art Bell, Jeff Rense & others who report on "things which go bump in the night".

I am a devoted listener to Art Bell's Coast-To-Coast & Dreamland. Have been for about three years. It appears you are mistaken as to the focus of Art's shows. Yes from time to time he covers ghosts, UFO/alien abduction, bigfoot/yeti, etc. However a high percentage of the subject matter deals with various aspects of spirituality. Right up my alley. Some of what you call bizarre I call everyday experience. 99% bogus? I think not.

I certainly do enjoy the show for its entertainment value. I LOL quite frequently. As to whether I believe the stories proposed by any given guest, I can say that if I haven't experienced it I put it in what Stan Freidman calls "the grey box". That is, I file it for future consideration.

Naive you say? I prefer to call it humble. My experience tells me we as a species know very little about a great deal. We've barely scratched the surface!

If I were to break out a broad brush for purposes of pigeon-holing those "drawn into the darker side of Y2K" (your words), I would label these folks free-thinkers. Those not prone to swallowing information hook, line & sinker. People who habitually think & intuit multi- dimensionally.

Thanks for asking, whatever your motive.

Best Wishes,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), June 17, 1999.

don't think so CD:

GI's are a class by themselves, and I don't buy into the supernatural or paranormal. Sure it's interesting sometimes, but y2k is a real threat, and is not "beleif" based, but "reality" based.

The computers are programmed wrong. End of story

Buy some Tuna

Bob P

-- Bob P (rpilc99206@aol.com), June 17, 1999.

EXPERTS QUIT! "You're on your own now"..

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 000xkA

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), June 17, 1999.

CD

It absolutely amazes me that folks can worry about art bell and his ilk. Only caught Gary North on Art Bell (Gary sounded out of date) but half of the show is meaningless. Trying to sell and promote the show. Do you ever hear Jung, Chaos - Complexity therory, Quantum Physics, Systems therory, Genetics, and a ton of other subjects that have validity and are far stranger than most of the "New Age" stuff?

Y2K is even "fluff" as a subject but it captures the imagination and points out the vulerabilities in systems. If there is going to be one thing that will come from all of this is that folks will not be so trusting in things that will break in time. There is no doubt that Emergency Prep is going to get hightened exposure. This is a good thing as most places are at some risk if only from the weather.

If it goes bad.....?

-- Brian (imager@home.com), June 17, 1999.

Considered and rejected the hypothesis. I base a good deal of my concern on my extensive observations of systems remediation/ modification. 33 years doing, leading, teaching, and auditing. But then, I'm probably an optimist...somewhere in the 9 range...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 18, 1999.