Y2K, the quicker picker upper. Please, Don't squeeze the Y2K. Y2K will fix your muffler, "I guarantee it."

A couple of famous advertising lines that I'm sure all of you know. Replace the "Y2K" with the original product and you have a catch phrase that has been heard in every household in America a hundred times.

Now, with that in mind.

I saw something on FOX last night. "Y2Ray", using the lines: "Are you scared of Y2K? Well now we have Y2Ray". This was a scheme to advertise a Sitcom called "Everbody Loves Raymond". And I'm sure most of you have seen the "Y2Kia" commericals for the Korean Import Automobile Corporation.

My point is that Y2K has been so widely discussed that it is being picked up as a catch phrase by advertising hacks. More and more, I presume, Y2K will be used to sell just about anything. The truth is, when I hear "Y2K" on the T.V. or Radio, my ears perk up. There is something truly interesting about the whole scenario that makes everyone, Polly and GI's alike, tune in when they hear "Y2K".

*

*

Having been dismissed as a Polly some time ago, maybe some of you can put aside your prejudices for a moment and understand what I'm saying...

If Y2K does turn out to be an extremely disruptive event then we will all be to blame for the mass panic that sets in prior to the deadline. When we turn "Y2K" into a new fashion then it will undoubtably be used as hook for advertising agencies. Therefore, the general public will dismiss any REAL Y2K problems as just hype.

I truly have no idea how we could turn the noise level of Y2K down without changing people's minds about the danger it poses. It's a catch 22. But for the validity of the danger to remain solid then we all have to stop injecting this catch phrase into the media.

I guess, in short, what I'm trying to say is if you are truly dedicated to informing America about the real dangers of Y2K then you have to find a new way of educating them. How? I don't know. But it's time that Y2K was either forgotten, or started to be taken seriously. Because now as it stands "Y2K is nothing more than a catchy one liner to sell products.

It's kind of like the Comet Hale Bopp has almost become synonymous with Nike because of the Heaven's Gate mass suicide. Y2K is getting used in the same way because of it's attraction and impact.

(I'm really trying to make a good point here an not mock Y2K in any way.

MidwestMike: Vendetta (what you said you have against me) is the Sicillian code of justice, and says that every killing must be repaid with a killing. If you have something against me fine but don't use words that don't have any place in a public discussion.)

-- (Doomers@suck.com), July 26, 1999

Answers

Oddly enough, I find myself in almost total agreement with you. The only exception is this from you:

If Y2K does turn out to be an extremely disruptive event then we will all be to blame for the mass panic that sets in prior to the deadline.

Actually, the DOOMERS (IMO) will NOT be the ones to incite the panic. It will be incited by inflammatory media coverage, and when the pollys (who did NOTHING to prepare) finally "GI", THEY are the ones who'll "freak out". Us doomers are pretty much DONE with our preps, except for odds & ends. So, IMO it'll be the MEDIA and the POLLYS who are ultimately responsible for the panic.

Kind of ironic, actually, considering that the POLLYS have been the ones pooh-poohing the whole Y2K thing... Almost poetic justice, actually. It's just a shame that so much suffering will have to accompany it...

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), July 26, 1999.

suck,

Not bad. You make a valid point, however I have do disagree on one point. If there is anyone to blame (which there might not be), I would lay the blame squarely at the feet of the major T.V. networks, here's why. Last week here in MN we had a y2k "community" meeting. The MAYOR of St. Paul(the capital) and Mr. Koskinin were both there along with the Govenor's rep. Between the Twin cities (Mpls & St.Paul), there were about 40 people.

This meeting had no earth shattering disclosures, but they did reitterate that it would probably be more prudent to have some xtra stuff, just in case. Couple that with the general knowledge "awareness" that was brought to light at that meeting, and I assure you that NO ONE who attened that meeting will panic at the last minute (well maybe 1 or 2). My point being, that if the networks, who are supposedly doing the public service with their broadcast's, WOULD have covered this event LIVE (instead of say, the JFK thing), practically the whole of MN would be equally assured and prepared, long before any potential panic. Now, if this could happen across the entire nation, I think-crisis averted, as far as the panic/hoarding goes. Then all we would have to fear is y2k, be it nada or whatever.

I blame the networks, for not doing the right thing.

-- CygnusXI (noburnt@toast.net), July 26, 1999.

Too true, Dennis. Obviously we have not spread the least bit of panic. People don't even reply to me when I say the economy is going to fail, etc. All we are trying to do is get out of the way of the panic. I don't intend to go shopping alongside DoomersSuck. Sheesh. He'll be elbowing little old ladies to get the last can of soup.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWAyne@aol.com), July 26, 1999.

DS,

I see your point and as an adman I can appreciate your point of view. There is no doubt that the phrase "y2k" is being/has been used to hype everything from bug spray to buying gold. But, most of these advertisers aren't looking to hype Y2k for profit. More often than not the use of Y2k as something to poke fun at while pitching a product. It's a topic of the current age.

The effect is really the opposite of what you fear. If anything, the current playful spin that the majority of advertisers are using makes Y2k seem to be more a farse than a serious issue.

So, if panic comes, it may be due more to the media's inability and the individual advertisers inability to treat the serious issues of Y2k with the concern they deserve rather than the media using the Y2k handle because of it's "attraction and impact."

Mike

===========================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), July 26, 1999.

Good post. I don't think we're all to blame, but at least it seems like we've all grown up enough to realize no matter how many names we call each other,

children and adults alike could suffer the consequences of y2k.

we need people to wake up and at least decide how they feel about the issues instead of just being lulled to sleep by the media matrix....

SuperL

-- SuperLurker (slfsl@yahoo.com), July 26, 1999.

So, what I think you are saying is, for the sake of everyone involved, Y2K should be forgotten or taken seriously.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), July 26, 1999.

Suck (I can call you that?)

On the west coast there has been Y2K adverts out for months. The other day there was back to back Y2K adds.

One of them from a natural gas co.

"Are you warm for Y2K???"

Sounds pretty subtle eh?

But hey in the society we have today one would expect anything differant?

-- Brian (imager@home.com), July 26, 1999.

I like candy, lots of candy.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), July 26, 1999.

That would explain why you're so fat and ugly, Maria.

-- (ewww@gross.yuck), July 26, 1999.

I didn't mean to lay blame on anybody, that is totally counter productive. We might as well point fingers at who let the barn door open when the horses have all ran out. It's time to repair what damage may already have been done.

I guess what I meant to say is that we are all PART of the Y2K situation and it would take a participation on all sides of the issue to turn Y2K into something we start to take seriously or let go like so many other fads and fashions.

Point taken (and you can call me anything you like).

-- (Doomers@suck.com), July 26, 1999.

Doomer, you're simply trivializing some very serious shit. Gee, maybe Y2K is becoming a 'catch-phrase'. WOW! Now that adds a lot of insight into this discussion. You still don't get it. Lotsa luck on the other side,

DOWNtheROAD

-- DOWNtheROAD (foo@foo.com), July 26, 1999.

Hey suck!

Wow, a post I can read...again.

What would you have the GIs on this forum do that they are not already doing? This forum is littered with anecdotes about people who are DWGI and the frustration of multiple approaches that didn't work.

This forum is seen by less than 1% of the population. There is no way for the people here to impact more than 5% of the population.

The rest is up to the mainstream media and the sheeple cows. The media are ALL clueless. People are stupid and journalists are people, so... Most sheeple don't want to hear about it anyway. Personal responsibility starts where the government ends and I don't see the government making great strides with Y2K so far.

This is why the "doomers" can get pessimistic. They've been trying to warn people, but there's just not enough time for everyone to make it through rollover if things go bad.

Face it suck, you ARE a doomer. It may take a few more months for you to realize it, but that's why you spend so much time on this forum.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), July 26, 1999.

I saw a commercial on TV yesterday and I was wondering how I would ever be justified in putting in a thread. I guess this is about as good of place as I'll find.

Godzilla vs Y2k

While laying on the couch yesterday my son, who was watching the cartoon network on TV, suddenly said (with excitement) "GODZILLA VS Y2K!!" My first response was "Huh?" And he repeated himself and said: "Look!!" I looked at the television and it was showing a cartoon commercial (apparently a spin of a real cartoon) where there was a man and women on a ship. Over the horizon came a huge mechanical looking beetle type thing flying in the air. It had "Y2K BUG" written on it's belly. The lady exitedly stated "Oh no, computers are going to quit working. The stockmarket going to crash. Power grids will fail." The man responded by pulling out some kind of remote control looking thing with a big red button on it and proceeded to push the button which would call Godzilla. When the button was pushed, all that could heard were some crackling sounds. The lady then said "Did you replace the embedded chips?" The commercial ended with the man pushing the button several more times, but this time all that could be heard was the clicking of the button.

I thought this was a really odd commercial, especially for a childrens channel. It makes a person wonder what the intent was behind it.

-- Godzilla (GI's@cartoon.network), July 26, 1999.

I fully place the blame for Y2K on the DoD, early 1970's, 1974 methinks.

-- Jim (x@x.x), July 26, 1999.

Hmmm....DS has changed. REALLY changed. Writing style is different, too.

It ain't from layin' off the coffee, buddies.

Track down some of the old posts. This isn't the same DS.

Hmmmm....

Anita E.

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), July 26, 1999.

hey Anita...that is very true.

Doomer Sucks, uh, have you been hanging around Andy Ray too much or is Andy Ray slipping a little in keeping all his alter egos straight?

-- alter ego (of a forum reg@tby2k.com), July 26, 1999.

This is clear down at the bottom of the discussion, may be missed and probebly a little off topic but----in an act to counteract the media's lack of responcibility wouldn't it be fun to start an e-mail project to mail to 10 people a simple--"Please prepare for y2k--I care for your safety"---or some such thing---Now if there could be some juicy bit of gossip to go with, it would probebly circle the globe in about 1 minute! any takers?

-- catherine plamondon (souldancer@pop.spkn.uswest.net), July 26, 1999.

I can't believe it... suck-A-doomer is morphing into a doomer!! I geuss he can suck himself then.

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), July 27, 1999.

Come on folks,

While we can never be sure who's who here, DS did accept my truce offer. And, he is a former GI. Pay attention to the MESSAGE...

"I fully place the blame for Y2K on the DoD, early 1970's, 1974 methinks."

More like 1964 I think. My first IBM mainframe was already was "infected" in 1968. Wish I could find that damned DOD/IBM notice ... ... ... I'll be back... ... ... <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), July 27, 1999.

Doomer was a former GI?? Is it Doc in drag? ISP's different.

-- R. Wright (blaklodg@hotmail.com), July 27, 1999.

Sysman is right... I apologize. This whole mess is starting to blow my cool.

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), July 27, 1999.