Hello good people, I really need some help,

I own a teeny, tiny seminar business, that produces preparedness courses for the locals. I have been invited to attend a meeting next week in which the Public Relations Vice-President of one of the largest national convenience store chains will be presenting. He is slated to cover the IT systems, field systems and contingency planning in Arizona. I'm not a programmer, I don't work in the petroleum industry, I'm just a simple seminar business owner who has the opportunity to ask anything I want - in a public forum! I need a lot of education - fast! Does anyone here have urls for petroleum info so I can familiarize myself with the industry, or questions I can ask him?

Sincerely, Laura

-- Laura in Phoenix (LadyLogic46@aol.com), November 12, 1999

Answers

Laura, It is not going to help you or anybody else to go to a public forum and try to get answers. Believe me. I have been working at it for a year. You will only look foolish.

The most productive tact you can take is admit that it too late to try to convince anybody of anything and see if they want preparation tips. Just shrugging and saying, "It would be so smart to be ready. Just put by a few necessary items so you don't find yourself thinking 'Gee I was warned but I didn't do a thing!'"

If they wanted you to know about possible disruptions they would be behaving VERY DIFFERENTLY, wouldn't they. As I say I have tried and at the last meeting I just sat there in amazement and listened.

Next question: what to do with your invitation? Ask questions like: What items do you carry that will help people to prepare? If I give you a list of items to stock in your stores when can you tell me if they are available in large quantities and will you let me know when the items will be in your stores so I can tell my friends [clients?]?

Becky

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 12, 1999.

Laura...... RC,Gordon, Dog gone and a few others have contributed quite alot. Check out the embed issues at the bottom of the TB2000 forum main page.

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

Here's one for ya........http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a- fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001h1z

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

The thing is, a PR weasel isn't going to be able to answer technical questions, and vice versa: those who COULD answer technical questions usefully won't be allowed to. Here's some pointed questions you could ask, and remember, the friendlier the better. You want to be as reasonable as possible, so that he has no excuse to take offence and become defensive.

1) Can I talk to your software/hardware engineers directly and ask them how they feel about your readiness? If not, why not?

2) What precautions are you - personally - taking to ensure you and your family have a smooth rollover. Are you stocking? Can I come round to your house and check? If not, why not?

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

Laura

Here is a thread I just started on the oil industry. This should give you an idea of the challanges

 OIL AND GAS The International Energy Agency's Y2K Website

-- Brian (imager@home.com), November 12, 1999.

I have worked in the oil industry for much of this year as a programmer / web developer.

You can speculate all you want about what will happen. I can tell you though, that in all honesty, the people that are in a position to KNOW what the repurcusions of Y2K are are generally cautiously optimistic.

Y2K is simply another project that is being handled. There is no panic. Some problems may arise and they will be dealt with.

You know, at some point in time the 1% of the population that are doomers will need to grasp that just perhaps the other 99% are closer to the truth than they are.

Where on earth does this mindset come from that is hell bent on believing that everything is a conspiracy and no one is telling the truth?

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), November 13, 1999.

Hi Craig,

Thank you for your halcyon perspective. It is a pleasure to meet you. Since you have been so generous as to share your viewpoint with me, I have a couple of questions I'd like to ask:

>>>I have worked in the oil industry for much of this year as a programmer / web developer.<<<

I don't know you so I don't know how much of what you are telling me is true. I do, however, "know" DD 1st Light. Do you? She and I have both been contributing members of another website for a relatively long time. (I've only been there for the last eight months...she was there long before I, and has since left.)I "know" she is a programmer and works in the petroleum industry. I also know she has been doing it for at least twenty years. That's 20 times longer than you have.

>>>> I can tell you though, that in all honesty, the people that are in a position to KNOW what the repurcusions of Y2K are are generally cautiously optimistic. <<<<

Hhmmmmmm. Why is it I suspect your boss is reading your posts?

>>>You know, at some point in time the 1% of the population that are doomers will need to grasp that just perhaps the other 99% are closer to the truth than they are.<<<

I think you have those percentages reversed. I think 99% are doomers, and 1% are closer to the truth. Although, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Since you have not chosen to provide me with any substantive/quantative information - merely opinion - I'd like to once again thank you for your response, but rap your knuckles for wasting my time.

Sincerely,

-- Laura (Ladylogic46@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

Laura

You are a funny lady but don't forget it is welcome to share information so if you are so smart then you can give us your world view (personal or otherwise) on the Y2K situation. Questions are easy, answers aren't.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), November 14, 1999.