Hi, gang:

I've wondered about this for months.

When Y2K hits, I don't expect every single computer to crash, and you don't expect this either, but numerous pollyannas will remember your warnings and will relish ridiculing you shortly after the new year when many computer systems are still functional.

However, Y2K problems are not simple. Y2K is systemic and will gradually infect and fester myriads of computer systems worldwide. The total effects will not be pronounced immediately. But when the Just In Time distribution system chokes, panic will prevail.

Before all Haydes breaks loose, HOW WILL YOU HANDLE THE RIDICULE?

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), November 12, 1999

Answers

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but rice and beans can't hurt me.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), November 12, 1999.

The King and I ADORE mud slinging.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 12, 1999.

So with no gasoline available to the general public, major utility outages in several major metropolitan areas and food shelves bare, I am to be the subject of ridicule for having advised a little stocking up? I doubt it.

-- Me (me@me.me), November 12, 1999.

I don't expect much ridicule, as I believe the people I've spoken with have understood what I've said. If the stock market and supply chain are going strong by the end of January I'll get ridiculed some - mostly self-ridicule.

No problem, I enjoy self-ridicule.

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), November 12, 1999.

What's to ridicule? I have a very well stocked pantry. I don't have to pay rising food costs this coming year, I have all the camping needs I will need for camping season, all the charcoal I will need for barbeques next year. Don't have to worry about running out of much of anything any time soon. I'll get to splurge on all kinds of goodies next year. Gee, I feel like a winner either way!

Can you say security??

-- Dian (bdp@accessunited.com), November 12, 1999.

I will entertain more next year using some divine recipes concocted from my canned and boxed goods. I could never have done this on my limited budget. With what I have stored, I could feed an army...ooops! I'll probably eat better next year than I have for the last 5 years. With all of the information I have gleaned from this website and others, there is nothing I cannot do. I feel empowered. That's how I'll handle the ridicule.

I will donate some of my goodies to churches and food banks. Giving back what has been graciously given me. That's how I'll handle the ridicule.

I will never be caught unprepared or short-handed again.

What ridicule will I need to handle?

-- (retiredmudwrestler@aol.com), November 12, 1999.

Gotta agree with Dian on this one. Nothing lost. If I look at stuff that's getting close to expiring I hand it to the food banks.

I have gotten ridiculed so much when I was in High School that a little more doesn't really matter. Better safe, then sorry. And IF people really ridicule me I will breathe a sigh of relief. I would LOVE to be ridiculed.

May God watch over each and every one...

-- STFrancis (STFrancis@heaven.com), November 12, 1999.

Since I've already seen how the majority respond to this subject, I don't even bother discussing it unless it is someone who seems genuinely concerned. Thus there are very few who would be likely to ridicule, but if they do, I'll just laugh right along with them.

After the problems start snowballing and they begin to get a bit frantic, I think I'll take my camera and follow these people around. I'll get some funny pictures of them waiting in long lines at the FEMA shelter to get a nice bowl of government grits, or trying to scoop up water out of the street when it rains. Oh, here's a good one! When you are finished eating a nice can of tuna or stew, leave just a tad in the bottom of the can. Then call them over and toss it out in your yard, and laugh heartily as they lick it up like a dog. Yeah, I could have a good bit of fun at that, and end up with a photo scrapbook that will provide laughs for many years to come. Bwaaaahaaahaaaha!!

(*V*)

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 13, 1999.

I'd throw a big canned goods party. Bring a can of Spam to anyone who thought I was crazy for prepping. I can take a joke. But, really, I expect empty shelves by the end of December... By the way, all, I'd recommend extra frozen food for the last week of the year before the freezer goes down and before we have to break out the canned food. I'd love to be worng. I'd love to go home to NYC. I'd love to try to earn a living...

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

"Y2K: How will you handle the ridicule?"

I can handle ALL the ridicule that MAY be dished out. What I am WORRIED about is the ANGER from the potential ridiculers if TSHTF!

Most that laugh at the unknown also REBEL against the truth.

How will you handle WILD CONFUSED POLLIES?

It's gonna be a "Wild Kingdom" special on the Discovery channel.

-- dw (y2k@outhere.com), November 13, 1999.

I stopped telling anyone anything quite a while back, so I don't see it as much of a big deal. But for the person determined to demonstrate what a big brain they've got, I'll handle it like I always have:

(1) Shrug;

(2) Smile;

(3) Sneak up behind them and give them a wedgie.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 13, 1999.

---no problem, I'm prepped for ALL eventualities.....

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 13, 1999.

Well, lessee here....

*IF* I was right and TSHTF, it will be a situation like Scary Gary is so fond of saying, "They won't prepare, but they WILL remember." (I've got nearly 10,000 rds of ammo for that scenario.)

*IF* the pollies are right, I'll buy that boat next summer, stock it well with fine wine, and as I pull out from the dock, smoking my (Habana) Cohiba Esplendido and holding a glass of White Zinfandel, I'll calmly flip them the bird and tell 'em to BLOW ME!

Now, what "ridicule" were you talking about...?

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), November 13, 1999.

How will we (my wife and I) handle the ridicule? Ww will be enjoying our new beautiful home in the foothills above the fog and noise of the big city. We will be BBQing with all the charcoal we've acquired. We will be enjoying all the time together with our children we usually spend shopping, since we don't really need to leave the house for anything--really. We will go on nature walks, fish, hunt, play--all the things we chose with the lifestyle change while the people who ridicule us continue to compalain about the traffic,crime,pollution,etc. Yea...we look forward to the ridicule. Shepherd

-- shepherd (mjmcinnes@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

What ridicule?

After encountering one or two DGIs 18 mos. ago, I stopped telling people in my area about preparing. Told a lot of people on the net, though. But they don't know where I live.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it think. I gave up long ago.

-- Sy O'Nara (wellshut@mymouth.com), November 13, 1999.

I would love to go around in sack cloth and ashes all next year, appologizing for frightening everyone, but I don't think I am going to have to.

I promised my entire work group pizzas and sodas on the first Friday in March if nothing has happened by then.

I have been rediculed before. It is not too painful and certainly not fatal.

-- woody (woody11420@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

Hey zogmeister, have you worked out a way to turn one of those babies into a genuine self-defence weapon? Maybe some kind of home-brewed liquid mace that don't melt the plastic? They got a pretty good range. Genuine question.

-- number six (Iam_not_a_number@hotmail.com), November 13, 1999.

I sincerly hope I am ridiculed, I hope we all are! I am not looking forward to what may happen next year if we are right. Sadly, in light of the overwhelming evidence, I do not think we are too far off base.

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

ALthough technically I haven't done or said anything radical,

THEY READ IT THAT WAY, DON"T THEY? "Oh, you're one of those!"

I was talking to the business reporter who only knows me from my y2k calls and he asked me about banks and I said I never advised anyone to take money out of the bank. "Oh, really???" he says with unmistakeable surprise, "Why not?"

I have a way of thinking about the ridicule, but the one-liners are what they want and thanks for those. I love my better stocked pantry and for those of you who are new, welcome to the country life!

But I remember the days of fall-out education in the sixties. My dad took a civil defense class and I liked to look at his textbook.

In my heart [that means without a thread to prove it] I believe when the general population was forced to think about the horror of radioactive fallout it helped turn us away from nuclear tactics - slowly, yes, and not completely, but can you imagine where we'd be today if it had been left to some paranoid commie haters?

You guys are so great to read now that [knock on wood] some ugly people are out!

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 13, 1999.

There won't be any ridicule. I've stopped saying maybe, if. It's when... and if ridicule comes for some odd reason, it will come because the pollies will accuse me of not being strong enough in my warnings. Either way, I'll just consider the source.

The pollies are not to be respected because they didn't prepare when no one knew what exactly was going to happen. They are foolish to begin with.

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), November 13, 1999.

Thanks Dennis. My thoughts exactly!!

-- Clyde (clydeblalock@hotmail.com), November 13, 1999.

not-a-number-number-six: try simmering for a short time some scotch bonnet or habanero peppers. be REAL CAREFUL doing this. run this stuff through a coffee filter, put the juice into the soaker.(for academic and research purposes only, fair use under the us taxpayer code of self defense, all applicable soup agency rules are....whatever.....void someplace...no purchase required...only original equipment parts may be used, otherwise warranty void..do not remove tag....kids don't try this at home....)

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 13, 1999.

I think the phrase "bite me" will be brought out of moth balls.

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), November 13, 1999.

Ridicule - the last of my worries which are mounting by the day. My heart tells me, along w/events that keep springing up each moment that we're facing events that no one can predict. If things really turned out to be somewhat minor, guess I'd thank God that all I had to deal with was ridicule -- just so much wish that was going to be the case. The ones that truly care about me will be the first to throw in their little jabs, but then they know I will be laughing with them, but they're also the ones that are ready. I've already accumulated a nickname through this "doom and gloom," kind of think it's catchy.

-- claurann (claurann@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

Before all Haydes breaks loose, HOW WILL YOU HANDLE THE RIDICULE?

From Lewis Carroll:""Think what you will," said the Cheshire Cat."

Must we have 25-30 threads like this, lacking any importance, in a single week? Must be difficult for so many of these thread initiators to have lives built on only external referents?

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), November 13, 1999.

I will just tell 'em: "The next time I predict a disaster, just ignore me." (like they paid attention this time ;-) )

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), November 13, 1999.

There will be no ridicule. Most of the pollies who would bother ridiculing will probably be dead already.

-- (its@coming.soon), November 13, 1999.

Pollies will be scared shitless by then -- even if nothing happens. There will be no ridicule in my neighborhood from all the polly neighbors, because they know their life may be in my hands. If they want candles, beans, rice, food for their children ... THERE'S BETTER BE A LITTLE RESPECT SHOWN!!!!

-- SH (squirrel@hunter.com), November 13, 1999.

Ridicule from STU's? I've learned to become more self-sufficient, prepared and to think critically. Anyone who would criticize those skills isn't worth the time it takes to listen to them.

(STU's = Space Taker Uppers)

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 13, 1999.

Hi, gang:

Glad I checked back this evening. Thanks for your responses.

After working at the factory, I went out to my mother's homestead and use my rototiller to DOUBLE the garden plot in size. Then I powercomposted a bezillion leaves which I'd hauled from my neighbors' yard piles into the soil. If I don't make it post Y2K, at least the worms will be very happy next year!

I've been hurt and humiliated this entire year at the factory where I work. I've been warning people about the coming stock market crash, and most do NOT believe my words. They scoff and mock and smirk!

Special note to Donna:

OK, so you've ridiculed me. But I realized you didn't have to check out this thread. If you want to flame me some more, then go ahead, grrrl! Your posts are null and void...

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), November 13, 1999.