The conclusion is now inescapable: The Government spin worked.

I'd guess that it worked so well, even the "spinners" must be surprised. The "3 day storm" caution is being ignored by the overwhelming majority of Americans.

I've noticed (though maybe it's "just me") that they've recently tried to "spin it the other way" a little...to no avail.

To anyone who's paid attention over the last year or so, I'm sure you'll agree that we're witnessing an amazing "disconnect."

That said, I hope the spinners are right. I hope Clinton's right.

I doubt it.

-- joe (joe@adeveloper.net), December 17, 1999

Answers

I'm sorry but the only disconnect I see here is that one day you're all trashing the governments competance, and the next day you're saying that they have managed to coverup a world wide disaster.

-- (just@doesn't. equate), December 17, 1999.

Just, I don't follow... do you see that as inconsistent?

Joe, I agree and with irritation. I cannot believe Kosky has said some of the quotes attributed to him in the last week or so! And yet folk's eyes remain glassed over.

They hear the work "y2k" and they either stop listening, or say "I'm soooo sick and tired of hearing about Y2K!" If directed to me, I say "If YOU feel sick from the 15 second soundbites, then imagine how I must feel by now, after months of research. But rest assured we're BOTH gonna feel alot sicker before it's behind us."

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 17, 1999.

Heard at the water cooler lately:

"Are you ready for Y2K? No problem. I will drive to my mother's house if needed. She's ready."

And Plan B is.....

Evolution in action. :-(

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), December 17, 1999.

Well, am starting to feel more as if we have all been "merchandized" by those "preparedness" experts. Enough of them are at their near- retirement age so they've just made their final "bonus" and can go off into the oblivion with our hard-earned dollars, if y2k turns out to be a BITR. Notice how every doomer prediction from these "experts" is suddenly quieting down (I don't buy the staying under the radar argument). Just don't see how the goverment could stand there and lie repeatedly and blatantly (not Clinton, these other guys); I was watching their body language and they weren't all blinky and twitchy like liars usually are. They really BELIEVE the systems are fixed.

-- Dot (domano03@snet.com), December 17, 1999.

Joe, you said "The "3 day storm" caution is being ignored by the overwhelming majority of Americans. " This is true. The reason is that nearly everyone could be locked in their house for three days and walk out at the end alive. Telling someone to prepare for three days, is the same as saying "don't prepare." Thus, most people have not prepared as they all correctly feel they could survive for three days without any special effort.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), December 17, 1999.

This is a psychological issue. For the great majority to admit, or see, that their are basic problems with the machines that allow them to "do" what they do, they must admit that their very way of life is threatened. And it has also been a bit of a fraud.

Conceptually, it is do difficult for most to admit to. Think of your children. Imagine the response you would get if you told them that some of their toys would not be playable next week, because the people that made them had made a mistake in building them. They could not understand.

Children play with their toys, that is their work. People work with their computers and machines, that is their play. Not a lot of difference.

Gary Elliott

-- gary elliott (gelliott@real.on.ca), December 17, 1999.

Dot,

"They really believe..." Yes, they do really believe what they are saying. Unfortunately most of the spokespeople have been told in so many ways that there is nothing to this stuff, go on out there and give 'em the company mantra that they DO believe it. They have been told by CEO's and CIO's that it t'ain't nutten, that it's TOTALLY under control and that the company/agency/etc has completed all of their required preparations.

they have been told this by people who do NOT accept negative reports from down the tree. The reporting tree tends to adjust reports as they come UP without any subtlety at all from the trenches' " WE are NOT getting anywhere and the deadline is NOT going to be made" to the "We have some isues but it looks like we might be able to get it done (note the deadline is no longer in evidence)" and the next level gets "things are not going REAL well but they ARE getting there" and then it becomes "things are gonna be fine".

Been there, watched it happen. Got caught in the crossfire.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 17, 1999.

Dot said:

"Just don't see how the goverment could stand there and lie repeatedly and blatantly..."

If you are sincere in that statement, I would suggest you read:

Dereliction of Duty : Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies That Led to Vietnam by H. R. McMaster

McMaster is a West Point graduate. It is one of the best researched, best documented investigations I have ever read into just how such massive debacles can and do happen. Y2K is no different in this respect.

The lives of several thousand US service personal were but mere pawns in a horrible game of political power. Our service personnel deserved better than that. They still do. No multi-million dollar memorial can ever bring back what was lost or justify the insanity of the deception that occurred there.

Once you have have finished reading it, you may be more concerned with your own self-reliancy and less concerned with labeling people 'doomers'.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), December 17, 1999.

italics off! !

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), December 17, 1999.

NOT being "Y2K/ready/compliant/prepared/capable" or with contingency plans in place is unacceptable... like transmitting a social disease.

Having "computer glitches..." IS globally and socially acceptable.

Watch... the world will be infested with "glitches..." next year... unrelated to Y2K... or so the spin will go.

Diane

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

Diane,

I seem to recall that on this very board it was mentioned a posibility of over 100,000 new virri to be released on January 1, 2000. That is the figure because the government suspects about 100,000 teenagers amatuer "hackers" who will think it's the cool thing to do to cause panic.

Yes, I think there will be an unfounded number of non related Y2K glitches next year... so let the "spin" start now.

And on a side note, I think that there is going to be one hell of a first month come January. And alot of "doomers" are going to react badly and will be sorry for a lifetime for the bad mistakes they make and irrational fears they act upon, spread largely in part by this very forum.

-- Alan (just@another.programmer), December 17, 1999.

Just in case someone out there has never seen a front-line status report "mutate" as it makes its way up the line...

From www.mit.edu: The Plan

In the beginning was the Plan. And then came the Assumptions.

And the Assumptions were without form. And the Plan was without substance.

And darkness was upon the face of the workers.

And they spoke amongst themselves, saying, "It is a crock of s**t, and it stinketh."

And the Workers went unto their Supervisors and said, "It is a pail of dung, and none may abide the odor thereof."

And the Supervisors went unto their Managers, saying, "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it."

And the Managers went unto their Directors, saying, "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may withstand its strength."

And the Directors spoke among themselves, saying one to another, "It contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong."

And the Directors then went unto the Vice-Presidents, saying unto them, "It promotes growth, and it is very powerful."

And the Vice-Presidents went unto the President, saying unto Him, "This new plan will actively promote the growth and vigor of the company, with powerful effects."

And the President looked upon the Plan, and saw that it was good.

And the Plan became Policy.

And this is how S**t Happens.

-author unknown

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), December 17, 1999.

"And on a side note, I think that there is going to be one hell of a first month come January. And alot of "doomers" are going to react badly and will be sorry for a lifetime for the bad mistakes they make and irrational fears they act upon, spread largely in part by this very forum."

Alan,

Here is the bottom line. Anyone who uncritically reads and then acts on what is said in this forum is asking for trouble. Any fairly intelligent adult should be able to seperate the wheat from the chaff-so to speak. Now, having said that, I THINK the pollies have a heck of lot more "downside" risk than those you call "doomers". If the pollies are wrong, the range of consequences includes dying. How many "doomers" or those who have acted on the info in "this very forum" do you think will commit suicide if Y2K is No Big Deal? Give me a break! Don't even try that guilt-trip crap-it won't work. Which is worse-acting to protect oneself and family and finding out later you're going to be O.K., or not acting and having to live THE REST OF YOUR LIFE in remorse for needlessly contributing to your family's destruction?

JJ

-- Jeremiah Jetson (laterthan@uthink.y2k), December 17, 1999.