I am seeing the word "fool" and other like terms being assigned to those who did AND those who did not believe that troubles lie ahead. Whether it be a true Y2K issue or not, I think that preparing for the worst and hoping for the best in any situation is the most prudent way to go. For those of us who believe that troubles do lie ahead in matters of social and economic security, we have made the necessary preparations to protect and provide for our and loved ones survival. It should be quite evident that the news media will continue to report what most readers want to hear; that the government will continue to tell what most citizens want to hear; and that the people will see and hear only that which they wish to. That is the way it is. So let those of us who truly "see" what is going on join together and try to accurately report what really IS going on as it happens. IT'S HARD TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH WHEN FOLKS USE THIS FORUM TO DISPLAY EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS OR TO CRITICIZE EACH OTHER...don't you think?

-- Linda (linda@itsnc.com), January 01, 2000

Answers

The people that were convinced we'd have problems should seriously consider heading to their local mental health center for a tune up.

-- Not Loony (okwithy2k@millenium.com), January 01, 2000.

so can't we all only assume that you are actually defending what you wish to be the popular truth in this "news" medium? I don't mean to be rude, but please explain how you are different from those whom you condemn?

-- troll (under@thebri.dge), January 01, 2000.

Given the spectrum of possible outcomes, it's pretty difficult to fault those who would take precautions against an outcome with such potential catastrophic results. Pollies will gloat. Don't take it personally. Prudent people have always been in the minority.

-- YourOK (candor@mindspring.com), January 01, 2000.

A Y2K project was thrown at my husband just after the beginning of December. With cancelled two weeks vacation, long hours and hard work he completed the thing just after Christmas. He was VERY lucky--it worked the first time. He worried his lip often those few days of its operation and had a restless night or two, especially last night. It is thanks to the skill, diligence, unpaid overtime and lost vacation time (use it or lose it--he lost it) of people like my husband who made a smooth rollover possible. And this "fool" and I prepared for POSSIBLE problems that Y2K might cause, because who knows who might not get lucky like he did. Do you still think either of us, particularly him, should go to our nearest mental health center, "notloony"? Frankly, I think people who did not prepare at all should get a check-up.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 01, 2000.

Congratulations to your husband, OldGit.....I, too, spent many hours 70-80 a week for the last several months helping my customers get ready. And, yes they are and yes it worked, but not if the changes had not happened and not done correctly. You understand...thanks.

-- Linda (linda@itsnc.com), January 01, 2000.

So as I see it the correct answer to the posted question is either yes, or no

-- troll (under@thebri.dge), January 01, 2000.

Linda, let me assure you---yes, your customers ARE fools because they believed your rant that the sky was falling. Are you saying that you profitted off of the anxiety of others via the selling of 'preps'? No, I wouldn't call YOU a fool. Carpetbagger, maybe...but no fool. Then again, it seems there were a lot of people who made a helluva lot of money on this thing....and most amazingly, we haven't seen them around for some hours now.

-- Bad Company (reflecting@shootingstar.com), January 01, 2000.

No, bad company. My customers had custom written accounting software that had only two digit dates. As of 1/1/00, they would have had past due invoices in A/R and A/P that were really 2000 transactions. Also, price changes for 1/1/2000 would have gone in early - like right away for those that were 1/1/00. Others with mfg. software with two digit dates had customer orders for 2000 executing work orders for the plant because the system mistakenly read due date as 1900. Unfortunately, without the fixes, their business would have gotten pretty hectic. I've been coding for over 25 years and I NEVER used a two digit year in my file designs. However, many other programmers years ago did. So, customers asked for my help to fix it. By the way, I charge less than other programmers and I worked may overtime hours with no extra charge. I have a talent that I DO NOT use to take advantage of people.

-- Linda (linda@itsnc.com), January 01, 2000.

Linda,

If you were involved with finding, fixing, and testing source code you are not a fool. Bugs were found. If you packed up the family, bought a farm on the outskirts of Taos, New Mexico with guns, generators, and a year's supply of food you ARE a fool.

I think that's pretty clear.

-- a (a@a.com), January 01, 2000.