There's been a veritable bevy of public departures from this forum recently. In River Soma's adieu, I opined that she'd be back.

And as I posted in that thread, this place is evolving. It hasn't quite gotten legs yet, but you'll know it when it does.

There's something larger than Y2K going on here, methinks...

Many moons ago, I posted that TEOTWAWKI happened 25 or 30 years ago. Most of us, including me, missed it at the time. A common thread that runs through the discussions on TBY2K is an inherent distrust of Corporate Amerika and Big Government, which are linked at the hip. I think this came to the fore for most of we boomers during Vietnam and the post-Nam Nixon years. Innocence lost, I suppose.

In the subsequent 30-odd years, I've spent a lot of that time on a treadmill, trying to keep up with the Jones and "get ahead", whatever that is. Y2k coalesed, at least for me, the absolute ludicracy of that pursuit.

Most of us don't give a rip one way or the other whether 99% of the Joe Sixpacks in the country simply want their "Millionaire" show once a week. Live and let live. (And that's my final answer.) But I think most of us that populate this and other similar internet venues have bigger fish to fry.

IMHO, the denizens of TBY2k are, for the most part, looking for something a bit more esoteric, a bit of self sufficiency and freedom, perhaps. Less reliance on "big brother". No expectations for the future except for what we sow ourselves.

Is Y2K the catalyst for something even bigger, for each of us personally? I've given that a lot of thought over the past few days, and for at least myself, the answer is a resounding "YES". How it all unfolds remains to be seen yet, but I'm stickin' ar

-- Nom (nom@de.plume), January 18, 2000

Answers

Bravo!! The reasons you so well outlined are exactly the reasons I still come to this forum.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), January 18, 2000.

...stickin' around to see what place TBY2K (or it's successor) plays in that process.

(Why do my postings keep dropping the last few words??????????????

-- Nom (nom@de.plume), January 18, 2000.

I'm here because this place is a "gas" ...

-- Phil Erup (brothercanyouspare@gallon.gov), January 18, 2000.

Hi Nom,

Yup, it will be interesting to see what evolves here. I'm sorry to see some of the long time regulars leaving. Their voice will be missed. There have been some pretty smart people come thru here, and I have learned alot in my year here. I've been involved in various forums over the years, and was a co-sysop many years ago on a local BBS, before the internet became popular. This place has them all beat!

As for the last few words of a post, this has been a problem since I've been here. I don't think anyone knows why for sure. That's why you see some people ending their post with a line of dashes. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), January 18, 2000.

Speaking philosophically, I'm here becuase I'm here.

>"<

-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@needa.newaddress), January 18, 2000.

I'm sticking around here because this is the best forum around to get the latest breaking news and information. BTW Nom, you have it right on the money.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 18, 2000.

Excellent thread. For me, it's all been downhill since Nixon. I've read stuff predating, like the advent of the fed reserve, and I respect that, but it was before my time. Nom, I think you've summed up some of my currents too quite well...

Another peculiarity--while we're on the philosophical track--alot of 30 somethings saying they've felt since birth these are the end days. Time is certainly slowing, meaning alot more can fit in 24 hours than I ever imagined...maybe cause of the info age? Anyway, when I look back to the childhoods of the 30 somethings, they lost Kennedy, ML King Jr, and had Watergate. I have to suspect tots watching their folks go through these events were impacted with a sense of doom.?

Final ramble: Will today's tots then grow to unexplainably hate Cuban cigars?

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 18, 2000.

Oh, a point: slowing of time: folks jumping off the y2k ship prematurely...consuming rations, saying it's over and leaving board..?

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 18, 2000.

I agree nom. I mostly lurk here and have become addicted to this site because of the indepentant thinking and desires of the posters for more self sufficiency and responsibility. I enjoy the debates and the great sense of humor. I have yet to find a forum with such wide range of discussion and diversity. It is strange but wonderful to see posters from both far right and left political persuasions seem to come together in a civil way. Except of course the trolls and idiots (but thats life)

-- Lucy (lifeisgoodhere@webtv.net), January 18, 2000.

I love this site for breaking news, regardless. People say, "oh, such and such happened" and I go, "I know." I hate television news. Those scum.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), January 18, 2000.

Very well put, Nom. I was completely ignorant of the world situation for a long time. This place has really opened my eyes, and provided a welcome push to seek truth. I am in that curious group, too old to be Gen-X, and boomer by just a hair. Too many around me just accept the status quo, I say why? The people here are the coolest on the net. They care about others. They speak their minds. I feel alot less strange these days. :)

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), January 18, 2000.

News like nowhere else. Opinions that make me think. Beliefs that scare me. It is all here. Also, I do feel like I am watching history unfold.

-- surrounded (hiding@thefirststate.com), January 19, 2000.

Yep, this is the way cool place to be on the net in my humble opinion. I see breaking news here first, especially news that appeals to my "general distrust of the govt. and corporate amerika". My preps for y2k have evolved into a desire to be detach from the rat race as we see it, and have more freedom for myself. I like the news here, because it is exactly what I am interested in. BTW, if chemtrails are shown to be something, we'll hear about it here first, and if they are proved to be nothing, we'll hear about it here, first.

I'm not going anywhere.

-- formerly (formerly@nowhere.zzz), January 19, 2000.

There is more patience and understanding for divergent views and opinions here than anywhere else on the net. Never have I seen so many people who don't even know each other rally around and support the stranger in trouble. There's a lot of love and kindness expressed here as well. The news hounds are great, even the OTs, and the debates thought-provoking. Aside from a few trolls and other malcontents - intellectual liberty.

You're also a herd of witty, matcho, individualist, goobermint hating malcontents that I like to think are just like me (though you're all a lot more articulate), with a wry sense of humor that is sometimes uproariously funny. I may not post much, but I'm not going anywhere.

-- elskon (elskon@bigfoot.con), January 19, 2000.

Nom

With all due respect to you fine folks in the Excited States but there are many from other countries posting here. (EH!)

Apart from that I come back because I have friends on here.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), January 19, 2000.

Ever notice after and hour or so on this forum how dull it is to turn on the old boob tube and click to the news channel, and they updating the CUBAN BOY, which is recap of last nights update which in turn in an update of the day before. CUBAN BOY CUBAN BOY CUBAN BOY. Hell can be blowing Texas away and what do we get, CUBAN BOY. IT is sickening to try and watch the tv spin after spending time here.

-- Notforlong (Fsur@aol.com), January 19, 2000.

Thoughtful post, Nom. I still lurk here at least once a day; more often when I am doing some consulting work. Something always captures my attention, makes me laugh or grit my teeth in irritation.

Now I feel riveted on the ever popular subject of petroleum and the market. I still have the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop in terms of technology and or economic related Y2K events.

I agree that Y2K is one more major event in a long line of them. It is also the tip of the proverbial iceberg in terms of long term "challenges in the IT arena. We are going to see a lot of weak links in the information chain due to hackers, Y2K remediation and the sheer complexity of Charlotte's Web.

I have chosen to deliberately slow down my life and simplify it at the same time. For the first time, I am much more self reliant in terms of home preparedness (thank you Ed Yourdon and Gary North), and I am also up to my eyeballs in some community service work.

Life is real different for me than it was even a year ago--and I like it!

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), January 19, 2000.

I'm w/ Nancy. My life is different now as well, and *better*. Planning to stick around. Hey, is the "4th of July BBQ at Paul Milne's" rumor true?

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), January 19, 2000.

I'M NOT LEAVING!!! (fingers grasping firmly to keyboard while the men in white coats try desperately to pull me away)

TB2K is a heck of a lot of fun. Whether you believe them or not, Doomsday scenarios and conspiracy theories are fun. Sometimes I sit here and gasp "Oh my God!", and sometimes I sit here and giggle "OH fer crying out loud!" How neat is THAT?? -kirsten

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), January 19, 2000.

Geez...I'm hopelessly addicted. This place is like a piece of the Wild West. It draws the same kind of people that inhabited the boom towns of the west. Lots of independently minded folks, no doubt about it.

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), January 19, 2000.

I am been here since Nov 1998 and not planning on leaving any time soon. I have learned so much from everyone. I wish I could offer more to this forum. I am also a big fan of Homer and Link

-- Bill (Sticky@2sides.tape), January 19, 2000.

I feel it is my duty to stick around and counter some of the rampant sanity that abounds.

Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), January 19, 2000.

I'll sure be lurking around here a long time. I'm totally addicted. The news on TV is a joke. I want to know what REAL people are thinking and hearing. Y2K notwithstanding, this year may prove to be quite interesting--a turning point.

-- jeile (tjfarrar@bellsouth.net), January 19, 2000.

Have to agree with all of you that this is a great place for news. Am sick to death of the *news*paper, tv, radio. I swear if I hear one more blip about the Cuban boy I'll upchuck a toenail! (NO OFFENSE, Conrad, dear brother-in-law. I'm not upset with the Cuban people, just our American news hounds who wouldn't know a REAL story if it bit 'em in the a$$).

Big Brotherism has run rampant in the USA all my 40+ years on this earth and I for one am totally sick of it. When/How do we the LITTLE people make a difference? Some days I feel so frustrated....and I'm thankful for places like this to throw a hissy fit and get over it.

%..% Rant off.

-- justme (justme@myhouse.com), January 19, 2000.