Sure, I don't know what's coming down the road either, but, who does? If Y2K had really developed into something real major, we couldn't have prepared enough! Think of it: Power out, movement shudders to a halt, nuke power plants leak and spew all that noxious poisen, we all dead in few months. TEN YEARS OF RICE AND A HOMEMADE BLAST FURNACE AIN"T GONNA SEE YOU THOUGH that kind of mess. Dead. So, beyond personal economic hardship, why bother? Or, more to the point, why did I bother? Any comments? Any comments other than the super denile remarks about "the fat lady hasn't sung yet," or " y2k is like termites," or "China is gonna invade us any day now and you will have wished you kept your preps!". COME ON! More than a few days of food is a good thing, yes. But, we really can't see much beyond the next few moments. Anyone of us could slip in the tub and enjoy our own special "apacalypse." Good nite.

-- Robert Gordon (giveitup@fool.com), February 29, 2000

Answers

Maybe it was a Faith act, remember Noah? Well, his Faith Act came true. Another time, another was called to place his Son, upon the stone for death, and at the last minute, Heaven came down, and said, I have seen your faith, so I remove this calamity from you.

-- Cans (ofsp@m.com), February 29, 2000.

Don't get bint out of shape. Food is always needed. My sister prepared and was glad she did why? She was in an car wreck she broke her back, so she has been out of work, out of money. Food sure looks good now.

-- ET (bneville@zebra.net), February 29, 2000.

Well, Robert, I don't know what's coming down the road. But that doesn't mean I won't get out of the way of a garbage truck. With what has been dumped on my desk the last 60 days, I sometimes think getting run over by a cement truck could be a blessing! :-)

A personal apocalypse is coming for us all, individually, at different times. I don't wish to hasten it by ignorance or apathy. I do enjoy life and wish to enjoy it as long as possible. That's why I am trying to quit smoking. :-)

I personally feel that way too many people take life, or their lives', too seriously. After all, none of us will get out of it alive! :-)

Lighten up, have fun, help another, take it easy.

-- JCC (wolverine_in_nc@hotmail.com), February 29, 2000.

There's a few happy people right now because of the food I donated to a couple agencies in town. This is the first time an "event" has happened where I stored food. I don't regret what I did and would probably do it again if circumstances warrant it, but on a smaller scale. I still have water and other goods on hand, I'm waiting for the BIG ONE (earthquake), the experts keep warning us to be prepared.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 29, 2000.

Robert, does your mother know you're playing with the computer again?

-- (-@-.-), February 29, 2000.

Please do not try to talk these good people out of their hard-earned fear and panic. Hard times are always around the corner; indeed these folk make the newspaper look like it only reports fluff. Y2K IS an ongoing nightmare; we are being poisoned in the sky; financial ruin is in process; government is slowly choking us; the legal system is rotten to the core; and there is not one thing happening that is not part of a larger, sinister conspiracy whose malevoleance is appreciated only by the insightful posters here.

For shame, Mr Gordon, for shame. Do not try to look on the bright side again.

-- ImSo (lame@prepped.com), February 29, 2000.

To be honest, right about now, I'm looking at my preps and thinking "WHAT HAVE I DONE?"

And then I remind myself I HAD to prepare for the "what if" for my family.

Always realized my "6 months worth" whould be meaningless if the BIG ONE happened.

To me it has always been 3 potential scenarios concerning preps: 1. Nothing happens...too many preps, too much money spent. 2. A big mess...enough preps to muddle thru, money well spent. 3. The Big One...never could have enough preps, money concerns pointless.

I imagine you "bothered" because: 1. You found many reasons to believe there was a real possibility of something serious happening. 2. You felt the importance of taking responsibility should something happen.

Chin up Robert. You did good by preparing. This was a biggie. You stuck those rubber thingies on the bottom of your tub so you wouldn't slip!

-- Just (me@noticing.you), February 29, 2000.

You answered your own rhetorical question.

You said "But, we really can't see much beyond the next few moments".

If this is true then preparation becomes an exercise in personal insurance tailored to the individual.

Is it not that simple?

-- Will (righthere@home.now), February 29, 2000.

Dear IMSSO:

Currently, your comments are correct. In a historical perspective, would they ring so true to anyone in this couuntry, or the world, between 1930 and 1935?

Do you honestly think the situation will be so positive, happy and prosperous in five years? If so, I envy your optimism, if not, I question your honesty in ridiculing those who are concerned about their financial well being in the future. When the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank speaks of inflated prices in the major financial markets and an overexuburance (sp?) regarding stock values, I, for one, reevaluate my decisions regarding my financial future. I am willing to accept a lower return on my life savings in return for some small security. I hope your confidence and greed does not result in your becoming a ward of the state, (and a burden on me as a taxpayer.)

Best of luck to you and us all, for words have little nutritional value.

-- JCC (wolverine_in_nc@hotmail.com), February 29, 2000.

Looks like Bob the Troll is enjoying a yummy snack.

Keep feeding him folks; I'm curious how fat he'll get before he 'splodes.

Then again, I could be wrong; After all, I'm

Justa Jizzmopper

-- Cleaning (stainedglass@thepeepshow.com), March 01, 2000.

JCC--

Well, one of you finally managed to hit a nerve; in this case calling me greedy and worrying that you as a taxpayer might have to support me. I have been blessed with a well-paying job, and in another six weeks will be signing off on a hundred thousand dollars or so to assorted government agencies, plus another ten thousand in real estate taxes. Like most in my income bracket, I don't get much back considering what I pay in. I don't get college loans, much less grants. I'm phased out of most deductible bennies, and I'm way too young for social security and medicare. I'm not moaning, but I can assure you I pay my own way. I've worked since I was twelve; I put myself through college and another 7 years of formal education beyond that without a single dime from society or my folks, who were dirt poor financially. I'm not sure what constitutes greed for you, but I don't consider anything in my post above to reflect greed. I work hard and I don't criticize those who take it easy as long as they understand that I don't owe them a living for taking it easy. If I were disabled today, the disability (for which I pay $400/month) would keep me from burdening anyone. I will pay far more into the "system" than I will ever get back out of it. I don't have a lot of patience with those who are too timid to take risks and then resent risk-takers for succeeding, and I believe this board encourages that behaviour. If I lose all my assets tomorrow--well, it was only money, and I'd start work cleaning toilets again (my first job).

So there.

-- ImSo (lame@prepped.com), March 01, 2000.

Make that disability *insurance* which costs me $400/month. Sorry.

-- ImSo (lame@prepped.com), March 01, 2000.

I remember my first Internet account.

-- (@ .), March 01, 2000.

Imso,

"Make that disability *insurance* which costs me $400/month. Sorry."

Gosh, Imso, that must make you a DOOMER! You can imagine that something devastating could actually happen to you enough to spend that much money on "preps".

So why do you make fun of others who prep for other possiblities?

-- wondering why (you@reso.lame), March 01, 2000.

Imso,

"Make that disability *insurance* which costs me $400/month. Sorry."

Gosh, Imso, that must make you a DOOMER! You can imagine that something devastating could actually happen to you enough to spend that much money on "preps".

So why do you make fun of others who prep for other possiblities?

-- wondering why (you@reso.lame), March 01, 2000.

Because his preps are politically correct and ours are not. It's OK to pay somebody else (an insurance company, the government) to look out for you and take care of you but it's not OK to want to be self-reliant. Self-reliance is a threat to a particular world view which Lame apparently subscribes to.

$400 a month. There's a lot reading this forum right now who wish they could afford to spend $400 a month on any kind of insurance. In their cases it's self-insure or have no insurance at all. At that rate one year of premiums will total up to more than I've spent on prepping in ten years. At least I've gotten a great deal of use out of the things I spent my prep money on.

.........Alan.

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), March 01, 2000.

A BLAST FURNACE! That's what's missing from my preps! I knew I had forgotten to cover one contingency!

Any over you over-prepped super-doomers got an extra blast furnace you'd be willing to barter or sell?

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), March 01, 2000.

LOL! IMSO! $400.00 A MONTH? Yes, you are "Plenty Big Doomer". LOL

-- Flesh may die (butyouc@nteathebones.com), March 01, 2000.

IMSO:

Well, reviewing your post, in all honesty, there was no basis for me to accuse you of being greedy. I appreciate your balancing your risk taking and maintaining an ability to ensure your financial independence from the government system.

As for folks being timid with their savings or investments and resenting those who take greater risks and reap greater rewards (or losses), envy is not productive. Using "timid" to describe a conservative investment strategy, sounds a little like calling those people cowards (my interpretation). There are people who have either limited resources, or responsibilities for others, that dictate a safer. more conservative approach to their financial decisions.

It sounds like you are very successful in your business endeavors, congratulations on your achievements. One point however; if you are trying to convince someone you are not greedy, I would suggest you stress acts of kindness, compassion and charity. For me it has a truer ring to it than "I worked real hard and I deserve all my stuff, NAH NAH NAH!! You'r just jealous!" I may have totally misinterpreted your post or intent, but this is my honest reaction. You may consider it stupid, off the wall, or way off the mark, but it is honest and not intended as a flame.

-- JCC (wolverine_in_nc@hotmail.com), March 01, 2000.

ImSo,

If someone is making $300-400K a year, what an incredible risk they take not preparing. So they spend 5, even 10K on preps. If nothing happens, it is a drop in the bucket. They make another $300-400K in 2000, and the 5-10K is peanuts. If Y2K was TEOTWAWKI, a million in the bank/market wasn't going to heat their house in the dead of winter. I diversify my investments, I'm surprised you didn't see preps as part of a diversified portfolio.

-- J (Y2J@home.comm), March 01, 2000.

I have never posted advice against prepping. Recognizing Y2K as a BITR doesn't mean one thinks life will always be fluffy.

I am unkind only toward posts and posters who are either extremely negative toward society, or who cling to such silly positions (there is a giant conspiracy to poison the public from secret airplanes) and propogate them that they do damage to the naive.

To know me is to love me, possibly. To read my posts on this board, because of the nature of written argumentation, and because I take an unpopular view, is to dislike me, I guess. I try not gain my significance based on popularity.

And Mr JCC, my comment about the timid was not meant in any way to disparage the less financially fortunate. There are many folks less well off who work harder than I and who contribute more to society, and more of them would create a better world than more of people like me. I was making a reference to the fact that, from an investment standpoint, buying into doom-mongering affects an INVESTMENT strategy that in the long run is hurtful. Those, for instance, who have held on to gold over the last 15 years, waiting for TEOTWAWKI, have been hurt financially. For them it has not been a conservative investment, but one based on extremism, and it has cost them. They may yet be proved right, but not so far.

-- I'mSo (lame@prepped.com), March 02, 2000.

Please don't nobody - double negative

please don't anybody or

please nobody

-- Sir Richard (richard.dale@unum.co.uk), March 02, 2000.