I've said it before and I'll say it again. If Y2K had really been the looming disaster it was hyped to be, would hoarding food and supplies be the correct response? I think not.

-- Buddy ("mailto:buddydc@go.com"), October 03, 2000

=======

On another thread, the above commentary was offered. If taken literally, I actually AGREE with it. HOARDING implies that someone is buying up items that they believe will become scarce, for the sole purpose of then being able to sell those items at a profit, regardless of whether they or their family uses the items. Hoarding is especially notorious when it is done right at the very beginning of a shortage. (A classic example might be someone who buys all the snow shovels from the local hardware store just as the news of an approaching snow storm becomes public knowledge.) Hoarding is selfish, and absolutely was not the correct response to Y2K.

However, what I believe the author was really taking issue with was STOCKPILING. If you buy in large quantities something that you and your family use and expect to use, because you believe that it may become scarce in the future, and your intent is in fact to use the items, that is what I would consider stockpiling. Especially if the stockpiling is done well in advance of a perceived upcoming shortage, when the items are plentiful, and has no impact on the general supply lines. (I would also consider it logical, rational and prudent, but that is another story....)

But, and this is what the author presumably had in mind, is this FAIR? After all, if there is not really going to be enough to go around, should people buy extra supplies for themselves, and then sit back while those who did not stock up have to scrounge?

Before I offer my humble opinion on the fairness issue, let me point out a few non-obvious factors:

1) The more people who have stockpiled and are set, the easier it will be on everyone during a shortage. The people who have stockpiled will not be out there competing with the scroungers.

2) People who are themselves prepared are now in a position to help others. Maybe the shortages are not as bad as was envisioned, in which case one family can help others, for example.

3) There is actually an economic benefit to buying in bulk, regardless of whether there will be a future shortage or not.

Returning to the question at hand: But is it FAIR? My answer: Probably not, in sense of everyone having equal rights to everything. But then, life generally isnt fair.

Your answer?....

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 04, 2000

Answers

ant and grasshopper??

-- Porky (Porky@in.cellblockD), October 04, 2000.

COMET INSURANCE for people who think the Sun circles the Earth every day.

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), October 04, 2000.

I wonder if Y2KPro is still skulking over to this less fortunate neighbors and leaving bags of food on their doorstep. Can't imagine them stopping eating just because of rollover. What a tiger! What a hero! Chime in PRO.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), October 04, 2000.

But is it FAIR? My answer: Probably not, in sense of everyone having equal rights to everything. GAWD! You sound like a socialist!

Of course it was fair. You have a right to spend your dough on anything you wish. If you foresee (or in the case of Y2K, misjudge) the future impact of events and take action first you are doing the right thing for you, which is very fair.

I wonder what Buddy would propose? Act like nothing is going to happen? Like......oh, say the majority of European Jews in the late 1930s? Is it fair to be the first one out of a burning building? Or does everyone have to get out at the same time for it to be fair? If you see a situation first is it fair to act first, or do you have to wait until even the lowest retards can grasp the concept before you act? What twaddle!

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), October 04, 2000.

The sun doesn't circle the earth?

-- just proves (I'm not as sm@rt.as cpr), October 04, 2000.

I dunno about being "fair to et all" I stock piled the t.p., and a good thing, it turned out to be. My SOL with cancer of the colon is visiting soon. She must visit the closet many times a day. Good and strange thing, I have T.P. abound. I have no need to bulk my grocery cart, since I discovered t.p., at a bargain rate. My Story, and I am sticking.

-- Church Fan (hand@waver.com), October 04, 2000.

Mormons stockpile food, they have been stockpiling since the early 1800's under the direction of their leader Joseph Smith. They believe there will come a famine and by being ready for that famine, they will be ready to feed their family and church friends. Has there been a famine here in the US in the last 200 years? What makes those who prepared for a potential disaster any different from what the Mormons continue to do?

-- Mrs. Cleaver (Mrs. Cleaver@LITBBB.xcom), October 04, 2000.

Same ol' tired bullshit,I bet theres 20 threads back yonder that analyze this thought to hell and back and back again.

But FAIR!!!!!!??????? Fair don't make a FUCK,YOU make your decisions and live with them,if YOU make a mistake that's just the way it is,if YOU make the right decision then YOU are the hero and reap the rewards.C'mon! Spain YOU CAN do better than this worn out old y2kbs stuff.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), October 04, 2000.

I've always thought Creeper was the biggest retard in the world. Now I'm not sure anymore.

-- (another@worthless.thread), October 04, 2000.

Uh, KOS, are you talking about reality, or a hypothetical Y2K catastrophe?

Because, in reality, if you "hoard" things that are in a surplus no one gives a good god damn. Since Y2K never caused shortages, all the "hoarding" done by doomers was either harmless or ridiculous, depending on your POV. But none of it was worth an extra minute's worry in the year of our Lord 2000.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), October 04, 2000.

"I wonder what Buddy would propose?"

I discussed this on a few threads that Ed Yourdon participated in. My point was that if Y2K were an impending crisis, as Yourdon and others claimed it was, then what was needed was coordinated local, regional, and national action, not unilateral panic stockpiling by individuals. For this reason I thought the Congressional inquiries made sense. When the Congressional committees failed to recommend a coordinated national plan of "stockpiling" or "preparations" the Y2K-doom believers were perplexed. I viewed the "stockpilers" actions as the same panic that they claimed everyone else would engage in later, just done ahead of time.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 05, 2000.

Buddy:

So, you had full faith and confidence that the government was completely and totally on top of the Y2K issue, and was absolutely going to make the right decisions that would be in your best interests of you and your family.

OK.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 05, 2000.

I had full faith and confidence that the government, both congress and the executive branch, did enough research to determine whether declaring a national emergency for Y2K was necessary. Of course, I was ahead of them on the Y2K learning curve, so I made my own determination before they drew their final conclusions, but their final conclusions supported my own.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 05, 2000.

BTW, I'd be interested to know why this thread is being sent to "sacredspaces@yahoo.com"...LOL!

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 05, 2000.

"absolutely going to make the right decisions that would be in your best interests of you and your family."

They make the right decisions that would be in the best interests of their family. A bad Y2K would not have been in their best interests and that's why they worked long and hard to fix it.

-- (Netsc@pe 6.0), October 05, 2000.

Capn: OMG!!! calm down, you gonna have a coronary.

Hey, I got a great non-sexist idea.......

Wanna mudwrestle? ROFLMAO.

From one HOREDER to another.... :-)

PSS, why ARE all these posts going to diane?

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), October 05, 2000.

It looks like all posts are going to sacredspaces@yahoo.com

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 05, 2000.

Someone keeps adding her email to the "notify" list as a way of annoying her. It spams her email with all the replys from all the threads. They're still out there folks, those people with their chips on their shoulders.

-- Answering (Your@questions.now), October 05, 2000.

I noticed that on a few other threads as well. Diane, the little control freak that she is, wants to maintain her excellent research skills and be up to date on the latest info. ;)

Buddy, I concluded from your original remark nothing to do with selfishness. I believe that all the beans in the world wouldn't ensure the hoarders' survival. If they didn't also possess some basic survival and organizational skills, intelligence, and common sense, they would never survive. Their stupidity would support Darwin's theory.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com`), October 05, 2000.

Maria:

Gotta hand it to you, after carefully explaining the difference between HOARDING and STOCKPILING, you obviously still didn't grasp it. Hopeless!

Buddy:

Suppose the government's conclusions had DIFFERED from your own? What would you have done then? Blindly accepted, or ... (dangerous thing to be asking a polly, but I am feeling reckless today)

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 05, 2000.

KOS defines his words his way... Hoarding versus stockpiling, one for profit and one for concern. LOL Thanks KOS for showing me how one doesn't learn from one's mistakes and splits the hairs on a gnat to prove he's not stupid. My comment still stands.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), October 05, 2000.

and another thing...

Your highness what you fail to "see" is the error of your ways. You're still trying to justify what you did. The act of storing huge amounts of a particular item, no matter what the reason stockpiling or hoarding, was a stupid thing to do. You couldn't see past your pile of beans just how stupid it truly was. It couldn't save you, no matter how hard you wish it. You needed other skills to survive, which of course you so aptly proved, that you lack. Hense, some actually saw this and decided to also "stockpile" (to use your definition) guns and ammo.

Further, as I recall, there were numerous threads on what would be the most valuable items after the rollover. Many doomers considered "hoarding" (to use your definition) these items as a means of bartering. It really doesn't matter why the doomers did it, just that it didn't help, as Buddy first suggested in his statement.

Now, I ask you a question. Why do you continue with this?

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), October 05, 2000.

Nobody saves much of anything if the data is to believed. Not money, not gas, not oil, not food. So what's the big deal? Looks to me as though our country is full of the most faith-driven peoples in history. "I'll be able to get what I want, in the amounts I want at any given moment I want."

-- Just past through (musing@home.com), October 05, 2000.

"Suppose the government's conclusions had DIFFERED from your own? Blindly accepted, or ... "

I don't blindly accept anything.

If the government had issued statements differing from my own conclusions about Y2K, I would have had to keep on researching to figure out why. As it was, they did issue statements saying that there was still some concern about other countries even at the 11th hour. I didn't agree at the time. I had already concluded that they were only being cautious when they issued those statements.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 05, 2000.

A couple of old threads for your amusement...somewhat related to this question. I haven't yet found the one where I stated something to the effect that coordination and cooperation were better than encouraging individual unilateral preparing.

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0007ev

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0005U7

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 05, 2000.

Time out. I think you have overlooked the obvious here and bought the cover up explanation of "sacredspaces@yahoo.com". Has anyone considered the obvious here?

Could it be that two dense and obtuse paranoids are one? That KOSpin is Diane the Dumb's alter ego brought into all those threads to divert the doubters with the KOSpin's invitation to the Joy of wrestling in mud?

Has anyone ever seen them together? OR to really "muddy" up this thread, perhaps it was the other way around. That Diane the Dumb was the front for KOSpin?

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), October 05, 2000.

LOL Charlie!

It seems that the email notification for sacredspaces@yahoo.com has been removed however.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 05, 2000.

I've got at least another years supply of toilet paper, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, shampoo, and soap. Am I glad I have it on hand? Yep. All this stuff has gone up in price, and it prevents me from running to the store for one of those items, and coming out with more than I went for. Is it fair that I have these items? I don't get the fairness thing -- I spend my money on whatever I wish. It does not matter to me if someone thinks I'm hoarding - it's no one's business. P.S. When all my toiletries are used up, I plan to start all over again.

-- clean jeanee (cleanjeannee@cleanjeanneee.xcom), October 05, 2000.

Buddy, there is always the chance that I could be wrong (it happens about once very 15 years or so.) KOSpin could be a front for "The Paula" who clearly is used to the muddy waters of DC BS as evidenced by her very muddy so-called "thinking".

KOSpin seems to be functioning now as some sort of "trial balloon" to test out the lastest from the Doomer Y2k Denial Lab.

The "it was prudent" theory is not selling well so they have to conjure up some sort of "new" generalization. Of course, Spain never bothers to test bed the new balloons where they would be easy to understand and far more "appreciated" : SleezEY's. The Doomer Denial Lab so far has been unable to come up with any explanation of HOW the FUD LEADERS they worshipped like Taos Toasty- ED could have been so (how can I phrase this delicately?) >........*********WRONG************.

The funny part is that they were not just 1/2 wrong or 1/2 fast wrong, they got into the FIVE NINES of WRONG: 99.999 % WRONG. Just their "embedded" predictions got them to Four Nines. After all, they were "sure" we would see between 2-3% of ALL "embedded systems" fail and ........well they were............WRONG. So given even the conservative number their Embedded Saints gave "20-40 million embedded systems"........the Denial Squad seems to be short about what? 400,000-600,000. It might be that "glitch central" broke down and had to go off line because of a late report of those 400,000 "failures" but somehow I doubt that. LACK OF INTEREST in "glitch central" is a better reason.

Of course, the Denial Squad still has their beloved GICC where "The Paula" submits her "thoughts" (surely for "peer review).

The clowns here all seem to have forgotten that you dismissed the panic they tried to induce over the DC "lack of Y2k preparedness" and the 1,000s of posts they inserted about the DC "warming stations". I noted that the day after the Wash.Post ran the article about D.C. not being ready and in serious trouble, the same Wash. Post ran another story about DC requesting out $60 million to tide them over. The amazing part about DC was that SHAZAM....the money was approved and NO ONE including the Voice of Doom in Dee Cee, the non-PeeCee weenie himself could find a Year 2k problem in DEE CEE. Note that these yo- yos don't have a word to say about that after they were so sure that "DC is finished".

This was a great link. It might be time to go back and establish that the TB I was dominated by bullies from its earliest days.

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0005U7

Reg,

You are a fool. That is your choice. You will be a dead fool in 2000. Continue to disbelieve everyone, worldwide. Go back to sleep. In the face of literally mountains of evidence that staggeringly devastating events are going to strike critical systems world-wide simultaneously there are really only two choices one has. First, do nothing, Second, prepare. Let's see, if I do the second and am wrong, I am still alive. If I do the first and am wrong, I am dead. There is a Darwinian element to all this.

I don't really care what you think. Your opinion is utterly without value. Y2K will kill millions. Most of them will be starry eyed Pollyannas like you. I hope you are single with no kids, you moron.

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), May 31, 1998.

---

Well, see there you go demanding that Y2K problems will kill millions.

It can't possibly cause a mere recession -- it is a coming dark age!!!

Meanwhile, disease, hunger, environmental poisoning, and god knows what else thrives without the y2k kooks even noticing.

If the y2k problem will cause society to collapse why isn't Ed Yourdon in the trenches fixing the problem? Supposedly, he was a mainframe programmer once so you would think he would feel a little guilty. But I guess Ed doesn't feel saving society is worthy of him getting his hands dirty?

Yes, I fear a y2k disaster. Gary North is now a regular guest on the Art Bell radio show. Art Bell's weekly show is nothing but con artist guests peddling junk to the ignorant. An appropriate place for Mr. North's fatalism.

-- Reg Smith (rrr@ibm.net), May 31, 1998.

---

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), October 05, 2000.

Thanks Kritter for the Link greenspun.com : LUSENET : FRL friends : One Thread

Thanks Kritter for the link to here. I've been out of touch for the past several months, it was good to see you and Wilfred at Bok's tonight.

-- bardou (bardou@baloneyyy.xcom), September 26, 2000

-- (...@...), October 05, 2000.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

The doomer .xcom is Bardou

-- (So @you.know), October 05, 2000.

Hey "clean jeanee" who are you trying to BULL SHIT with this??

"All this stuff has gone up in price"

Kleenex went up in price but not TP or generic brands of tissue. There is a price war here in milk, colas and pop, even BREAD.

If you were so "prudent", how come you didn't buy a tank farm of diesel or unleaded gasoline? Delusional Dennis J. did stock on gasoline. He even bragged about moving the drums into his garage at night so his neighbors couldn't see he had the equivalent of a Molotov cocktail in his house. After he was criticized, he limp wristed that his "garage was properly vented". Funny, but he hasn't mentioned that with all the other bragging about his "prudent preps". And Inquiring minds still want to know when he is going to donate his stash AS PROMISED to the local Food Bank.

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), October 05, 2000.

Well, much as I hate to, I will agree with CPR.

Anyone who keeps gas in their home or garage is nutz! That stuff is highly combustible, in case ya didn't know it. That's why I filled up the boat gas tank as my reserve supply. 40 gallons safely stored for the genny or whatever, even though I was no longer convinced that I would "need" it at the time, I did it anyway.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), October 05, 2000.

LOL! So, now CPR thinks that I am some kind of doomer operative for Diane ... if not Diane herself???!! Gawd, and only last month, CPR claimed I was Gary North!!! You HAVE to be paranoid delusional to believe such crap. The man is nutzoid CUBED.

Speaking of crap: To answer your question, Maria, perhaps you need to ask yourself why YOU persist. Could it be, upon reflection, you realize that you took a HUGE risk by not preparing for what was a troublesome and uncertain event, and come here to justify your negligence?

Buddy: P.T. Barnum said it best -- there is a sucker born every minute. Your amazing view of how your government works is a testimony to P.T.'s insight.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 05, 2000.

LMAO!

Why are there so many fake email addresses here?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

Could someone please explain to me why there is this statement on the page where you ask questions:

Please don't use a fake email address; it creates a lot of technical problems for the community. For example, this software will send you an email alert if someone responds to your message and those alerts will bounce back to us if the address you type isn't valid.

This being the case, why does the administration of this forum permit so many obviously fake email addresses?

JOJ

-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), August 03, 1999

Answers

In a perfect world we would all use our real names. However on the Internet often using your real name will get you spammed to death or email bombed or your opinions, which may be valid points, will be used against you in the future.

I think Y2K forums are one place where most people will use a alias. How many people want to tell the world they are stockpiling rice and beans and are afraid of TEOTWAWKI, with their real name showing.

-- Fat Tony (FatTony@youmammashouse.com), August 03, 1999.

I did for awhile, but then one of the regulars got a threat to have his house burned down.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), August 03, 1999.

Yes. This is an excellent question and Fat Tony has me wondering...

I would like to state for the record that I have been using a fake name and e-mail for over a year. I am NOT ever really here, it's a computer program I created to post for me. All the stupid posts I've made in the past...computer glitches : )

I have no preps, no food, no water, no nuttin. Nope, nada. I also have no weapons, no tools, and certainly no stored fuel.

For all I know TEOTWAWKI is the Hawaiian phrase for "Would you like some more poi?" And my answer to that is ABSOLUTELY NOT, I don't want any TEOTWAWKI.

ekiM

==============================================================

-- rolyaT leahciM (totallyfakeemialaddress@mtdesign3@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

My address is real. It's just not my real address. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999. I started using a pseudo-handle after my first "predator sighting," combined with the discovery that the predator lurked on this board occasionally. I started to feel too much like the gazelle at the watering hole as the lions closed in.

-- Cash (Cash@andcarry.com), August 03, 1999.

If fake addys and names were not allowed, you would see the candid discussions held here vanish like a snowball in hell.

How would you like to discuss where to hide valuables if you had to use your real info?

How would you like to discuss your preps if folks could find your physical locations?

The anonymity here leads directly to our freedom of speech. Nuff said.

-- nobody (nobody@nowhere.com), August 03, 1999.

I have always used my real name and e-mail address. It's just kind of burried in there. And one day some nice folks decided that my Address ought to be included, with the ACTUAL spelling of my name, etc. I was NOT AMUSED.

I found out this weekend (about 8 months later) that my bride was, let us say, moved to mayhem, she just didn't quite know where to go to commit it.

SOME openness helps the INITIAL credibility of the poster, but the actual lasting credibility is based on long time interaction.

for instance, I suspect that I have a certain amount of credibility ref emergency medicine and coleman stoves and lanterns, as I have posted on them a lot, and happento be an EMT-P,and a stove/lantern tech.

I WILL say that REAL E-MAILS (not necessarily your every-day one) would help a LOT as far as communicating as a Sysop. sometimes I have to do something and I would REALLY like to explain it off the forum. If you haven't given me an e-mail address that works, I can't be sure you know WHY it was done, and I have to hope that you figure it out. NOT GOOD PRACTICE>

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), August 03, 1999. JumpoffJoe,

As I will reveal in just a minute, some posters use fake sigs & e- mail addys in order to disguise themselves from most of us, while passing secretly coded messages to their partners in crime. An example:

Notice the sig above from the poster "rolyaT leahciM". Looks like an ordinary signature, doesn't it? BUT, if you do your computing in the bathroom, as I do, you would have a mirror opposite your monitor, as I do. One look into the mirror and lo & behold - "rolyaT leahciM" becomes "Michael Taylor"!!!

This is an example of the many layers of Y2K. Peel your onions in the bathroom, look into the mirror, search out the layers. And always watch your back (another reason for computing in the bathroom with a mirror behind you).

Take care.

bingo-won

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), August 03, 1999.

JOJ...... The statement below applies to only those that select 'yes' for e- mail alerts when posting a new thread.

"For example, this software will send you an email alert if someone responds to your message and those alerts will bounce back to us if the address you type isn't valid."

This would be the only time that autorespond is activated.

-- For (your@info.com), August 03, 1999.

lol Bingo...I've never been called an onion before : )

Mike

who isn't bothered because he uses his real email address

====================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

Bingo,

But if your in the bathroom then how can you reach the tinfoil in the kitchen to make your hats?

-- (@D.f), August 03, 1999.

Tinfoil hats are a clever deception! The wearers merely believe they are effective. This is called the placebo-dome effect. Tinfoil was chosen for this scam because it is easier to make the hats from this material. Ever try to make a hat from Saran?

If you had your computer in the bathroom you would know this!

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), August 03, 1999. JOJ......

I suspect the primary reason for the fake e-mails is most of the posters on this forum are wasting their employers money instead of doing the job they are being paid to do. Yes, I will include myself in this group as well so lets not kid each other.

-- For (your@info.com), August 03, 1999.

Well, I've always used my real name and address, and haven't experienced all these dire problems. I probably average 1 or 2 get rich quick emails a day, no big deal. And I haven't received any impolite opinions from anyone. Interestingly, a few posters who only attack me on this forum are both polite and thoughtful in private, where there's no peer pressure to "fit in".

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

My address is real! I have had few e-mails, mostly asking for information or further discussion, all of which were welcome.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 03, 1999.

I'm with THE MONK.

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

My address is real.

I used to use an obviously false address, because a previous use of my real address on another forum caused me to be flooded with porno site spam.

With a usa.net address, I don't care how much junk mail I receive. I recommend to all of you to go to http://www.usa.net and get an address with your TBY2K handle.

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), August 03, 1999.

Yea, and the only, well maybe not only, problem with this freedom is that we do have a few, well..., trolls, that have a multiple personality complex. I got one a while ago, that used a word, that I didn't see before, and haven't seen since, on this forum. Posted by two people, less than a day apart. And, of course, they shared a common opinion...

But our Sysops now have better tools to follow this bouncing ball...

And yes, I did sign a few posts Kirk@Enterprise.IV <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

Sometimes it's just plain fun to play with addys!

-- goofy (foofoo@you.too), August 03, 1999.

I feel so neglected ! No spam ,no e-mails, not even an itty bitty threat.

All I got was an invitation to mudwrestle and that was here on the board!

-- sue (deco100@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

Because there are busybodies and criminals (both private and governmental). Because the 1st ammendment right of free speech, supposedly acknowledged and guaranteed from interference by your governments, local, state, and federal, is "void where prohibited by law."

-- A (A@AisA.com), August 03, 1999.

In conclusion then, it sounds like there is nothing to fear from using your real name and address, but there being nothing to fear clearly doesn't discourage fearful people. It's a microcosm of the whole y2k phenomenon, I think.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

"In conclusion then, it sounds like there is nothing to fear from using your real name and address, but there being nothing to fear clearly doesn't discourage fearful people. It's a microcosm of the whole y2k phenomenon, I think." Flint

Interesting observation Flint.

Would you care to discuss in further detail why it is that many of the "optimists" post with fake emails and fake names? :

Mike

================================= = ) =============================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

The emails I receive are precious gifts to me.

But what I wanted to say is that, statistically speaking, you're much less likely to have space junk hit your petunker if you are wearing an aluminum foil hat. Your tax dollars were, in all likelihood, invested in an intensive and lengthy study to prove the truth of this.

And of special interest, I'm sure, to those of you are preparing for the possibility of armed confrontation, your tax dollars WERE invested in a study that proved fewer goats wearing bulletproof vests died as the result of gunshot wounds than goats who delined the attire.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

Good question jump. Your's certainly sounds real.

.

-- eat me (eatmore@eatr.com), August 03, 1999.

JOJ--first of all I can't figure out HOW you personally would know that so many of the email addresses are FAKE???? AND unless you are part of the administrative staff--WHY DO YOU CARE AND WHY WOULD YOU EMAIL SOMETHING TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW???!!!!

I can't imagine what would ever give away a fake email address unless you are trying to send emails?

-- Tony Lamotta (applepie@yahoo.net), August 03, 1999.

Michael:

I had intended my observation to apply to both. I confess I'm confused by the fake names and addresses in light of the almost nonexistent volume of spam I receive, especially since my viewpoint is hardly the most popular on this forum. Whatever the anonymous are afraid of, my own experience is that it isn't what they claim.

So being anonymous implies fear of *something* to me. Maybe the extreme optimists fear y2k, and hence of being wrong about it?

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

I'm anonymous because I'm shy. But my email works.

-- number six (Iam_not_a_number@hotmail.com), August 03, 1999.

I used to use a fake address, but was tired of the insults towards the "GIs" for being "afraid" to use a real address. So I got me a Yahoo! It's nice to get mail from folks who do not wish to carry on over the net.

Do You Yahoo?

Spam is not a problem so far, in fact I'm lonely, nobody loves me...

Boo hoo hoo.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

I did use a real name and address, both on this and other fora, and have been spammed out of sight (regular AND porno). It's let up a bit but I would really rather not go through the inconvenience and hassle again.

BTW, for those who receive spam, complain to your ISP and they will instruct you on how to combat it. In most cases you can simply forward the spam to "abuse@[insert name of sender's ISP here].com or .net, whatever. Your ISP may offer, as mine does, an anti-spam program which is very simple to download adn will cut down on a great deal of the trash.

In addition, there are documented cases of Internet stalking (which appear to be on the increase) and I would rather be safe than sorry. Funny, that's my philosophy about Y2K too.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), August 03, 1999.

Flint, do you ever actually READ what people post, or just launch into your dumb spiels? Did you not read that some people who have shared where they have hidden their valuables -- advice that they gave to help others prepare -- do not want to give information about themselves?? Did you not read about SOME people getting threatened via e-mail??

This is just another variation of the polly game known as "attack the messenger rather than the message", implying that if someone is using a fake e-mail address, then what they are saying can be dismissed.

WHO CARES whether the address is fake or not? Lots of Internet forums have software that does require your real e-mail address, and assigns a password to you, so that the riff-raff can be kept out, BUT DOES NOT DISPLAY YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS TO ANY OF THE OTHER POSTERS. This forum does not, so one is certainly prudent in taking precautions if one so feels inclined.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

I don't have anything to be ashamed about and I'm not writing on an employer's time. I adopted an online pseudonym over ten years ago, long before I ever heard of Y2K. I have a lot of non-mainstream ideas. I want to be able to express myself freely. Some politician could sign me up for an annual tax audit. My insurance company could cancel my coverage. Some idiot could fall in love with my picture and show up at my house to tell me about that. (Hey, it could happen)

Usually, I do provide my real e-mail address, and did at first when posting to this forum, but I noticed an immediate and substantial increase in pornspam, which dropped off when I stopped using the real address. I do link to the real address in the body of every post in case anyone wants to get in touch with me, and I also use it when starting a thread. I assume I'm not causing some administrative hassle for greenspun.

The occasional insinuations I see that so-called "doomers" who refuse to provide their true names are therefore obviously ashamed, or lying or fly-by-night or paranoid, is annoying, to say the least. Readers should determine for themselves how much credence to place in what I say, based on whether or not it makes sense, and not based on whether or not it would be possible to track me down and bring me to account if they don't like my opinions.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), August 03, 1999.

KOS:

Good points. You're right, there are many valid reasons why one might want to use a fake name and/or address. Also, perhaps my ISP is protecting me from most spam without my even realizing it. And I'm aware that anyone here who cares to do so, can use Yahoo to find my exact location on a map. Unlike many here, my most valuable possessions are in my head, where they're hard to steal [grin].

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

What?????? Flint says that I'm RIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING??????

I'm feeling dizzy.... Better get off this thing. Go lie down for a while.... Maybe its all a dream. Or a meme....

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

I use my real address, and I don't get any spam. Maybe they know better than to mess with a BIKER!

(more likely, my ISP is somehow filtering it out without telling me) Thanks AT&T !

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), August 03, 1999.

"So being anonymous implies fear of *something* to me."

Yea, Flint, I have a fear that my customers may find out what I really think about Y2K. My friends already know, damn, my boss already knows, and pretty much agrees! But, as a systems administrator, I do have to wear a "happy face" at work.

Am I "two faced?" I guess so, but it's my job to make this stuff work, and it's my job to make the customer believe that it will work. If my happy face is wrong, it will turn sad, and I will have one pissed off customer, but life will go on. If my sad face is wrong, it will turn happy, and I'm going to have one hell of a chile party! I can't go wrong... <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

"Unlike many here, my most valuable possessions are in my head..." Man, Flint, when are the compliments gonna stop?

I suspect your lack of a spam problem is for the same reason as mine.

-- Carlos (riffraff1@cybertime.net), August 03, 1999.

Tales of shame and degradation in the Big Idea Lab

The other day I was thanking my good friend Former President Bush (or ``George'' as I call him) for pulling some strings to get my brother out of that Iran-Contra mess, and he asked me if I knew any hot technologies he could sink his Presidential Pension into. In my opinion, the smart money is on filters. It's getting so you can't read Usenet without seeing that ``Dave Jordan'' Ponzi letter followed by forty replies from dickless wannabes threatening to mail-bomb the poster's sysadmin for the ``innapropriate post.'' Of course, I personally have my staff of Elegant British Women pre-edit my .newsrc for me (God how I envy the British), but that option is not open to the unwired masses outside the Media Lab. ... (more)

-- xcom (xcomxcomxcom@xcomxcomxcom.com), October 05, 2000.

a--hint hint:

Okay,

Just don't spam the poor person...

Owl is using: woo@woo.com

Had to go and change your e-mail addy to: woo@woo.xcom

You can see how simple that is.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 24, 1999.

-- xcomxcomxcom (xcomxcomxcom@xcomxcom.com), October 05, 2000.

Because there are busybodies and criminals (both private and governmental). Because the 1st ammendment right of free speech, supposedly acknowledged and guaranteed from interference by your governments, local, state, and federal, is "void where prohibited by law." -- A (A@AisA.com), August 03, 1999.

Is this you A? I think so!

Thanks Kritter for the Link greenspun.com : LUSENET : FRL friends : One Thread

Thanks Kritter for the link to here. I've been out of touch for the past several months, it was good to see you and Wilfred at Bok's tonight.

-- bardou (bardou@baloneyyy.xcom), September 26, 2000

-- (...@...), October 05, 2000.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

The doomer .xcom is Bardou

-- (So @you.know), October 05, 2000.

BTW, you don't know jack shit!

-- xcomxcomxcomxcom (xcomxcomxcom@xcomxcomxcom.xcom), October 06, 2000.

NEW DIMENSIONS IN PEER PRESSURE?

Well, I've always used my real name and address, and haven't experienced all these dire problems. I probably average 1 or 2 get rich quick emails a day, no big deal. And I haven't received any impolite opinions from anyone. Interestingly, a few posters who only attack me on this forum are both polite and thoughtful in private, where there's no peer pressure to "fit in". -- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

LOL

Funny reading.

(So much for size limits on posts !! ... Just as well.)

-- Debbie (dbspene@usa.net), October 06, 2000.

http://www.fema.gov/nwz00/consumers0106.htm

FEMA Urges Consumers To Keep Y2K Preparedness Items

While the Y2K bug didn't bite, the preparations Americans made just in case are still valid. FEMA Director James Lee Witt is encouraging those who bought bottled water and extra food, batteries, flashlights and other equipment in anticipation of Y2K problems to keep the items on hand.

"FEMA recommends that families always have a disaster supply kit that contains items you'd need if services were unavailable for a few days," said Witt. "Those families that prepared for Y2K were doing the right thing whether those supplies were needed over New Year's or not."

Some news outlets have been reporting that people are returning batteries, flashlights and generators, among other Y2K preparedness items.

"Being prepared for a winter storm, a hurricane or earthquake is good policy," Witt said. "We congratulate those who prepared for Y2K and urge them to begin the new year prepared for any eventuality."

Witt added that those who bought more food than they can easily store, might want to consider donating it to area food banks.

Disaster Supply Kit Information

Updated: January 6, 2000

-- (Always@be.prepared), October 06, 2000.

Klassic KOShit, "come here to justify your negligence" lmao! Yo shit for brains, if you hadn't noticed I don't need to justify any of my actions (or inactivity). Y2K wasn't even a BITR, the road was smooth as silk.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), October 06, 2000.

"FEMA recommends that families always have a disaster supply kit that contains items you'd need if services were unavailable for a few days"

"Disaster supply kit"

That says it all. Big difference between a disaster supply kit and comet insurance.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 06, 2000.

Oh, and KOS, in case you didn't know how the U.S. works: the government is us. I know, that sounds idealistic, but that's the way it is.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 06, 2000.

And another thing, your royal jester. You implied that it's just so "hopeless" that you can teach me anything. Well, my first comment was directed to Buddy and concerned the original statement on the futility of preps. I didn't address you or your lame definitions because I didn't want to "wrestle" with you. But since you addressed me, let me give you my impression of you and your thoughts. I'm reminded of the line in City Slickers, "I crap bigger than you". And so there's no misunderstanding on the significance of this quote and my interpretation of its use in this context, I'll explain. The sum total of the things I have forgotten exceeds the knowledge that you'll ever gain in your lifetime. I have expelled more information than your total knowledge.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), October 06, 2000.

I will attempt to actually answer the original question (GASP!).

"Was Y2K stockpiling really selfish hoarding?"

Yes and no, depending on one's intent. I remember several TB2K posters who "stockpiled" or "hoarded", however you want to phrase it, for the sole purpose of selling, at an EXTREME PROFIT, to "starving desperate pollies" after TSHTF. That was "selfish hoarding". (And frankly, I hope they're eating their TP as we speak.)

Then there were the people like Helen (hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but I happen to think you are a *shining* example of what is good about humanity) who "stockpiled" in order to help others, should the need arise.

IMO, the "Helens" more than outnumbered the cretins. It's just that the cretins were LOUDER, as is the norm (they also make better headlines).

And once again for about the ten thousandth time.....it was never about "stockpiling" or "hoarding". Perhaps some day we can get past that.

Yes, I am ever the optimist.

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), October 06, 2000.

Thank you, Patricia. I'm glad there is still intelligent life left on this forum.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 06, 2000.

I'd like to qualify my remarks a bit.

I never had a problem with anyone doing what they thought was right to prepare for emergencies. The ones I had a problem with were those who insisted that if you weren't "Preparing" (always with a capital P) you were stupid, DGI, and that you would most certainly die. For the most part, the ones screaming "Prepare!" had something to sell.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), October 06, 2000.

"Thou surely shalt not die!", said the serpent to the woman in the garden.... (At least the serpent didn't ask her if she liked to mudwrestle.)

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 08, 2000.