01/16/99

The majority of SNET Internet subscribers who responded to last week's survey don't seem terribly concerned about the Y2K Bug. More than 58 percent expect minor inconveniences next January when the calendar rolls over to the Year 2000, and another 12 percent don't think there will be any problems at all. About one in six (17 percent) expect serious disruptions in society, however.

Comments to the editor generally reflected the results. However, we were tweaked for not pointing out that, technically, the next Millennium won't start until 2001; for contributing to Y2K hysteria and for not doing more to raise public awareness. We really couldn't win. Macintosh users pointed out that their computers are fine for Y2K, conveniently neglecting to remember that Macs will still need electricity and working phone lines.

We helped a number of students with their homework, at least passing on some reputable links for further inquiry. We'll add another one here, www.duh-2000.com, which includes some hilarious, we-didn't-make-this-up quotes about the not-quite-the-Millennium-Bug-yet problem.

The final results were:

Q: I think the Y2K Bug will cause:

• Major Disruptions - 1,879 (17.0%)
• Minor Inconveniences - 6,398 (58.1%)
• No Problems - 1,371 (12.4%)
• What Y2K Bug? - 1,358 (12.3%)

Here are your comments:

"I think there may be some small problems, but you see on TV people freaking out -- for example selling their house and buying one in nowhere land so that nobody will ask them for help, or stocking food supplies for a year. I think people going crazy over this are going to feel like big schmucks when they realize that they changed there whole life around for some big catastrophe when I feel there will only be minor glitches." S.C.

"People who believe that Y2K will cause a major problem are the ones who think the world is going to end in the year 2000. I think its a business trick to get people to buy new computers and go crazy at the super markets to stock-up on canned goods." D.P.

"Could you please send me information on the y2k bug? i have a project to do for English and im not sure what is and what isnt true on the Internet." A.S. *Editor's Note: Neither do we, always, but we helped out anyway.

"I find it startling that (so many) people who submitted a survey on the Y2K bug didn't know what it was. This problem is probably going to affect everyone and will range in degrees of seriousness and problems. Everyone whould be aware of this potential disaster and its possible ramifications." C.B.

"I have a Mac. It does not have a Y2K bug. That's one reason I have a Mac. It is also a reason that I have indicated "What Y2K bug?". Everyone should have a Mac." R.S.

"I grant you that when the clocks of the world's computers switch to 00:00:01 hours on Jan 1, 2000, there may be problems. But calling that Y2K problem a "Millennium Bug" is a classic misnomer. I sincerely wish that most people would reacquaint themselves with when the REAL "new millennium" begins: WAKE UP AMERICA! The new millennium begins at 00:00:01 hours on January 1st, 2001. Kindly remind our computer "listeners," if you would. It seems like everyone has been mass programmed to believe that Jan 1, 2000 is the new millennium. It is merely the first day of the final year of the CURRENT millennium." Concerned User

"Is this bug related to the Japanese Horned Beatle which I just read about in the New Haven Register or Connecticut Post this week. What is going on? Is humanity at risk from the invasion of these critters?" W.H. Editor's Note: That was our pick for Most Inspired Comment, intentional or otherwise ...

"I can't believe that people are so gullible as to believe that the "Y2K BUG" is something that ordinary people have to worry about. It's more of a problem to the "money lenders" than anyone else!!!!" Jim

"I think the Y2K problem has not been give enough attention by the general public. It seems just a very small percent of the general public knows about and fully understands what could happen when the year 2000 comes. To me it's like watching a movie, when something big is about to happen and nobody wants to believe it, until it's too late! We really need to start getting the word out, so the people who choose to believe can prepare for it!" M.K.

"I find it hard to believe that with all of the technology that we have, that someone can not find a way to fix this problem. They have know for at least 3 years that there would be a problem, why are we just hearing about it now?" K.F.

"I think that the Y2K bug is overrated. I think it's going to be like a winter storm in CT, big hype....no show!" S.A.

"If people will stop and look at the issue they are making about this Y2K, then they will realize the problems they are making automatically. The only people who should have concern are in the tech field and it should stay that way. I have a friend starting to save food, because she may not get any. Please now, stop the publicity. There will be many out-of-hand people causing unforseen shortages, and cause price increases on many items ..." R.V.

"In my opinion, this computer bug will lead to catastrophe. We rely on computers every day and maybe even take some of their abilities for granted, but i believe that if computers crash we all will be doomed. Computers run our electricity, water supply, our money and military and some say that the bug may set off a nuclear bomb. I think people are seriously naive if they think we will not suffer the repercussions." J.B.B.

Previous survey results are available.