We were very, very stupid five years ago.

[SmileyBoy]

I'm talking about the Y2K "problem".

You'll really laugh at this shit:

http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/cs_y2k.shtml

[shoelace414]

1. my aunt asked me about

the problem with september 9, 1999, "because all nines is an end of file indicatator"

ok.. thanks.. but that would be 999999 not 090999

[afraid_of_the_dark]

2. I thought it was stupid the first time around...

But with 5 years passed, it's finally getting to the point where it's stupid-funny, not just stupid (and overexposed).

It's just another example of using scare tactics to manipulate people. But I think this is my favorite from that list...

>In 1999, I saw an advertisement for "special" automobile jumper cables that would make your car Y2K-compliant. The ad said you just needed jump-start your car with them using a Y2K-compliant car as the booster, and your car would become Y2K compliant! Of course, they cost twice what "regular" jumper cables cost.<

YIPES! :wtf: :argh:

[amazona]

3. not so stupid around here

Actually there were lots of outdated non-compliant computers in my partner's industry, and he made a lot of overtime getting them compliant before and after the big day. There was actually quite a lot of interference in various industries with businesses temporarily experiencing expensive plant shutdowns, etc. It was never going to be the end of the world, but Y2K compliance must have cost billions just in the southeast. He did have a plant that was hit by the September 1999 bug as well -- I don't know computers so I don't know why but I remember it happening and getting him some extra overtime. There wasn't a one-time roll-over "event" that happened on New Year's Eve. Instead, it was a process of little fires that had to be fought here and there for several months and well into the next year.

I wish we'd have another round of Y2K crashes, frankly, we could use the money, but sadly the party is over.

My partner was able to explain that home computers, home life, etc. wouldn't be affected and, in fact, we were able to spend the NYE in Vegas partying, which had much lower crowds than normal due to Y2K fears and the Millenium Bombing arrests. It was great! I think a lot of businesses oriented toward consumers were jealous of the bonanza of Y2K jobs in heavy industry and they wanted to create hysteria so they too could cash in.