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Comment by 7952 | Hacker News Reader

Why not just make them type the message out manually every single time? Why is it a good idea to offer options at all?

Do you want a button pushing clerk to be able to write any message to millions of people over an emergency network? There is so much potential for disaster in that idea. Options is much better. Having the employee type out the predefined message word for word would really be a good confirmation though.

Do you want a mere "button pushing clerk" operating a system like this? IMHO, it should be operated by someone with some training and authority.

> Do you want a button pushing clerk to be able to write any message to millions of people over an emergency network?

Yes, in situations where the message does not fit within a pre-defined list due to an unexpected event. Of course it should still have security mechanism's to ensure that the transmission is properly authorised.

The biggest threat is probably misuse by politicians rather than the poor clerk!

You're conflating two different issues. My original suggestion was a mechanism to prevent the clerk from accidentally sending the wrong message. Typing out the entirety of the message hopefully would force them to realize what they're sending.

Allowing a separate option for a clerk, maybe with confirmation from a supervisor or other clerk, to send an arbitrary message (with a separate approval chain) would be useful as well. In the Hawaii situation not having that option likely delayed sending out the retraction as they didn't have a built in.

Why do we have a button pushing clerk involved in this process at all?

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