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Comment by computerphage | Hacker News Reader

Fortunately the two events will occur in the order they that they will. Having a reference will help explain the issue.

Except most muggles I know are saying that Y2K was a complete fraud because nothing went wrong, and it was all a scam.

I'm seriously thinking of hibernating through the 30 days covering Y2038.

Really? Even in flyover country the people I know tend to understand that it was only not an issue because of hard work on the front-end.

"Even in flyover country", ouch, you realize the comments earlier about Walmart's Y2K efforts were all driven out of Arkansas, right?

Or that the world's busiest airport is in a state thought of as part of flyover country. What's funny is how many use that term but then get offended at jabs about coastal elites.

I'm from flyover country. There are talented people here, and well-educated people here. This is why I live here. It's cheap and the people are nice.

But I would argue that there is also a much higher proportion of individuals who do not understand technology and who are out of the loop on this kind of thing.

At least one of us is in a bubble. Whenever it comes up in conversation among general groups, at east half the people are adamant it was all a waste of time and money, and driven my frauds trying to make easy money.

Of the remainder, perhaps half don't really have an opinion.

The remaining 25% vaguely accept that it was a real problem, but are not at all aware of the real extent.

Anecdata, to be sure, but you might want to spread your net more widely when asking people what they think.

There's a certain percentage of the population that just really loves to believe in conspiracy theories. Thankfully most of them have rather weak beliefs in them but the hardcore believers can be frustrating especially when they have something explained to them, they agree it's correct, and then a week later go back to preaching their favorite conspiracy.

I've heard plenty of people say it was a fraud, but I've not met any who believes that strongly. A gentle correction has always resulted in a shrug and "yeah I guess you're right, that makes sense." So while Y2K skepticism is real and widespread, I don't think it's really something to worry about. It doesn't seem to be a matter people are passionately wrong about. It's not like antivaxxers where corrections are met with insults and accusations of conspiracy.

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