The Y2K kooks
As the year 2,000 fast approaches, a number of dingbats, screwballs, charlatans, kooks, alarmists and spiritual guru types are pulling for a full blown Y2K catastrophe. That’s right, beneath their veneer of fretting and hair-pulling, they actually want to see society collapse. They want to see it collapse in order to vindicate their own miserable little souls.
Sounds bizarre, doesn’t it?
Well, I thought so too, until I gave the issue further consideration and concluded with the only plausible explanation. Think about it. Why else would a non-technical person make such a fuss over “the impending Y2K crisis”? More importantly, why would such a person mix up a technological problem with notions of “spirituality”?
What does spirituality have to do with a potentially widespread computer glitch?
After all, the titans of industry (who should all know a thing or two about potential business disruptions) are not unduly worried about the possibility of a global Y2K disaster. Warren Buffet is presumably not losing any sleep over the impending Y2K crisis. Bill Gates is probably not fearful or frantic. I am sure Rupert Murdoch is in good shape too. The big guys–the guys who have the most to lose–apparently don’t feel threatened by this computer glitch.
Strangely, it is the poor little guy–the guy who has the least to lose–who is all bent out of shape over this impending “crisis.” Upon closer examination, however, you will find that he is really not all that worried about it. Instead, if you listen to his fear-mongering rather closely, you will quickly suspect that he actually hopes a catastrophe will result.
His motive? A perverse form of ultimate vindication and redemption. The spiritually-inclined Y2K kook wants others to fail in order to give aid and comfort to his failures in life. Such a crisis would make him feel less of a loser. It would allow him to declare to himself: “See, it can’t be helped. Nobody is in control of his own life. I can’t be blamed for my life’s failure; it was all a matter of fate, just as this Y2K crisis is a matter of fate and destiny, not individual responsibility.”
David Seabury expressed it well in the following quote: “Little souls wish you to be unhappy. It aggravates them to have you joyous, efficient and free. They like to feel that fate is disciplining you. It gives their egos wings if yours are clipped. You can ruin your life in an hour by listening to their puerile opinions.”
Strictly a personal view. Charles Reyes Jr. is a regular columnist of Saipan Tribune. Mr. Reyes may be reached at charlesraves@hotmail.com
