Public emergency alert - being sent to your phone
Discussion
surveyor said:
Clearly, PH tin foil hats are frothing. I do wonder what the non-techy people who can just about make a call will make of the test...
MiL is 90 and not totally with it, I cannot image the turmoil in the care home when all their phones start sounding alarms which cannot be silenced without having to open the phone and press a button. They will all be thinking it is their time...Vanden Saab said:
MiL is 90 and not totally with it, I cannot image the turmoil in the care home when all their phones start sounding alarms which cannot be silenced without having to open the phone and press a button. They will all be thinking it is their time...
That's quite a scary thought!Did I read correctly that the test will occur in the evening (??) Could be annoying if you're in the cinema or watching a West End show etc...
xx99xx said:
monkfish1 said:
No, not remotely interested.
I need more government interference in my life like a hole in the head.
I suspect its to keep us fearful maybe? Who knows.
Of course, what will happen is there will be some event that doesnt have a warning. Then someone will get injured or die because of said event. Then it will be the governments fault. Then they will issure warnings for everything and it will descend ito a farce which everyone will ignore. How they cant see this i dont know.
Meanwhile, i still cant figure out how to turn it off. Looks like a trip to the phone shop to find a clever person.
The authorities who are authorised to use the system are very nervous of false alarms and will be extremely conscious of using it due to the backlash it will get. Mainly from people who ultimately weren't affected by the potential emergency who like to complain about intrusion.I need more government interference in my life like a hole in the head.
I suspect its to keep us fearful maybe? Who knows.
Of course, what will happen is there will be some event that doesnt have a warning. Then someone will get injured or die because of said event. Then it will be the governments fault. Then they will issure warnings for everything and it will descend ito a farce which everyone will ignore. How they cant see this i dont know.
Meanwhile, i still cant figure out how to turn it off. Looks like a trip to the phone shop to find a clever person.
It will therefore not be used lightly, at least initially, as noone wants the badge of being the first one to cause mass unnecessary distress. The public awareness campaign is therefore trying to manage expectations so hopefully when/if an alert does pop up, people are not flummoxed and start complaining of spam. It'll still happen though.
Sadly, my faith in "authority" would struggle to be lower.
They will screw it up, becuase thats just what they do with everything.
Had one of these once in Rhodes - didn't sign up for it, all part of the Greek government's service.
Sat in a restaurant and my phone made a strange noise (like a Jesus and Mary Chain gig in 1985) and then so did several other phones.
There was a forest fire around 15km from us - all the Brits lost their minds, and the Greeks just carried on eating.
Sat in a restaurant and my phone made a strange noise (like a Jesus and Mary Chain gig in 1985) and then so did several other phones.
There was a forest fire around 15km from us - all the Brits lost their minds, and the Greeks just carried on eating.
The company I worked for set up such a system about 5 years ago. Convenience and HSE type stuff - text message based - entrance road x closed / roof y affected by high winds etc. We were asked to opt in IIRC and I can see the advantages. Retired 3 years ago but still get the messages.
V1nce Fox said:
CBA to read the whole thread, but do have one question:
If I switch off the alert settings (opt out) today, will it still send me an initial alert on 23rd that I then have to acknowledge?
Genuine answers only please, not the usual "tin foil" b
ks responses.
It won't - and to be clear the 'acknowledgement' isn't transmitting to anyone. If I switch off the alert settings (opt out) today, will it still send me an initial alert on 23rd that I then have to acknowledge?
Genuine answers only please, not the usual "tin foil" b
ks responses. surveyor said:
V1nce Fox said:
Great, many thanks for clearing that up. Really not a fan of the government sending me stuff via my phone.
After all, why would you want to know about an emergency situation developing that might affect you? It's a single text message, not a tax return!V1nce Fox said:
surveyor said:
V1nce Fox said:
Great, many thanks for clearing that up. Really not a fan of the government sending me stuff via my phone.
After all, why would you want to know about an emergency situation developing that might affect you? It's a single text message, not a tax return!Hill92 said:
V1nce Fox said:
surveyor said:
V1nce Fox said:
Great, many thanks for clearing that up. Really not a fan of the government sending me stuff via my phone.
After all, why would you want to know about an emergency situation developing that might affect you? It's a single text message, not a tax return!V1nce Fox said:
Great, many thanks for clearing that up. Really not a fan of the government sending me stuff via my phone.
They don't know it's your phone.It's cell broadcast so basically just a one way push to any compatible device.
Don't think they even have a way of knowing which phones have received it.
surveyor said:
Hill92 said:
V1nce Fox said:
surveyor said:
V1nce Fox said:
Great, many thanks for clearing that up. Really not a fan of the government sending me stuff via my phone.
After all, why would you want to know about an emergency situation developing that might affect you? It's a single text message, not a tax return!surveyor said:
Clearly, PH tin foil hats are frothing. I do wonder what the non-techy people who can just about make a call will make of the test...
Frothing 
It's a useful word. The forum equivalent of someone wearing a mask, or driving with their fog lights on when it rains. You know...those people.
surveyor said:
After all, why would you want to know about an emergency situation developing that might affect you? It's a single text message, not a tax return!
If this system was live during covid, how many “emergency” warnings would we have received?I have nothing against warnings for true emergencies, but my opinion is that the Govt will misuse it and send daft stuff such as “Wash hands, mask up and keep your distance” and other silly messages.
MYOB said:
surveyor said:
After all, why would you want to know about an emergency situation developing that might affect you? It's a single text message, not a tax return!
If this system was live during covid, how many “emergency” warnings would we have received?I have nothing against warnings for true emergencies, but my opinion is that the Govt will misuse it and send daft stuff such as “Wash hands, mask up and keep your distance” and other silly messages.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff