Public emergency alert - being sent to your phone

[Lotobear]

Lord Marylebone said:

I haven't commented on this thread thus far, as quite frankly this is all a bit 'meh' to me. I fail to see how anyone could get even slightly exercised over this matter one way or the other.

I think the comment below sums it up for me.

otolith said:

Aside from the fear of triggering the Covid-radicalised pound shop Kaczynskis, it's hard to see how any developed country could justify not having this facility, nor why anyone sane would care that they do. If they cry wolf, it will get turned off.

Overall, I feel that things like this are fine in principle. Providing your citizens with information is part of the role of a government. I'm comfortable leaving it switched on and simply see what happens. If it is used on rare occasions to warn of impeding danger to life, or extreme weather, or other such things, then fine, I'm happy to receive those messages. I can then make my own decisions about what to do or not do with that information.

If the government use it in an incompetent fashion, or use it too frequently to warn of relatively minor issues then I may just turn it off. I will make my own evaluation once I have experienced it.

This is simply a service to provide information, like the news, or the weather forecast. Some people are behaving like the messages will be a lawful order forced upon them, which they must obey.

I don't think anyone really believes the last bit of your post do they?

To me it's quite simply just another bit of pointless Government intrusion, and unecessary cost - an answer to a question no one asked. In this age of 24 hour news and social media I can't think of a single reason why we need to be given a Government wanring about something that we are likely to know about in advance anyway.

I have absolutely no doubt there will be mission creep of one form or another somewhere down the line.

[turbobloke]

Lotobear said:

Lord Marylebone said:

I haven't commented on this thread thus far, as quite frankly this is all a bit 'meh' to me. I fail to see how anyone could get even slightly exercised over this matter one way or the other.

I think the comment below sums it up for me.

otolith said:

Aside from the fear of triggering the Covid-radicalised pound shop Kaczynskis, it's hard to see how any developed country could justify not having this facility, nor why anyone sane would care that they do. If they cry wolf, it will get turned off.

Overall, I feel that things like this are fine in principle. Providing your citizens with information is part of the role of a government. I'm comfortable leaving it switched on and simply see what happens. If it is used on rare occasions to warn of impeding danger to life, or extreme weather, or other such things, then fine, I'm happy to receive those messages. I can then make my own decisions about what to do or not do with that information.

If the government use it in an incompetent fashion, or use it too frequently to warn of relatively minor issues then I may just turn it off. I will make my own evaluation once I have experienced it.

This is simply a service to provide information, like the news, or the weather forecast. Some people are behaving like the messages will be a lawful order forced upon them, which they must obey.

I don't think anyone really believes the last bit of your post do they?

To me it's quite simply just another bit of pointless Government intrusion, and unecessary cost - an answer to a question no one asked. In this age of 24 hour news and social media I can't think of a single reason why we need to be given a Government wanring about something that we are likely to know about in advance anyway.

I have absolutely no doubt there will be mission creep of one form or another somewhere down the line.

Nailed it.

It was never about a bit of weather warning in any case. It's naive beyond belief to take this stunt at face value.

[otolith]

On the scale of government interventions in daily life, the ability to pop up an emergency message on people's phones (which they can opt out of getting) is such an irrelevance that I find it unfathomable that anybody could give a toss.

[Lotobear]

otolith said:

On the scale of government interventions in daily life, the ability to pop up an emergency message on people's phones (which they can opt out of getting) is such an irrelevance that I find it unfathomable that anybody could give a toss.

...only 3 weeks, you know, just to flatten the curve

[otolith]

Lotobear said:

...only 3 weeks, you know, just to flatten the curve

Radicalised, and unable to put anything into perspective anymore.

[bitchstewie]

Honestly I'm reading this thread and wondering how you guys make it through the day.

Everything is a plot or conspiracy everything is an overreach and the Government are out to get you.

It's pretty bonkers.

[Lotobear]

otolith said:

Lotobear said:

...only 3 weeks, you know, just to flatten the curve

Radicalised, and unable to put anything into perspective anymore.

...I wouldn't be quite so harsh as to label yourself in that manner but you do appear to have developed a somewhat unhealthy and unquestioning trust in Government. Others may of course reflect upon the last 3 years and take a rather more sceptical view.

[otolith]

It's an emergency messaging system.

I already get standard SMS messages from HMRC. And from the NHS. They even know where I live, and send me written letters. Honestly, if you don't think that sending emergency communications to citizens in the event of a disaster is a legitimate function of government, you're one step from going off-grid and living in the woods.

[Sway]

Lotobear said:

otolith said:

Lotobear said:

...only 3 weeks, you know, just to flatten the curve

Radicalised, and unable to put anything into perspective anymore.

...I wouldn't be quite so harsh as to label yourself in that manner but you do appear to have developed a somewhat unhealthy and unquestioning trust in Government. Others may of course reflect upon the last 3 years and take a rather more sceptical view.

It's not about 'trust' - it's about the simple fact that having a mobile alert system would make zero difference in the context of the sort of stuff you're so scared of.

Those things happened without the system in place. Having the system in place makes zero difference to them.

Indeed, the whole point of the system is far removed from 'national' type stuff. Instead, it's a highly localised approach for highly localised circumstances.

[monkfish1]

otolith said:

Biggy Stardust said:

They WILL cry wolf, it will get turned off, money will have been wasted.

Then complain about that if it happens.

Complaining is a waste of time and energy. Much easier to switch it off ahead of time and never think about it again.

PS, they WILL cry wolf. They wont be able to help themselves,

[monkfish1]

Lotobear said:

otolith said:

Lotobear said:

...only 3 weeks, you know, just to flatten the curve

Radicalised, and unable to put anything into perspective anymore.

...I wouldn't be quite so harsh as to label yourself in that manner but you do appear to have developed a somewhat unhealthy and unquestioning trust in Government. Others may of course reflect upon the last 3 years and take a rather more sceptical view.

I would agree with that assesment.

Simpy believes everything he is told and that government is looking after his best intersts.

Amazing given the last few years................................

[monkfish1]

Lord Marylebone said:

This is simply a service to provide information, like the news, or the weather forecast.

Do you really believe that?

[otolith]

monkfish1 said:

I would agree with that assesment.

Simpy believes everything he is told and that government is looking after his best intersts.

Amazing given the last few years................................

Whereas you believe that the state is entirely malign and does nothing without ulterior motives. How do you exist with such a paranoid mindset? You must be utterly miserable.

[Greendubber]

Agree with the alerts - leave them turned on

Disagree with the alerts - turn them off


Surely it's that simple?

[monkfish1]

otolith said:

monkfish1 said:

I would agree with that assesment.

Simpy believes everything he is told and that government is looking after his best intersts.

Amazing given the last few years................................

Whereas you believe that the state is entirely malign and does nothing without ulterior motives. How do you exist with such a paranoid mindset? You must be utterly miserable.

On the contrary. I can only ever be pleasantly surprised. Doesnt happen often with government related things though.

Unlike yourself, ive come to realise that the biggest threat to my wellbeing, lifestyle and heath, is actually my own government.

As a consequence, im certainly not having needless drivel from them broadcast to my phone.

[otolith]

Turn it off then.

[Lotobear]

otolith said:

monkfish1 said:

I would agree with that assesment.

Simpy believes everything he is told and that government is looking after his best intersts.

Amazing given the last few years................................

Whereas you believe that the state is entirely malign and does nothing without ulterior motives. How do you exist with such a paranoid mindset? You must be utterly miserable.

And whereas you believe the Tory Govt to be run by individuals who are wholly altruistic, motivated solely by egalitarian principles, are non self-serving or narcissistic and only have the public good at heart, are completely unfettered by the influence of big business or companies they either have or are due a direrctorship in. Wow, you must be utterly miserable with such a closed mindset how can you possibly exist?

[otolith]

Lotobear said:

And whereas you believe the Tory Govt to be run by individuals who are wholly altruistic, motivated solely by egalitarian principles, are non self-serving or narcissistic and only have the public good at heart, are completely unfettered by the influence of big business or companies they either have or are due a direrctorship in. Wow, you must be utterly miserable with such a closed mindset how can you possibly exist?

God no. I think they're a bunch of worthless sts, but that doesn't mean that I have a problem with them actually doing their job when they can be bothered taking their noses out of the trough - like putting in this sort of system, which is in place in a number of other countries.

Honestly, are you going to kick off if they come and fix the potholes, on the grounds that they must just be making it easier to get the black vans down the street to take you away?

[Lotobear]

otolith said:

Lotobear said:

And whereas you believe the Tory Govt to be run by individuals who are wholly altruistic, motivated solely by egalitarian principles, are non self-serving or narcissistic and only have the public good at heart, are completely unfettered by the influence of big business or companies they either have or are due a direrctorship in. Wow, you must be utterly miserable with such a closed mindset how can you possibly exist?

God no. I think they're a bunch of worthless sts, but that doesn't mean that I have a problem with them actually doing their job when they can be bothered taking their noses out of the trough - like putting in this sort of system, which is in place in a number of other countries.

Honestly, are you going to kick off if they come and fix the potholes, on the grounds that they must just be making it easier to get the black vans down the street to take you away?

you're quite the projectionist aren't you?

However if going through life having your head wedged up your own arse suits you then fair play, ignorance is bliss after all.

[otolith]

I'm not the one getting a fit of the vapours at a perfectly normal and legitimate function of government which I could entirely opt out of if I chose.