Page 5 | Government alert?!?!

hotmumshit · 2026-08-14T18:02:54+00:00

Omg? First use of the government phone alerts, i think??

PineappleSunrise · 15/08/2026 00:04

Pedant61 · 14/08/2026 23:36

This is a classic example of Government (?) thinking "we need to do something". Sending out a so-called alert is Something, so they can tick that box and move on to something else. It's just a PR move, really.

No, it means the next time someone causes a massive fire by chucking a cigarette butt into dry grass they can’t say no one told them not to.

inkymoose · 15/08/2026 00:04

PineappleSunrise · 15/08/2026 00:03

If you can’t stand a sudden noise, imagine how useless you’d be under an evacuation order.

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Rude.

inkymoose · 15/08/2026 00:04

XenoBitch · 14/08/2026 23:54

There was also one about swimming by Rolf Harris.

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You've got an excellent memory @XenoBitch!

PineappleSunrise · 15/08/2026 00:03

inkymoose · 15/08/2026 00:02

If you can't stand the sudden noise, switching the alerts off is the only option. I would leave the alerts on but there's no way to mute them.

It wasn't real and immediate danger. Yes, wildfires are deadly, and starting them is easy and very dangerous, but I wasn't planning on doing that, never have, am aware of the danger of sparks and heat. Didn't warrant a heartstopping blast of sound to tell me.

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If you can’t stand a sudden noise, imagine how useless you’d be under an evacuation order.

inkymoose · 15/08/2026 00:02

WhatHoJeeves · 14/08/2026 23:27

Jeez. It was an alert about a very real and immediate danger. We're a small island, wildfires are a huge threat in bone dry conditions like these. I can't believe people are so overdramatic as to turn the alerts off.

If you can't stand the sudden noise, switching the alerts off is the only option. I would leave the alerts on but there's no way to mute them.

It wasn't real and immediate danger. Yes, wildfires are deadly, and starting them is easy and very dangerous, but I wasn't planning on doing that, never have, am aware of the danger of sparks and heat. Didn't warrant a heartstopping blast of sound to tell me.

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 15/08/2026 00:01

It was a bit surprising but am used to Amber alerts in Ontario (when a child goes missing) or severe weather warning alerts (major snow or tornado warnings) so it’s fine. Guess we should feel lucky to be surprised as there aren’t that many …..

XenoBitch · 14/08/2026 23:54

inkymoose · 14/08/2026 23:53

Not the least of which was "clunk-click every trip" which was fronted by Jimmy Savile.

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There was also one about swimming by Rolf Harris.

Digerydont · 14/08/2026 23:54

inkymoose · 14/08/2026 23:53

Not the least of which was "clunk-click every trip" which was fronted by Jimmy Savile.

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There were definitely greater dangers for children in the 70s than not wearing a seat belt.

inkymoose · 14/08/2026 23:53

Catpuss66 · 14/08/2026 22:47

In the 70’s there were loads of public information adverts, about ringing the coastguard , clunck click every trip ( seatbelts), swimming sure others will contribute, some of them as a child were really scary.

Not the least of which was "clunk-click every trip" which was fronted by Jimmy Savile.

ProfMummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking · 14/08/2026 23:50

Haven't RTFT but mine didn't seem that loud? My phone was in my dress pocket while I was getting out of the car with DD. 2 seconds of "what's that noise" because I thought it was the car alarm, then "oh it's my phone", maybe a split second of shiiiiiiittt when I realised what the sound was, then checked and oh there's fires (of which I was already aware) don't light up the bbq, woop de do, and back to unloading the shopping! Bit of a non event for me.

Might have been a different story if it happened 2 minutes earlier when I was driving I suppose!

soundsys · 14/08/2026 23:44

hotmumshit · 14/08/2026 19:04

Oh wow, where are you?

Definitely must be first nationwide one

Cant even put on BBC news as autistic dd is more tetchy than usual and wants hey duggee

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I think just England rather than Nationwide? (Definitely didn't get it up here in Glasgow!)

thishouseisashittip · 14/08/2026 23:43

My teenage son even came out of his room! 🤣 Came running down stairs saying “what the f is going on!

Digerydont · 14/08/2026 23:41

During the war, the government tried to make everyone believe that German spies were everywhere with slogans like "Walls have Ears".

Pedant61 · 14/08/2026 23:36

This is a classic example of Government (?) thinking "we need to do something". Sending out a so-called alert is Something, so they can tick that box and move on to something else. It's just a PR move, really.

Therescathairinmybath · 14/08/2026 23:36

WhatHoJeeves · 14/08/2026 23:27

Jeez. It was an alert about a very real and immediate danger. We're a small island, wildfires are a huge threat in bone dry conditions like these. I can't believe people are so overdramatic as to turn the alerts off.

I don’t object to receiving the alert and agree it was an important message. Unfortunately, my hearing aids are connected by Bluetooth to my phone so the sound was quite painful for my ears. Hopefully at some point soon. there will be an option available to switch the sound off while still getting the alert for the hard of hearing and people with sensory issues.

Digerydont · 14/08/2026 23:35

XenoBitch · 14/08/2026 23:33

Defiantly! They scared people, and people remember scary ads.
On a similar note... how many of us will think to buy Pepto Bismol when we have dodgy guts because of the song and the guy clutching his arse and singing "diarrhea" 😂

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I had one of the conditions the other day and took some Peptol Bismol. I was soon dancing around singing the song, so it works.

Pedant61 · 14/08/2026 23:33

Voltaireiswoman · 14/08/2026 21:39

These alerts should not be used this way it annoys or desensitizes people so when one pops up saying "nuke/bombs" incoming they are likely to ignore it

Well, to be fair, if nukes or bombs are incoming then we're stuffed anyway, so I have no need to know that and would rather die in blissful ignorance!

Starrylawn · 14/08/2026 23:33

RowsOfFlowers · 14/08/2026 23:32

Why did I need 3 alerts about this?

I worked on the implementation of this. It’s because you were identified as a high risk offender for some reason

XenoBitch · 14/08/2026 23:33

Digerydont · 14/08/2026 23:29

It worked, though. AIDS isn't the thing it once was, partly through changes in behaviour like condom use, regular testing for those considered most at risk.

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Defiantly! They scared people, and people remember scary ads.
On a similar note... how many of us will think to buy Pepto Bismol when we have dodgy guts because of the song and the guy clutching his arse and singing "diarrhea" 😂

RowsOfFlowers · 14/08/2026 23:32

Why did I need 3 alerts about this?

Pippin2017 · 14/08/2026 23:31

There's another thread going at the moment, complaining that the campsite they're due to stay at has banned barbeques so the alert is obviously timely and needed.

MadisonAvenue · 14/08/2026 23:30

Bluedungarees · 14/08/2026 23:01

I was driving and it really scared me. Weirdly I didn’t realise it was a government alert and thought it was my car and that the brakes had failed or something. Only for a second or two but enough to send my heart racing.

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I was driving my new car which I’d only picked up a few hours earlier, I thought it was malfunctioning.

cornflakecrunchie · 14/08/2026 23:30

@Starrylawn Not good enough, in my opinion.
I wonder if the Govt even asked firefighters for their thoughts DAYS ago?

Digerydont · 14/08/2026 23:29

XenoBitch · 14/08/2026 23:07

Now, this is my special subject 😆
Yes, the AIDS ads.... they give me the creeps. I can not watch them when it is dark out 😂Don't die of ignorance.

And the Protect and Survive.. also how to bag up a loved one died and leave them in a bin liner outside with a tag. Great times.

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It worked, though. AIDS isn't the thing it once was, partly through changes in behaviour like condom use, regular testing for those considered most at risk.

PrincessofWills · 14/08/2026 23:28

MrsM2025 · 14/08/2026 19:04

AIBU that I don’t think this alert system should have been used for this?

Yes.