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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder about the government warning to our phones.

353 replies

TarasHarp55 · 21/03/2023 17:29

Does anyone know much about this emergency warning thing on our phones. Can't remember the exact day but in April they're going to test it out. Is it fear mongering again. I'm going to switch it off, anyone else.

OP posts:
FatGirlSwim · 22/03/2023 20:14

premicrois · 22/03/2023 19:15

iPhone its settings > notifications then scroll to the bottom

Show quote history

Thank you!

Pixiedust1234 · 22/03/2023 20:39

I remember last year when everything was tinder dry there were a quite a few warehouses and industrial units near housing estates that went up in flames. The local news told everyone to stay inside and keep their windows and doors shut due to inhalation of dangerous chemical fumes. And yet you saw crowds watching the firefighters, and peoples windows open on the TV segment so they were obviously not watching the news or reading the local paper. I'm guessing those are the times an alert might be sent out and be extremely useful.

Same with flash flooding like Boscastle (previous pp mentioned), nobody could have forseen that flood.

I think everyone should at least listen to it once before turning it off. At least this is a set date, and will probably end up being a set time.

allibaby · 22/03/2023 21:20

toomuchlaundry · 22/03/2023 19:29

@Jonei jut think how many other countries have similar systems and their population cope with having it without getting all het up about it. A number of posters have said how it works in their country and have no problems with it. We are quite an embarrassing nation sometimes.

Most of the posters you are talking about live in countries where big things happen so yes for them it is useful.
We don't really need it let's be honest.

toomuchlaundry · 22/03/2023 23:23

@allibaby so if there was a big chemical leak and an evacuation was needed do you not think it would be useful?

allibaby · 23/03/2023 05:56

toomuchlaundry · 22/03/2023 23:23

@allibaby so if there was a big chemical leak and an evacuation was needed do you not think it would be useful?

No not really.
These types of things have happened before and we've managed without having to acknowledge an alert on our phones.

If you think it's a good idea that's absolutely fine I just don't see the point and at this point in time with all that is going on with Russia I think it is nothing more than scaremongering.
They could have done this years ago but they have waited until now when people are scared we are going to get nuked.

I'm happy to not have the alert that I will need to acknowledge before the government allow me to use my phone again.

user1492771818 · 23/03/2023 07:24

It would useful if cell broadcasts had different levels of alarm alert. For missing child/ heat wave or an immediate threat to the message receivers life.

Lifelessordinary1 · 23/03/2023 08:30

toomuchlaundry · 22/03/2023 14:29

@Lifelessordinary1 many people have given other examples of how they could be used

As i can read i know that - i just thought it pointless to list them all. My point still stands.

Jonei · 23/03/2023 08:39

toomuchlaundry · 22/03/2023 19:29

@Jonei jut think how many other countries have similar systems and their population cope with having it without getting all het up about it. A number of posters have said how it works in their country and have no problems with it. We are quite an embarrassing nation sometimes.

I think we are at times an embarrassing nation yes.

I doubt my reasons for thinking that are the same as your reasons are though..

Jonei · 23/03/2023 08:40

Most of the posters you are talking about live in countries where big things happen so yes for them it is useful.
We don't really need it let's be honest

Yep.

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 08:50

So in the example I gave earlier where a section of a city had to be evacuated and the emergency services had to do this by running into buildings shouting at workers/shoppers to get out, do you not think it would have been easier to have an alert system on mobile phones?

Jonei · 23/03/2023 08:54

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 08:50

So in the example I gave earlier where a section of a city had to be evacuated and the emergency services had to do this by running into buildings shouting at workers/shoppers to get out, do you not think it would have been easier to have an alert system on mobile phones?

I think the chances of the majority of us ever experiencing that in our life time are extremely slim.

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 08:59

@Jonei but that’s the point it is an emergency alert not an everyday alert, so hopefully not something to be used all the time but helpful when needed.

Bit like fire drills, done many of them but never had to do them in real fire emergency. Should buildings not have fire alarms? Schools do lockdown drills but hopefully won’t have to do them in real situation

Crispsdippedinmilk · 23/03/2023 09:02

Its not just countries where "big things happen" that have these systems or are currently implementing them. EU countries have to do it, so Netherlands, France, Germany etc.

Jonei · 23/03/2023 09:15

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 08:59

@Jonei but that’s the point it is an emergency alert not an everyday alert, so hopefully not something to be used all the time but helpful when needed.

Bit like fire drills, done many of them but never had to do them in real fire emergency. Should buildings not have fire alarms? Schools do lockdown drills but hopefully won’t have to do them in real situation

Well we do have fire alarms. They're very useful. And already work. So we don't really need to add a whole new layer to feed peoples already insane paranoia.

Jonei · 23/03/2023 09:16

Anyway. I don't really care. If people want the government to send an alert directly to their phone then they can. And those who don't want it will switch it off.

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 09:23

Could you not say not wanting these alerts are also an example of insane paranoia?

Jonei · 23/03/2023 09:25

You can say what you want if that's what you think. Having gone for so many years without needing it I don't see why we suddenly need it desperately now. But equally I don't care that much if it makes people like yourself feel more comfortable somehow. Go ahead and use it. It's your choice.

pigsDOfly · 23/03/2023 09:31

Pixiedust1234 · 22/03/2023 20:39

I remember last year when everything was tinder dry there were a quite a few warehouses and industrial units near housing estates that went up in flames. The local news told everyone to stay inside and keep their windows and doors shut due to inhalation of dangerous chemical fumes. And yet you saw crowds watching the firefighters, and peoples windows open on the TV segment so they were obviously not watching the news or reading the local paper. I'm guessing those are the times an alert might be sent out and be extremely useful.

Same with flash flooding like Boscastle (previous pp mentioned), nobody could have forseen that flood.

I think everyone should at least listen to it once before turning it off. At least this is a set date, and will probably end up being a set time.

The people standing around watching the firefighters might very well have heard the news and decided to ignore it.

I used to live by the sea, and despite the large warning posters stuck up everywhere and the warnings on the local news about going near the sea when the tides were extremely high and rough you'd still get idiots going down to the water to watch the rough sea, some even bringing their small children down to look at it.

And yes, people did get swept away and then, of course, the poor bloody life boat crews would have to risk their lives to try to save them.

You can warn people, doesn't mean they'll listen.

DoraSpenlow · 23/03/2023 09:40

Jonei · 23/03/2023 08:54

I think the chances of the majority of us ever experiencing that in our life time are extremely slim.

Show quote history

In which case we don't have to worry about it going off every 5 minutes do we.

We first had a postal service. Then email came along and we found it was quicker/more oonvenient in many cases. Then texting/messaging arrived and again it turned out to be more efficient. This system is just another technological move forward.

If something did ever happen weatherwise, for example, and people were injured/killed when they could have beenn notified more quickly there would be people on here moaning that we didn't have an alert system like other countries.

Those in charge will never win.

Jonei · 23/03/2023 09:48

DoraSpenlow · 23/03/2023 09:40

In which case we don't have to worry about it going off every 5 minutes do we.

We first had a postal service. Then email came along and we found it was quicker/more oonvenient in many cases. Then texting/messaging arrived and again it turned out to be more efficient. This system is just another technological move forward.

If something did ever happen weatherwise, for example, and people were injured/killed when they could have beenn notified more quickly there would be people on here moaning that we didn't have an alert system like other countries.

Those in charge will never win.

Show quote history

You don't need to worry no. I'll probably turn mine off altogether anyway.

The rest of it, whether it's actually progress, is a debate for another time.

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 09:50

@Jonei do you have a mobile phone, use the internet? Didn’t use to have them either, but the majority of people wouldn’t be able to work without them now Would you rather we had not moved on from a town crier?

Jonei · 23/03/2023 10:17

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 09:50

@Jonei do you have a mobile phone, use the internet? Didn’t use to have them either, but the majority of people wouldn’t be able to work without them now Would you rather we had not moved on from a town crier?

I do use both because there's no other option in my job.. It doesn't mean I want or need tech take over / guide every function in my life. .
Living in a smaller environment with less people and a town crier sounds fab to me tbh. Clearly others feel differently and feel that the modern world signifies progress. And that's ok too. You do your thing and keep your alerts because that's what works for you.

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 10:22

@Jonei you are on MN so you can't despise technology that much

Jonei · 23/03/2023 10:44

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 10:22

@Jonei you are on MN so you can't despise technology that much

I never said I did despise it. It has its uses obviously. After all, where would we be without ridiculous debates on Mumsnet 🙄. However, personally, I prefer to decide how, when and how much I want to use tech. Use it in a way that suits me. Not how others think it should be for me. No doubt you do the same.

allibaby · 23/03/2023 11:15

toomuchlaundry · 23/03/2023 08:50

So in the example I gave earlier where a section of a city had to be evacuated and the emergency services had to do this by running into buildings shouting at workers/shoppers to get out, do you not think it would have been easier to have an alert system on mobile phones?

No because they would still have to go in and shout for people to get out as they would have no way of knowing that everyone has their phone to receive an alert on.
It could also create a mass panic everyone's phone going off at the same time.
At least when the emergency services go in to evacuate there are professionals there to guide people out.