Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I’ve turned my emergency alert off because I’m such a rebel!

514 replies

StupidFaces · 23/04/2023 09:47

Urgh

Facebook … numerous posts over the last days consisting of:

“EMERGENCY ALERT SWITCHED OFF!!”

“Leaving my emergency alert on so I can reply and tell them to go and fuck themselves!”

“Remember everyone, emergency alerts can and should be switched off by tomorrow!”

“That’s my emergency alert turned off lol”

Why??? What’s so big and clever about turning the alert off? Don’t people realise that most countries have had this for years? Turning it off doesn’t make you Billy Big Bollocks and boasting about it just makes you look stupid!

YABU - I’ve turned mine off and I’m proud of it! Down with the establishment!

YANBU - people are ridiculous

OP posts:
Qilin · 23/04/2023 13:10

PinkiOcelot · 23/04/2023 09:55

Ahh I forgot about that.

when the alarm sounds, do you then get a message to say what the threat is? (I know not today, I mean in a real emergency).

Yes, if like the Ines in other countries.
Brief text giving key information.

The ones I've received in the US have been a missing child - had brief description, latest known location and,if one case, car registration and road it was last seen in.

Hurricane warning one gave brief information and link to advise, projected route iirr.

Original poster
StupidFaces · 23/04/2023 13:10

“I’m turning it off! I’m not having the government track my every move!”

Yes, because I’m sure the government are very interested in what Dave from down the street is upto when the highlight of his day is putting a bet on at the bookies and buying a 6 pack of Stella on the way home 🙄

Unless you’re the secret love child of Pablo Escobar and carrying on his life’s work inbetween the school run I very much doubt the government gives a shit what you’re upto 😂 some people place way too much importance on themselves.

OP posts:
Roussette · 23/04/2023 13:11

@TroysMammy Sorry, didnt mean to offend you, I read quickly and did not realise you mentioned your hearing.
Apologies

Leftbutcameback · 23/04/2023 13:11

FL0 · 23/04/2023 13:04

Please opt back in.

They are not just for people who smoke or have chip pans or children. They are to give you early warning of a fire to give you more TIME to escape your home, preferably by the normal means of stairs / doors.

If you put a heat detector in your kitchen ( not a smoke detector ) it won’t sound very often, usually only if you burn something badly.

Many fires in houses start due to electrical faults - I assume you use electricity.

Some house fires spread to or from adjacent buildings. You are putting other people’s lives at risk, unless you live in a detached house away from all other buildings.

Even if you do, you are risking the lives of firefighters who will break into your house to try to rescue you.

You are more likely to be killed by smoke than flames , so you may not have time to climb out your fire escape windows. You might die on your bed or sofa, overcome with smoke or fumes.

Please get some alarms . Three Linked smoke and heat detectors will costs about £120 and the batteries are non replaceable, they last about 10 years. Ask someone to install them for you So you don’t need to climb up any ladders.

Show quote history

I couldn’t work out if the original poster was being sarcastic or not. We had a house fire locally last night. People got out (alarms) but lost everything. I’d say we have one of these very couple of years in my area. As you say @FL0 usually caused by something plugged in. Also don’t they go off with smoke anyway so you have time to get out before the smoke kills you?

Sublime66 · 23/04/2023 13:12

Nimbostratus100 · 23/04/2023 13:05

what do you think is "batshit" about being warned of a meteorite strike?

Show quote history

Look at the fear growing through this thread already. 🤣
You will find out about such disasters way in advance and if you don’t an alarm on a phone isn’t going to help.
Stop relying on the phone to live, use your community

Anxietyrules247 · 23/04/2023 13:13

I'm on edge waiting for it to happen.
Probably jump in the air!

Qilin · 23/04/2023 13:14

Exaspa · 23/04/2023 09:52

If the asteroid is going to hit or the aliens about to land/reveal themselves (or more likely the Big Red Button is about to be pushed by whichever mad regime thinks it's a solution to massive overpopulation and our other ills) I'd personally rather not know in advance thanks.... I can't help but wonder what our lovely (not) government is really up to with all this at this particular point in time though....

You know that lots of other countries already have these systems in place and have done for years. We are pretty slow sorting it co oared to other places.

Okunevo · 23/04/2023 13:16

Qilin · 23/04/2023 13:09

Luckily I've not got those sorts in my social media.

I can understand why some people have turned them off - if vulnerable, etc. Perfectly fine and good that there is official advise to show people how to turn them off if it could lead to issues for them.

And if others want to turn it off - do so. Your choice, why the need to to make a big deal over social media about it though? That's the bit I don't understand.

Lots of other countries have had the systems for years. I've received texts a whilst on holiday I n America , few years ago now. Was no big deal. Tap your phone and it's gone. No big deal but could be useful in some situations.

No idea what the fuss some people are making about it though, including several threads on MN since it was announced.

The social media posts were shared from a dv charity.

dontgobaconmyheart · 23/04/2023 13:16

Couldn't care less either way but if (and i cannot imagine this is the case for barely anyone) it is the case that people are turning it off imagining that demonstrates some sort of independence and anti-establishment gung-ho then that would be a little tragic. I imagine we all gave the same permissions to be traced/tracked/watched on our devices and apps to some degree by default of even using most them at all so if we're fine with that then a little beep is all a bit irrelevant in most circumstances (exceptions maybe if you're driving and feel it will cause an issue etc).

I'm not turning mine off because I can't be bothered. There are several phones in our house so I'm sure one of them will go off anyway. I expect I'll get over it when they go off for 10 seconds this afternoon, if not I suppose I can always make a thread about it.

Nimbostratus100 · 23/04/2023 13:16

Sublime66 · 23/04/2023 13:12

Look at the fear growing through this thread already. 🤣
You will find out about such disasters way in advance and if you don’t an alarm on a phone isn’t going to help.
Stop relying on the phone to live, use your community

Show quote history

absolute nonsense, you have no idea what you are talking about. Many meteorites arrive with no warning at all, and many with limited warning. There are millions of near earth objects, they cant all be tracked and predicted perfectly. A meteor explode over Kiev without any warning last week.

Why should you be afraid of them? Just take the precautions recommended if it becomes necessary, that is all

Qilin · 23/04/2023 13:17

BungalowLil · 23/04/2023 10:19

I suppose some people just value a quiet, disconnected life and value that above all else.

Yet appear to have smart phones and social media, so they can tell people they've turned it off, so not that disconnected it seems 🤷‍♀️

Jenasaurus · 23/04/2023 13:18

OrangeRock · 23/04/2023 12:43

Genuinely WTAF is a future climate lock down?

I get that “there’s a tornado take shelter” or “dam burst find higher ground”

but what do you mean by this?

Show quote history

Maybe hose pipe bans :)

CrossBun · 23/04/2023 13:18

I wonder if it will expose any hidden phones.

Elphame · 23/04/2023 13:19

Kyse · 23/04/2023 11:16

I imagine it'll come with a message
Say the Cumbria shootings
So if you get a message saying there's a man with a gun around the corner shooting people, you'll just walk around the corner because you don't listen to what they say? Confused

Or it'll say something like chemical spill at X, avoid area/stay inside

Show quote history

And in reality all it will probably say is "police incident in Bristol" which is of little use to anyone.

JudgeRudy · 23/04/2023 13:19

Why do you perceive a FB post as boasting? I know it's been around for a while. I also know the app has been on my phone for at least 2 years and I've tried all sorts of ways to disable it (unsuccessfully). Lots of people know this. Not everyone knows that turning your phone onto silent will not prevent it sounding, so folk are reminding others. This is particularly relavent if you have an emergency secret phone. My mum takes her mobile when she's driving. She doesn't really use it otherwise. An alarm going off unexpected would throw her especially if she was driving.

I saw a couple of posts recently reminding people that the clocks go forward. I never for one moment thought they were boasting.

Okunevo · 23/04/2023 13:19

CrossBun · 23/04/2023 13:18

I wonder if it will expose any hidden phones.

This is already a significant concern about those living in dv situations who may have a second phone for planning to leave.

ClaudiaWankleman · 23/04/2023 13:21

Nimbostratus100 · 23/04/2023 13:05

what do you think is "batshit" about being warned of a meteorite strike?

Show quote history

What was batshit was that you read a post where the user expressed that in an apocalyptical nuclear war or meteorite strike situation, she would prefer to stay ignorant.

And then you turned that around to scold her for not wanting to stay clear of flying glass! 😂 As if that would make any difference at all.

Please do remain absolutely batshit though - it brings so much character to this place!

lurcherlove · 23/04/2023 13:22

I’ve left my on because I’m curious to see if the alerts actually work. I don’t think the government will actually pull it off.

WoodenFloorboards · 23/04/2023 13:26

You would hope that the one thing the pandemic would have taught us is that if the disaster planning quangos have recommended that Event A is unlikely but possible, and therefore Precaution B would be worthwhile setting up in advance then maybe listen to them.

It gives me some hope that even this sorry excuse for a government seems to have learned this elementary lesson. But a large chunk of the British public, and the Daily Mail...not so much.

Nimbostratus100 · 23/04/2023 13:27

ClaudiaWankleman · 23/04/2023 13:21

What was batshit was that you read a post where the user expressed that in an apocalyptical nuclear war or meteorite strike situation, she would prefer to stay ignorant.

And then you turned that around to scold her for not wanting to stay clear of flying glass! 😂 As if that would make any difference at all.

Please do remain absolutely batshit though - it brings so much character to this place!

Show quote history

what is it you dont understand? The biggest danger in a meteorite strike is flying glass,

You seem to think you are so big and clever mocking me for pointing this out, but all you are doing is showing your ignorance.

Why would you NOT want to be warned about a meteorite strike?

StressedToTheMaxxx · 23/04/2023 13:28

It'll be the same people who were staunchly anti vax for no reason other than fuck the government, we won't be told what to do. Yawn.

Qilin · 23/04/2023 13:32

Why would a severe weather warning make people panic and live in a state of fear?

Do amber and red weather warnings on the BBC and Met Office app/website cause such a panic?

ClaudiaWankleman · 23/04/2023 13:33

Nimbostratus100 · 23/04/2023 13:27

what is it you dont understand? The biggest danger in a meteorite strike is flying glass,

You seem to think you are so big and clever mocking me for pointing this out, but all you are doing is showing your ignorance.

Why would you NOT want to be warned about a meteorite strike?

Show quote history

Well if I was about to have a meteorite crash down on me and kill me, I would probably prefer to not get a notification on my phone telling me. I’d be much happier going about my everyday life and dying ignorantly and unexpectedly.

That’s all the PP was conveying, although the nuance somehow managed to escape your black hole-like density.

Qilin · 23/04/2023 13:33

TarasHarp55 · 23/04/2023 11:32

If there was a flood or a fire I presume the alert would be just for that area. It wouldn't go out to the whole country?

Yes - they are geographical based.

Swipe left for the next trending thread