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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:
sylvandweller · 23/04/2023 10:00

berksandbeyond · 23/04/2023 09:56

People who have turned it off… do you genuinely not want to know?
there was a terrorist attack in the town I live in - I would have liked to have been alerted so I could avoid the area? The alerts can be location specific so it could be used for something like that

I don't get it either.

HeidiUpTheMountain · 23/04/2023 10:01

I want to hear the test so I know what it sounds like if it goes off for real - then it will be less of a shock. I don’t usually look at my phone even once a day, so it’s not always somewhere I can hear it anyway!

Okunevo · 23/04/2023 10:01

Posting this again for anyone who needs it as the paragraphs disappeared.

Android phones

If you do not wish to receive emergency alerts, access Emergency Alerts:

Android 12: Settings > Safety and Emergency.

Android 11: Settings > Search for “emergency alerts” OR Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts.

Android 10 and older OS versions: Messages app > Settings > Emergency alert history > Settings

Then toggle the switch next to Allow alerts to off.

AtomicBlondeRose · 23/04/2023 10:01

I look forward to the inevitable sad face “I turned my emergency alert off and so I wasn’t alerted to this emergency” articles in a couple of years.

Some people would have walked around during the Blitz saying air raid sirens were scaremongering and trying to create fear. (I’m sure these people actually did exist too!)

sylvandweller · 23/04/2023 10:02

Oh well, if Putin actually drops the bomb there will be more room in the shelter without the conspiracy theorists

sylvandweller · 23/04/2023 10:03

AtomicBlondeRose · 23/04/2023 10:01

I look forward to the inevitable sad face “I turned my emergency alert off and so I wasn’t alerted to this emergency” articles in a couple of years.

Some people would have walked around during the Blitz saying air raid sirens were scaremongering and trying to create fear. (I’m sure these people actually did exist too!)

Not for very long

BertieBotts · 23/04/2023 10:03

Leaving it on so they can reply 😂 what? Lol

Load of paranoid nonsense. I bet they go on about "not buying into project fear" yet they seem terrified of perfectly normal things that can actually help them.

I wonder if they also refuse to buy smoke alarms because it's too scary and they would rather not be alive if there's a fire. It's very dramatic.

Scienceadvisory · 23/04/2023 10:04

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....

The government isn't up to anything with this 'at this particular point in time' - the emergency alert system has been considered and developed over years. It is also common in other developed western nations. You sound paranoid.

Alargeoneplease89 · 23/04/2023 10:08

sylvandweller · 23/04/2023 09:59

If there ever is a real emergency, those who turned it off are going to get a really brutal lesson in Darwinism 😁

Haha! Laughed too much at this... very true!

LlynTegid · 23/04/2023 10:10

Mine is off because I object to it being on a Sunday afternoon. I value Sundays being different from the rest of the week and want some of the few differences to remain.

I think it is an attempt by this government to distract you from their failings by timing it just before local elections.

TakeMyStrongHand · 23/04/2023 10:10

People are fucking weird. Why would you not want to know about something bad happening?

Same happened with covid tho didn't it. Bunch of pricks.

Comedycook · 23/04/2023 10:10

Turning mine off. Heard on the tv that it may be used for extreme weather situations. My first thought is they are testing this out for future climate lockdowns....fuck them

borderline53 · 23/04/2023 10:11

My neighbour says it’s all linked to threats from Russia, it’s in place of the 4 minute warning.

Sunflowers80 · 23/04/2023 10:11

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

Who cares? On or off. The government are just a bunch of lying, corrupt parasites and nothing they do is really to protect the people. If there was a sudden event you can bet you'd know about it without warning

fluffy2buffy · 23/04/2023 10:12

I'm so disappointed that people that I respect have made a massive deal out of this and when questioned have said it's a compliance test by the government. It's like finding out that Santa wasn't real. But cringier.

RufustheSpecuIatingreindeer · 23/04/2023 10:12

StupidFaces · 23/04/2023 09:51

But do you go and boast about it everywhere so everyone can see how ‘ard you are?

That’s the bit annoying me, fine to turn it off but boasting about it is so childish!

On this basis you are not being unreasonable at all 😀

sylvandweller · 23/04/2023 10:13

fluffy2buffy · 23/04/2023 10:12

I'm so disappointed that people that I respect have made a massive deal out of this and when questioned have said it's a compliance test by the government. It's like finding out that Santa wasn't real. But cringier.

And these people can vote Confused

Bbq1 · 23/04/2023 10:13

Okunevo · 23/04/2023 09:51

Can't vote as mine is turned off but not for that reason. I also tried and failed to turn it off for my elderly grandmother, at her request. There are many valid reasons why people have felt the need to turn it off.

What are the many valid reasons why a 10 sec alarm would need to be turned off? I can think of a couple but not many. Mine is staying on anyway.

MeinKraft · 23/04/2023 10:14

StupidFaces · 23/04/2023 09:51

But do you go and boast about it everywhere so everyone can see how ‘ard you are?

That’s the bit annoying me, fine to turn it off but boasting about it is so childish!

Yes I understand. These people are broadcasting their sense of superiority, like during covid 'you're all sheep wearing a face nappy!' Etc. But the reality is they're as thick as mince. But you can't point that out because it's not polite.

ShowUs · 23/04/2023 10:15

It’s honestly so embarrassing!!

These are the same idiots that would be complaining if there is an emergency and they weren’t informed.

Its worrying how many of them think it’s some sort of conspiracy.

Some people are so opposed to being ‘sheep’ and doing something the government says that they end up becoming worse sheep because they do things that other people do and it negatively impacts them.

Snapfel · 23/04/2023 10:15

berksandbeyond · 23/04/2023 09:56

People who have turned it off… do you genuinely not want to know?
there was a terrorist attack in the town I live in - I would have liked to have been alerted so I could avoid the area? The alerts can be location specific so it could be used for something like that

I turned it off because I'm autistic and couldn't cope with the sound.

NerrSnerr · 23/04/2023 10:17

borderline53 · 23/04/2023 10:11

My neighbour says it’s all linked to threats from Russia, it’s in place of the 4 minute warning.

If your neighbour said it then it must be true.

berksandbeyond · 23/04/2023 10:19

Snapfel · 23/04/2023 10:15

I turned it off because I'm autistic and couldn't cope with the sound.

Show quote history

That’s entirely your choice but please don’t be one of the inevitable people complaining when they aren’t told about things, if it does need to be used for an emergency situation!

lljkk · 23/04/2023 10:19

2 questions:

Since I haven't been paying attention,

  1. does this alarm stop by itself or do we have to do something to make the noise stop or can we stop it in less than 10 seconds, or do we have to wait for it to do its thing?

  2. Alarm is at "usual call ring volume" : does that mean someone else's idea of usual volume, or is it at MY USUAL volume. Mine is super loud because I never hear the phone ring unless it's extremely loud, especially if in a noisy place (like middle of city streets in day time).

Grumpypotamus · 23/04/2023 10:19

Parker231 · 23/04/2023 09:54

People are ridiculous - we’ve had it for years. Gets tested twice a year and only used for local emergencies.

The UK can be weird.

This. Also had it for years (although no siren, it’s a text with a specific alert sound), and it is great for local emergencies. It seems the UK always has to complain about something, it’s just stupid tbh.