To think there’s something a bit sinister about the Government Emergency Alert test on 7th September?

[ThisAmberSignal]

I know it’s being pitched as just a routine safety check, “nothing to worry about” but I can’t help but feel uneasy. Why now? Why the sudden push to roll this out and get everyone’s phones buzzing at the same time?
Is it really just a public safety measure or could there be something more going on here - surveillance, control, a soft rollout of something bigger?

AIBU to feel suspicious… or do others get the same vibe?

I don't think it's sinister at all, more just the overuse of the mobile phone, apps, texts, the whole lot, it's keeping us safe, etc, etc. I have switched mine off, it has uses in some areas but I don't like to be totally reliant on my phone for everything. It's like you are expected to have it with you at all times, don't they want us to have a digital ID as well so we have to carry the phone everywhere.

Boscastle and Boston are both ones I can think of where they had flash flooding in recent years. They knew about the weather but for whatever reason there was unexpected flooding. I suspect the usage will be greater in costal areas but not confined to it.

We currently have a wildfire on the Yorkshire Moors. Not as dramatic as elsewhere but they do happen here too.

They?
Alerts will come from a variety of agencies when ‘real’ and relate mostly to weather, flooding etc.

The government didn't send the message, your network provider did. That's not to say the government doesn't have the means of getting pretty much everyone's phone number.
But the network just blanket texts every number in their system. So the government doesn't know who is on the other end.
They had something like this a few years back and lots of people said it didn't work.

There's been several wildfires and floods in the UK this year.

100% this.

Germany and France are both suddenly having their hospitals put plans in place to receive military patients from conflict, so no, I don’t think you are being unreasonable thinking that this could be more than simply routine

I think the UK government should just give up. They really must be thinking "why do we bloody bother?"
It seems the population is either paranoid or doesn't care if their house is swept away by a flood or they can't breathe because a local chemical factory set on fire.
They should just leave us to live feral and hope that society doesn't turn too much into The Hunger Games.

@ThisAmberSignal are you normally this paranoid ?

This. I was in Tallinn in May when they ran such a test, loud sirens and everything. We’d been warned in advance by our ship (we were on a cruise) that it would happen and it happened just as we got back to the port from sightseeing in the old town.

It was used effectively last year in Plymouth when a large WW2 bomb was found in a residential garden. The alert informed people about the evacuation area and timings.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-hospitals-war-europe-letter-russia-ukraine-b2819143.html

https://indeksonline.net/en/German-hospitals-prepare-for-war-scenarios/

I personally dont think its sinister BUT I have family members who do think it is. Ive also seen quite a few tiktoks claiming its for various sinister reasons - none of which I personally believe. But I dont think you "need to get a grip" and I dont think you deserve any of these rude and snide comments either. Its normal to question things and youd be a fool to just say yes sir and just trust everything. But in this case I dont think anything sinster is related to the emergency warning. However - its not impossible especially with the way the world is. Its like the covid thing - lots of people questioned the whole vaccine process and questioned if it was made in a lab etc and lots of people didnt question a thing and clapped for the NHS religiously etc. Then the same people who were telling us to social distance etc were throwing fucking party's together.

I’ve heard that it’s terrifying if you are in the car and you have Bluetooth car speaker for your phone.

Why have they used a picture of the Jersey War Tunnel in an article about German hospital?

When I was a teenager my town was near a US military base and the local hospital was put on alert for potential extra patients because of the first Gulf War (early 90s?).
Not the local population but injured Airmen from the USAF.
Thankfully the extra beds weren't required.
This type of thing probably happens all the time but isn't necessarily always reported.

Those people would likely have turned it off in their settings.

Just to check we all know what it is and it is working.
It has failed to be used in flash floods recently. Lives could have been saved if it had been used. This was abroad. It is a great thing that we get a reminder now and then.

I didn't even receive the alert that happened a few years ago. If I don't get it this time, I'll try not to be offended 😆

It’s not even that. It’s not done by phone number, but via what’s connected to the transmitters at any given time. They’ve no idea who they are contacting.

Not all of us! Mine didn't go off despite me triple checking that it would. Ditto for this time around as well.

Sorry, what? Threads like this really remind me there are a lot of actually stupid people around.

I think last time if a phone was 3G you didn't get it.
I didn't (I was disappointed)
I have a 4G one now so I should this time. Apparently the alert will only work on 4G and 5G phones.

Let’s hope you don’t ever need warning of a terrorist event or natural disaster near you! Maybe it’s just nicer to not know when the bomb is about to hit us and all that. 👍