Emergency Alert System Fans

[blackie toy]

Huh. This is actually kind of cool. I think the missile strike warning scenarios are kind of dumb to be believable though.

Must... resist... urge to prank.

 

[Dudeofteenage]

Oh and here is what would preceded any broadcast in the UK the infamous test card:

That Test Card has a fandom that dwarves the EAS fans. Seriously, Test Card Girl / Weird Clown is one of the oldest shippings.

 

[sasazuka]

I like to listen to American radio stations like WLS-AM Chicago over the Internet and I've heard EAS signals that were not a test a few times. Obviously, they're for things a little less severe than nuclear annihilation, like tornado warnings for the outer part of the listening area, but it still makes my stomach drop for a few seconds when the EAS warnings break from the usual "just a test" patterns on the outside chance that Putin has just given the order to launch.

 

[ToroidalBoat]

there's at least *one* person out there who's most likely a fan of it...

I wonder if there's fandoms for vintage popup ads? Or fans of phosphors in LED lamps who debate the merits of remote phosphors? Or... you get the idea.

they seem like a nice group of guys who just happen to have an interest in the history of a certain thing

This. Being weird alone does not a lolcow make.

 

[Kondraty Bulavin]

While admittedly weird and spergy as hell, I also agree that being obsessed with the Emergency Alert System does not necessarily make a lolcow. There are some aspects of it that are actually kinda interesting, like the time its predecessor, the EBS, was accidentally activated nationwide in 1971.

But I admit, I'm biased, since growing up in a tornado-prone area meant that when you heard that EAS tone, some serious shit was about to go down. Or it was a weekly test.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

I wonder if there's fandoms for vintage popup ads? Or fans of phosphors in LED lamps who debate the merits of remote phosphors? Or... you get the idea

It wouldn't shock me one bit if there *were* fandoms for those things...

 

[sparklemilhouse]

It is probably worth noting that I have seen a lot of crossover between the EAS fans and the "Elevator Enthusiasts".

The elevator guys and the dead mall fans have a huge crossover on yt

 

[Tookie]

I can see the appeal. These guys are a bit obsessive but if you're into telecommunications or radio these systems are pretty interesting, and doomsday scenarios obviously generate a lot of interest.

On a related topic, this is the video CNN will play as their final transmission should the world be ending:

 

[Whizzercocker]

On a related topic, this is the video CNN will play as their final transmission should the world be ending:

 

[BALLZ-BROKEN]

I can see the appeal. These guys are a bit obsessive but if you're into telecommunications or radio these systems are pretty interesting, and doomsday scenarios obviously generate a lot of interest.

On a related topic, this is the video CNN will play as their final transmission should the world be ending:

It would be more dignified if they played this:

 

[Enjoy your spaghetti]

That's an oddly...pleasant picture before announcing a warning or disaster.

 

[SpasticusAutisticus]

Like most fandoms, I just don't understand the appeal of this. The EBS used to scare the hell out of me. It was made worse by the local TV station that had a super cheery introductory jingle that clashed with the dissonance of the dual tones. When I was around 7 I had a nightmare where I got stuck inside a TV that was doing the EBS. I could see my still image trapped in the screen, with the dual tones blaring.

In my teenage years, the EBS had been replaced by the EAS, but even that managed to freak me out once. I was 17, it was summer break, my parents had left me home alone and I did what any nerdy introverted teen would do in such a situation: stayed up until the early morning watching MadTV reruns. At some point during my session, the cable box shut off then turned itself back on, which I had never seen happen before. Then instead of Will Sasso and Michael McDonald, all I saw was a solid gray screen and some cryptic messages on the screen. This persisted for about a minute or so, with me thoroughly confused and slightly frightened, until a message popped up indicating it was an EAS test. It doesn't sound as scary when I write it...

 

[Trombonista]

The best EBS test ever:

 

[Colress]

we went from discussing the people who like these things to BEING them. that's absolutely fantastic

 

[XYZpdq]

The best EBS test ever:

 

[Strelok]

we went from discussing the people who like these things to BEING them. that's absolutely fantastic

Usually takes at least 5 pages before that happens, we may have set a record.

 

[Colress]

Usually takes at least 5 pages before that happens, we may have set a record.

yeah. and it all happened without the actual lolcows coming by.

 

[tehfolder]

With me the emergency alert system does not even get my attention. I just assume it's a test. :p

 

[Chan the Wizard]

Oh wow, I used to do the monthly tests for the emergency alert system in my area. It had to be done on a specific day at a specific time, it rotated from am to pm each month. Had no idea there was a fandom for it. It's always been more of annoyance to me, especially when I'm about to fall asleep, forget to turn off the TV and it suddenly comes on.

 

[sparklemilhouse]

bump.

I found one of the more :autism::autism: homemade EAS vids for 9/11:

oh, for the record, the EAS did not blare on 9/11.