I
want to thank the media and social media warriors for creating the biggest dumb-ass-itis
in the DFW area since I moved here in 1983. For the conspiracy theorists, what
happened today will support any thoughts you had on how the media can influence
people. It started last night when people started talking and posting about
fuel prices rising. Okay, Hurricane Harvey slammed into Gulf Coast of Texas. This
will affect production levels in Texas, but not in Tulsa or Ponca City. I blew
it off as pricse have been fluctuating for the last three weeks or so. We saw
them go up with Katrina, Ike and the Deep Well Horizon platform. No biggie, but
you knew something else was coming and this morning it started. “Fuel Shortage
in DFW!” Really? Let’s see, I went to
the Raceway I trade with at 7am. No lines, no panic, no hysteria and plenty of
fuel. Got my coffee, a few scratch-offs and went back to work. What a difference
four hours makes. While working on bids, I would check on FB and twitter for
the dreaded updates. It had exploded! The media and all their minions on social
media took the gospel, hook, line and sinker! I went back to the same store at
11:15am. It was packed with morons trying to fuel up over a shortage that didn’t
exist. Did I fill up? Hell no! I have ¾’s of a tank and know how far it will
get me. You could tell this was going to get ugly real fast.
Driving
to Plano to see my Optometrist revealed how effective a “fake story” can be.
SpringCreek Parkway and US 75: RaceTrac-out. 7-Eleven-out. Quicktrip: line of
cars blocking the services roads waiting in line. Costco-cars lined up on the
service road. Flash forward to tonight.
Quicktrip, depending on the location, you could count on one to two hours
waiting time. And for what? That’s right, a major gas shortage in the DFW area.
If you were one of those who spread the word, you are just as responsible for
this CF as the media. There is, no wait, there is a gas shortage now because of
the crap that was being spread around.
The
press has yet to report how many fights broke-out at stations over a non-event.
I have one report that a friend was almost involved in three fights and a woman
tried to run him over getting to the pump. And for what? That’s right. The
imaginative fuel shortage you all bought into. Now, if you’re sitting their
shaking your head and deciding I’m a raving lunatic, then I will assume you
posted that there was a fuel shortage. If I offended your sensibilities, then
you were also part of the problem.
But
the effects aren’t over. Oh, no. Not by a long shot. This is Labor Day Weekend.
Stores had already placed their orders for the influx of driving. Well that’s
going to be a mess because none of them could ascertain or plan for the rampant
panic and hysteria that gripped the DFW area today and for the following days
until the tankers can replenish all the dry storage tanks. Hell, the folks from
Corpus Christi to Houston just got the shit kicked of them and have managed to
keep it together, keep it calm, and maintain their sanity when many know, they
have lost everything. For the folks in the DFW area, you have truly embarrassed
yourselves believing “fake news.”. And that is nothing to be proud of.
So,
to all of you so called social media warriors out there and those of the press
who posted unsubstantiated news, I hope you learned your lesson today. If you
defend your actions, go look at a brick. It has more common sense then you will
ever be able to fathom.
***NEWS
ALERT.***
TRUMP
NUKED NORTH KOREA.
US
INVADES JAPAN.
HITLER
ISN’T DEAD.”
And
last but not least,
“ALL
RESIDENTS IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK HAVE FORTY-EIGHT HOURS TO PACK-UP AND MOVE. MAYOR
DIBLASIO SOLD IT BACK TO THE LENAPE INDIANS.”
