What is Wrong With People?
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (122442)
Gainesville, Florida
September 11, 2017 11:57am CST
EVERYTHING in my city is shut down today as a result of Hirricane Irma. Nothing is open anywhere, and rightfully so. We are still experiencing tropical force winds, which are expected to continue through tonight, and there is heavy tree damage and flooding.
As I was driving around the city assessing damage with my emergency response team, we passed a closed Starbucks. Five people were standing in line at the front entrance, just staring at the door. I'm not sure if that's sad or funny.
32 people like this
36 responses
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
I have been working since 1:00am last night, so I don't know about the "sheltered" part, but I am safe! Lol
3 people like this
@KristenH (33421)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
11 Sep 17
@moffittjc Oh wow Jeff. Glad you've survived the storm. Now you need some sleep.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
@KristenH Not sure when I'll get a chance to get home and get some sleep. Let's just say that coffee is my best friend right now!
3 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
11 Sep 17
It's either they need coffee that bad or they want to spend the hurricane inside Starbucks so they could record it and tell people what it was like in social media, yes what's it with people?
5 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
11 Sep 17
@moffittjc the want to get back to normalcy is a positive trait and reaction so long they consider safety and risks, something out there might drop, fall or give way with just the slightest gust.
Coffee and wifi are both addictions although wifi has more of a necessity side to it.
Glad to hear that it has subsided now and you and your family are safe.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
@louievill I totally understand everyone wanting to get back to normalcy as soon as possible. And I also understand that many people did not get a wink of sleep last night.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
Well, the hirricane's pretty much over now, so it isn't because they want to ride out the storm. My thoughts on the matter are:
1. Addictions are hard to break.
2. People want to get back to a sense of normalcy as soon as possible.
3. Or, they have no power and wi-fi at home so they were hoping to use the wi-if at Starbucks! Haha
4 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
11 Sep 17
Its mind boggling.
Thanks for your work Jeff.
Thanks for your work Jeff.4 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
11 Sep 17
@moffittjc Thanks for the updates too Jeff. 
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
Thanks. So far so good. Lots of trees down everyone, but so far we have only found two downed trees that have crushed houses, and both houses were unoccupied at the time. Still 42,000 customers without power, but utility has every lineman possible out working on the lines.
3 people like this
@cacay1 (83743)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
12 Sep 17
@TiarasOceanView , yes my friend, mind -blowing and twerking for some apps.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (70517)
• United States
12 Sep 17
I was watching the coverage from various Florida TV stations (including my old favorite, WESH [back when I lived there, that is]). I think sad is more appropriate. People should be thankful they're still alive, but instead they want a magic button to be pressed and everything's back to normal. It doesn't work that way. We lost power in Louisville twice within five months (Hurricane Ike's remnants and an ice storm), and between the two I think everyone in the city lost power at least once. My power was off for a week after Ike, but I was thankful that it was in the relative comfort of late summer/early fall than having to be without electricity for a week in 25-degree weather.
But I'm of the opinion that there are people who will complain about anything. Give them the world on a silver platter and they'll ask why it's not gold.
5 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Sep 17
I had a friend of mine went on a lengthy tirade on Facebook today because her wi-fi service wasn't working. I mean, there are people who lost their houses, their cars, everything of value in their lives, and she's worried about her stupid wi-fi. I'm usually a pretty laid-back guy, but I had to put her in her place today on that one.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
They must have a pretty bad addiction to coffee! Either that, or they need Starbucks' wi-go because they have no power at their houses!
4 people like this
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
11 Sep 17
@moffittjc With most of the area without power unless Starbucks has a generator they are without luck on coffee or the wi-fi
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (161759)
• United States
12 Sep 17
That is something I would expect to read on the "Not Always Right" website.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
I agree! It is probably a bit of both!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
12 Sep 17
They couldn't make coffee at home, seriously!!! 
2 people like this
@prashu228 (37521)
• India
11 Sep 17
Standing in front of the shop, are they addicted or they thought they might open the shop
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
I think that they were hoping they would open the shop.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
11 Sep 17
Perhaps the storm left them dazed and confused
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Sep 17
It is true that catastrophic events can leave people shell-shocked. It is totally possible they were in a daze this morning.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Sep 17
I wanted coffee too, but I was smart enough to know that Starbucks was closed during the hurricane! And even if I didn't know they were closed, there was a big sign posted on the door!
1 person likes this
@spaceseed (2843)
• India
11 Sep 17
I really don't know much about present situation but as hurricanes are frequent in US, such reaction is unprecedented
4 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
13 Sep 17
There were people on FB asking if there were any fast food places open...Really? Some people are unbelievable.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Sep 17
Well...we are a college town, and we do have 50,000+ students, most of whom have no idea how to cook. So I'm not surprised there were people looking for fast-food restaurants that were open during the storm.
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Sep 17
Standing in that weather, staring at a closed door... You have to wonder precisely what they thought was going to happen. @moffittjc , smh, I have no words.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 17
It just shows the tight grip Starbucks has on people. Whatever it is they are putting in their coffee, it is working in making the people keep coming back for more. Even in a hurricane.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
12 Sep 17
Oh good grief, seriously? I think Starbucks has turned into the latest addiction @moffittjc .
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 17
I guess there could be worse things out there that people could be addicted to! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Sep 17
I do a lot of head-shaking every day. It just blows my mind how dumb and clueless people are, and how much common sense they lack. I have no doubt in my mind that our society will completely collapse if we ever have a major calamity, just because all these idiots out there will have no clue what to do. Maybe we do need a zombie apocalypse just to thin out the dummies. You know, survival of the fittest! haha
@Deepizzaguy (105761)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12 Sep 17
It is sad to know that five people stood outside a Starbucks that was closed due to Hurricane Irma. They could be homeless people.
2 people like this
