Why is the voice on the Emergency Alert System so scary?

We had a pretty crazy storm today and an emergency alert came on the TV to issue a tornado warning. You know, its the one where it beeps and then the computer-sounding voice says that there's the warning and the the pertinent information.

This reminded me of when I was a kid and my dad had this emergency radio in his home office that would turn on and talk in that voice whenever there was a storm coming. I remember always being afraid of going in there when that voice was talking.

So JCC, I ask you, why do they use such a scary voice for the Emergency Alert System? Why not a calm and reassuring voice? Or Morgan Freeman?

 

The beep is enough to scare me. It scared the crap out of me as a kid, even when they just did their periodic tests.

 

They should get Christain Bale to do it. That'd get you moving.

 

The so-called scary voice of the Emergency Alert System is one Quentin "Melon" Fitzpatrick-Calendar. He was born 3rd of May, 1958 in Laurence, Nebraska. Growing up as a child he found himself fascinated with life-threaten disasters and catastrophic events. It is said, that once, during a massive flood, 12-year-old Quentin was approached by a soggy fellow who claimed to be a fallen angel, who said he would grant Quentin a single wish for a bowl of Wheaties. Quentin, having witnessed the death-by-impalement of his little sister in the freak typhoon of '67, and though he screamed himself blue, he could not bring any adults to her rescue, said he wanted the confident booming voice that would receive attention. The commanding tone of his voice gained him many jobs including Drill Instructor, Promoter, MC, Traveling Salesman, Pig Farmer, and Barkeep, before he caught the attention of the Bureau of Emergency Alert Services. He was hired immediately, at age 31.

And that is how the voice on the Emergency Alert System became so scary.

 

Thank you, Jesse, that was... enlightening...

 

The voice of our local EAS is actually a DJ on the local fm Christian radio station.

 

When I was a kid, I always thought it was the Governor broadcasting from a jet plane.

 

WHAT DON'T YOU ******* UNDERSTAND!!

 

I find no voices currently on TV/radio that are scary.

Back-to-Back!: 2008-2009 & 2009-2010 L.A. Lakers: World Champions

 

Nah, Mel Gibson should make a bunch of violent, sexual threats.

 

It was worse back in the 80's. Back then a voice would come on and say "This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System, This is only a test." and then Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Followed by a vocal about the test.


Nowadays? It sucks. You get "EEEE ERRRR" "EEEE ERRRR" "EEEE" ERRRR" (pause) "RRRR" RRRR RRRR. Followed by some text that just says the local cable company is conducting a test. Screws up the show you are trying to watch at 2 in the morning!

At least when I was a kid you heard that beep and thought soviet missiles were about 30 minutes away! ....I miss the cold war.

 

What I wanted to say, but better articulated.

 

I think they should have Neil Patrick Harris do it.

 

I don't know, from the way you've described it, what I saw seems more like the first one.

 

But he'd HAVE to sing it.

Get the word out and nullify the panic -inducing effects.