The awesome excitement of total collapse

threadbear · Expert Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 7508

A confession:

Three nights ago, my husband and I lit a fire in the fireplace in the bedroom, turned out all the lights, slowly took our clothes off and slid under the covers. Then we turned the dial on the radio to Coast to Coast with Ian Punnett, and giggled like schoolchildren, as economists rattled off their predictions for 2008. It was awful, yet strangely exciting.

I should be sad, freaked out, worried for people, including myself, and how do I feel-- Like I've just taken a bracing cold shower, exhilerated....alive!

How sick in the head am I?

easterisland · Coal Joined: Jan 05, 2008 Posts: 15

TheTurtle

Sick you may be, but you are not alone, threadbear. Smile

My wife often chastises me for "giggling like a schoolchild" when I hear particularly dire economic reports.

I guess there's a certain satisfaction as the rest of the world slowly figures out what you've known for years was bound to happen.

Don't worry, it will all be clear to everyone soon enough. And I don't really think either of us is sick.
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threadbear · Expert Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 7508

Tell me EasterIsland, Who is crazier, you or me? The collapse of a sick society is an invigorating idea, to me. The idea of deep misery and suffering, isn't at all appealing, though I can see where you might have gotten that impression.

There are actually quite a few people on this forum, (myself excluded) who may not admit to it, but are excited simply by the thought of people suffering, as it satisfies some kind of sense of justice or revenge. Now, if you harbor those sentiments, you should take a good look at them and try to gain some kind of understanding.

By the way, welcome. You're a newbie!

roccman

We deserve every bit of what is coming.

The pain will be exquisite.

My tribe needs for 6 billion to vanish.

So yes...bring it!
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"There must be a bogeyman; there always is, and it cannot be something as esoteric as "resource depletion." You can't go to war with that." Emersonbiggins

"... hope is a rotten-thighed whore" Niko Kazantzakis

We are going back to roccland - me

Hawkcreek · Expert Joined: Aug 15, 2004 Posts: 971

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TheTurtle

threadbear · Expert Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 7508

I think extremes of anything kind of interest me. When I was a little kid, just six years old, we had these encyclopedias with an entry AND an illustration for "Cannibals" I used to crawl out of bed every Saturday morning, turn to that dog eared page and read it over and over. And isn't that what we're going to experience, vicariously or directly; a clean departure from our modern Dick and Jane readers, back into the dogeared history of extreme events?

Jack · Dark Lord Joined: Aug 11, 2004 Posts: 5089

vision-master

Please, wait till I'm dead and gone. Thank you.

RdSnt

Yupe, that is pretty much where I am as well. Old, not necessarily pretty, and been through the briar patch more than once.
I'm here for my son, his kids and my nieces.

pstarr

threadbear I know what you mean. I grew up in the newspaper business and am a reporter. I am addicted to news, the worse the better. Can't stay away from the screen.

It's only recently been considered that humans are scavengers. This explains our dentition, digestive tracks, social structure, and especially our particular anatomy. Big butts for loping. We developed on the plains of Africa to run all say in search of excitement. The kill. Carcasses covered with blood. Top predators, vultures. Jackals, magpies, death. We look for it. We crave it like the meat itself. Anyone who says different is lying.

We humans had the group solidarity, strength, tools, and smarts to drive them all off. naka

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ree rah rip ram. sunofabitch godamn. hidey didey christ almighty. rah rah crap wav

Pops

I went to Cent. CA over the holiday to attend a funeral, when I got back several neighbors asked me if we were ready to move back. I said if about 60% of the population was gone.

I do have some satisfaction knowing I beat the RE market and oil-economy there and silly folks that don’t read didn’t.

I also wonder why folks think the stock market is good when it below the inflation adjusted price over the last years.

Other stuff too…

But to answer your question; when I hear bad news I admit at least a feeling of vindication in my personal forecasts.

The excitement of total collapse is not quite the phrase I’d choose though to describe what I hope for though…
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Twilight · Expert Joined: Mar 02, 2007 Posts: 2971 Location: UK

I do not find it exciting as such, nor am I decided about the extent of collapse, but I do find some amusement and triumph in contemplating the situation of people who should know better. I think that is a natural human characteristic. And I think your attitude is healthy, threadbear, you don't have to look far for real nutcases.
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"The American people are watching the numbers climb higher and higher at the pump and they're waiting to see what the Congress will do." - George W Bush

billp · Last edited by billp on Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:35 pm; edited 1 time in total