Sudden and complete collapse

XLMike · Coal Joined: Jun 29, 2008 Posts: 9 Location: New Brunswick

I am worried about the future.

Am I worried about life after peak oil? No.
Am I worried about life after the economic collpse? No.

What I am worried about is the suddeness and completeness of the collapse. Although I realize the implications and human suffering invovled, I want a very sudden and very complete collapse of glogal civilization. You might say, are you crazy? Do you know what would happen? I might be crazy, and I think I do know what would happen. But, this is the only way that I can think of to not end up in some Orwellian nightmare with TPTB controlling all aspects of everyday life. I'm not talking about any conspiracy theories. I'm just talking about any form of government using a slow collapse to erode human rights even further than they already have been in order to "save us" I think most people can see this as a very possible outcome of a "long emergency".

I want everything to fall apart completely. A push of the reset button for humanity. Does this mean substantial die-off? yes. Does this mean loosing a lot of the benefits of technology? yes. I think it's worth it just so that we don't have "A brave new world". I don't think that humanity should survive in such a senario. what's the point.

I am worried because I have a feeling that this is exactly what is going to happen.

Thoughts?

Cloud9 · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 1159

Worry is the continual reviewal of undesirable possibilities. Most of what we worry about never happens. Take a breath, back up and take a look at your surroundings. Generally it is an supreme ego trip to imagine the federal government wants anything we have except our obedience and our taxes.

Ferretlover · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

Welcome to the Dark Side, XLMike. Crying or Very sad

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BigTex · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

If it's any consolation the scenario you describe has never happened before.

We've had world wars, depressions, nuclear bombs, global flu pandemics, famines...there has never been an overnight collapse of civilization that you fear.

The best way of thinking about our modern world, to me, is like an old bum that no matter how much he abuses himself just seems to linger and linger and linger.
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Smile

CarlinsDarlin · Moderator Joined: Jul 02, 2004 Posts: 1420

My grandmother used to say:

zberry · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 21, 2006 Posts: 135

Listen to Jason Bradford's interview with David Holmgren.
Holmgren is a pioneer in the permaculture movement. He makes a compelling case that gradual "energy descent" is a more likely scenario for the future than sudden collapse.
He admits there is a possibility of sudden collapse, but thinks the energy descent is more likely and is the type of "collapse" that seems to occur in history, a la the descent of Rome. This is part 1. Part 2 will be coming along later on Bradford's show and will no doubt be posted on global public media.
But by all means, start preparing and powering down now. Just don't get paralyzed by the fear. Do one little thing at a time.
David Holmgren Interview with Jason Bradford, Pt. 1

TreeFarmer · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 26, 2007 Posts: 347

DomusAlbion · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:54 am Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

You won't get your wish for a quick and complete collapse.

It will be gradual and, at least at first, it will be controlled and discomforting.

Then it will get worse.
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pstarr · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

XLMike, when I look to the future I let 'localization' be my guide. Smile

But not neccessarily the happy hippie hobbit collectivist dream with Renaissance faires on Saturday and Farmers Markets all week. (Groovie Baby)

Different places will collapse differently. Now our homogeneous corporate culture is propped up by cheap oil so it all looks the same. Post peak Phoenix, Arid-Zona becomes a hell hole. Shock

Upstate New York where Bill Kunstler lives becomes a Renaissance Faire all week long.

I believe collapse will become a function of particular local conditions.
--Temperate climate, year-round water, access to agriculture land makes for a happy farming community.
--Proximity to very wealthy people with walkable access to transport (train or interstate) and municipal services (police, sewer, etc.) makes for a happy urban community.
--Sunbelt suburbia and dependence on air conditioning and delivered water, a recipe for Mad Max
--Exurbia, depressed rural post-industrial areas--Mad Max Way Beyond Thunderdome.

The neighborhood you used to take for granted will become your own personal heaven or hell. Better make the right choices now.
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Ludi · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:20 am Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

vision-master · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:33 am Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

killJOY · Fission Joined: Feb 21, 2005 Posts: 2509 Location: ^NNE^

You want agita?

Become a farmer.

You learn that everything succumbs to rot, weeds, insects, and vermin.

Such a life means wresting sustenance from certain failure.

But you can't predict just exactly when or by how much.

So, welcome.
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"By the time individuals discover that remaining resources will not be adequate for the next generation, the next generation has already been born. " David Price

anarky321 · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

sudden collapse is the romantic dream of anarchists, but most people dont want it thus it will not occur (unless there is some crazy catastrophe that wipes out a large chunk of the population, even then i wouldnt be too optimistic (look at the black plague period of europe...that was about as close to collapse as we came in recent history imo)

the orwelian nightmare that you are so terrified of (why? just move to a country where the government is too weak to enforce such a lifestyle) is a much more likely outcome

with cheap energy people have been afforded unheard-of levels of freedom, and most of them are not aware that this is not the natural state of events; as energy scarcity becomes more apparent more laws and limitations will be put in place to maintain society, and the majority of the people will be happy to play along

collapse scares most people; they like security and civilization, period

coyote · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

Either you can do something about the situation... in which case there is no need to worry;

Or:

You cannot do anything about it...

in which case there is no need to worry.

Smile

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green_achers · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: Sudden and complete collapse

It doesn't matter what you would like. It's going to be what it's going to be, so best be ready for anything.
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