5 ms·
I have a friend who is convinced that we're already mid-collapse and have been for decades. He cites many of the same causes found in the link above. He says, "
by JackMorgan 6y ago
I have a friend who is convinced that we're already mid-collapse and have been for decades. He cites many of the same causes found in the link above. He says, "just look at what happens to any wild animal when there aren't enough resources or they're stressed, they start going crazy: self harm, eating young, death by refusing to eat."
He sees echos of behavior patterns like a fractal, so tiny patterns of behaviors in mice emerge as patterns in larger human society. He has said that he thinks human societies are just another organism that lives, ages, and dies. He doesn't really prep or anything, just expects he and most people he knows to die in food riots sometime in his life. He doesn't even bother prepping (so he says) because such a collapse likely would come from a way that he can't expect and wouldn't likely survive anyway. He realizes there isn't enough ammo to hold off millions of starving people, and the people who survive likely would do so accidentally or through freak luck, but a new society would emerge again in a few generations to repeat the cycle again. Fun guy, my friend.
- lcall 6y agoI believe there will be collapses and very hard things, but we can be OK (for a long list of reasons). I've written more elsewhere (at my site). But really, if we try to learn and do what is right, with a clear conscience, we can be OK. (Honesty and kindness are very important, as are the principles underlying the US Constitution. And more.)
- themodelplumber 6y agoI wonder, has your friend looked into the "growth and change looks like death" folks? Barbara Marx Hubbard is a good example. She offered the example of butterfly metamorphosis, which involves a pretty stunning systemic breakdown at a very deep level.
- howlgarnish 6y agoI moved from Europe to the US as a teenager, and I remember being shocked at the evident shock, decay and poverty I saw even in what was supposed to be a large and prosperous city (New York). It took me a long time to realize that this is how America works: things that didn't work or that nobody wants are allowed to fail, and this clearing out of the underbrush is what allows new things to come forth. Contrast this with Europe, where things like unprofitable state enterprises are propped up essentially forever, sucking away capital and people that could be doing something useful instead. But this was a long, long time ago. These days I don't hold out much hope for the US or for Europe: humanity's future is in Asia.
- brutusborn 6y agoI too wonder if mental health issues are symptoms of larger problems in our society, but I am hopeful that we can figure out the mechanisms and adapt. It's difficult to study complex systems, but I have some 'faith' that we can build the tools necessary. Some mechanisms that seem obvious to me are overpopulation and laws restricting personal freedom (e.g. laws on sexuality or laws on drug use). The 1 child policy is an example of a (failed?) attempt at addressing the 1st issue.
- dognotdog 6y agoOr possibly we never before in history had the wherewithal to be aware of, diagnose, and treat mental health issues to the extent we can today?
- brutusborn 6y agoThis is definitely possible. And we will possibly never be able to tell, since the information required is already lost to history.
- idiocrat 6y agoThe whole premise of 5% target growth per year is flawed and unsustainable. To my understanding the world's economic policies are set to spend resources to promote growth. 5% growth means doubling virtually everything every 10 years: imagine doubling energy consumption, double population in every city, double production, consumption. There is no a non-ideological answer/solution to the state of the world. The balance of nature will settle itself to an equilibrium, hopefully without too much pain and without complete destruction of the environment.
- brutusborn 6y agoWhere do you get 5% growth from? Is it just extrapolated from expected returns on investment?
- JackMorgan 6y ago
- dougmwne 6y agoI think your friend could use some help and positive encouragement. This kind of scenario has not played out in previous famines. They are not exactly rare events in history. People would do what they could and make the best of what they have, as we have always done. Our knowledge and technology are also going to help us feed ourselves and if you need any proof of that just look at the marvelous vaccine work that has occurred in less than a year.
- tathougies 6y agoI mean, there have been famines in recent human history in which people have allegedly turned to cannibalism and other behavior we would consider barbaric?