6 ms·

I think it's safe to say that modern civilization will be positively fucked when a Tambora-level eruption (let alone a 536 AD-level one) occurs. Like, decades-l

I think it's safe to say that modern civilization will be positively fucked when a Tambora-level eruption (let alone a 536 AD-level one) occurs. Like, decades-long economic depressions. And no nation is equipped to handle that. It's easier to recover when civilizations weren't as connected as they are today, in addition to no electricity grid to have to worry about.

samatman 5y ago
This is one of the reasons I've continued to advocate for a nuclear baseload in the face of the jaw-dropping price decreases for solar. The Scream by Edvard Munch was painted in 1893. Planning for multiple summers with chronically low insolation is the only responsible course of action. Bad enough it will put pressure on food, trouble keeping the lights on would make this much worse.
- irrational 5y ago
  > trouble keeping the lights on would make this much worse I think the bigger problem would be trouble keeping phones charged and Internet/WiFi running. I seriously think that we are so addicted to our always-connected devices that losing them would be severely distressing for many/most people.
  - andrew_ 5y ago
    Only those who were around before it was commonplace would recover quickly. Muscle memory is a thing. I'm often told by younger peers that my practice of leaving my phone at home to go to the grocery store is unthinkable. Folks will just have to learn patience, and a different way.
    - throwawayboise 5y ago
      Yes I still have to deliberately check that I have my phone when I leave the house. OTOH I always have my keys and my wallet. My kids are constantly losing keys and wallets. None of them has ever lost his phone.
  - samatman 5y ago
    "Internet" is inclusive of critical logistic and financial infrastructure so, yeah, not optional to keep it running no matter how much of it consist of cat pics.
  - LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
    You can't eat phones.
    - irrational 5y ago
      There was a man who ate a whole plane. I’m pretty sure someone could eat a phone. https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/mangetout/ https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/mangetout/
      - LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
        April? Second?
pokstad 5y ago
Imagine how much fossil fuel and nuclear power will be needed to illuminate crops in until the skies clear. Any country without abundant access to energy will starve to death.
- LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
  So installing a "base-load" of vertical farming as civilisatory prepping?

samatman 5y ago

This is one of the reasons I've continued to advocate for a nuclear baseload in the face of the jaw-dropping price decreases for solar. The Scream by Edvard Munch was painted in 1893. Planning for multiple summers with chronically low insolation is the only responsible course of action. Bad enough it will put pressure on food, trouble keeping the lights on would make this much worse.

irrational 5y ago
> trouble keeping the lights on would make this much worse I think the bigger problem would be trouble keeping phones charged and Internet/WiFi running. I seriously think that we are so addicted to our always-connected devices that losing them would be severely distressing for many/most people.
- andrew_ 5y ago
  Only those who were around before it was commonplace would recover quickly. Muscle memory is a thing. I'm often told by younger peers that my practice of leaving my phone at home to go to the grocery store is unthinkable. Folks will just have to learn patience, and a different way.
  - throwawayboise 5y ago
    Yes I still have to deliberately check that I have my phone when I leave the house. OTOH I always have my keys and my wallet. My kids are constantly losing keys and wallets. None of them has ever lost his phone.
- samatman 5y ago
  "Internet" is inclusive of critical logistic and financial infrastructure so, yeah, not optional to keep it running no matter how much of it consist of cat pics.
- LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
  You can't eat phones.
  - irrational 5y ago
    There was a man who ate a whole plane. I’m pretty sure someone could eat a phone. https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/mangetout/ https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/mangetout/
    - LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
      April? Second?

pokstad 5y ago

Imagine how much fossil fuel and nuclear power will be needed to illuminate crops in until the skies clear. Any country without abundant access to energy will starve to death.

LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
So installing a "base-load" of vertical farming as civilisatory prepping?