The imminent collapse of society

[Fresh Prince]

You decide the fate of the world.

[Positive Touch]

here's hoping

[Fresh Prince]

I think not, maybe some sort of counter culture like in the 60s-70s that will die off.

[Positive Touch]

one million nine elevens

[Bebpo]

I'll stockpile the water, you guys bring the canned fruit.

[Great Rumbler]

Good riddance.

[Robo]

I vote 'Mupepe'.

[Himu]

I think not, maybe some sort of counter culture like in the 60s-70s that will die off.

which elements of counter-culture? Drugs? Sex? That shit is here to stay.

[Joe Molotov]

I think not, maybe some sort of counter culture like in the 60s-70s that will die off.

which elements of counter-culture? Drugs? Sex? That shit is here to stay.

People thinking that they can change things and that what they think matters.

[Himu]

Ah yes. Well, that's already dead in America. Most Americans don't pay attention to politics, for instance, because they don't feel like they can change anything. Many feel powerless.

[Fresh Prince]

which elements of counter-culture? Drugs? Sex? That shit is here to stay.

More like people hanging out in communes apart from mainstream society, really.

Kali Yuga is what you're looking for, Spencer.

[Himu]

Guys, we'll get out of this. About 5 billion people need to die and we need to stop making babies stat, but we'll get out of this.

[drew]

Guys, we'll get out of this. About 5 billion people need to die and we need to stop making babies stat, but we'll get out of this.

siding with evil doesn't make you immune to it's effects, little himu

[cool breeze]

I'll stockpile the water, you guys bring the canned fruit.

I poured aids in the water to take care of the 5 bil...

wait, what plan are going with?

[Barry Egan]

Isn't the imminent collapse of society just a generic fantasy for people who are resentful and dissatisfied with their personal lives? 

[Fresh Prince]

Why don't we just kill everybody over 65? Too old to work, you're no use to society that's how capitalism really should work.  

[drew]

I'll stockpile the water, you guys bring the canned fruit.

you'll still be dead unless you have a defendable position, long guns with appropriate ammo, medical supplies, and the ruthlessness to turn away friends and family who are unprepared

ideally you'd have a well for water (i do) and at least a year of nitrogen packed meals that are to good to eat for a quarter of a century (http://wisefoodstorage.com/), a little training to go along with that rifle, a few like minded friends and some good neighbors sure wouldn't hurt your chances either

[Fresh Prince]

So the plan is go to Kentucky.

[Barry Egan]

society has already collapsed in kentucky.  the main ingredient in kfc is the weak.

[Human Snorenado]

The currency of the future will be bottled water and ammunition, stockpile accordingly.

[Positive Touch]

Isn't the imminent collapse of society just a generic fantasy for people who are resentful and dissatisfied with their personal lives? 

yes.  one thing i love pointing out to anarchists and the like is that if there were an armed uprising in the states it would almost undoubtedly be led be the exact sort of people they DONT want taking over society

[Himu]

Guys, we'll get out of this. About 5 billion people need to die and we need to stop making babies stat, but we'll get out of this.

siding with evil doesn't make you immune to it's effects, little himu

No, I'm just saying. There's nothing evil about it, it's plain math. There's no more room for humans. There's not enough food. There's not enough water.

But fuck it, I'm gonna make some babies anyways. 

[Brehvolution]

I feel fine.

[Himu]

I feel fine.

Keep Calm and Smoke A Bong 

[Fresh Prince]

I don't know dude, life can be pretty fucked up if you don't happen to be a middle class to rich white male.

[drew]

all lies perpetuated by the green nazis, babe

both food and water are replenishable resources

[Himu]

I don't know dude, life can be pretty fucked up if you don't happen to be a middle class to rich white male.

I'm a middle class black male and I'm feeling A-OKAY!

[drew]

and yeah it is evil, there are plenty of people in power who would like to see - to a certain degree - exactly what you described

google eugenics

[Himu]

That's a pretty shallow definition of evil. I didn't say I want to kill 5 billion people, but we really aren't helping ourselves given the rate we're going. No matter what bullshit propaganda strawman you throw.

[EmCeeGrammar]

We need to last until 2013 if only to spite the mayans.

Anyways, societies rarely ever collapse outside of ahnilation by war (for instance, Rome never collapsed, it just petered out into manoralism).  The world WILL adapt as it always has.  It just means certain things we take for granted will be gone.

[Joe Molotov]

I don't know dude, life can be pretty fucked up if you don't happen to be a middle class to rich white male.

I'm a middle class black male and I'm feeling A-OKAY!

Yeah, but you're an Uncle Tom, it's well known.

[Himu]

Don't ever call me that, Joe, you smarmy fat fuck.

[Fresh Prince]

It's not the amount of people that's the problem per se. It's the lifestyle they want that's the problem.

[pilonv1]

why can't I pick Yurop and Murika?

[Barry Egan]

I don't know dude, life can be pretty fucked up if you don't happen to be a middle class to rich white male.

Compared to when in history?  Because I can bounce off a few dozen periods in history where white folk got away with far more heinous shit than anything we're pulling right now.  Being at an economic and societal disadvantage is pretty shit but it ain't the trail of tears knowwhatimean?  The standards of living for a man of little means is still high compared to nearly any point in time ever. I think the real question is what is the more deeply engrained western tradition: apocalyptic thinking or discriminating against foreigners.     

[Joe Molotov]

why can't I pick Yurop and Murika?

If Europe and America collapse, we're taking you with us sweetheart. 

[pilonv1]

Fat chance, 'straya is tough man. Our dollar buys $1.04 US dollarydoos at the moment, and it was $1.10 recently.

[Fresh Prince]

Compared to when in history?  Because I can bounce off a few dozen periods in history where white folk got away with far more heinous shit than anything we're pulling right now.  Being at an economic and societal disadvantage is pretty shit but it ain't the trail of tears knowwhatimean?  The standards of living for a man of little means is still high compared to nearly any point in time ever. I think the real question is what is the more deeply engrained western tradition: apocalyptic thinking or discriminating against foreigners.     

'Coloreds, wimmen and poors, never had it so good' - that's basically your argument. No the problem is this. The 'West' prides itself on ideals that if it holds itself accountable never really follows through on. When minorities have made progress it's rightly because they've kicked up a fuss. The US has disproportionately become worse in regards to wealth and not only that it's fed to people's faces. The US for fucks sake is still arguing about women's rights regarding abortion and wage disparity. The LBGT community is still in no man's land regarding marriage. Nah fuck that. Fuck the argument 'we've' never had it so good. It's like if Martin Luther King said, 'Fuck it I'm happy being 3/5ths a man. At least I'm not regarded as property'. Nah fuck that.

[Mandark]

If a radical, labor-oriented movement to restructure society couldn't get serious traction in the fuckin' Gilded Age, it isn't gonna work now.

I don't think Grandpa's saying that people should shut up and take it, just that it takes a lot more social stress than we have now to bring down the house.

[Fresh Prince]

In the UK it took a man being fatally shot for four days of rioting. Nobody really knows whether the riots was simply opportunistic looting and destruction or part of something bigger such as latent hostility towards the establishment. Sure despite the hand wringing of a store owner it's not exactly 'imminent collapse of society' but that's all it took.

[Madrun Badrun]

All 's cool in Canada, guys.

[Human Snorenado]

All 's cool in Canada, guys.

That's not even a real country.

[T234]

So the plan is go to Kentucky.

You yankee bastards stay the hell out.

[T234]

society has already collapsed in kentucky.  the main ingredient in kfc is the weak.

Fuck you man.

[Cerveza mas fina]

I'd be angry too if I'd be making 14k at Mickey D and pay 6k rent a year.

/London

[Trent Dole]

I vote 'Mupepe'.

Always the right answer.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Well thats one way of looking at it. I don't think it's as clear cut.

[Mupepe]

While it's true that sparks can happen anywhere and at even the most unexpected places and time (Stonewall riots) it usually has a lot of long buildup.  If anything, I would think these London riots are just the start of the snowball rolling, not the tipping point.  I think it would take much more economic turmoil and a longer run.

[Don Flamenco]

In the UK it took a man being fatally shot for four days of rioting. Nobody really knows whether the riots was simply opportunistic looting and destruction or part of something bigger such as latent hostility towards the establishment. Sure despite the hand wringing of a store owner it's not exactly 'imminent collapse of society' but that's all it took.

uk = pussies

5 innocent guys are fatally shot in Chicago every day before I eat my bacon

it sounds like chavs have the UK completely docile, not unlike an abusive husband. 

what kind of fucking distinguished mentally-challenged police force thinks "do nothing" is a good strategy? 

[Barry Egan]

I don't think Grandpa's saying that people should shut up and take it, just that it takes a lot more social stress than we have now to bring down the house.

Exactly.  And throwing in the towel ie well it's all going to implode anyways certainly doesn't improve the situation for anyone.

[drew]

5 innocent guys are fatally shot in Chicago every day before I eat my bacon 

so how are those gun laws working out for you guys over there? :

[recursivelyenumerable]

Isn't the imminent collapse of society just a generic fantasy for people who are resentful and dissatisfied with their personal lives? 

Yes. And when that category comes to subsume a sufficiently large fraction of the population, we can make our dreams come true.

[Fresh Prince]

I voted no btw. I hope for renewed solidarity and other shit but I don't know.

[Barry Egan]

Isn't the imminent collapse of society just a generic fantasy for people who are resentful and dissatisfied with their personal lives? 

Yes. And when that category comes to subsume a sufficiently large fraction of the population, we can make our dreams come true.

A real possibility.  But than again, the fantasy usually involves projecting aggression outward (everyone else is becoming so uncivilized, they're monsters out there! etc.) while the person fantasizing usually just consumes lots of pop culture and grumbles often about his job but never really rebels in any noticeable way.  A whole population of these people is a pretty boring society but not the end of one, I don't think.

[recursivelyenumerable]

I don't think you can generalize from the people you've encountered on gaming forums.

(this is churlish of me, but: "Not every frustrated petty bourgeois could have become Hitler, but a particle of Hitler is lodged in every frustrated petty bourgeois." L. Trotsky)

[Fresh Prince]

The problem is it seems hard for society and\or government to change so that we are functioning on the 'best information we have'. That's why some people are keen to destroy and rebuild it. I mean take Locke and his tabula rasa argument. Back then it was a valid argument for his new society  and government but now neuroscience tell us it is basically wrong. Now this isn't a small theoretical issue that can be cast aside as it deals with (down the line) free will, notions of law and order etc. But the average burn it and build it up again guy just probably wants some excitement and the odds of their quality of life to improve.

[recursivelyenumerable]

Yeah, but we can artificially create a tabula rasa, using NANOMACHINES

[T234]

Lord British already made Tabula Rasa. It crashed and burned.

[drew]

then there's people who just want to be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.  you'd have to be deaf blind and or dumb to look at the state of things within the past ten years and not have it put some halt in your swagger.  i'm not even talking about whatever amorphous movie bs you guys are on about, but situations where supply chains of food and fuel as well as the failure of local police change how you operate day to day and ultimately leaves dead bodies in the street - stuff like post Katrina New Orleans & the Argentina economic collapse of 2001