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Would you want to survive the end of civilization?
IO9 ^ | July 2, 2012 | ith Veronese

Posted on 07/02/2012 3:12:30 PM PDT by DogByte6RER

Would you want to survive the end of civilization?

Lord Humungus

Let's say the end of the world as we know it is coming — but someone offers you a priceless spot in their guaranteed-to-be-safe bunker, so you can be one of the chosen few who rebuilds the Earth. Would you want to survive, and emerge into the post-apocalyptic wasteland? Would the positives of playing a role in a new society outweigh the loss of creature comforts? Or would you rather just go out with the majority of the human race? I wouldn't last long in a Mad Max-style world — the most complex thing I can do to my car is replace its refrigerant. I'd probably die in the first couple of months — or once my glasses broke, whichever came first.

But what if the new world resembled ours, just a little more rugged and difficult? Would you enjoy the opportunity to rebuild society? Here are a few of the positives and negatives associated with a civilization changing event to help you decide.

The Negatives

Your new world lacks the creature comforts of today - no electricity, no communication, no instant access to a plethora of information. Hell, the information that lies in your head likely carries little value.

If you have read any of the 99 issues of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead, you know that surviving in a new world with few skills amidst packs of zombies and dangerous people is no way to live. Thankfully, the end of the world as we know it probably wouldn't include flesh-eating zombies. The end of civilization, however, would bring with it a lack of communication, resources, and lead to immense amounts of unbearable drama, due to fear, hunger, and power grabs.

Do you want to live in a situation where every day includes a dangerous search for food, your nights involve defensive formations to protect those in your community, and you never know what the next moment will bring?

This type of vicious world definitely has its extremes. The bad times would cease over time as groups of people join together to reform civilization, but he birth pains of this new civilization will be severe. Would you want a part in the new world?

The Positives

What if the end of civilization leaves you in a reasonably safe place, amongst family and friends? The television show Jericho explored such a scenario. An independent community relied on itself to survive, with scant information about the outside world. In this case, it might be fun to start things over — maintain a background set of laws to maintain order, but re-create society in your image. This view might be a tad bit on the optimistic side, but it's a possibility.

Your new life will lack a number of the meaningless stresses of today — no e-mail to check, no presentations to give, no centuries old baggage stemming from geopolitical conflicts. The slate is wiped clean — why not take advantage of the positives inherent in a second chance?

Your Decision

Would you want to survive a devastating event that turns society on its head? The role you play in the rebuilding process might be a large one — how do you weigh the pros and cons?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous; Outdoors; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: apocalypse; decay; doomsday; itstheendoftheworld; postapocalypse; preppers
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1959 ... 'Time Enough at Last'

Would I want to survive the end of civilization? YES! Then, I would have time enough at last.

1 posted on 07/02/2012 3:12:33 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
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To: Eaker

Oy, some folks been practicing for years. True story.


2 posted on 07/02/2012 3:16:28 PM PDT by humblegunner (Pablo, being wily, pities the fool.)
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To: DogByte6RER

Would you want to survive the end of civilization?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Depends on what the women will look like and how many there are.


3 posted on 07/02/2012 3:17:15 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: DogByte6RER

No medicine. Ugh.


4 posted on 07/02/2012 3:21:42 PM PDT by blam
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To: mamelukesabre
Would you want to survive the end of civilization?

I already did: Detroit riots 1967. M1Garands, Remington 870's, .357's, ammo and pasta served us well.

5 posted on 07/02/2012 3:21:57 PM PDT by Mikey_1962 (Obama: The Affirmative Action President.)
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To: DogByte6RER

Yes. For starters out of shear curiosity. Secondly, I’ve read enought post-Armageddon/Apocalypse books to know how to cope, at least for awhile.


6 posted on 07/02/2012 3:22:49 PM PDT by shalom aleichem
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To: DogByte6RER

If I can burn across the searing wasteland in the last of the V-8 Interceptors, then I’m in.


7 posted on 07/02/2012 3:23:13 PM PDT by Rinnwald
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To: DogByte6RER
Pia Zadora's DVD's.
8 posted on 07/02/2012 3:23:17 PM PDT by NoLibZone (We must get down on our knees each day and thank God that McCain/Palin didn't win in '08.)
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To: DogByte6RER

I would only be interested in staying if there was a reset of reality back to the times of eden before the fall of man.
I think at the end of civilization there is a window to exercise new faith, producing a new reality, to simply start the circle of the fallen reality again would not fulfill me...Now if food would appear when hungry, and there was no death, pain and fear, and sin, and the wasteland was reformed through a process of remelting the earth and turning it inside out..Ok..I’ll hang..Come Lord..


9 posted on 07/02/2012 3:23:25 PM PDT by aces
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To: mamelukesabre
Depends on what the women will look like and how many there are.

What we want:

What we'll probably end up with:


10 posted on 07/02/2012 3:24:42 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Guns Walked -- People Died -- Holder Lied -- Obama Golfed (thanks, Secret Agent Man))
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To: humblegunner

>>Oy, some folks been practicing for years. True story.<<

I look forward to those Preparedness threads — they crack me up.


11 posted on 07/02/2012 3:26:25 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Guns Walked -- People Died -- Holder Lied -- Obama Golfed (thanks, Secret Agent Man))
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To: DogByte6RER
I kind of wondered why all those characters on Lost were so keen to get back to civilization.
12 posted on 07/02/2012 3:27:13 PM PDT by x
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To: DogByte6RER

It would probably mean a reduction in leisure time, so no.


13 posted on 07/02/2012 3:27:36 PM PDT by discostu (Listen, do you smell something?)
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To: freedumb2003

then kill me now


14 posted on 07/02/2012 3:28:21 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: DogByte6RER
Would the bunker be homogeneous or multi cultural? Not saying which I'd prefer, just asking.

15 posted on 07/02/2012 3:28:34 PM PDT by I see my hands (It's time to.. KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHER FREEPERS!)
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To: DogByte6RER
Civilization doesn't end. It changes hands.

/johnny

16 posted on 07/02/2012 3:32:40 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: DogByte6RER

17 posted on 07/02/2012 3:35:32 PM PDT by GeorgeWashingtonsGhost
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To: JRandomFreeper
"Civilization doesn't end. It changes hands."

Tell that to the Dinosaurs.

18 posted on 07/02/2012 3:37:14 PM PDT by GeorgeWashingtonsGhost
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To: DogByte6RER
I'd take over Yosemite's Ahwahnee Hotel.

Anyone coming up CA SR-140 will find a few human-caused landslides, I think.

19 posted on 07/02/2012 3:37:52 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid (Semper Fi)
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To: DogByte6RER

A bookish man.
“there was time.....”


20 posted on 07/02/2012 3:40:35 PM PDT by Uriah_lost (Is there no balm in Gilead?....MiE (Mainer in Exile))
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