Would you want to survive the end of civilization?

IO9 ^ | July 2, 2012 | ith Veronese

[DogByte6RER]

Would you want to survive the end of civilization?

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?

[Jack Hydrazine]

Here’s a magnetic reversals and glaciation chart.
http://iceagenow.info/2011/05/magnetic_reversal_chart/

[Errant]

At least 12 magnetic reversals can be linked to glaciation during the last three million years alone.

So it seems we have correlation. I still lean toward periodic heat build up within the interior of the earth or the core becoming out sync due to the earth's precession.

Pressure waves from the core bouncing around (hyperbole) would certainly increase earthquake activity. Another thing that leads me to believe it has something to do with the core, is that the number earthquakes seem to come and go in cycles and especially interesting, the cycle seems to affect quakes equally at every depth, even down the 500+ km depth.

Increased earthquakes leads to increased volcanism which leads to increase moisture from warmer oceans, CO2, SO2, and ash in the atmosphere; all followed by lowered temperatures and increased snowfall worldwide and finally an age of ice covered continents.

Maybe sol plays a role too, somehow...

[Jack Hydrazine]

This is interesting.

Another regime change indication – this time in solar data
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/04/another-regime-change-indication-this-time-in-solar-data/#more-66766

The Sun has changed its character
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/02/the-sun-has-changed-its-character/#more-66659

[central_va]

Mary Ann camel toe bump.

[Errant]

Indeed! Thank you for the links. There are several great charts at the second link that indicate with little doubt that major changes are occurring with the sun.

I've been researching further into the correlation between historical Co2 levels and the ice ages. Much of the available data is inconclusive.

[Jack Hydrazine]

What I know about CO2 is that the Sun leads it by about 800 years. But what it does during ice ages I don’t know.

[Errant]

I've read that it can take up to 2,000 years for snow/ice to compact enough to prevent gas from migrating through the layers. In that case, the lag may be erroneous.

A couple of links:

http://debunkhouse.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/co2-ice-cores-vs-plant-stomata/

http://www.co2science.org/subject/other/co2amp.php

[Errant]

So how do the Christians interpret what the “day of God” means?

I wanted to point out that the Bible contains phrases like "the day of God" as well as "a day of the Lord".

It's my opinion that these statements cause confusion but refer to different events.

[Errant]

Talk about a double whammy, combine the increased volcanic activity we're seeing with the low solar output and we could see a much colder than normal winter this year.

Smaller Volcanoes Could Cool Climate According To Satellite Research

[Jack Hydrazine]

Don’t tell that to all of the people suffering under the current heat wave! LOL! Based on what I am seeing the northern and southern hemispheres so far I will not be surprised if we have a colder than normal winter this year.

The UK is still having their worst summer ever.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/331299/It-will-rain-til-September

BRITAIN is facing its “worst ever” summer with cold wet weather ruining family holidays and blighting the Olympics, forecasters warned last night.

August is set to be a washout following a miserable July and the wettest June since records began – meaning summer is effectively over.

Coldest July 4th in Phoenix in 100 years
http://iceagenow.info/2012/07/coldest-july-4th-phoenix-100-years/

Even the deserts can’t get to their normal highs
http://iceagenow.info/2012/07/deserts-normal-highs/

Many more record lows for the United States
http://iceagenow.info/2012/07/record-lows-united-states/

[Errant]

LOL

Yep, The earths' thermal conveyance is ALL screwed up. To be expected with changes in energy received and its effect on the jet stream and oceans.

I just saw where we may get hit with a solar flare in the X1 cat! Its been awhile since we've had one that large.

http://spaceweather.com/

X-FLARE: Giant sunspot AR1515 unleashed a strong X1.1-class solar flare on July 6th at 2308 UT. Because Earth is well-connected to the blast site by solar magnetic fields, a fusillade of protons accelerated by the explosion might soon reach our planet. Stay tuned for updates.