>>>>lets be honest, does part of you want the apocolypse?
Only when I try to discuss politics on message boards.
Only when I try to discuss politics on message boards.
lets be honest, does part of you want the apocolypse?
- Thread starter Vault101
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I think you're all missing the point. The thing about all these apocalypse scenarios isn't that everyone dies and you have to learn to survive... it's that the established system of meta-morality, authority and law-enforcement would effectively disappear.
In an apocalyptic scenario, you could do anything you wanted to, relatively consequence free. No police to stop you? Get a gun and shoot the next asshole that cuts you off in traffic. Rape the next woman that you like the look of, just because you can. Take anything you want from anywhere, because face it: who's going to stop you if they're all zombies?
That's what people find so enticing about apocalypse scenarios. Essentially it amounts to a power trip; the power to really have a choice about what you do - to let your emotions and drives run free and unreined. The greatest problem with all this? Who's gonna stop someone doing the same to you?
In an apocalyptic scenario, you could do anything you wanted to, relatively consequence free. No police to stop you? Get a gun and shoot the next asshole that cuts you off in traffic. Rape the next woman that you like the look of, just because you can. Take anything you want from anywhere, because face it: who's going to stop you if they're all zombies?
That's what people find so enticing about apocalypse scenarios. Essentially it amounts to a power trip; the power to really have a choice about what you do - to let your emotions and drives run free and unreined. The greatest problem with all this? Who's gonna stop someone doing the same to you?
Nope. I'd be ill-equipped to survive in a world where core survival skills matter more than academic prowess, and nor do I think that we as a species are so unredeemable that we actually deserve to be wiped out of existence.
Besides, a more factual definition of the word "apocalypse" implies the end of one thing, but the start of another. So if you wanted to get literal, we have our own little apocalypses every time we graduate, earn a promotion, get a job or otherwise just get back home after a productive day spent doing whatever. Every time the sun sets, *something* out there ends, and that specific instance of that particular *something* will never, ever return.
I've always thought the whole Hero of the Wastes thing is something that's uniquely North-American. We're a liberal society with a focus on people as individuals with their own worth and set of skills, and we're all taught to consider the world as being *ours*, as being experienced from *our* point of view. Collectivism doesn't come naturally to us. We live in a society where we're told "You - yes, YOU - are a special and unique snowflake that's filled with potential!" Comparatively, JRPGs are always about you operating in the midst of a community, or coming to grips with the fact that you *need* other people to survive and thrive.
Considering this, the standard perception of the Apocalypse reflects that. We're almost trained from birth to want to end up as the Lone Wanderer from Fallout 3, or the Courier from New Vegas. We want to do our own thing, and not take any shit from anybody. We'd like to be able to blow opposing forces away with the pull of a trigger.
In Real Life, obviously, none of us can. Even those whose job involves hefting a gun (assuming there's cops in the hizzouse) have to abide by a set of rules. A good cop doesn't just go Sam Peckinpah on the ass of whomsoever it chooses to Mirandize. In Real Life, most of us wouldn't survive a day if we were plopped in the woods and told to make like Bear Grylls.
So no. No part of me wants the Apocalypse, because I'm not the Lone Wanderer. I'm not the Courier, and I couldn't shoot a gun to save my life. I couldn't survive in a zombie apocalypse because like it or not, zombies are still former humans. I'd feel extremely bad about having to blow apart someone who used to think, to have hopes and dreams, to maybe have something to work towards, some sort of personal goal. I'd be paralyzed if I saw one of my loved ones turn into a brain-muncher.
All of that, plus the fact that I don't believe the world's gone to complete shit and needs to end. I'm postmodern, but I'm not *so* postmodern as to think I need to take Marilyn Manson literally or that high school Emo poets have the right idea when they write awful verses about cutting themselves.
I like living far too much, and I'm agnostic. I don't care if the Flying Spaghetti Monster swoops down and saves us all, if Jesus raises everyone from the dead or if aliens designed by Roland Emmerich come to our backwards little corner of the Milky Way and vaporize our asses.
All things end, but I'm not going to live while thinking that I'm going to die.
Besides, a more factual definition of the word "apocalypse" implies the end of one thing, but the start of another. So if you wanted to get literal, we have our own little apocalypses every time we graduate, earn a promotion, get a job or otherwise just get back home after a productive day spent doing whatever. Every time the sun sets, *something* out there ends, and that specific instance of that particular *something* will never, ever return.
I've always thought the whole Hero of the Wastes thing is something that's uniquely North-American. We're a liberal society with a focus on people as individuals with their own worth and set of skills, and we're all taught to consider the world as being *ours*, as being experienced from *our* point of view. Collectivism doesn't come naturally to us. We live in a society where we're told "You - yes, YOU - are a special and unique snowflake that's filled with potential!" Comparatively, JRPGs are always about you operating in the midst of a community, or coming to grips with the fact that you *need* other people to survive and thrive.
Considering this, the standard perception of the Apocalypse reflects that. We're almost trained from birth to want to end up as the Lone Wanderer from Fallout 3, or the Courier from New Vegas. We want to do our own thing, and not take any shit from anybody. We'd like to be able to blow opposing forces away with the pull of a trigger.
In Real Life, obviously, none of us can. Even those whose job involves hefting a gun (assuming there's cops in the hizzouse) have to abide by a set of rules. A good cop doesn't just go Sam Peckinpah on the ass of whomsoever it chooses to Mirandize. In Real Life, most of us wouldn't survive a day if we were plopped in the woods and told to make like Bear Grylls.
So no. No part of me wants the Apocalypse, because I'm not the Lone Wanderer. I'm not the Courier, and I couldn't shoot a gun to save my life. I couldn't survive in a zombie apocalypse because like it or not, zombies are still former humans. I'd feel extremely bad about having to blow apart someone who used to think, to have hopes and dreams, to maybe have something to work towards, some sort of personal goal. I'd be paralyzed if I saw one of my loved ones turn into a brain-muncher.
All of that, plus the fact that I don't believe the world's gone to complete shit and needs to end. I'm postmodern, but I'm not *so* postmodern as to think I need to take Marilyn Manson literally or that high school Emo poets have the right idea when they write awful verses about cutting themselves.
I like living far too much, and I'm agnostic. I don't care if the Flying Spaghetti Monster swoops down and saves us all, if Jesus raises everyone from the dead or if aliens designed by Roland Emmerich come to our backwards little corner of the Milky Way and vaporize our asses.
All things end, but I'm not going to live while thinking that I'm going to die.
I've had psychos trying to "screw me over" (well they came swining at me with sharp objects and gave me a few scars in the process, and other times they tried to mug me), however they didn't expect me to fight back and fight just as dirty as they did (with sharp objects for example), and during these occasions I either scared them off or left them in a much worse state than they inflicted on me.Vault101 said:
Let's just say that inner-city streets can be quite a dangerous place some nights of the week even if you're not looking for trouble, trouble can sometimes find you.
Was I scared at the time? Damn right. But I felt quite... Well "alive" afterwards. Facing your own mortality, especially against other humans is quite a kick.
However, don't take this as an implication that I nowadays actually seek out such situations because I don't (it goes against my subjective moral principles that violence should only be used in self-defense and that it's idiotic to just pick fights with random strangers). But I'd be lying if I said that the situations didn't give me a sort of buzz, and that these experiences do make me interested in what the "post-apocalypse" (i.e the half-assed one where not all humans die but some survive in this anarchistic wasteland) would be like and how long I would survive in it.
I guess that's just what I am as a person. Where others feel scared of the possible consequences and inconvenience, I feel challenged and just want to see if I can "win it" so to speak.
Of course. I think it's a good chance for us humans to learn about our selves. Humanity needs a good kick in the pants.
The apocalypse would be a terrible thing, but I would still rough through to enjoy myself. Statistically I would be dead, but pending on the scenario my chances of survival would be fairly high. I'm personally rooting for Zombies. I would be smart enough to avoid public places where it spreads the easiest and I'm an experienced marksman and martial artist I could easily fend off a small group at a time. It would just come down to being aware of my surroundings and ensuring there isn't a horde that would attack.
None of me wants an apocalypse, but I am ready for it. Always be prepared.
the sheer loss and readjustment would be overwhelming to many, and to rebuild while everyone thinks they know best and they'd be the hero of the apocalypse would just be a nightmare.
Besides, I like my life right now. I think its pretty good, and I dont need the drastic upheaval.
the sheer loss and readjustment would be overwhelming to many, and to rebuild while everyone thinks they know best and they'd be the hero of the apocalypse would just be a nightmare.
Besides, I like my life right now. I think its pretty good, and I dont need the drastic upheaval.
yeah, i think so. Speaking as a misanthropic teenager, i think the apocalypse would be amazing. Humans suck. We fight and kill and steal and uugh. We're the most disgusting race there is. Not everyone is horrid, i know, but when you think about it, we've fucked up the planet royally...
You linked TV Tropes! There goes my whole day, I hope you're happy, you monster.GeorgW said:
Anyway, some part of me wants a zombie apocalypse to happen, because I'd travel the country with a double barreled sawed off shotgun and a leather outfit, merrily slaying zombies all the while.
Of course, the rational part of me knows I'd probably be one of the first poor sons of bitches zombified, so I'd really rather that not happen.
A part of me want human civilisation to crumble to a far less... not less advanced, but smaller state of being. We see enormous acts of stupidity all the bloody time, and having less people would just solve so many god damn problems. However, the rational, thinking part of me realises that it's a bit silly; I'm not equipped to survive (YET!), and I'd probably die. Lots of my friends who I know and love would also probably die. My family would probably die. Whilst it's a nice idea to imagine that we could do a -soft- reset on humanity, not going to happen unfortunately. 
That said, a -part- of me is definitely hoping for it. I am in no way in favour of hard resets though. We'd lose too much I value.
That said, a -part- of me is definitely hoping for it. I am in no way in favour of hard resets though. We'd lose too much I value. Idunno I think about it sometimes. Especially when I'm depressed. It's because I'm a pretty resillient guy so I suspect I wouldn't do all that bad in a post-apocalypse situation. (provided I actually survive whatever it is that made the world go from normal to post-apocalypse.) And even though you lose many many things you got used to having, life also becomes charmingly simple: secure whatever you need to ensure long-term survival and you're a made man.
Kinda like minecraft: at first it's harsh but once you made a house that can withstand anything the monsters can throw at you (within reason), it's a sandbox. As long as you are always properly prepared, careful, and don't take unnecesseraly risks.
But than I always immediatly tell myself that It'd probably get old reaaaaaly fast and that realizing you have grown used to modern comforts is NOT the same as being able to cope without them.
On further reflection, you know what would be great? Being able to switch between normal life and extremely-harsh-but-simple post-apocalyptic-ish life instantly. Somehow. If modern life is giving you truckloads of lemons you can switch to hermit mode. And if you can't take the loneliness any more or miss your family you can switch back and you'll have a whole new appreciation for modern life.
Kinda like minecraft: at first it's harsh but once you made a house that can withstand anything the monsters can throw at you (within reason), it's a sandbox. As long as you are always properly prepared, careful, and don't take unnecesseraly risks.
But than I always immediatly tell myself that It'd probably get old reaaaaaly fast and that realizing you have grown used to modern comforts is NOT the same as being able to cope without them.
On further reflection, you know what would be great? Being able to switch between normal life and extremely-harsh-but-simple post-apocalyptic-ish life instantly. Somehow. If modern life is giving you truckloads of lemons you can switch to hermit mode. And if you can't take the loneliness any more or miss your family you can switch back and you'll have a whole new appreciation for modern life.
No.
Because I'm not a misanthropic nutcase.
*EDIT*
However, I would be up for mankind leaving cities and returning to more simpler dwellings with a more healthy number of people in a community.
What's so bad about leaving in a treehouse colony? Much better than a grey, daunting, industrial city.
Because I'm not a misanthropic nutcase.
*EDIT*
However, I would be up for mankind leaving cities and returning to more simpler dwellings with a more healthy number of people in a community.
What's so bad about leaving in a treehouse colony? Much better than a grey, daunting, industrial city.
Everyone pictures themselves as survivors. These cool people killing the mutants and gangs, getting the women etc.Vault101 said:http://www.cracked.com/blog/why-were-obsessed-with-apocalypse/ gotta love cracked
this aritcle explains why post-apocalyptic is a popular genre
essentially, its an egotistical thing, we all want to imagine ourselves as the lone-wanderer badass, or to live in a world without the restraints of society
so how do you feel about it?
personally Im guessing the apocolypse wouldnt be awsome at all
1. statistically I wouls probably be dead, what ever the cause
2. I porbably would survive long after, Disease, violence and such
3. lets say I am surviving, do you think I would be wandering around? slaying my enemies thinking DAMN! what a badass I am!
uhh no, It would be a miserable terrifying experence (well depending on alot of things) not some grand adventure
I guess this pose-apocalyptic thing really is a fantasy,...then again is anyone out there DEAD serious about being prepared? about being a post-apocalpytic badass?
EDIT:..oh this may probably turn into "I hate humanity thing" ehhh thats not quite what i men t
Most however, would just be victims.
There's the other side of this - some people feel that their lives are boring and pointless, that they're never going to achieve anything and no one will even remember them 10 minutes after their deaths, that they're stuck in a world that is everything that they hate. In the apocalypse, everyone's lives will be shitty as well so that's a morale boost (?) for them. Also, at least their deaths would be more exciting, like a building falling down on you or maybe an explosion.
Sure, it looks awesome in a 2 hour movie or a 10-20 hour game but if you wold have to live that life for years to come, you would miss the fast food restaurants and the traffic jams and the stupid politicians making stupid decisions and the ignorance of everyday people and the boredom and.... you know.
I guess there are some who are so antisocial that they would really like to live in that kind of scenario.
You see, most people who get accustomed to civilization and all the good and bad that comes with it. Some however, are still wild animals with strong survival skills but little to no social skills (you see them on the news sometimes, described as deviants, committing bizzare acts violence and cruelty, like they never even acknowledged the existence of any societal rules whatsoever)and a setting where there is no more civilization and everyone is basically out for themselves is a perfect place for people like that.
No we haven't. We haven't made it dissolve into boiling oil yet... that's what sizable asteroid collisions do.NDarko64 said:
Humans will never "wreck the planet", as it wouldn't be in their best interest to do so.
And besides, if humanity all spontaneously died, there'd be no one to give a damn. Because despite what misanthropes seem to think, the planet will not wipe its brow and say "Phew, those damned humans are dead. Now I'm going to be all right." Because it has no brow. Or sweat. Or coherent thought. And it's a rock. That's doomed to explode a few more times anyways until it gets eaten by the sun.
A very small part of me does because then maybe the stupid people will disappear(I'm defining stupid people as the people who take pride in being uneducated, on drugs/alcoholics, with kids they can't take care of and shite like that)but on the other hand much as I really want those kinds of people to not ever be allowed to breed or exist, I really don't want the apocalypse. Too much I want to do.