[Hellion]

I know it could lower peoples general chances of survival, not so sure if it would increase or lower my chances...don't really care. I guess point is I almost hope that happens even though I know all the chaos, destruction and violence that could go on(not that it doesn't already go on a lot in some places in the world). Maybe its just that at least if that happens, there is the off chance maybe a new sort of society would take over....maybe a better one. The way things are going now seems like it can only go down hill, just don't see it being fixed. Not to mention I constantly worry I'll get kicked off SSI and/or medicaid just any way I slice it I either keep getting low income, magically get rid of my mental issues so I can work or end up eventually losing SSI and ending up who knows where....just feels like life is going nowhere, will continue to go nowhere.

I know I have depression and PTSD and anxiety but I don't think its all in my head because realistically is this society really improving in any real way? I see remarks about my 'generation' being lazy, unappreciative s***ts essentially perhaps a lot are catching on to what we actually have to look forward to.....it just looks bleak is all. Maybe this is just a bunch of jumbled rambling not even sure my point exactly...does anyone relate to any of that or get so fed up you'd just rather see it all burn than hope it will improve?

[SnakeCharmer]

uh ... I did feel kind of like that way back when. Maybe not exactly like you because I thought if the system collapsed things would not be better if/when a new system arose. I thought it would be more like Mad Max. Anyway ...

I read an article about some research saying it was well-documented that people who read/watched a lot of news, read blogs, listened to talk radio, read fashion magazines or watched a lot of crime shows had far more anxiety, pessimism and low self-esteem than people who refrained.

The article suggested taking a two week break from all news and talk radio, magazines and crime shows on TV. I did it. Cold turkey. It was hard at first. I think I actually went through withdrawals. But pretty soon ... that free-floating feel of impending doom left me. I became more optimistic. My self-esteem and esteem for others increased dramatically.

I consider myself a well-informed person, but I now pick and chose what I care to research instead of carelessly allowing any kind of ranting and raving media to invade my brain space.

Lately, there have been a number of articles saying research shows that the more people participate in Facebook, Twitter and similar social media, the worse they feel -- self-hate, anxiety, depression. They see everybody else's fabulous lives and feel inferior. Well, those fabulous lives may not be so fabulous, but the low self-esteem that comes from looking too much at other people's fake lives is real.

This site is the closest I come to any social media. I come here because, well ... people seem really nice and caring in a sincere way. My experience with this on-line community seems to parallel my experiences in "real life." Some of the kindest people I've met have various mental disorders. Sometimes they have really hard times, even have to be hospitalized. It's as if their own experiences with adversity give them a more compassionate view of other people.

Hellion, there really are a lot of caring people out there ... and right here. I don't want the system to collapse because many of the people I know depend upon the system and they'd probably be the most vulnerable in a Mad Max world. I'd rather work to make the system better than work toward tearing it down ... for the sake of my many friends who depend on the system for basic shelter, food, warmth, clothes, medical care, therapy, and a few bucks in their pockets. Very few. But a few.

Taking a break from the media, a short two weeks, helped me a lot. I hope you will consider it as a possible option. Maybe then you'll decide that summer is coming.

[Hellion]

I don't have t.v channels at my house so I don't get much exposure at all to the mainstream news channels or anything and the newspaper is usually garbage, usually I on occasion visit a couple news sites to be up to date on things or I see a post in like the current events section here that catches my eye so of course I want to know more. As for facebook I have an account mostly as a means of communicating with people I know if I cant get ahold of them over the phone or in person, I like a couple of the games and some of the pages I follow have intresting posts and I've found out about concerts via facebook I might otherwise have missed due to not hearing about it....though sometimes people post ignorant stuff on articles about social issues and sometimes I give them a peice of my mind but not to often and I don't get all caught up in drama or anything. I also don't really read fashion magazines, don't see what good it would do me since my usual attire consists of a metal/rock band t-shirt and whatever pants I put on and a sweater or jacket if need be.

I am not intrested in actively trying tear things down, not willing to face the risks that come along with that in the first place...but if it collapsed I am not sure i'd see it as an entirely bad thing, though I feel half the time that is inevitable anyways....of course ideally I think a classless society in which everyone has access to basic necessities and a decent quality of life...but is there even any chance of that?

[venusss]

Collapse of structures is not a pretty thing. Name place where it actually lead to something good.... and no, Velvet revolution doesn't really count.

And as for global implossion.... as much as I joke about it at times, as much as it gets into my dreams where I am fighting and totally euphoric about it....... that is one of my biggest fears. Aside nothing changing at all.

[seeker1950]

Interesting thread....I'm not sure what it applies to ...as in are you talking apocalyptic? or weather related failures; government related? Interestingly, I just bought a 30 day "prepper" package of food, not that that would help much in the longrun if society totally collapsed. I do know from having experienced a prolonged power outage a summer past here, for a couple of weeks, wherein I could get no fuel, no food, that people become mean! When my neighbor finally brought me a couple of gallons of gasoline to drive my vehicle, just getting some ice was a major victory. I was disheartened to see how people behave.

We have learned more about science, medicine, technology and the universe around us in the last century than in the last 32,000 years when man first became sentient.

What causes me concern is that our technology is outstripping our morality at an alarming rate. Our budget for a single day of war could feed all the hungry children in this country for a year. Our political leaders are greedy puppets and the foundation of our government crumbles. Predators of every ilk increase exponentially and the 'guardians' steal most of the money, drugs and guns they collect and recycle them back on the street.

Those who teach and protect us and risk their lives on a daily basis must struggle to feed and care for their families and those who require any kind of special mental or health care must hang on with strength and courage, because it is all we have.

Am I concerned about the apocalypse? I am much more concerned that the people of this country will follow the example of other nations and demand fair wages for all. And changes like that will only come with violence.

Will we celebrate our own Bastille Day? As someone in here often says-winter is coming.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by Tea&Sympathy

We have learned more about science, medicine, technology and the universe around us in the last century than in the last 32,000 years when man first became sentient.

What causes me concern is that our technology is outstripping our morality at an alarming rate. Our budget for a single day of war could feed all the hungry children in this country for a year. Our political leaders are greedy puppets and the foundation of our government crumbles. Predators of every ilk increase exponentially and the 'guardians' steal most of the money, drugs and guns they collect and recycle them back on the street.

Those who teach and protect us and risk their lives on a daily basis must struggle to feed and care for their families and those who require any kind of special mental or health care must hang on with strength and courage, because it is all we have.

Am I concerned about the apocalypse? I am much more concerned that the people of this country will follow the example of other nations and demand fair wages for all. And changes like that will only come with violence.

Will we celebrate our own Bastille Day? As someone in here often says-winter is coming.

Not really talking about any apocalypse per say, since that seems more religious based...I am more taking more realistic things like natural disasters, wars, shutdown of various important information online...for instance most of the currency only actually exists virtually. Also I don't see anything inherently wrong with people wanting fair wages for all...though I'd hate people to resort to violence but given history they probably would.