Why Do People Get So Excited About Apocalyptic Scenarios?
Pop culture has a lot of love for post-apocalyptic worlds. The reason why this is true is a mystery however... it's just something within us feels attracted to the idea of being in one of these situations.
So, why do people get so excited about Apocalyptic Scenarios? What makes people romanticize the end of the world as we know it?
What is the reason that leads preppers to hope for the inevitable to happen? Well, this is what I felt like writing today, as I think that can be explained by both our current society, the evolutionary biology and traits we developed throughout the years. If this is something you feel interests you, then read below…
The Ability to Pillage… And Get Away With It!
One of the first reasons most people love the idea of being nearly alone in the world against the elements is… the part where you can pillage everything.
Some people dream about being alone in a big city so they can enter any store, grab whatever they want, and get away with it. Imagine having that one object you always wanted but could never afford just at an arm’s reach!
It’s definitely something that pumps anyone’s enthusiasm levels up.
Another thing, that isn’t pillaging per se but is related to the idea of appropriation is having the choice of place to live. If you want to live in that luxurious mansion you always look at when you’re running errands… done! Heck, some people even have everything planned out in their minds for the inevitable zombie apocalypse, complete with travel plans and everything – just ask around… you’ll be surprised!
Breaking The Routine: Monotony of Modern Society
Another thing I've heard psychologists point out is that this scenario is attractive because it breaks the routine and the monotony installed in present day society. The individual is free from his responsibilities to the society because there's no society.
Humans are tribal, they are meant to live in small societies, and the only way society could grow to the numbers witnessed today was through the pressures it builds upon the individuals - like judicial, executive, and even peer pressure.
To live in a world with no society would break us free from these bonds, and without us noticing this may just be the biggest factor to consider on justifying why we feel living in the world of the Walking Dead could have its plus.
To Live a Simpler Life: Testing Yourself Against the Elements!
When talking about apocalyptic scenarios, the group that is the most excited about them happening is, of course, the prepper's crew.
There's a trend when it comes to preppers and survival enthusiasts - this is a hobby that increases in adoption the more its society host is evolved and out of touch with nature. In third world countries there are a lot less preppers, and in countries where hunger and disease abound, people have less attraction to this apocalyptic idea, and this has a reasonable cause - it has to do with Mazlow's Pyramid of Needs.
Basically, Mazlow's Pyramid points out humans have base needs (food, water, sex etc...) and top tier needs like spirituality, self-development, building up status and so on. With a lot of abundance in our lives as far as food and water is concerned (sex can be a problem to a few), people take the top tier needs too seriously, and even just what others think of you can crush some individuals with pressure, helping them develop anxiety and depression, among other even more severe and life-threatening conditions.
Humans long for a simpler time in which their only worry would be to survive, and those days in which they would live the present instead of constantly worrying about the future.
Less Competition: Going Tribal Again
As I said previously, Tribalism is what we feel comfortable adopting. When it comes to post-apocalyptic worlds, you don't see big complex societies any more, and that's partially the attraction of it as well.
When something really big disrupts our society, we go back to having micro-societies in which people compete less, as they are less in each group to begin with.
Not only that, there are also a lot of people dreaming of their tribe having plenty of people from the gender they're attracted to, thus decreasing the competition to mate - trust me, I researched and found people mention this variable a lot, so people DO indeed think like that... it isn't just you!
On the other hand, people also feel that a scenario like that would pose the perfect chance for them to test themselves and see if they would have what it takes to survive.
In Conclusion: What If It Really Happened?
People find the idea attractive, but that is just until you confront them with the logistics and reality pop art never exposes.
On the other hand, some of the people on the fringe of society or those preppers could actually like it... at first! They would go with it until the initial attraction would wear off and they realize what they are into.
Without the comfort of the bigger societies we set up, and without people working the backstage, humanity would devolve into the times in which you would die of a paper cut or something... and hence the romance ends.
What about you?
Did you ever think about what you'd do if you faced a post-apocalyptic scenario?
Since many of you are going to answer yes - how would you see it run? And how would you see it end?
I would love to know the answers to these questions, please comment below with any thoughts or questions, and I'll be sure to answer plenty of them.
Authored by @spiritualmax
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Self-confidence is the most important
Great tips from you, well done
Thanks for sharing..
Zombie themed movies were just an imaginative scenario of some directors in an apocalyptic event. Due to the greed of some, many were fall into the bondage of poverty and thus making the world into chaos and leads to destruction - and there the apocalyptic event may take place. And here the strong only survives and the weak will be exterminated.
So, you think the weak perishing is something some find attractive?
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...but most of the people, even preppers, will die in the first 48-72 hours...
Today's world is full of corruption, evils, sadness, and hopelessness.
For a lot of people, an apocalypse is like a new beginning. A chance to make their mark on society (or what's left of it) and rise to the top.
For other people, it's a release. Maybe people were tired of the world, and the apocalypse is their excuse to be released from the world.
Either way, for a lot of people it will be an opporitunity.
Very sad but very true. I do think movies have romanticised the idea of an apocalypse and many of us don't understand the reality of it. If an apocalypse were to occur I think it would be due to a deadly disease, there is nothing cool about being surrounded by dead bodies on a dying planet. Luckily its only imagination and won't be a reality.
Pretty much, that's why I mention people from 3rd world countries have less of this fantasy.
I think for us westerners, there is some collective guilt for trashing the planet / ecosystem, and exploiting the fuck out of the 99% for a few centuries. Karmic death wish?
Yeap, that's exactly what I think myself.... people are enticed by the ability to "start anew"
I do stack some extra food, water and necessities as well. I can’t call myself “prepper”, but I always thought it’s a good idea to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. History showed us it has happened many times before and it’s only matter of time when something similar happens again. I definitely don’t root for anything bad to happen, as a matter of fact I pray almost everyday for peace in the entire world 🌎.
That’s really add and extreme reason. This is first time I hear anything like that. But you might be righ, there are different kind of people dreaming about different kind of worlds. This leads me to a question “is it better to prepare for this kind of zombie situations or is it better if you just live your live and deal with it when it actually comes? I chose somewhere between. In my opinion if you chose this extreme way, it may as well be pulling you down psychologically. You may as well regret it when you get old and think about “how you lived your life”. On the other hand you can see how some countries are collapsing, look at Venezuela 🇻🇪, this could happen anywhere. Even in US with all this careless money printing and debt. Do you really see our future that bright or do you expect some kind of crises? Then there are natural disasters which can cause catastrophic situations and even crises. I chose to leave it up to Mather nature, prepare for worst case scenario and pray for this to never happen. As you mentioned “people are excited about apocalypse”. They might as well create one for that reason.
Great topic @spiritualmax & @adsactly!
Thanks man... and I agree that being prepared is great... just doesn't pay it to be prepared for a Zombie apocalypse, but for any other it is a great idea... I also ahve canned food and water around just in case of a natural disaster or something-
If I ever faced a post-apocalypse scenario, I'd probably straight up die, so I'm not particularly into the idea of society collapsing and things becoming destroyed. The people with the highest chances of survival are the ones who are already rich today, just look at these bunkers that the super rich have built for themselves! Super cozy and probably with well paid security, it's very hard to compete against that. And then there are those with a wealth of survival experience (I think book knowledge isn't enough in these cases, experience knowledge is better), especially farming. I can see people liking the idea of having no responsibilities and getting to have whatever they want but that's so short sighted, if they thought they had no responsibility before just imagine a year after an apocalypse ends and all the easy food is gone.
That said, an apocalypse would probably be a way for nature to recover from being so damaged by human greed but as a human I do not like the idea of an apocalypse as a solution for pollution. For example, as mentioned above, it would probably mean a dead me. They say Genghis Khan (who was probably the embodiment of the apocalypse in his day) killed so many people that there was a large period of time for forest regrowth, but damn that's pretty much apocalypse level of death.
It's so easy to fantasize about zombie apocalypses but that's just so simplistic. On top of the whole living long term thing, apocalypses themselves or things like them probably have intelligent enemies (the Mongols were very tactical), plague (like the Black Death), or straight up things one person can't fight against (nukes or asteroids). Are there movies on those kinds of events? (Actually, I'm aware of one - Grave of the Fireflies, an anime about the ending of the war in Japan, it's really quite sad... naturally, all these events have historical books as well)
Dying... now that's something everyone is qualified to do :D
Definitelly one thing: get rid of credit liabilities and start on our own, without things the world forces us to have.
Hahaha, that's a funny one... probably true for many.
The fact is that most people wonder how the world will end up.... There have been many prophecies. The most famous was in 2012, and they even made a film about the destruction of the world by global climate problems.
There are so many ways in which the world could be destroyed.... Weather problems, a meteorite, a nuclear war, a war against artificial intelligence and, despite being something of a movie, a zombie apocalypse may be possible. Some time ago I read about a scientific discovery where they discovered that a bacterium could cause a brain disease that would result in zombie-like behaviors.
My personal opinion is that most people are not even a little prepared to face the end of the world.... We don't have the training to survive in a world where we probably have to hunt, shelter, camouflage, etc.
Many think it may be easy to survive, but it is not, especially if you are alone.
Only soldiers like the U.S. Marines and other great soldiers of the world would be prepared to face something of this magnitude. Their training is tough and they have great knowledge of overall survival.
Many will want to be there to fulfill their fantasy of knowing what to be in such a world.... But the fact is, when they see the reality, they will want to never have wished they were there.
As for your questions:
I've thought about this a lot... But I honestly don't know what I would do. I don't think I'd survive long enough.
And I believe that at best only a few of them would survive, spread all over the world. The strongest and most knowledgeable.
A greeting @adsactly @spiritualmax!!
No problem, thanks for the comment as well! :D
I think I'm pretty knowleageable, maybe id last a bit :P
World-Ending Scenarios: This Is How The Apocalypse May Happen. Every so often, a religious fringe group will claim the world’s end is imminent and name a random day the apocalypse will happen. After a while, you start to roll your eyes, but how will the world end?
No one really knows...ç
It is difficult to guess what the apocalypse will be if it certainly happens. We are more than once frightened by another "end of the world." But even if this happens, it is necessary to understand what scenario it will be. For example, many argue about the threat that will come from artificial intelligence (which has not yet been created). Well, or about anthropogenic catastrophe that will change the climate on earth and destroy large populations.
I will dwell on the technogenic catastrophe. If something terrible happened, the first thing people began to do is store food. Depending on the situation, vandalism would begin. People in a panic began to steal shops. The law would pass to the second plan. Survival is above all, and therefore those people who guarded the law went over to the other side.
Stocking food with the best varinat is to wait out a catastrophe somewhere in the shelter. This is logical because in life you will be more cautious.
State systems will cease to exist. Remain separate societies of privileged people who will have steep pieces with complete autonomy. To such people it is necessary to carry vyskikh officials and other people with authority. But their power on this and end as their monetary wealth will cease to have a key role. In fact, humanity will take a step back. It is unique to appear separate groups led by marginals (which in the modern world are highly primitive people).
Depending on the damage to be caused to the planet, individual people will look for solutions. I saw many talented people who know how to do unusual things from improvised materials. It is these clever people who will not be lost. And for ordinary people, life will be difficult. The food will end and this will be the main problem.
This scenario can be described in greater detail. But I see it as the mixture that was shown in the films "Mad Max" and "Book of Eli".
There are so many ways the world can end, that it is kind of a mystery that we're still in existence at all :D
In the apocalyptic world , situations like these are your whole life. Your daily schedule will be something like:
Wake up ==>>>>Kill someone's beloved pet for breakfast.==>>>>Fight over the carcass with an emaciated kid.==>>>>Weep.
==>>>>Cry with gun in mouth until exhausted.==>>>>Sleep.==>>>>Repeat.
The assumption is that this will become a routine, but the post-apocalyptic world is unpredictable. The brain can adapt to almost anything but only if that thing happens on a regular basis
This is a dark routine, but it is pretty true... people should stop romanticizing these things.
Very correct.. I don't think there might be a better principle of life that we are being guided by.
In these scenarios the true characters and the pure nature of the persons will come to the light..
Money not help, the big mouth people of the normal life will be the cowards and the poor can be the heroes..
A horror scenario for our elite, hehehehe
Best regards
Tom
resteemed...
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So so so so true.
I dont know and I dont think that is true.
Is it true?i like your blog.which is very helpful
Really? Do you also like flags? Another comment like this and you get one. You are on the list.
We heat on can not that people who a plant than the big any people do not have people answer there is a beautiful people
I thought about it once while I was watching "The Walking dead"... In that serie a kind of apocalyptic scenario happens.. I think that there will be a new development of civilization with rules of engagement..... I'm affraid civilization has to start all over again because people are greedy, especially when they are in a possition they rather not will be in.....
So for me, I'm not hoping to ever experience such a thing :)
I think it is a interesting thing. Thanks for sharing.
You got pillaging but missed out killing libtards. I'm not joking, I see too many people who would love nothing more than to do that - or so they say. And there's exerting violence to spread their DNA by brute force. Just imagine uninhibited males building their flock of dependant subservient females. Depressing yes, but IMO realistic - if they can get away with it they will. Right now many of those psychos are safely ensconced in high paying business jobs getting their power kicks that way. Without business and society I'm sure they would resort to tribalism and all the trappings.
A funny thing is under real survival situations many of these preppers fail miserably. Just watch a few episodes of "Alone" and you see what I mean.
First let me say,
The fact that humans are never contended is not news.
Definitely at first the categories of people that would like it would, and two truths that is in this is,
1.90% would eventually get tired of it which is due to human nature.
2.you can never place fantasy beside reality. Reality outplays fantasy on all fronts and maybe if you're really lucky reality will let you have 0.1%of what you fantasize about. What I am saying in essence is, the constant reminder of danger and other risk that are lurking around which your fantasy didn't prepare for. That's when you'll be tested. And if you survive long term, something in you would be wishing things just go back to the way they were.
I could remember when I was growing up and so into games and zombie movies, I too so wish for the apocalypse like I constantly prepare for it. But now I've faced reality and the picture is not pretty. So my answer is no, I don't wish for a scenario like that.
I love your posts @adsactly , you seem to just touch things that are in my mind.
Being Human brings some instincts. Although we were frightened also we wondering about what happens. Soon or later we will all die. Actually all of us preparing our own apocalyptic scenarios.
People will always panic, it is in our nature. 90% of people are like sheeps that follow the others. We should be leadars not the sheeps which are scared. You can only sucseed if you are unique. I believe that everyone is dedicated to their own destiny which you should follow. But many people don’t know what is their destiny. Only the few which can accses their third eye can see it..
Apocalyptic relates to the scientific tradition with the characteristic of the symbol of an angel who plays an important role, and the coming of the new age. Already many films that take the story about the theme. Example
Amazing visual effects are featured in the films. Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, city destruction, and the melting of the north pole are the disasters presented in the film. At that time all men pray according to their beliefs. Nice post buddy....
Hello!
The world of course turned upside down and it's not clear where everything rolls and sometimes it's not clear what's going on ... But I would not want this to happen in order for Apocalypse to come .... Why do people worry about Apocalyptic scenarios ... ..., Yes, because many people look at it through rose-colored glasses and do not think that in reality it is very scary, not romantic ... And they do not think that there may not be a happy ending, as it often happens in those most scenarios ...
Thanks for a nice post, I was wondering ...
PEACE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!
Who knows why we are so engrossed in the survival theme. Maybe it is a survival of the fittest, or something in our DNA driving us to survive cataclysmic events. I used to worry about it a lot more when I was younger. Not so much anymore. 🐓🐓
Because at our core as a species we are nothing more than a destructive bunch who would like nothing more than to inflict destruction and chaos upon everything we 'hold dear'. Think about it for a second - imagine a zombie apocalypse. First thing most people think about is 'oh God yes, I finally get to blast out some brains.' At least that is my opinion.
The excitement of doing away with all the rules and limitations in modern societies.
Desire for an escape from the pressure of modern life. A return to the comparative simplicity of barbarism. Many imagine that in such a chaotic, dog eats dog scenario, their inner badass would be able to flourish and they'd become a warlord or something. I'm glad for preppers though. They hoard all the neat stuff I'll simply rob them for when the shit hits the fan.
That excitement wouldn't last much due to the effect of the Mazlow's Pyramid itself. Depending of the kind of apocalyptic scenario, (some of them include an extreme lack of resources), the mazlow pyramid of a person initially with the basic needs covered could be reseted when those needs aren't covered anymore. Also, in those apocalyptic stories the man remains the worst enemy of the mankind. There always will be people that mess with others and without laws or society restrictions nothing could stop those to intimidate with violence and terror.
Disastrous photography depicting a whole bit of story showing the ruins of a city in a way which looks a bit bad but also is exciting to watch. Simply giganticly good photography.
I like this post
Love this article and concept! I play lots of survival games and it surprises me how cruel, selfish, and violent most people are. I think your behavior in games is a hint of who you are underneath the mask you put on for the world, and it shocks me how fucked up some people are..
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My theory is that an apocalyptic event would force us to live like the humans we were before the modern age arrived and therein lies the attraction. Our DNA still holds true to who we were hundreds of years ago as we pillaged, lived in smaller tribes, and did focused all of our energy on surviving. This provides a subconscious draw to the lifestyle we have left behind.
The idea of zombies is a way to dehumanize people. When the masses show up, it is far easier to ignore women and children if we do not see them as people. This is a very dangerous concept as climate change sets the stage for mass migration (ex. Syria into Europe). Focusing on living sustainable lives and promoting such living around us is truly the only way we avoid such a travesty become a reality.
for a while I haven't read so good article. You have skill
AIl is developing at an incredible rate and blockchain technology will become the driver, which will make AI our routine. I am sure that in 5 years we will all remember this day and this article with a smile. Flywheel launched and its momentum is so strong that no power structure will not be able to stop him. The world government (if it exists) would be happy to take over the development of AI, but with the advent of blockchain it is impossible to do. And this fact pleases me very much. The Effect AI is a good project, I like it. Let's see what happens in the spring, when the entire cryptocurrency market goes up.
I think you hit all the right notes here, but only briefly touched on the glorification of an apocalyptic scenario by the media we consume. We have been conditioned so much that some of us consider it is an eventuality, hence the prepper culture that predominates large parts of the US.
I believe these post apocalyptic narratives are merely being weaponised against us as fear porn to keep us locked in our shackles. The fact there are so many similar stories out there begs the question, why?
Is it a trend? Should we just accept it as such and brush it off? Given the tight control on mass media, mainly in the form of Hollywood and T.V, it is always a little suspicious when a new 'trend' sweeps through mass culture.
Look at the Vietnam war films of the 60's and 70's, who were they made by, and for whose benefit? To pay homage to a valiant crusade in a far off land, or to justify to an illegitimate push into territories they had no business in?
Propaganda. The same parallel can in some ways be drawn with the apocalyptic scenarios, as well.
Apocalyptic scenarios are the most American pop culture, like zombies or UFO. Btw. Have You noticed that aliens fly only there? ^^
Basically it's great for writing a story as the most extreme of conflicts exist in an apocalyptic situation, and We all know how important conflict is to a story.
I think cultivating an apocalyptic idea is probably also caused by the habit of thinking in polarities, in either-or terms, right-left, black-and-white. Possibly because of the extremes already present in the respective Poles: extreme prosperity and consumption surplus against extreme simplicity and little materialism (or poverty, whereby the really poor are not the simple farmers, but the inhabitants of the urban slums).
The picture that you have published and that shows full supermarket shelves generates rejection and reluctance in me. This gluttony and exaggerated selection is then no longer a gift, but a burden. I need to know a lot of things, I'm spoilt for choice, etc. That's what trouble does to me. When I am angry, I, for my part, tend to exaggerate and impulse. This results in a counter-movement of a mental nature and I then wished all that stuff to the devil (just an apocalyptic cleansing of what was not necessary).
The films reflect this longing for a tabula rasa, a new beginning. I think it has to do with a cleansing - spiritually.
Regarding apocalyptic states that have already occurred, the horror stories can, unfortunately, be heard predominantly. However, there must have been many people who demonstrated greatness, compassion, and inventiveness in the destroyed German cities after the Second World War, for example. It is an art to pass on these stories, to keep them and to call them factual reports.
So, I am not answering your question but ask instead of those stories of survival and courage.
My mom was imprisoned in a Russian camp and spent there almost ten years of her life with her family. None of them had died and she once told me that her father was the most reliable person during that times. He even made it out of his own camp to join his children and wife as they got separated in the beginning. My mother, who was a courageous woman, refused working the woods any longer and told the commander that she and her sister had wanted another work. She risked, of course, her life and probably if her parents would have witnessed her, they would have told her to shut her mouth. But she got lucky and worked from then on in the laundry which also sucked but was better than to cut and carry the heavy woods while outside it was below 30 degrees Celsius.
It took my family another twenty years to get released from Russia but we made it finally to Germany at the beginning of the 70s. If you would ask those generations they for sure would say that that were apocalyptic times.
I find refuge in that stories and would love to hear similar ones. What about you?
Anyway, the questions you asked raised these thoughts of mine and I thank you for that. :)
Friend your post is so help full
In what way? Read the article or don't comment. Flag city.
Cheers man, you're a pretty active curator I see... Good job!
Why Do People Get So Excited About Apocalyptic Scenarios?
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