I’m very scared, it feels like the world is about to fall apart. I will also remember a passage that I heard, and which does not seem to be a joke: you will own nothing, and will be happy! And it seems that this is gradually becoming a reality.
What scares you?
Climate change. Shit is going to get super real in the next 20 years. Like half the planet starving real.
Climate Change is only one aspect of the real problem. Ecological overshoot is probably a better term, but terms like polycrisis and metacrisis have been tossed around.
The Stockholm Resilience Centre’s Planetary Boundaries is probably one of the best synthesis of it.
It’s bad, it’s getting worse. And it’s a motivator behind a lot of the bullshit going on in the world. Russia wants Ukraine for its breadbasket. US wants to end democracy because they don’t believe it will survive what’s coming.
Everyone that matters (Governments and Militaries) knows what’s going on, and the level of public debate is definitely downplaying things to not scare the masses. Meanwhile, we speedrun right into it.
Maybe. It doesn’t make much sense that the same US government Republicans are preparing for the worst that could have just prevented it. Staying under 2C wasn’t that difficult. The hardest part was getting China to go along, and that’s gone reasonably.
Staying under 2C wasn’t that difficult.
Respectfully disagree. Ending fossil fuels is not easy. Technically, politically and economically.
The hardest part was getting China to go along, and that’s gone reasonably.
…China, India, Russia, Japan, Europe, Canada, the middle east, Australia…
No one came close. China’ progress is significant and in some ways commendable, matched only by their failures.
I don’t think we’d have to fully end fossil fuels to stay under 2C. I think getting rid of them in power plants, road vehicles, and ocean vessels would have been enough.
And that probably would have taken less resources than these data center rollouts.
We could have kept oil in airlines and military.
That would just have slowed it down not stopped it. Fossil fuels must end, one way, or as it seems to be the case, the other.
To be fair, I’m not sure we could have eliminated gas from residential heating. That’s a big lift.
If we had gone nuclear and managed to make electricity pretty cheap, maybe.
No. Just no.
A wet bulb event killing a few hundred million in the span of a week or two will do it. The knock on deaths just from the disruption of the initial deaths will be equally catastrophic.
This is so true… Here in India shit is hot like 45 Celsius and 34 to 37 whole night… Can’t live normally without AC, i wonder how bad it’ll be in the upcoming years…
America is run by the Neo-Nazi party, and following their idols more or less to the T.
Israel is running a widely known genocide, and the world doesnt care.
Global Warming is going to start killing crops en masse soon enough, while removing the amount of livable land.
The American Neo-Nazi party is speed rushing the great depression, and WWIII at the same time.
China is the next largest power in the world, and they arent much better than America.
At least China has EVs and solar panels and exporting them as well.
The also have billions more people, they aren’t anywhere close to zero, or even meaningfully lower carbon emissions.
The problem is they still burn coal in winter :(
The world cares. The “world” is being blackmailed into complicity.
We’ve learned nothing. We make the same mistakes over and over. We saw what happens when fascism takes over. Yet it’s happening again. Millions died from COVID, and people are abandoning vaccines. The planet is overheating, and our roads are full of giant, gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. None of this had to happen, we had the knowledge to prevent it. We just didn’t.
Mostly I’m just really fucking sad.
There was such a potential for all of us to live brilliant, flourishing, fulfilling lives.
Instead, half the folks in my country decided to shit on everything and everyone. The remaining half of us are now too fucking busy cleaning up after those fuckwits to make forward progress. We can’t even advocate for changes to things we know are bad because we’re trying to defend the broken status quo from something worse.
It’s going to take generations to unfuck the damage. More than my lifetime, at least.
The thing is, all of it, yes, all of it was and still is avoidable. We have the tools to unfuck the climate change, to get population levels under control, to distribute enough to those who need it.
We choose not to. Fucking hell.
Mostly I’m just really fucking sad.
There was such a potential for all of us to live brilliant, flourishing, fulfilling lives.
Same :(
“There was such a potential for all of us to live brilliant, flourishing, fulfilling lives.”
No there wasn’t. That’s just part of the illusion they sell you. The entire thing is just a shakey extension into the sky built upon a foundation it continues to havest from to give the impression of growth. It was only great for a few of us and it could never last.
I do agree with your sentiment and feel like if humans weren’t the way we are we could still build a global paradise.
But that’s not the way humans operate.
Instead, half the folks in my country decided to shit on everything and everyone. The remaining half of us are now too fucking busy cleaning up after those fuckwits to make forward progress.
Hey now, let’s not place blame unfairly. Only 1/3 of us voted for the turd. Unfortunately, another 1/3 decided to not participate, so the 1/3 of us who cared and tried to prevent this are stuck with the bill run up by those who want to burn it down and those who didn’t care.
There was never that potential with 8 billion people.
No, there was. And there is. That’s the worst part.
We produce more food than we need. We produce more goods than we need. Starvation and poverty are both choices made by those in power to ensure their own power.
Clearly humanity is never capable of improving anything on the grand scale.
YES
Climate change, consolidation of power in the hands of fewer and fewer, increasing economic inequality, increased surveillance, AI, enshittification of everything
Yes, the future looks rough.
deleted by creator
The future is now. We are in it.
No point whatsoever in feeling scared or fearful. Let tht awful feeling be a springboard to action, preparation and community building.
Do something today, plan what you’re going to do tomorrow. Collaborate, train and keep learning. Focus on your health and the health of those around you.
I am not afraid. I’m ready.
Will you be ready when there is no healthcare and you’re diagnosed young with cancer unexpectedly, which is happening to a growing number of young people. Will you be afraid when you can’t take care of yourself and you’re dying painfully because the treatment is unaffordable to you?
All these things are well and good, but your life can get royally fucked in moments where you’re suddenly fully reliant on a broken system just to stay alive. Your neighbors, friends, and community can’t magically get you your $20k a month cancer meds, they’re all struggling, too.
Source: Got cancer unexpectedly young, have to rely on Medicaid to stay the fuck alive.
I feel like part of being ready to face a grim future is acceptance that we might not, ourselves, make it. Shit is going to fall apart. In my case it’s racing against time to kill me before old age. My concern and my efforts will go towards helping my kids navigate it. It does feel like Trump is hammering on the minute hand of the doomsday clock, though.
In my case it’s racing against time to kill me before old age
I feel like I’m just trying to run down the clock. I’ve definitely shifted the balance of future/present considerations (e.g. future planning) more towards the present.
Always makes me laugh when people talk big about how independent they are and how they’re “taking care of their health.” I know from experience that all it takes is one moment. Just one moment for your independence to be dragged out to the street and curb-stomped repeatedly through no fault of your own.
Medicaid was the best insurance I ever had when I was unemployed. I couldn’t imagine cancer with health insurance. You’d just die for $1000+ a month.
Personally yes I am ready. I’ve been preparing since the 90s.
Ofc I’m not prepared for everything and there’s quite a lot on precipice that I have no control over.
I’ve had moments of fear in my life BUT I do not dwell on them. I understand that most emotional responses can be chosen and know how to channel those emotions in a healthy way.
I use those moments and emotions as opportunities for change and action.
How do you exactly plan for both today and later on then if you don’t mind me asking? I thought I asked as someone that wishes that they can be overall more optimistic.
Taking care of my needs, working in the gardens, keeping my body and mind healthy. Creating/nurturing community with similar goals in mind. I train martial arts, walk my dog, work on professional well being, train in firearms and trauma/emergency medicine.
I read a lot of books, the majority of which are sci-fi which opens my mind to potential and keeps me future oriented. I also enjoy post-apocalyptic books and stories to better mentally prepare by considering my skillsets, what I’m lacking and how to either learn or compensate my skills through community and neighbors.
I don’t dwell on the bad, I consider how I can make it better through the small steps and impacts I can control.
at this point i’m beyond being afraid. i just plain dont care anymore, maybe we even deserve what is coming for letting it happen
I agree we should be throwing these assholes into woodchippers
I feel guilty having kids.
We need them to fight the Nazis.
I am not subjecting any other more living beings to the fight against the Nazis.
Humans are adaptable. We’re living shit lives now from the perspectives of some past generations. Younger generations will not know any differently. Don’t worry, we’ll be dead or have dementia in no time.
Well, I’m damaged beyond repair already (biologically speaking, not an opinion, I can live okish) so that means whatever is coming in case there’s a run or fight for something: I’ve already lost. Doesn’t feel good.
Because inclusion is mostly handled as luxury and when push comes to shove, we’re out.
And the gist of it is: it can happen to anyone, anytime. Suddenly you’re part of the group that is not very much adaptable.
Sorry about your biological damage. In that case, you’re probably living during a much better time than many generations past. Medical advancements, not having to live off the land and don’t often have to push or shove in a literal sense. Of course quality of life is based on perspective tho.
Climate change and the breakup of the US are my two large-scale fears.
Hell, I’m more worried about the US /not/ breaking up. The whole country just lies down and accepts the decline into authoritarianism.
Equally valid point. Ideally when Bonespurs has his final Big Mac Attack MAGA will more ore less self-destruct as all his wannabees backstab each other while clawing for their little piece of his reeking power vacuum.
The whole country just lies down and accepts the decline into authoritarianism.
Objectively untrue and demonstrated in LA, Portland, Minnesota, and Chicago. Even better, it was demonstrated in bipartisan fashion. People who voted red were part of the silent sabotage that took place in Chicago and Minnesota.
And then there’s all the attempts by people to delete Donald too.
The country is doing what it can and also trying not to descend into chaos and survive at the same time.
I fucking hope you’re right.
Well, if watching the various resistance movements do silent sabotage this year wasn’t heartening, the following facts might make you feel better.
Dems are polling 14% over Republicans right now, and if that holds until November, it’s likely that the November elections will be overwhelming and rig-proof. Further, nearly every Donald-backed candidate has lost their election against a Dem in 2025 and 2026, and most of those elections occurred in states and districts Donald won by double digits in 2024. The only good election news Donald has had has occurred in Republican primaries, but that doesn’t matter due to his having a lower approval rating than Jimmy Carter.
The upside is Donald thought he had a mandate to revive Nazi Germany and learned that people literally just wanted illegal immigrants deported and not to see 5th graders chased down and cuffed by masked thugs, and yes, those are two different things. People voted for immigration reform and affordability, and Donald has not only failed on both, he’s failed spectacularly on both issues while getting us into a war no one wanted that has made the cost of living worse.
The downside is we can look at the last 40 years of Democratic politics and conclude that nothing will fundamentally change and, more likely, the majority of Democrats will coopt the power Donald has seized and embrace the new fascism.
It is nice to see that centrists are finally coming around on socialism, though. All it took was them having to live in their cars.
Dems are polling 14% over Republicans right now, and if that holds until November, it’s likely that the November elections will be overwhelming and rig-proof.
Even better, there’s a downside to gerrymandering. It helps you in close elections, but if the election is really against you, you end up losing even more seats than you would have without the gerrymandering. You have to design all your districts assuming a certain vote percentage. So maybe you design it so your side has a bunch of districts that have a reliable 5 point advantage to your side. Well, if your side is running 10 points behind? Now that gerrymander is hurting you.
Oh yes.
The gerrymandering has 100% worked against them, which is why in the northern states the legislatures resisted it. It’s very, very clear that Donald fucked up big time by pissing off the Latino vote with his push for reviving the Gestapo.
The US breaking up would be awesome for the world given its by far the most destructive and immoral empire currently.
“The world” in this case only means rich and powerful men. All the same in the end.
Being afraid puts one in shackles. There’s no sense in being afraid of a situation you cannot change. So: no, I’m not afraid, but I’m pessimistic and I’m trying to adapt, and prepare myself with my kids for a possibly worse future and try to develop workaround strategies.
My answer has nothing to do with current events: what scares me the most about the future is the inevitable death of my parents. I am scared of never being able to talk to them ever again.
I hear this. Losing my father was harder than I expected. It kicked me in the ass enough to commit to calling my mom once a week. Thankful that I’ve done it and I’m sure I will be even more when her time comes. Sharing in case something similar makes sense for you. Cherish them while you have them.
Yes,
I don’t see empathy in people any more. It is mostly showoff and greed all around.
Sometimes I feel like joining/creating a village just like the Amish villages but without religion.
So, a commune. They exist but they’re often insufferable hippies. But I’m down for one where people respect and use science and technology, and use soap.
Sometimes I feel like joining/creating a village just like the Amish villages but without religion.
I have also been thinking about this lately. But it’s damn hard, although it’s worth it, I think.
I’m old and this may not happen in my lifetime, but I fear the collapse of the ocean current systems. The resulting global weather chaos would have a drastic effect on my younger family members, some of whom are already struggling to make their way in the world.
The way governments everywhere are backing off green commitments and seems only interested in waging war and/or protecting the greedy makes me despair, but every single day I meet people with warm hearts and open minds, so I do have some hope.
Not anymore.
I was a lot in 2020 and leading up to 2024 USA election. Somewhere along the way, I accepted that we’re doomed and started focusing more on the things in my day to day life that make me happy. I can’t stop the lunatic behavior of my government or the destructive behavior of the people with all the wealth. If they don’t light the world on fire right under our feet, I’ll die from the horrible shit in our food and groundwater.
Whatever… just live.
I can’t stop the lunatic behavior of my government or the destructive behavior of the people with all the wealth.
I mean, you literally can though. Look at Mario’s brother for example. How many lives were spared in the months following that event due to insurance companies refusing fewer claims out of fear?
Whilst ruining the rest of your own life in the process?
