# The effects on civilization of 'The Snap' in Avengers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-on-civilization-of-the-snap-in-avengers/825801>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 8, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-on-civilization-of-the-snap-in-avengers/825801 "2018-12-08T15:40:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-on-civilization-of-the-snap-in-avengers/825801/81 "2019-01-25T19:03:01Z")

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> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Massive numbers of dead bacteria, etc, in their bodies will render much of the remaining half of humanity dead.
> 
> Those which survive get to fight the plagues caused by the gigatons of biomass just ready to become a breeding ground for the once-decimated, but now rapidly-recovering bacteria.

The people who got snapped turned to ash, no bodies left behind.

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**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-on-civilization-of-the-snap-in-avengers/825801/82 "2019-01-25T19:04:57Z")

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> [@DigitalC](#):
>
> I don’t see how it matters to be honest. So no one knows why it happened, and?

If you know a specific person/entity caused it and what the reason was (even if it is a stupid reason), I think your response to the event is different than if (ala _The Leftovers_) some percentage of all the people on your planet suddenly disappeared.

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**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-on-civilization-of-the-snap-in-avengers/825801/83 "2019-01-25T19:10:26Z")

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> [@DigitalC](#):
>
> The people who got snapped turned to ash, no bodies left behind.

It’s called “ash”, but it’s not - these people didn’t burn, they were disintegrated. And I don’t know if there was any explanation which said this biomatter is not digestible by bacteria - if there is, I’d like to see it. (Serious query, _not_ snark.)

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**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-on-civilization-of-the-snap-in-avengers/825801/84 "2019-01-25T20:32:26Z")

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> [@Folacin](#):
>
> If you know a specific person/entity caused it and what the reason was (even if it is a stupid reason), I think your response to the event is different than if (ala _The Leftovers_) some percentage of all the people on your planet suddenly disappeared.

Exactly. There are a few responses from societies that never heard of Thanos (or Infinity Stones)

A scientifically advanced society would investigate. They might figure out what happened.

A superstitious culture probably would turn inward and embrace religion.

A super advanced civilization might both figure out what happened and then find a way to do something about it. So some alien from 100 million light years away might undo what Thanos has done. Or get revenge by killing everyone in this galaxy.

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