# Would you be happy if you knew civilization was collapsing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982 "2009-08-19T19:06:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/1 "2009-08-19T19:06:09Z")
Or does this possibility really bother you? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/2 "2009-08-19T19:12:55Z")
Falls into the category of “Things I can’t control”. But I would stockpile ammo, food, water, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/3 "2009-08-19T19:33:02Z")
Somehow I look forward to it. It means I don’t have to think about my career. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/4 "2009-08-19T19:51:13Z")
Not only that, but there would likely be ample opportunities to earn one’s way into Valhala. Assuming they let atheists in. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/5 "2009-08-19T19:51:35Z")
Hasn’t gotten me down so far. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/6 "2009-08-19T19:54:18Z")
My fury shall burn with the heat of a thousand suns if things fall apart before the Super Bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/7 "2009-08-19T20:31:34Z")
I would be happy as a clam. Sure, I’d probably die of tuberculosis or get eaten by roving highwaymen but until then I could say “I told you so” to my heart’s content. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/8 "2009-08-19T20:31:52Z")
Well no. I love civilization and most of everything that goes with it! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/9 "2009-08-19T20:52:35Z")
I prefer to have civilization and stay a loner. That way I don’t have to do everything myself or die. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/10 "2009-08-19T22:10:48Z")
There is something very appealing to me about post-apocalyptic scenarios, and I think civilization is a little out-of-control now, so I do feel that I would welcome it in a way. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/11 "2009-08-19T22:51:45Z")
Think about it. Without civilization, you have no: Toilet paper Medicines Female sanitary supplies Internet Dunno about you, but I vote for keeping it. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/12 "2009-08-19T23:19:08Z")
Yeah, you’re right, the human race couldn’t survive without civilization. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/13 "2009-08-20T00:42:31Z")
Hell no. There would be untold misery stemming from that collapse. I suppose there is a visceral thrill at having a genuinely high-stakes survival situation though, much like the idea of going to war. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/14 "2009-08-20T01:37:20Z")
I also like the idea of humans reaping what they sow, so that if generations down the road (if there are any) hear about us, they’ll be taught a scary lesson about hubris, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/15 "2009-08-20T01:57:02Z")
I’ve yet to figure out how to make beer (and keep it cool) or whiskey, so I prefer that civilization-as-I-know-it stick around for at least forty more years. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/16 "2009-08-20T01:58:46Z")
You mean all civilization, including where I’m living now? Or my feelings watching from afar as American civilization collapses? Dude, you’re asking me to start a blog or what? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/17 "2009-08-20T02:11:57Z")
Um, NO, why the hell would I? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/18 "2009-08-20T02:16:37Z")
Are you kidding? No civilization = no air conditioning. Also, I am fond of many other aspects of civilized life. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/19 "2009-08-20T02:41:46Z")
I would be happy in the same way I might be happy if I saw two trains mere seconds from impact. Sure, it would be awful, but I’d be a little glad that I was there to see it. If it collapsed in a manner where all forms of commerce ended, but people weren’t murdering each other en masse, maybe I could be the John Steinbeck of that particular collapse, writing a few mundane novels about the times. Then, decades later when civilization builds itself back up again, perhaps based around the bartering of deep fried hog skin, students in 9th and 10th grade English classes will be forced to read my works and painstakingly fish out every metaphor or theme, only to slap them against the edge of the dock until its gooey insides have gone and all that remains is the beaten, useless hide of its original intent. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982/20 "2009-08-20T02:46:35Z")
I would do my part to ease the downfall by constantly thinking of the children. Well, _somebody_ has to do it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-happy-if-you-knew-civilization-was-collapsing/506982.md?page=2)