Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Think for Yourself, Schmuck! => Horrorology => Topic started by: Richter on December 17, 2010, 04:20:43 PM

Title: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Richter on December 17, 2010, 04:20:43 PM
Since we're all starting to feel like Roman citizens watchign the Ceasars get weirder, more abusive and impotent, I thought I'd throw out a quick note on what can be expected.

When you're in high school, anarchy seems like an idea of a good time.  No rules, no repurcussions, just fly out, bang down a liquor store, get loaded, and go apeshit.  Well, like Alan Moore put it, that is only the "Land of Take What You Want.", not an ideal or beneficial system for any majority of humans.  Any huge melee is NOT your invitaiton to become a drunken master urban combat god, it's a culling.  Large ground engagements opperate via atrition.  Attrition means your cracked head on the ground pitching a seizure while the brain fluid leaks out, for the gain of scratching a riot cop's face shield is PROGRESS.

Better armed and armored police or military WILL gas, stun, spray, hose, beat, curb stomp, and otherwise roll you.  There's not going to be enough ambulances or police cars, so expect sloppy roadside exectutions.  Ammo is a resource, so don't expect it to be pleasant.  Even if you do beat down the local agents of "The Man" what then?  Watch the ending of "Black Hawk Down", while imagining that the people stripping, beating, disfiguring and defiling the soldiers are all white college kids, office workers, or unemployment recipients and you're playign along. 
"Civilized."

Want to do some solo apeshit?  Bad idea.  Sticking with the mob might be safest, and very few folks know how to PROPERLY conduct running destructive mayhem.  Everyone else will likely burn adrenaline for 2 blocks, then double over gasping for breath and blowing chunks.  (drinking and running is a BAD idea.)  Now you're a target, and you don't want to know who is huntign you, or for what.

The city will sleep soundly, one way or another.  Quiet like New Year's Day will greet the next morning.  No confetti, plastic trinkets, or food wrappers to pick up though.  Just trash, smouldering wreckage broken bodies, and a few moaners hurt jsut bad enough to betaking the long way out.  (incidentally, blow off enough adrenaline in one day and you'll have a hangover from the gods the next.)

A city stands on infrastructure.  Without utilities and regular food deliver it becomes a desert of concrete and asphalt FAST.  Guess what's about to get cut off to your urban warfare playground.  How many days supply per person of food and water do you think are in one at any given time?  To top it all off, some silly fucker drank all the beer.  Fun's over. Now you're wishing you knew what the survivalist nuts knew, and trying to figure out what's left to eat.  Meow?
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:24:24 PM
This.

Also, appendicitis is a death sentence.  Ho ho!  How's that?  Even if you ARE the biggest, baddest monkey in your disaster area, if your appendix goes South, you have about 3 days of agony in which to reflect upon your life.

Oh, yeah, and then winter comes.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Adios on December 17, 2010, 04:26:28 PM
I do believe I will try to avoid being in the crowd on that day.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:31:05 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on December 17, 2010, 04:26:28 PM
I do believe I will try to avoid being in the crowd on that day.

I'm thinking basements.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Adios on December 17, 2010, 04:32:35 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:31:05 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on December 17, 2010, 04:26:28 PM
I do believe I will try to avoid being in the crowd on that day.

I'm thinking basements.

And sandbags.  :)
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Richter on December 17, 2010, 04:36:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:31:05 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on December 17, 2010, 04:26:28 PM
I do believe I will try to avoid being in the crowd on that day.

I'm thinking basements.

And sandbags.  :)
[/quote]


Oh look, a few of those clever kids saw "Fight Club", and have set the building on fire with homemade napalm...

Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Adios on December 17, 2010, 04:37:40 PM
Always have an exit strategy.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Richter on December 17, 2010, 04:54:50 PM
THIS, THIS, and THIS.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 07:24:40 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:24:24 PM
This.

Also, appendicitis is a death sentence.  Ho ho!  How's that?  Even if you ARE the biggest, baddest monkey in your disaster area, if your appendix goes South, you have about 3 days of agony in which to reflect upon your life.

I ain't had an appendix since I was ten! HAW!
:retard:

So it'll be just the tribal foragers and pastoralists of the world who remain, huh? Considering how dependent citydwellers are on the infrastructure/utilities.
Or will the citydwellers eventually attack them too? The ones that can be found, I mean.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 07:35:17 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 07:24:40 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:24:24 PM
This.

Also, appendicitis is a death sentence.  Ho ho!  How's that?  Even if you ARE the biggest, baddest monkey in your disaster area, if your appendix goes South, you have about 3 days of agony in which to reflect upon your life.

I ain't had an appendix since I was ten! HAW!
:retard:

So it'll be just the tribal foragers and pastoralists of the world who remain, huh? Considering how dependent citydwellers are on the infrastructure/utilities.
Or will the citydwellers eventually attack them too? The ones that can be found, I mean.

Naw.  Plenty of people survived the last two dark ages.

On the other hand, they had low tech skills we have forgotten, and a much smaller population base.

And ask yourself this, Epi...If you were in a city and the food ran out, what would YOU do?  Starve to death quietly?

TGRR,
Thinks the collapse will be a bad time to live around Windsor, Ontario, for example.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 08:00:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 07:35:17 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 07:24:40 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:24:24 PM
This.

Also, appendicitis is a death sentence.  Ho ho!  How's that?  Even if you ARE the biggest, baddest monkey in your disaster area, if your appendix goes South, you have about 3 days of agony in which to reflect upon your life.

I ain't had an appendix since I was ten! HAW!
:retard:

So it'll be just the tribal foragers and pastoralists of the world who remain, huh? Considering how dependent citydwellers are on the infrastructure/utilities.
Or will the citydwellers eventually attack them too? The ones that can be found, I mean.

Naw.  Plenty of people survived the last two dark ages.

On the other hand, they had low tech skills we have forgotten, and a much smaller population base.

And ask yourself this, Epi...If you were in a city and the food ran out, what would YOU do?  Starve to death quietly?

TGRR,
Thinks the collapse will be a bad time to live around Windsor, Ontario, for example.

Makes sense.
I asked in another thread but I dunno if you saw it: Would this event you're predicting be the fall of our civilization, in the historical sense? Or a low period after which it'll rebound?
I still can't get rid of a certain excitement about the idea. Chronic suburban boredom, I guess.  :p I have no delusions about surviving, though.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on December 17, 2010, 08:15:33 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 08:00:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 07:35:17 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 07:24:40 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:24:24 PM
This.

Also, appendicitis is a death sentence.  Ho ho!  How's that?  Even if you ARE the biggest, baddest monkey in your disaster area, if your appendix goes South, you have about 3 days of agony in which to reflect upon your life.

I ain't had an appendix since I was ten! HAW!
:retard:

So it'll be just the tribal foragers and pastoralists of the world who remain, huh? Considering how dependent citydwellers are on the infrastructure/utilities.
Or will the citydwellers eventually attack them too? The ones that can be found, I mean.

Naw.  Plenty of people survived the last two dark ages.

On the other hand, they had low tech skills we have forgotten, and a much smaller population base.

And ask yourself this, Epi...If you were in a city and the food ran out, what would YOU do?  Starve to death quietly?

TGRR,
Thinks the collapse will be a bad time to live around Windsor, Ontario, for example.

Makes sense.
I asked in another thread but I dunno if you saw it: Would this event you're predicting be the fall of our civilization, in the historical sense? Or a low period after which it'll rebound?
I still can't get rid of a certain excitement about the idea. Chronic suburban boredom, I guess.  :p I have no delusions about surviving, though.

I would guess that in a collapse there would be a rebound, but not back to the point where it was before. I think I heard that some people projected that it would be something like the late 21st century looks like the 19th.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 08:21:51 PM
Quote from: Doktor Blight on December 17, 2010, 08:15:33 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 08:00:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 07:35:17 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 07:24:40 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 04:24:24 PM
This.

Also, appendicitis is a death sentence.  Ho ho!  How's that?  Even if you ARE the biggest, baddest monkey in your disaster area, if your appendix goes South, you have about 3 days of agony in which to reflect upon your life.

I ain't had an appendix since I was ten! HAW!
:retard:

So it'll be just the tribal foragers and pastoralists of the world who remain, huh? Considering how dependent citydwellers are on the infrastructure/utilities.
Or will the citydwellers eventually attack them too? The ones that can be found, I mean.

Naw.  Plenty of people survived the last two dark ages.

On the other hand, they had low tech skills we have forgotten, and a much smaller population base.

And ask yourself this, Epi...If you were in a city and the food ran out, what would YOU do?  Starve to death quietly?

TGRR,
Thinks the collapse will be a bad time to live around Windsor, Ontario, for example.

Makes sense.
I asked in another thread but I dunno if you saw it: Would this event you're predicting be the fall of our civilization, in the historical sense? Or a low period after which it'll rebound?
I still can't get rid of a certain excitement about the idea. Chronic suburban boredom, I guess.  :p I have no delusions about surviving, though.

I would guess that in a collapse there would be a rebound, but not back to the point where it was before. I think I heard that some people projected that it would be something like the late 21st century looks like the 19th.

I'm in ECH's camp, with a shorter timeline.  A fall, stabilization at a new low, then another fall, etc.  Eventually an all-out collapse, fall-of-Rome style.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 08:29:00 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.

Well, that's it, basically.  I'm not letting myself worry about it.  If a crate of bullets and a second chance vest aren't enough, then to hell with it.  I'm going to enjoy civilization while I have it.

If more people thought like me, we wouldn't be in this mess, I think.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:31:00 PM
Oh, and I'm not predicting rioting in the streets, or looting, personally. I'm predicting something that looks more like a rapid slide into the 3rd world. Things will continue functioning, and the infrastructure won't entirely shut down... it will just revert to a rudimentary and primitive state. There will be a mass exodus from the cities as people seek farmland to homestead on, and organized crime will skyrocket in the cities. Lots and lots of people will die, but mostly from preventable diseases and infections. The life expectancy will shorten dramatically as extremes of temperature and lack of medical care do in the weakest elderly. Infant and childhood mortality will increase, and so will the birth rate as contraceptives become unavailable.

Now is a really good time to learn some indispensable skills. Doctors and midwives will be pretty safe.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on December 17, 2010, 08:32:07 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.

I'd likely end up dead. I don't have a plan, won't eat fish (starvation may change that though) and while I consider myself to be fairly lucky, that luck's gotta run out at some point.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:33:05 PM
Quote from: Doktor Blight on December 17, 2010, 08:32:07 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.

I'd likely end up dead. I don't have a plan, won't eat fish (starvation may change that though) and while I consider myself to be fairly lucky, that luck's gotta run out at some point.

Oh, starvation will change a LOT of things. :lulz: There's no such thing as a picky eater in a famine.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 09:07:43 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:33:05 PM
Quote from: Doktor Blight on December 17, 2010, 08:32:07 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.

I'd likely end up dead. I don't have a plan, won't eat fish (starvation may change that though) and while I consider myself to be fairly lucky, that luck's gotta run out at some point.

Oh, starvation will change a LOT of things. :lulz: There's no such thing as a picky eater in a famine.

I'm going to start cannabalism NOW, to beat the rush!  :banana:
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: East Coast Hustle on December 17, 2010, 09:12:49 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.

My exit strategy is pretty solid.

LOOK AT ME! I'M ON A BOAT!

With a reverse-osmosis freshwater maker, a range of +/- 12000 miles, a crane, a winch, two inflatable boats (one of which is REALLY fast and perfect for raiding), and a full metalshop for fabricating repair parts.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 09:15:27 PM
Quote from: East Coast Hipster on December 17, 2010, 09:12:49 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.

My exit strategy is pretty solid.

LOOK AT ME! I'M ON A BOAT!

With a reverse-osmosis freshwater maker, a range of +/- 12000 miles, a crane, a winch, two inflatable boats (one of which is REALLY fast and perfect for raiding), and a full metalshop for fabricating repair parts.

Piracy/banditry is always a good fallback position.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Remington on December 17, 2010, 09:19:27 PM
The coast of BC is basically made up of 12.5 billion tiny islands. I'm thinking one of those could be a good medium-term solution.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 10:00:34 PM
What's going to happen with religion?
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on December 17, 2010, 10:04:00 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 10:00:34 PM
What's going to happen with religion?

Same thing that always happens with religion when times get hard. 

It turns poisonous.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on December 17, 2010, 10:09:14 PM
Quote from: Epimetheus on December 17, 2010, 10:00:34 PM
What's going to happen with religion?

Probably something like angry Leviticus God is what done it, with local laws reflecting the idea.
Title: Re: There is going to be Ugly
Post by: Adios on December 18, 2010, 02:58:17 PM
Quote from: Nigel on December 17, 2010, 08:23:36 PM
The thing nobody wants to think about is that you can't be prepared enough. Everyone likes to imagine that their contingency plan, their exit strategy, will protect them, but really all you can do is prepare as well as you can (it's not enough) and hope you're one of the lucky ones.

My exit strategy only give me the chance, filling the order is up to me. I do think it gives me a much better chance than if I were just sitting here watching Idol. My tools will play to my particular skill set giving me an edge. My insanity when it comes to protecting my family will come in handy as well.