End of the World fever (The coming Pockyclypse)

[bouncingbrick]

First, a shameless plug (http://jasonmoviewatching.blogspot.com/2012/02/topic-end-of-world.html)!

My kids and I watched the first episode of the Discovery channel show Doomsday Preppers and, outrageous comedy value aside, the show really frightened me. Not because I think any of those dingbats are correct, but that these people are preparing for something that most likely will never happen and are planning on how they will defend themselves in a post-apocalyptic world. As in planning on killing other people.

First off, this bothers me because they never stop to think about the fact that they are planning to kill other people who are just trying to survive like they are. They have removed themselves from all compassion and look at them as "the enemy". These are people like me and you that they are planning to kill! And that doesn't bother them!

But, here's my real point to the thread and the question I really want to have answered:

Would we ever really reach a Mad Max like post-apocalyptic-like situation? Have we ever? To my knowledge, in all of recorded history, including the black plague, we never descended to the point of pure lawlessness. It benefits far too many people to remain civilized and orderly for that to ever completely disappear.

Let's pretend that a meteor hits the planet and 90% of humanity is wiped out. Why would the remaining 10% descend into complete lawless anarchy? Why would they not simply slow down, take a deep breath, and rebuild? Isn't this what happens after every catastrophe? Why are these nutters preparing for something that has never happened and most likely never will?

[wintertriangles]

To my knowledge humans coexisted with the last ice age, which is somewhat of a species killer, but you also have to think that humans have not been around very long and we can't really say what happened in the distant past with us because we're always rewriting our history.

The remaining 10% rebuilding also depends on who these people are. Two possibilities: all the politicians who hid themselves underground, and if that's the case humanity may as well be extinct, but the other possibility would be average people mixed with indigenous people, and that has more probability of survival, though MANY people do not know how to live without a car or a dishwasher so I'm free to be skeptical there as well.

LEARN HOW TO PLANT GUYS

[lundy1026]

Brick this is a great topic to bring up. I though the same thing. There is also the show "the colony" that also basically has people against people. It is completely different from doomsday preppers as that show is about people preparing for the end of the world and the colony is a bunch of people put in an "end of the world scenario" but they are similar in the one sense of people being "lawless" and "against" each other. To give a brief wrap up of the start of that show, the group of people had a second group of people knock on the doors needing a place to stay. Instead of being curious and helpful, they came to the door with weapons, went through their personal bags, and then finally allowed them to stay but there was like "two sides" of the colony then. The original group and then the new one that joined them.

What I would do in the case of surviving an apocolptic event (and I believe most of humanity would agree) is strive to FIND survivors. I believe humans would work together to recreate a community. We would forget about war and cruelty and actually WORK together in peace and harmony. It would be a fresh air of breath and a restart to mankind in a way. I think a lot of my people would realize the importance of team work to rebuild a community. The way the doomsday preppers were thinking of being prepared to fight off other families who would try to rob them really worries me about some people. I mean seriously, if the survivors were "every man for themselves" humans would eventually go extinct because obviously there would be no repopulating if nobody strived to bring mankind back together. Do you know what I mean? So to answer your question: I'm worried about those people as well because in my opinion (and what I would do) humans would work together and get along to rebuild a community and save mankind.

[The Rodent]

Wintertriangles hit the nail on the head there... most people can't live without a dishwasher or car or a mobile phone.

If I was around at the end of the world? I'd be armed to the teeth for a start, but defensively. I wouldn't have an 'every man for himself' attitude, I'd be armed up to defend myself against those that were. I'd readily take someone along for the ride.
The other thing is that I know how to survive in harsh climates with very little material goods. I also know hunting and trapping, farming and even clothes making, all taught to me by my lovely mother. So, the first place I'd head to would be the Highlands of Scotland, I know the climate and the land too.
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who doesn't need an iPod or a MacDonald's to survive.

[Gabrielle947]

To my knowledge, in all of recorded history, including the black plague, we never descended to the point of pure lawlessness.
have you heard about World War II?Gulag?Concentration Camps?Hitler?USSR?
We would forget about war and cruelty and actually WORK together in peace and harmony.
there is no way this'll happen.There's always someone who will want more power or influence on the others.

About the topic..Well if you look back in history,there is always some time when democracy is in peak,then there's times when dictatorship's take over and eventually wars start.Then again democracy,again monarchy,dictatorships,wars and so on.Like a circle(not sure if I told correctly what I meant).We lived too long in peace,so I'm not surprised that people want blood again. :/
Anyway,I think that the end of the world won't come soon,there were supposed to be like 4 endings in 2000(new millenium and so on) and we are still alive. :)

[bouncingbrick]

have you heard about World War II?Gulag?Concentration Camps?Hitler?USSR?

And absolutely none of those things is even close to what I'm talking about. Have you not seen Mad Max? Harsh dictators do not equal lawlessness.

there is no way this'll happen.There's always someone who will want more power or influence on the others.

I'm not sure about this. I'm with lundy on this. I think if we came that close to extinction there'd be a huge push for survival and we'd pull together...for a while anyway. ;)

[lundy1026]

Rodent with all your skills I'll make sure to be in a survival group with you! Maybe I'll start working on my survival skills this summer ;). My skills won't keep me alive, besides my skill of having optimism in the worst situations. Well maybe I wouldn't do too bad. I've eaten meal-worm and cacadas (both cooked of course) so I could eat bugs to survive and I have an emergency list (thanks to the book: how to survive a zombie apocalypse). Maybe I'd be an asset to the survival group after all. Besides I am kind of obsessed with end of the world type genera which falls in the category of my love: horror. :)

The only thing I wouldn't do is fight other humans because even though you say there will be someone stiving for power and such, I think the majority will work together in harmony for survival

[lundy1026]

Oh and by the way, I don't think there would ever be a zombie apocalypse. I read that book for entertainment since zombies are AWESOME. If there is an apocolyse ever, I think it would be due to space activity which is out if our control. Or polar shifts causing mass weather effects that would wipe out the majority. Regardless, humans will find a way to continue our species.

[Gabrielle947]

And absolutely none of those things is even close to what I'm talking about. Have you not seen Mad Max? Harsh dictators do not equal lawlessness.
well yes,haven't seen the movie,but still - when Stalin was in charge people were killed randomly.Thousands of people were taken to Gulag,others killed on the spot,people were starving (Holomodor in Ukraine for example),didn't had jobs,countries which were occupied by USSR were sovietized(all who were opposed were killed),Christians were killed,rebels were killed(for example you tell your neighbor that you don't like the government and you may not wake up the next day),even Russians were killed by Stalin.Although in papers and documents Soviet Union was shown as paradise on Earth. ;) That looks lawless for me.Well maybe it's not like in the movie,but it doesn't seem that there were laws all the time in history.
I think if we came that close to extinction there'd be a huge push for survival and we'd pull together...for a while anyway.
for a while,yes,it is possible.But I think that humans just can't live in peace.

The only thing I wouldn't do is fight other humans because even though you say there will be someone stiving for power and such, I think the majority will work together in harmony for survival
if you were really hungry,you would do anything for survival.Instincts are more powerful than values and humanity. :/

[lundy1026]

Instinct is powerful but seriously, if an event so trajic as an apocalypse which nearly drove our species extinction... We are intelligent beings, we would put our value of humanity before our instincts. Of course it's just my opinion but I feel so strongly about it. All the survivals would be heartbroken and we'd only have each other as survivals to rely on. Plus we are omnivores. We can eat both plant and animal and with us working together, we could put our skills to use and make farms and shelters.

What you said about instinct taking over, if there had been the apocalypse a thousand years ago then I think that would be the case. But with our knowledge and intelligence of today's age, I think we'd easily hold our values over our instinct to keeps mankind alive.

[The Rodent]

Lundy's got about right, natural disaster is about the only threat to us on a global scale.
We're still in an ice age right now. Our current ice caps are the left-over from this ice age and they're still melting away, like they have been for the past thousands of years. When they're completely gone, give it a few years and another ice age will strike. It's the Earth's weather spell.
The earth goes through it's own 'weather spells'. Ice age-warms up-ice age-warms up and so on. Occassionally a comet hits and has it's own say.

Humans have been around for this ice age and survived and has survived other natural disasters, from volcanos to meteor strikes, if anything happens again, or should I say, when something happens again, we'll be ok.
There'll be confrontations no doubt about that, like with the early tribes of man, but we'll persevere again no problem.

[Gabrielle947]

What you said about instinct taking over, if there had been the apocalypse a thousand years ago then I think that would be the case. But with our knowledge and intelligence of today's age, I think we'd easily hold our values over our instinct to keeps mankind alive.

I don't agree that instinct is the thing that we can control.We can if we have other choice,but when there's no other way to survive,I think people will do whatever it takes to keep themselves alive.Yes,we may build farms and grow crops,but not all people will have them (people population would grow and some would become richer,some poorer).Cannibalism is of course an awful and inhumane thing.But I don't believe that a person will remain starving when he knows that he can eat,even if that food is another human being.

Anyway,I can't prove my opinion and neither can you,since we haven't faced the end of the world and a struggle to survive,so this argument is quite stupid. :D

[honeykid]

I'm still baffled as to why anyone would want to survive this. Let alone continue afterwards.

[Nausicaä]

I'm very worried about these people who can't live without a dishwasher - they do know there is such a thing as a sponge, and this liquid stuff called water and liquid soap that I'm sure they will be able to find.

:yup:

[earlsmoviepicks]

Interesting how the lingo changed from "survivalists" to "preppers". Makes it sound a just a little less nutty. I do agree everyone should have food and water for a couple weeks at least....what's the shelf life of White Castle?

[Tyler1]

There is a possibility of total lawlessness but i dont believe theres a high chance of people going around killing and looting. So long as the survivors can gain access to food and water, I believe they will naturally work together to rebuild society. Of course, grief will first set in because of the loss of loved ones, etc. But that will motivate them to rebuild what has been lost. It also would depend on how well people cope with grief.

It also depends on which society we are talking about. There was widespread looting in Haiti after the earthquake, while we saw courage and altruism displayed by the victims of Japanese tsunami aftermath.

Then comes the aftermath of the inital meteor collision. There will be diseases and pestilences due to all the dead bodies lying everywhere. Since the meteor would have also wiped out many species of animals and plants, the food chain would also be broken. Animals and humans would definitely starve in the long run.

[lundy1026]

Speaking of the end of the world... Two yahoo articals popped up last night, one saying a solar flare (biggest in 5 years) will hit us directly tonight (Thursday) which has already made airports cancel flights for the evening, ect. Also it stated it may mess up some power grids or something. Then the other was of asteroid 2012 DA14 and about how its just going to miss us on Feb 15, 2013. That is will be closer to earth when it passes than our man-made satalites in orbit. With all this space activity going on, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a "Doomsday" comming soon. Maybe not this year, but in a few years to come. I think it will be an asteroid that causes mass distruction but like many mentioned, humans have survived these things in the past and can survive it in the future. I heard the nasa astroid watch is only founded one mil a year and they can only really hardcore study 3% of the sky annually. SO who knows whats lurking around the dark corners of space.

To what you said, honeykid, I would want to survive. Of course I would be depressed and everything since most likely I would lose many of my loved ones, but I would want to be a part of the rebuilding of man-kind. I feel like I would bring hopefullness to those who made it and help make the future-post-apocalyspe a better place. :)

[The Rodent]

I heard the nasa astroid watch is only founded one mil a year and they can only really hardcore study 3% of the sky annually.

I thought you were going to follow this up with: "Begging your pardon Sir but it's a big ass sky."

[lundy1026]

I thought you were going to follow this up with: "Begging your pardon Sir but it's a big ass sky."

I thought it would be too cliche ;)

[cinemaafficionado]

There is a possibility of total lawlessness but i dont believe theres a high chance of people going around killing and looting. So long as the survivors can gain access to food and water, I believe they will naturally work together to rebuild society. Of course, grief will first set in because of the loss of loved ones, etc. But that will motivate them to rebuild what has been lost. It also would depend on how well people cope with grief.

It also depends on which society we are talking about. There was widespread looting in Haiti after the earthquake, while we saw courage and altruism displayed by the victims of Japanese tsunami aftermath.

Then comes the aftermath of the inital meteor collision. There will be diseases and pestilences due to all the dead bodies lying everywhere. Since the meteor would have also wiped out many species of animals and plants, the food chain would also be broken. Animals and humans would definitely starve in the long run.

You made a good point about how the Japanese handled their calamity.
But they are the exception to the rule, as they are a highly disciplined society.
You yourself mentioned Haiti and all you have to do is look at smaller calamities in the US such as the Watts riots and Hurricane Katrina, even the Rodney King incident, to realize that once police loses contol there will be looting and killing.
As far as starving, humans are the most intelligent of the species and will find a way to survive, even if it means eating their dogs and cats and when no other food sources exist, then the humans will eat themselves to survive.

[bouncingbrick]

You made a good point about how the Japanese handled their calamity.
But they are the exception to the rule, as they are a highly disciplined society.
You yourself mentioned Haiti and all you have to do is look at smaller calamities in the US such as the Watts riots and Hurricane Katrina, even the Rodney King incident, to realize that once police loses contol there will be looting and killing.


But wouldn't there come a point where most people would realize that that sort of behavior can't go on forever. The sane, rational thinkers would rally to start a new peace keeping force, IMO. Only the very direst of apocalyptic events would put us in a permanent state of lawlessness. If the world can still support us, then I would think that a desire for order would win out. For example, if disease is what does us in, then those immune survivors would want to get back to a civilized state. I think only extreme destruction would lead to a permanent state of chaos.

[Powdered Water]

I have no end of the world fever. In all honesty though, I think it couldn't come soon enough. The sooner this failed human experiment is wiped clean off this planet the better.

You people talk about re-building. re-build what? Do you all really want to do this all over again?

[lundy1026]

I have no end of the world fever. In all honesty though, I think it couldn't come soon enough. The sooner this failed human experiment is wiped clean off this planet the better.

You people talk about re-building. re-build what? Do you all really want to do this all over again?

Not all humans are fails. Its the whole "environment vs. nature" ordeal. Yes, right now the "environment" pretty much worldwide is power & money hungry but none of that would matter anymore. When we are born-babies in general-we love unconditionally. As we grow older, we accept the ways of our comunity. I think given the chance to 're-build' will altimatly bring our species to a new enlightenment & we wouldnt make the mistakes of the past

[cinemaafficionado]

What makes you think that new born babies love unconditionaly?
Wouldn't that love depend on who their parents were and how they were treated?

[will.15]

You guys have seen too many movies.

[honeykid]

+rep for that post, will. While I agree, considering the site, it made me laugh.

[lundy1026]

you guys have seen too many movies.
lmao. ;)

[bouncingbrick]

What makes you think that new born babies love unconditionaly?
Wouldn't that love depend on who their parents were and how they were treated?

Have you never been around babies?

[will.15]

Do babies love unconditionally?
Do they actually understand the concept?

[wintertriangles]

Babies are sponges, not lovers, geez

[earlsmoviepicks]

Some babies don't love unconditionally...
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/swiggish/baby.jpg

[bouncingbrick]

Do babies love unconditionally?
Do they actually understand the concept?

Babies form an emotional attachment with any person or persons that they spend a significant amount of time with. They do this without bias or prejudice. It is only as we get older that we build up the walls around ourselves to block emotional connections. Things like Facebook, cell phones, and internet forums that allow us to be "connected" without actually having to be connected.

So, no, they don't "love unconditionally", but every one of you cynical a-holes knew what lundy meant about being like a baby. To learn to love and accept those around you without any prejudice.

[Deadite]

I watched 2012: Zombie Apocalypse yesterday and I am so ready for the world to end now.

[lundy1026]

Thanks Brick for understanding what I meant and backing me up.

I haven't seen 2012 Zombie Apocalyse. Is it on Netflix or Hulu? Im surprised I haven't seen it yet lol.

[will.15]

Babies form an emotional attachment with any person or persons that they spend a significant amount of time with. They do this without bias or prejudice. It is only as we get older that we build up the walls around ourselves to block emotional connections. Things like Facebook, cell phones, and internet forums that allow us to be "connected" without actually having to be connected.

So, no, they don't "love unconditionally", but every one of you cynical a-holes knew what lundy meant about being like a baby. To learn to love and accept those around you without any prejudice.
So babies are like dogs?

[Deadite]

Thanks Brick for understanding what I meant and backing me up.

I haven't seen 2012 Zombie Apocalyse. Is it on Netflix or Hulu? Im surprised I haven't seen it yet lol.

NF instant.

[bouncingbrick]

So babies are like dogs?

Yes, only we are so stupid that we teach them how to hate instead of how to love.

[lundy1026]

So babies are like dogs?

I am a part time nanny and I babysit for a handful of clients, many of which have infants and yes, they kind of are like dogs in a way. There is a big difference between the babies under the age of 18 months and the ones that are older. The babies are always smiling and happy (unless of course they need to nap or would like to be fed). Otherwise the babies are always friendly, want to give hugs and kisses all the time even though I am not their family I can feel that they have nothing to dislike me for at all. But then the older children ages 3-7 are a lot harder because they are used to the community and our societys way of life. Some kids are well behaved and seem to unconditionally care for me still while others think: your not my mom do I don't have to listen to you.

If a post apocolyse community forms, I think they would bring up the new generations to " love thy neighbor". Obviously we would not want to repeat mistakes if war and all that jazz. We have the power to create peace on earth but it seems complete peace on earth will not happen unless there was a huge disaster that brings us together as a species.

[Tripod]

I think it's the end of the world as we know it with natural disasters ocurring and killing thousands. Also there's war in third-world countries with people living in apocalyptic conditions, terrorist attacks, and oil spills. Before the scientific conclusions come in, I think there's just as much a political reason.

[wintertriangles]

I think it's the end of the world as we know it with natural disasters ocurring and killing thousands. Also there's war in third-world countries with people living in apocalyptic conditions, terrorist attacks, and oil spills.Because this is all so new to us

[will.15]

Bruce Willis will save us.

[Tripod]

Steve Carell dressed as MacGruber will save us.
http://starcasm.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Michael_Scott_MacGruber.jpg?ggnoads

[honeykid]

I think it's the end of the world as we know it with natural disasters ocurring and killing thousands. Also there's war in third-world countries with people living in apocalyptic conditions, terrorist attacks, and oil spills. Before the scientific conclusions come in, I think there's just as much a political reason.
There are always wars going on. While it depends on your definition of war, at any one time in the world, I think there's usually 20-30 wars happening. Of course, if you take other insurgencies, skirmishes, drug wars, etc, it's a lot more than that.

[Nausicaä]

I think it's the end of the world as we know it with natural disasters ocurring and killing thousands. Also there's war in third-world countries with people living in apocalyptic conditions, terrorist attacks, and oil spills. Before the scientific conclusions come in, I think there's just as much a political reason.
Wars, 'apocalyptic conditions', natural disasters killing a lot of people and so on have been going on 'forever' - there is a case that the world today is less violent than the past and I believe that, some excellent books out on the subject. Tell you what, I'd rather be living now than in some eras, yikes. And don't forget, 'more things seem to be happening/coming to the end of the world' because the media reports everything now, so see more of what is happening in the world and they send people into a panic when there is no reason to panic.

[bouncingbrick]

Wars, 'apocalyptic conditions', natural disasters killing a lot of people and so on have been going on 'forever' - there is a case that the world today is less violent than the past and I believe that, some excellent books out on the subject. Tell you what, I'd rather be living now than in some eras, yikes. And don't forget, 'more things seem to be happening/coming to the end of the world' because the media reports everything now, so see more of what is happening in the world and they send people into a panic when there is no reason to panic.

Yeah, this pretty much sums it up. I'm with you in that I'd rather be alive now than any other time in history. It's nice to know that at almost 34 I've still got lots of years ahead of me instead of being past middle age! Plus, IMO, it's nice that communication and transportation have made the world a smaller place. Maybe, one day far in the future, that will actually work out in our benefit. Maybe we can stop being d-bags to one another...:rolleyes:

[Sexy Celebrity]

My kids and I watched the first episode of the Discovery channel show Doomsday Preppers and, outrageous comedy value aside, the show really frightened me. Not because I think any of those dingbats are correct, but that these people are preparing for something that most likely will never happen and are planning on how they will defend themselves in a post-apocalyptic world. As in planning on killing other people.

First off, this bothers me because they never stop to think about the fact that they are planning to kill other people who are just trying to survive like they are. They have removed themselves from all compassion and look at them as "the enemy". These are people like me and you that they are planning to kill! And that doesn't bother them!

Does not surprise me at all. These are most likely "Git R Done", "Alpha Brain" types. Addicted to aggression. Fulfilled by fighting.

It's lunacy to prepare so much for this ridiculous 2012 thing and if they're talking about killing people to defend themselves a lot... it points to delusions and possibly mental derangement. These people would probably fantasize about killing people even if there wasn't a 2012 story in their life. Not that these people are necessarily killers waiting to happen, though I'm sure some of them are. But I think they probably just need the hunt-and-kill drama. It's escapism that connects with deep, internal complexes and hormonal drives.

The idea that we might need to kill others to defend ourselves in such a society is not wrong, but these people are trapped in a wacky belief system. I'm sure there's stuff about these people that makes them follow these stories and they do need help in forgetting about it.

Would we ever really reach a Mad Max like post-apocalyptic-like situation?

Let's pretend that a meteor hits the planet and 90% of humanity is wiped out. Why would the remaining 10% descend into complete lawless anarchy? Why would they not simply slow down, take a deep breath, and rebuild?

Well, who knows what the situation would be like, but to me, it's very possible that the law of the land could drastically change to something like the Mad Max universe. I mean, there might still be laws, but they might be new laws, ruled by the new apes who are the strongest and most powerful. Such a society might - and probably would appear - quite anarchic compared to what we have now. Obviously, these people you see on these TV shows who want to kill everybody in an apocalypse -- those would probably be the kind of people who actually are ruling the planet after such an event. Maybe that's the frightening truth about the whole thing. I don't know about them all being in control -- there's gotta be a lot of brainy types among them, too -- but I'm sure a special few of these psychos would be there.

As for me, I'd be like, "Rebuild? Moi?" Heh. I'd be sewing up an Aunty Entity costume and looking for Mad Max.

Why are these nutters preparing for something that has never happened and most likely never will?

They need it in their life. There's a strong belief that got out of control that the world is gonna end this year. It's spiritual, it transcends the mortal body, which is something that a lot of people want -- people don't wanna annihilation. It's "a cause."

In some cases, it might even be a good thing for them, psychologically. Maybe they need the structure and the time to learn management skills.

[Used Future]

Would we ever really reach a Mad Max like post-apocalyptic-like situation?

I believe this statement to be a misconception (Mad Max 3 bollocks excluded). Mad Max 2 describes a gradual decline into anarchy due to fuel shortage, i.e. not an apocalypse. The general 80's movie depiction of a post nuclear dystopia is of course nonsense. Watching Threads or The Day After for the science soon dispels that myth. I'm sure you're aware of this and have seen at least one of those films.

As for the situation we see in Mad Max (the original); we're already there. That flick is really just the crime in contemporary society transposed to a gothic futurist nightmare/revenge flick. There hasn't been any apocalypse; just lawlessness in the boondocks.

Mad Max 2 (or The Road Warrior) is a little more interesting in the sense that it's an eco-actioner. The idea of fuel/energy sources becoming scarce is very believable and the question of such a crisis sucking a materialistic capitalist society into chaos is a no brainer. Only the fashions are daft/cool as f**k in that one.

My answer to your question is it depends on what your idea of an apocalypse is because we're already half way there. Consider a combination of Romero's Land of the Dead which is a semi-satire of the class system (i.e the rich in their ivory towers manipulating the poor to protect a decadent materialistic society in decay). We're already there aren't we? Could this drive us to lawlessness? It already does.

Will we be fighting it out in customised vehicles sporting mohican haircuts and brandishing crossbows? Nahhh.

Could we descend into a lawless world similar to what we see in Mad Max 2? Sure. As long as nobody drops the big one, an asteroid doesn't hit, or a super bug doesn't wipe us all out first. The only difference will be that everyone will be looking to charge up their iphone rather than get juice for their wheels.

[bouncingbrick]

I believe this statement to be a misconception (Mad Max 3 bollocks excluded). Mad Max 2 describes a gradual decline into anarchy due to fuel shortage, i.e. not an apocalypse. The general 80's movie depiction of a post nuclear dystopia is of course nonsense. Watching Threads or The Day After for the science soon dispels that myth. I'm sure you're aware of this and have seen at least one of those films.

As for the situation we see in Mad Max (the original); we're already there. That flick is really just the crime in contemporary society transposed to a gothic futurist nightmare/revenge flick. There hasn't been any apocalypse; just lawlessness in the boondocks.

Mad Max 2 (or The Road Warrior) is a little more interesting in the sense that it's an eco-actioner. The idea of fuel/energy sources becoming scarce is very believable and the question of such a crisis sucking a materialistic capitalist society into chaos is a no brainer. Only the fashions are daft/cool as f**k in that one.

My answer to your question is it depends on what your idea of an apocalypse is because we're already half way there. Consider a combination of Romero's Land of the Dead which is a semi-satire of the class system (i.e the rich in their ivory towers manipulating the poor to protect a decadent materialistic society in decay). We're already there aren't we? Could this drive us to lawlessness? It already does.

Will we be fighting it out in customised vehicles sporting mohican haircuts and brandishing crossbows? Nahhh.

Could we descend into a lawless world similar to what we see in Mad Max 2? Sure. As long as nobody drops the big one, an asteroid doesn't hit, or a super bug doesn't wipe us all out first. The only difference will be that everyone will be looking to charge up their iphone rather than get juice for their wheels.

Ehhhhh...that's still not the post-apocalyptic world these crazies are prepping for. I don't think we'll ever get to "every man for himself" killing each other type society. You can condemn our current society all you want, but we still aren't there. We are capable of a certain amount of civility. I'm sorry that our class system is so screwed and that there are still third-world countries, but we aren't gunning each other down. At least not the people who respect law and order. I can't account for gang-bangers or what have you. Those sort of types have existed for ever and we have places for them; jail.

[Used Future]

I don't think we'll ever get to "every man for himself" killing each other type society. You can condemn our current society all you want, but we still aren't there. We are capable of a certain amount of civility...we aren't gunning each other down. At least not the people who respect law and order.

Ok...I certainly went off on a bit of a tangent there.

I guess I was talking more about the sub-themes in dystopian movies reflecting aspects of society and visa versa. It's also worth remembering that in the Mad Max films(particularly Mad Max 2) there is still a visible section of society holding on to civil values. I believe this will always be the case because in general us humans are a good natured lot.

The 'preppies' you refer to (or survival nuts as I like to call em') have been around for decades in America. I'm certainly not condoning their mentality, but it's nothing really that new or surprising either. I'm sure they're being monitored by the US government.

In essence though; I agree with you. :cool:

[lundy1026]

241 days 1 hour 59 min 29 sec left. :p

doomsday countdown. just for fun!