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Are you worried this is the start of ww3 and nukes will be used ?

260 replies

LovelyYellowLabrador · 24/03/2022 12:43

Or do you think realistically no one will start to use Nuclear weapons

OP posts:
grapewines · 24/03/2022 14:57

Absolutely. More so now than being a child during the Cold War. Putin doesn't give two shits about anyone. It scares me.

Chikapu · 24/03/2022 15:03

No I'm not worrying, it's pointless and damaging to no one but yourself. Please god people don't start weeping and wailing in the street Hmm

slaybell · 24/03/2022 15:03

I don't think it will go that far, personally.

However I'm certainly not worried about WW3 as it would never happen. If nukes are used, there won't be a world to be at war.

mibbelucieachwell · 24/03/2022 15:04

Putin seems to care about himself and his dream of restoring a USSR type empire. Even he must realise that can't be realised if there has been extensive nuking.

MarshaBradyo · 24/03/2022 15:06

@Quppity

I also like a pp feel it’s awful we have left the Ukrainians to it. I don’t think history will look back very kindly at the worlds reaction to this.
Or it might be one of those threat averted scenarios where everyone says what’s the issue but behind the scenes people managed us all through it
OhJustSickOfitall · 24/03/2022 15:07

[quote SofiaSoFar]@OhJustSickOfitall

I mean we tell mums not to take formula to hospital or have it in the house in case they use it just because it’s there yet expect men to have nuclear weapons they’ll always have to hand but never use

I'm not sure it's a 'men' thing.

Thatcher was a big fan of nuclear weapons and MAD. I'm sure I read she threatened to "nuke Argentina" at one point, too...[/quote]
True maybe a leader thing then !

Rosesandthistles · 24/03/2022 15:08

@FraterculaArctica

Yes. Been panicked for a month to the point I can barely function. So many articles saying this is only heading one way. Can't see the point of planning anything for the future, I don't understand why everyone else isn't panicking too.
I'm sorry you're feeling so stressed out and anxious FraterculaArtica. I felt the same for a few days earlier in the month for the same reason but it wasn't doing me any good.

Try to shift your focus onto activities that you enjoy and make some future plans even if there's a small possibility of things going badly wrong- there always is to some extent.

Tonya345 · 24/03/2022 15:09

It will make zero difference whether I worry or not, so I don't.

Lambanddog · 24/03/2022 15:12

@FraterculaArctica

Those of you who aren't worried - is it because you think it won't happen, or you aren't worried about being snuffed out? This is what I can't get my head round... if someone close to you had say terminal cancer, you would expect to be upset and spend a lot of time talking about how to come to terms with it. Yet the likelihood of this happening to all of us and no-one seems remotely bothered!
Yes but that's because it would happen to all of us. As long as it was my whole family and noone left behind suffering I'd be more relaxed than someone having terminal cancer.
Mirw · 24/03/2022 15:15

At the height of the Cold War in the 70s, everyone thought there would be a nuclear winter and it didn't happen. Putin wants glory not annihilation. It he goes nuclear, Russia is no more as is the world, so no more history and it will all be a waste. He is far to egotistical to go that far. He might be mad, but he is not completely insane.

OMGTTC · 24/03/2022 15:15

OP (and other anxious PPs), I felt like this too around the start of the invasion - the fear was all-consuming and I couldn’t think or plan ahead at all because the worst seemed inevitable. Weirdly, I find that keeping up with the news from reputable sources has been really helpful - not alarmist headlines, but just the BBC radio news, the BBC site itself and the Guardian, although I’ve tried to stay away from the opinion pieces there. I’ve also found certain discussions on here really helpful (although I’m mostly a lurker) because there are some very knowledgeable posters who reason through everything. Yes, it’s a horrible situation, but I feel more desperately sad and angry for Ukrainians now than anything else.

OMGTTC · 24/03/2022 15:17

In addition to that, Russia announced yesterday (I think) that it wants to host the 2024 or 2028 Euros. Make of that what you will!

gracedentssketty · 24/03/2022 15:22

I bloody hope not as my husband has just spent close to a grand on fruit trees!

Fimofriend · 24/03/2022 15:25

Russia cannot afford a war with NATO. The attack on Ukraine has already been far more expensive than expected. It is hard to say something more conclusive about the Russian economy as they manipulate the official numbers to a ridiculous degree.

Three Russian generals are dead and another eight have been fired. There is increased resistance in Russia against the war because a lot of people have family in Ukraine and because the population does not believe the BS reasons for the attack. There is an organization of mothers of soldiers and they are very displeased with the war.

Furthermore, the sanctions are starting to hurt to a point where Russia cannot afford to retaliate by closing the gas pipes.

Butchyrestingface · 24/03/2022 15:25

@FraterculaArctica

No, it takes about 5 nuclear bombs for the ensuing nuclear winter to kill all life on earth. DH (climate scientist) tells me it's been well modelled.
Hope I get taken out by bomb number 1 then.
shreddednips · 24/03/2022 15:27

There's a balance here. We should^^ all be concerned about the fact that these weapons exist and never let ourselves become casual about the risks involved. It's essential that leaders never adopt the attitude that the smaller, battlefield nukes are a viable way to win a war because of the escalation risk.

On the other hand, I still don't think we need to be panicking about nuclear war right now. I read extensively about the topic because I'm interested in it from a disarmament point of view. While I wish the bloody things didn't exist, NATO's nuclear deterrent is substantial. Nobody knows what is going on in Putin's head, but all the available information suggests to me that he wants power. There's no power to be had in a country that doesn't exist.

I also don't think he's crazy. What he's done is certainly beyond evil, but it's not irrational given the assumptions he appears to have made before the war started.

I wouldn't underestimate the urge to survive, even if you're an evil bastard like Putin. I also have trust in the ingenuity and creativity of the people working to avert such a disaster.

There is an awful lot of irresponsible reporting going on about this. I've read numerous articles where the author has included completely untrue information, so you can't assume that because something is reported on a news site that the writer has the knowledge required to comment on the risk level. They're clickbaity articles designed to make money at the expense of good journalism. They're enough to make anyone feel like nuclear war is imminent, but so much of it is a big old load of balls.

No one can promise that this won't happen. The risk is always there as long as nuclear weapons exist. But alarming as it is, we've seen sabre rattling like this before and much worse, and nuclear war didn't break out. Nixon actually ordered war planes loaded with nuclear warheads to fly towards the Soviet Union's borders and turn back at the last minute during the Cold War, which was MUCH more inflammatory than the sabre rattling happening now. If you can, try to remember that you're safe right now and focus on doing anything you are able to do to support the people in Ukraine. And don't waste precious time focusing on something you can do nothing about.

shreddednips · 24/03/2022 15:27

@gracedentssketty

I bloody hope not as my husband has just spent close to a grand on fruit trees!
😆
Xpologog · 24/03/2022 15:31

@FraterculaArctica

Those of you who aren't worried - is it because you think it won't happen, or you aren't worried about being snuffed out? This is what I can't get my head round... if someone close to you had say terminal cancer, you would expect to be upset and spend a lot of time talking about how to come to terms with it. Yet the likelihood of this happening to all of us and no-one seems remotely bothered!
Because living without someone you love ( ie your example of someone dying of cancer) is horrible, miserable, life changing ( and not in a good way) Nukes kill everyone—- everyone is dead so no one to carry on alone.
DidymusAmbrosius · 24/03/2022 15:38

I think both sides of the NATO/Russia argument are using the threat of nukes to their advantage.

Russia keep hinting (subtely or not so subtely) that they might use them - to increase the fear of them.

NATO keeps using them as a reason not to take military action that they fear will be expensive and unpopular in their respective countries.

Agree with others: the massive shift on geopolitics is what concerns me the most - in terms of changing power shifts nationally and internationally and the links to costs of living and fuel/food security.

DidymusAmbrosius · 24/03/2022 15:43

@Quppity

I also like a pp feel it’s awful we have left the Ukrainians to it. I don’t think history will look back very kindly at the worlds reaction to this.
Yeah, I agree with this.

I really want to believe and hope that sanctions/military aid is the best way to help Ukraine by cutting short Russia's actions. But I am worried that NATO and other countries are just scared of the impact to their own countries and so using sanctions as a get out clause.

I'm no expert, so really hope I am wrong.

Bootothegoose · 24/03/2022 15:43

Not at all, regardless; what will be will be.

The chances of this developing into substantial nuclear warfare are absolutely minute. Putin will be dead long before that happens.

Try not to worry. Cost of living is going to be difficult but nothing we haven’t experienced before. It will all pass in no time - it always does.

MarshaBradyo · 24/03/2022 15:45

@DidymusAmbrosius

I think both sides of the NATO/Russia argument are using the threat of nukes to their advantage.

Russia keep hinting (subtely or not so subtely) that they might use them - to increase the fear of them.

NATO keeps using them as a reason not to take military action that they fear will be expensive and unpopular in their respective countries.

Agree with others: the massive shift on geopolitics is what concerns me the most - in terms of changing power shifts nationally and internationally and the links to costs of living and fuel/food security.

Re NATO the situation is expensive currently so if they could get to resolution more quickly why wouldn’t they? Other than escalation risk that is
HesterShaw1 · 24/03/2022 15:48

What's the point of worrying?

I'm fed up of constantly fucking worrying over the things to media are telling me about. No more.

HopingForMyRainbowBaby · 24/03/2022 15:48

At the beginning. Yes I was and even though I live somewhere where I'm doubtful a nuclear bomb would affect us It got to the point where I couldn't sleep on a night time. I worried about my OH who's up in the north east and it got to the stage where I could only semi relax if other bungalows and houses had lights on. Now I'm not as worried about nuclear bombs or world war 3 happening. If something like that was going to happen it would've happened before now!

annabelindajane · 24/03/2022 15:49

Only in so much that Mr Putin seems a tad unpredictable.

If he uses the tactical ones on Ukraine I suspect China and other supporters will put pressure on him to stop