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Would you want to survive a catastrophic event?

164 replies

notmynamenamename · 03/03/2026 07:11

The kind where groups of people are rebuilding from scratch?

I don’t, I’m too old to repopulate society. I have a prolapsed disc so heavy lifting/ uncomfortable sleeping and sitting would be a nightmare. I’m not brave or strong. I don’t have any skills that would make me an asset other that child care which I would not want to do.

OP posts:
AnnaQuayRules · 03/03/2026 08:17

outofsounds · 03/03/2026 07:35

No, definitely not. Should a nuclear bomb be unleashed on the UK I hope it lands right on top of me.

Me too.

TheRubyFinch · 03/03/2026 08:40

Maybe not nuclear war or zombie apocalypse. But if 99.9% of people got abducted by aliens, I'd be delighted to be left behind.

I'd ride my bike down the middle of empty roads and loot M+S Food for sustenance. I'm not getting my hands dirty growing fucking turnips.

ViciousCurrentBun · 03/03/2026 08:42

I have also thought about this and over the years I have gone from wanting to fight for survival. I had a lot of physical skills like karate, climbing trees, using a catapult to thinking well at least I could sew people up to I hope I vaporise in the initial conflict without pain. I could still sew people up and I have a lot of knowledge about wild plants but these bones are too tired.

Most horrific survival film I have seen is The Road. I actually think that’s what could happen,

MyThreeWords · 03/03/2026 08:43

AprilinPortugal · 03/03/2026 08:16

But the Survivors was about a deadly virus wasn't it? Not a nuclear war. So probably there wouldn't be any department stores/billionaires' houses etc still standing. I do like the sound of your scenario though 😄

Yes, but I think the OP wasn't catastrophe-specific so I figured I could match my fantasy to whichever catastrophe I preferred.

If i had to rank catastrophes in terms of the attractiveness of their aftermath, I would probably go for:

1st place: pandemic
2nd: non-nuclear war
3rd: climate breakdown
4th: zombies
5th: nuclear war/accidental nuclear disaster

I'm a bit uncertain about the ranking of zombies versus nuclear catastrophe, but in the end I put zombies first as at least you would be developing talents/physical fitness while combating zombies. There is no comparable upside to radiation.

MsWilmottsGhost · 03/03/2026 08:56

Yes. I always find it quite odd that so many people say they don't.

I guess people are imagining apocalyptic scenarios from fiction - empty landscapes and only them left in it - but even with nukes the effects are more likely to be localised devastation vs humans elsewhere carrying on living relatively normally.

I also grew up during the cold war, with threats of nuclear disaster and those apocalyptic films and books. I also imagined myself the last person alive struggling to live in utter isolaton.

I've learned how unlikely those scenarios are as I studied public health and read a lot about plagues, and history, and anthropology. Humans have survived (though societies may change) many wars, plagues, environmental disasters etc. Archeology and then recorded history demonstrate that people carried on living their lives even when large sections of the population died.

The Black Death killed over 50% of people in Europe, but in the scale of human history it is a blip. Those who did not die carried in living, and we now read the survivors accounts in our history books.

The movie scenario of a single lonely wanderer is not very realistic. Short of a planet-destroying calamity (highly unlikely) the human species would survive. Even if 99% of the global population was wiped out (highly unlikely) there would still be 83 million humans on the planet.

The human population was much lower in prehistory, and life was never so brutish and short that people didn't enjoy art and music and making homes for their families. There was still joy, even in the darkest times.

Riapia · 03/03/2026 09:03

The alternative doesn’t have much appeal. 😉

MsWilmottsGhost · 03/03/2026 09:04

MyThreeWords · 03/03/2026 08:43

Yes, but I think the OP wasn't catastrophe-specific so I figured I could match my fantasy to whichever catastrophe I preferred.

If i had to rank catastrophes in terms of the attractiveness of their aftermath, I would probably go for:

1st place: pandemic
2nd: non-nuclear war
3rd: climate breakdown
4th: zombies
5th: nuclear war/accidental nuclear disaster

I'm a bit uncertain about the ranking of zombies versus nuclear catastrophe, but in the end I put zombies first as at least you would be developing talents/physical fitness while combating zombies. There is no comparable upside to radiation.

I spent one Christmas discussing zombie apocalypse plans with the BILs.

FIL and MIL were very surprised and confused we all had a zombie plan, we were surprised they didn't have one.

Their house was in a great location and easily defended...😂

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 03/03/2026 09:21

Nah I couldn’t be arsed tbh.

Sadcafe · 03/03/2026 09:22

I’d definitely want to survive, if only for one reason, I’d like to be one of those waiting outside when the likes of Trump emerged from their shelters

angelos02 · 03/03/2026 09:23

Skybunnee · 03/03/2026 07:32

Yes - I could cook a squirrel!
I garden so would do my best to collect seed, store food.
we had many fewer home comforts 70 years ago with few cars snd fridges -we managed then -it was normal life, we’d be going back to the life of a peasant 100 years ago

Edited

Where would you get clean water from?

sprigatito · 03/03/2026 09:25

Only if DH and the kids survived it as well.

OtterlyAstounding · 03/03/2026 09:26

Yes, if my husband and kids survived then I would, because if it doesn't work out well you can always kill yourself with a massive overdose of morphine - if it hasn't been looted already!

I live in NZ, so am pretty well situated for nuclear war, zombie viruses etc, with a large, temperate, fertile country, good isolation, and relatively low population. I'd rather stick around and see how it plays out.

Dontcallmescarface · 03/03/2026 09:28

A nuclear bomb, no there wouldn't be any point in surviving...anything else then I might give it a go.

OtterlyAstounding · 03/03/2026 09:28

MyThreeWords · 03/03/2026 08:43

Yes, but I think the OP wasn't catastrophe-specific so I figured I could match my fantasy to whichever catastrophe I preferred.

If i had to rank catastrophes in terms of the attractiveness of their aftermath, I would probably go for:

1st place: pandemic
2nd: non-nuclear war
3rd: climate breakdown
4th: zombies
5th: nuclear war/accidental nuclear disaster

I'm a bit uncertain about the ranking of zombies versus nuclear catastrophe, but in the end I put zombies first as at least you would be developing talents/physical fitness while combating zombies. There is no comparable upside to radiation.

There is no comparable upside to radiation.

Possible superpowers? If you believe the comics Grin

MrsBridgetMcClusky · 03/03/2026 09:29

Serenity75 · 03/03/2026 07:28

Nope, I always thought how stress free life as a zombie looked in the evil dead. You just stand still unless there’s something to eat nearby!

I love this! Always a silver lining, I suppose 😆

Bellaunion · 03/03/2026 09:31

I don't think so. I absolutely hate building flat pack furniture, never mind having to rebuild society.

NewYearNewMee · 03/03/2026 09:42

I would 100% be able to survive - I’m not too sure I’d want to, depending on the situation.

Suddenly it would be a world without law, no currency - no new books being published, perhaps no electricity for my iced coffees etc.

It would end up being some horrible game of survivor with rape and murder becoming the norm if too many men survived. I think if it was a disease that took out most of the men I would be okay 😂

mjf981 · 03/03/2026 09:44

I'm a giver upper. I think I always have been, but didn't want to admit it.

I always think about this when I watch the move Cast Away. I'd definitely go down with the plane. Fight to get to the surface and then try to survive on a deserted island for years on end? Bugger that for a game of soldiers.

angelos02 · 03/03/2026 09:46

There is no amount of prepping that could make much of a difference. No clean water, you won't last more than a few days.

MyThreeWords · 03/03/2026 09:50

OtterlyAstounding · 03/03/2026 09:28

There is no comparable upside to radiation.

Possible superpowers? If you believe the comics Grin

Oooh, yes, good point. Totally forgot superpowers. Ok I'll go with nuclear catastrophe if I can become Spiderwoman.
That would be quite good for zombie-dodging too -- so I could be persuaded to enjoy a joint nuclear/zombie scenario.

notmynamenamename · 03/03/2026 09:55

LoveheartBear · 03/03/2026 07:19

I was talking about this with my parents the other day. I was thinking about Trump building his bunker under the White House, imaging him and all his gang safe, whilst his minions were taken out. I then pictured them emerging from their confines, having no one to pander to their every need!

Personally, I wouldn’t like to be left to deal with the numerous repercussions of such an attack, so would want to be wiped out quite quickly.

I love that trump having to forage for himself 😂

OP posts:
notmynamenamename · 03/03/2026 09:57

HopSpringsEternal · 03/03/2026 07:36

I could. Im good at organising community shit, conflict resolution, can build a fire, use an axe, grow veg. Though if the coffee runs out I might get a bit too antsy.
I found covid easy, like change, have had lots of life changing thjngs happen and am very much a let's plough on through. This wont be forever sort of person.

Thank you looks like civilisation may stand a chance!

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 03/03/2026 09:57

HopSpringsEternal · 03/03/2026 07:36

I could. Im good at organising community shit, conflict resolution, can build a fire, use an axe, grow veg. Though if the coffee runs out I might get a bit too antsy.
I found covid easy, like change, have had lots of life changing thjngs happen and am very much a let's plough on through. This wont be forever sort of person.

Can I join you and organise a singsong?

notmynamenamename · 03/03/2026 09:58

JuliettaCaeser · 03/03/2026 07:43

Read the book To Paradise. She describes this. The impact of a huge event. How the worst survived and all felt quite guilty and furtive about it. The good all died only the ruthless those prepared to screw over others including their own families survived and every survivor knew that’s who they were.

Thanks

OP posts:
notmynamenamename · 03/03/2026 09:59

MyThreeWords · 03/03/2026 08:43

Yes, but I think the OP wasn't catastrophe-specific so I figured I could match my fantasy to whichever catastrophe I preferred.

If i had to rank catastrophes in terms of the attractiveness of their aftermath, I would probably go for:

1st place: pandemic
2nd: non-nuclear war
3rd: climate breakdown
4th: zombies
5th: nuclear war/accidental nuclear disaster

I'm a bit uncertain about the ranking of zombies versus nuclear catastrophe, but in the end I put zombies first as at least you would be developing talents/physical fitness while combating zombies. There is no comparable upside to radiation.

Love this I agree with your rankings

OP posts: