AIBU to think things feel a bit apocalyptic?

[SundayGirlB]

Covid-19, unprecedented flooding, raging bushfires, Syria, state cyber warfare, rise of populism, stock market crashes...not looking good is it? Genuinely felt anxious last night after watching the news.

YABU = get a grip
YANBU = start prepping

[PlomBear]

Is 28 Days Later on Netflix?!

[CustardySergeant]

You're right

[Topseyt]

I'm in my fifties. I lived through much of the Cold War and have seen many disasters of one type or another unfold. All tragic and sad in their own way

I was a ten year old during the long, hot summer of 1976 when the drought meat that many UK homes were only able to get water at certain times of day from a standpipe along the road. There were predictions then that it would take years for supplies to return to normal, but once the rain started that September it didn't stop and within a few weeks drought restrictions had been lifted, the reservoir near us (a very big one) was brim full again and it was as if nothing had happened.

You really do get to a point where you have seen it all before. The money markets tend to crash in these circumstances too. At present they have a bout of coronavirus, just as they also got SARS and swine flu. They will recover. It isn't the zombie apocalypse, though the media would like us to believe it is.

[bellinisurge]

Also in my fifties. Not interested in zombie apocalypse bollocks. There is a very wide piece of middle ground between willy waving about how you don't give a shit and panicking. Most people, me included, are in the very wide middle ground.

[wheresmymojo]

Sometimes I feel like that but recently I've been reading about the start of the 20th century and realised those poor people had:

World War One
Spanish Flu (which killed more people than both world wars put together)
World War Two
The Great Depression (in the US)

...and in Ukraine after WW1 people were starved on purpose to the extent that some people began eating other humans and even selling human body parts for meat as street traders (there are even photos!)

So yeah...then I think we have it pretty good.

[wheresmymojo]

Prepping is being a hysterical maniac

Yes. You are so right.

Preparing for a pandemic by buying a small amount of easy to make foodstuffs if we get ill and some hand gel is insane

[MelanieFrontage]

Get prepping everyone! Over on the prepping thread we are all helping one another with our lists, tomorrow I shall be buying wine, tonic water and Tunnocks Teacakes 😂

[iheartislesofwight]

we've had so many doomsday scenarios that the worlds population should be a about quarter of what it is now.

[wheresmymojo]

There is a very wide piece of middle ground between willy waving about how you don't give a shit and panicking. Most people, me included, are in the very wide middle ground.

^ This

It is not hysterical to be concerned about something that all experts say is concerning and heads of state say is concerning.

Neither does 'concern' translate to anxiety, panic, insanity, etc.

[Cheeseontoast4]

Late 40s - it does feel a bit apocalyptic to me at the moment - but I lived through Cold War and IRA and lots more and I don’t remember feeling that way then . I think it might be age ,understanding and being responsible for 2 little humans now , and also the sheer 24/7 nature of the media that makes it feel different now . Makes no difference to my approach !

[janemaster]

I have bought a few extra tins at the supermarket. Not hysterical panic buying, just in case I get ill and can't get out easily.

[adaline]

It doesn't feel remotely worrying to me at the moment!

I don't notice any of the panic I see on MN in real life. Everyone I know is just going about their daily lives. I don't know anyone who is stocking up on hand gel, buying extra tins of food or who is worried about the weather.

[iheartislesofwight]

have checked out the prep pages previously and while i think everyone to their own if it reassures them, people who have previously said they are arming themselves with guns, axes etc do come across as a alittle bit unhinged and would be somewhat worrying to be around.

[Mydogatemypurse]

I think it's bad. And I think if you are prone to anxiety I can understand why it feels unsettling. But as others have said people have lived thru bad times before. Maybe take a break from the news and social media for a bit. It does get overwhelming otherwise xx

[Herocomplex]

I find watching the news upsetting, listening on the radio and reading it a bit less so.

Things do feel quite tumultuous right now.

[ViciousJackdaw]

What kind of "prepping" does one do for an apocalypse?

Sit down, place your head between your legs and kiss your arse goodbye, I imagine.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Think about how it feels to live in an Indian or Nigerian slum. Malaria outbreaks, fires, wars between gangs and religions, children being murdered by sexual predators and the police not caring, rivers of leaded water where kids poo and drink and bathe...

The world’s been apocalyptic for a while!

[HelgaHere1]

I think the fall in share prices on the world stock markets and the disruption in manufacturing, due to stuff not coming from China, could have long term probs if it goes on. I think the austerity we are under is a knock on from the banking crisis all those years ago. This, if it continues could have serious consequences like that I think.

[janemaster]

@adaline I have bought a few extra tins. No one except MN and my DP knows that. I don't want to come across like an idiot. I suspect lots of people will do the same.

[adaline]

I have bought a few extra tins. No one except MN and my DP knows that. I don't want to come across like an idiot. I suspect lots of people will do the same

I'm not really referring to people buying in extra baked beans or tinned tomatoes. I'm talking about the threads full of people who have enough food to feed their family for 2-3 months at all times, that kind of thing.

We always have enough in the cupboards to last us a few days in the winter, as we're pretty rural and are often cut off due to snow or floods. I'd say that was sensible, not anything unusual.

[bellinisurge]

@iheartislesofwight , please identify who is arming themselves with guns and axes on the Prepper topic. For. Fucks. Sake.
No one bothers with that kind of shit.

[winniethekid]

Prepping is increasing the profits of the multinationals twice over - most of it will never get eaten and then you'll have to buy more.

[adaline]

What kind of "prepping" does one do for an apocalypse?

Take the car. Go to mum's. Kill Phil, grab Liz, go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all of this to blow over.

[JustInCaseCakeHappens]

Most people I know have roughly a month worth of food at home at all time. You top up, but people have other things to do than shopping every couple of days. Buying a couple more tins is just sensible, you'll use them anyway.

Planning for the apocalypse but without extra generator, weapons to defend your home, medical or mechanical knowledge for basic things is pretty pointless anyway

[adaline]

I do think 24h access to the news doesn't help matters.

In the past, we had news broadcasts three times a day and one newspaper publication a day. Nowadays, we have entire channels dedicated to the news. Newspapers are published 2-3 times a day, and are available for free on the internet.

Things can be shared for free via social media, we have thousands of radio stations and TV channels to access, we have phones and texts and hundreds of means of communication that just didn't exist in the past. I imagine if there was an outbreak of illness in China 100 years ago, we wouldn't even hear about it until it was over!