To think people should chill with the hysterical doomsday threads

[elzober]

Before the pile on about minimising the difficulties people are having, I'm not saying there aren't serious challenges going on at the moment from climate to the cost of living. There's no denying any of that and I hope this crappy government will redeem themselves and take steps to help people.

But talk of apocalypse and the collapse of society is pretty OTT and I keep seeing the tin hat brigade commenting about their various conspiracy theories too.

It's a bit hysterical when you think there are people from from developing countries with hyperinflation, war on their doorstep and armed militias who had to flee to places like the UK for safety.

It's a bit hysterical when you think there are people from from developing countries with hyperinflation, war on their doorstep and armed militias who had to flee to places like the UK for safety.

YANBU it’s so tone deaf.
There is genuine famine and people unable to access clean water in the world and people are pissing their pants here because they are not allowed to fill up their paddling pools and can’t find their favourite flavour crisps in the shop.
Life is difficult for many - I’m not referring to people who are really struggling with their bills and are needing to use food banks. But these doomsday threads don’t tend to be started by people in those situations.
It’s so self indulgent.

I don't think I've seen the threads in question. But, I think everyone is different. Some people cope by telling themselves everything is OK. Some people cope by imagining the worst case scenario, it helps them process their fear I think. I wouldn't say either approach is wrong.
Though, I'm sorry to say that climate catastrophe forecasts are not remotely hysterical. They're factual. Climate change is extremely serious, and denying that fact is potentially dangerous, as it prevents us taking the action we need to, if we have the slightest hope of keeping the Earth's temperature at a sustainable level. But I'll probably be accused of hysteria!

I think what you meant to say was that London would face significant and regular flooding inside 50 years.

That was prevented by the Thames Barrier being built. In other words, the threat got recognised and dealt with.

I understand that at the time there were plenty of people around who thought it wasn't an issue because it would be sunny the next day and everything would, y'know dry out.

Yes, but the two things are connected. The climate crisis is affecting the world's poorest, in the global south, first and far more. We need to shout from the rooftops that western indifference (by many) is causing misery, and will continue to, to the poorest people in the world. The people whose own carbon footprints are far lower than ours, so it's incredibly unfair.
Having said that, I do agree in some ways, relating to material wealth/poverty. The vast majority of people who identify as poor in the UK, are doing very well by global standards, myself included. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't address inequality here either, which is staggering of course...

I'm not sure it's catastrophising at this point.

agree it is

If you're talking about the quadruple bills and the collapse of the NHS, YABU. Have some empathy, even if it doesn't affect yiu.

@TomPinch off topic-ish. I my early teens the Thames barrier was my “happy place”. I’d take the bus to woolwich and gaze in awe at those huge silver hulks. Hasn’t it been massively upgraded/expanded over the years though? I guess by people who think ahead rather than rending at cloth and screeching the sky is falling.

Or rather than pretend there's no problem. 🙂

I remember a school trip to the Barrier back in the 80s!

Well this took a strange turn during the night.

There's lots more to add to this.

Drought is having an issue on Europe's ability to generate electricity by hydropower

www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62524551

Drought is causing the Rhine to become less navigable, meaning that ships that use the Rhine for transport are struggling, as well as those ships that are carrying fuel to replace the gas that Germany isn't getting from Russia

Drought is also causing crop failure in the UK -

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/uk-weather-farmers-warn-of-crop-failure-in-biggest-english-drought-in-20-years/ar-AA10BiPl

Not Doomsday - but not a positive picture for the coming months.

Hopefully all part of a good debate

Just because others have it worse doesn't stop people worrying about their own situation. There is just so much going on at the moment - drought, potential crop failures, energy bills and interest rates rising hugely, strikes, possible power rationing. It's not surprising people are feeling concerned.

I think this is true. A lot of people love drama and by being the bearer of bad news they are attaching themselves to the drama/excitement and making it about them if they possibly can.