How would you cope in a world where society has crumbled or is very flimsy?

[Lookingforwardtothesummer]

To a greater or lesser degree?

Irrespective of the reason why (war or zombies or plague or whatever) if there was only a very brittle skeleton of society and the safety nets left, how would you do?

As a person dependent on medication for survival I'd be fooked pretty fast. What I find interesting is, maybe if I was a different type of person I might be ok despite needing medication - but my personality just isn't wired for that sort of situation. Introverted, would be completely drained living in a group, just would want to run away from any sort of 'leader' type.

Whereas some people would probably thrive in a group dynamic, being constantly around people all the time, earnestly bossing folk around who they didn't think were taking the chores seriously enough.

Would your cope well with all the politics and trying to rebuild a better society?

Aw, no thoughts anyone?

I think I'd be rubbish. Going to Tesco at the wrong time does my nut in (too bright, music is loud, too many people), don't think am wired for catching my own food. Having said that I am good at reacting quickly when needed so who knows. I think I would struggle with having to rely on others for defence/safety once out of eg food supplies.

BUT have read a huge amount of dystopian fiction so that must count for something right?

I don't need medication or have issues with big groups or anything, so those things wouldn't bother me.

What I would be shit at though is the level of violence required to survive. I don't think I'd have it in me to kill someone over food or water for instance, but then thankfully I've never been hungry enough to have to find out.

I think all of us have it in us to surprise ourselves in a situation like this, but I'm hoping I'd never have to find out!

There was a programme I watched, think it was a BBC drama where the electricity failed and the water stopped running. IIRC The main character in it had to be violent to survive. Towards the end,s omeone came to steal his water and he bludgeoned them to death...just as he did so, the lights came back on.

Oh but I would have a zero tolerance approach to people not pulling their weight in a group situation in an apocalypse. If you're ill fine, but if you're lazy....prepare for exile lol!

I’d be crap. I’d die pretty quickly, I reckon. DH would be great so hopefully I’d die quickly enough not to drag him down.

I've been waiting my whole life for a nice apocalypse. I'd be great at it, so long as I have my glasses.

Been in a situation roughly like that, and so I know how I'd cope. As best I can. Focus on the basics - survival, safety, food, hygiene as much as possible. And crumble when I could - and sometimes when I shouldn't.

TLDR - you do what you gotta do.

I hadn't even got round to thinking of actual violent confrontation. Just more about the ramshackle shonky communities springing up to try to get by as best they could.

But yeah I'd be shit at violence too if it came to that! I'd just freeze up and they'd stab me or whatever.

As I have no guns or man in the house, nor am I young enough to attract a young strong man, I'd probably be robbed and killed pretty early on.

This is the reality when society breaks down, the physically strong do best, as do those who can attach themselves to the strong.

Wow, what happened?! Can you tell us more?

I'm on medication keeping my pain reduced, anxiety under control and blood pressure down, so I'd I'd be sore, stressed out and probably die from a stroke!
I'd stay put though and try and get on with life best as I could for a while.

This is the reality when society breaks down, the physically strong do best, as do those who can attach themselves to the strong.

Yes, but even for the physically strong, I think it seems like there's always somebody stronger, more ruthless, more of a bastard.

I think I’d be ok if I had my partner and/or children. On my own I think I’d just give up.

Like walking dead type scenario I’d be one ending my life. Seems like a miserable existence. I’d fight to survive if the kids were alive but even then if it became a miserable life I’d considering finishing it.

mat least that is what I think I would do. In reality I don’t think anyone really knows how they’d cope until they were in that position.

@Lookingforwardtothesummeryes, if society broke down, we would 100% become lawless quickly. Look at how swiftly looting happens when there's a natural disaster. It'd for sure become the most violent who would survive

If HRT wasn't available I'd be fucked.

The main character in it had to be violent to survive. Towards the end,s omeone came to steal his water and he bludgeoned them to death...just as he did so, the lights came back on

Ah that was shit luck for this guy. Typical.

My son, his mates and me have had many chats about this. I need medication and have heart problems so tell them to eat me first. They point out my knowledge of herbal medicine, aromatherapy and wisdom means they'll push me about in a wheelbarrow and the Health Food Shop is on the What to Loot List.

I was in the 2011 earthquakes in Canterbury NZ. Supply chains were cut, eftpos was down, there was liquefaction, constant shaking, something like 50% of the buildings in the city, and 80% of our infrastructure was fucked. If you didn't have fuel, you couldn't get out of town. If you could get out of town, you were leaving whatever you had left to people (looters) treating the tragedy like a business opportunity. The full focus of the emergency services was on finding the dead and the surviving. There were queues miles long, of grey, traumatised people, looking for their loved ones, reporting them lost. People walking around like zombies - they'd lost loved ones, they'd lost their homes, they'd lost their jobs, they'd lost everything that made up the structure and sinew of their lives.

We were some of the lucky ones. Our house still suffered 10's of thousands worth of damage, my children were traumatised to the point of PTSD, I basically lost my future path, for hours I didn't know if my husband was alive or dead.

We had food in the fridge, water and wine (very important!), and finally we had each other. You can't predict how you will cope. Most of us aren't heroes. There were, however, so many heroes in that day, and the days to come, thank the Gods. But most of us do the best we can.

Oh, add to that, loss of power, gas, and water! So you don't open the fridge or freezer any more than you have to, and have some fairly peculiar feasts!

It's an interesting question.

I wear glasses, which would be an issue, but otherwise am fit enough. DH is a good shot, and I'd not worry about using violence if it was needed (not that I'm a violent person but I know I could if I had to)

Im also quite astute, so I'd hope that I'd make the right choices and prioritise the thing things for survival.

I'm fairly handy so I could hunt, gut and cook animals, I've got enough info to grow food and keep livestock. I would be able to spin and weave wooden cloth if I had sheep. I'm happy in a group or solo.

I have young DDs and I'd worry about them surviving, particularly if it was a situation of more men and less women (I'm reaching The Book of The Unnamed Midwife at the moment which covers this scenario and it's fairly stark!)

So if I didn't get taken out in the initial incident I'd have a decent chance until a serious illness of childbirth came along to finish me off.

Embarrassingly I have zombie apocalypse plan and I can't say anymore because I have already told people irl.😂
I would think I could survive good few months at least. If I manage like a year I would have loads to eat considering how are people in uk careful about best before dates 😁

I was thinking about this after watching the last of us and twd

Tbh I dont get why people in those types of shows don't commit suicide

I dont think I could cope with that level of constant threat and misery

I cannot function without coffee so if there's no coffee then I'm f**ked 🙂

Depends on the situation. Zombie apocalypse that required speed and strengtht to survive, I'd be gone in the first wave. Day of the comet type event where everyone was turned to dust? There's a supermarket next to library. I'd finally get to read all the books I liked, while living off tinned fruit and chocolate. That's my idea of heaven.

Also very hangry so if there's food limitations get outa my way.