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?

I think I’d thrive.

I think about this loads because I read a lot of dystopian/apocalyptic fiction and love zombie films. My conclusion is that I would be totally fucked. I'm fat, unfit and useless without my glasses!
When I lived on the edge of the North Pennines, I had a vague idea I could pack up as much food as possible, find myself a deserted farm cottage in the middle of nowhere and wait until it all blew over, killing and eating the odd sheep. Delusional.

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

That's true but that's why we have laws because even the strongest most ruthless bastard is vunerable when asleep. the same thing would happen in an apocalypse - the strong would band together in a loose alliance.

If you have anything anyone needs in an apocalypse (physical property like a shot gun or medical skills or ability to construct anything from scratch) you will be ok. There are very few people like that. I have a good idea how a battery works but if the world depended on me to recreate batteries we'd have a problem. That's how it is for most of us.

If you want to survive the apocalypse you need to be either a surgeon or a builder I reckon. Anyone who has a job that mainly involves an office and a computer will be left out in the cold by the stronger ruthless bastards. You'll have to earn your keep. I don't think I could.

I'd be no use whatsoever I love my creature comforts and. An only keep in a comfy dark quiet room. Wouldn't be able to just lean against a loaf like they do in walking dead etc.

Plus I'm a fussy eater so would starve 🤣

Your common or garden apocalypse, no chance.

Now lockdown, that was when I came into my own.

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.

@Dacadactyl Do you know what it was called? I love shows like that lol.

I like to think I'm tough, fit and have some useful skills, but as a woman I'd probably check out very early (and take my children with me).

The thought of what men would do to women and children in a lawless world is sobering

No, I can't remember. I even googled about it before posting to see if the name of it came up, but no joy!

We've been watching the last of us and I 100% have zero interest in fighting to survive, I'd just do myself in early doors because I literally cannot be arsed with any of it 😁

I'd be stuffed. I have no useful skills, not a natural leader, am antisocial and unfit.

I would happily sanitise telephones if the group needed someone to do that to ensure its survival.

😂 me too
too much effort

a BBC drama where the electricity failed

I'd like to see this too.

This scares me because I think it's completely plausible electricity could fail and the whole of society is set up to rely on ielectricity. Supermarket and food supply being the most key.

The country couldn't go back to subsistence farming there isn't enough land in cities so people would drift to arable land/farms and attack farmers to get the chickens/eggs/meat/food. Anyone with a remote home with its own generator better hope they hadn't told anyone about it.

If you were in any home, you'd be vulnerable to people attacking and breaking in to get your food or anything useful in your home.

It would be horrific.

I know I flippantly mentioned zombies in the OP, but really there are many things which could create societal upheaval that would be so strange to us.

@mbosnz that sounds terrifying and surreal, how long before some sort of 'normality' was restored?

Was there a danger of looters breaking into your house, or did they kind of focus on shops or other businesses or fancy cars etc?

I grew up, as did DH, somewhere pretty self reliant. Outdoor drop toilets and a well kind of place. Growing food, keeping animals. DH has army experience, I don’t but I can fire a rifle, lights fires and I’m DIY competent too. We can rig electrics from car batteries, deal with gas …

It would t be fun, but I reckon we’re in with a chance

This scares me because I think it's completely plausible electricity could fail and the whole of society is set up to rely on ielectricity.

Yeah exactly.

We don't need zombies to suddenly have mayhem!

I think my family would be fine for a while depending on the situation. We've enough food, essentials and medication in that we could last a few months, basic survival knowledge and common sense, could easily kill for resources or self defence. Anything nuclear and we wouldn't stand a chance but zombies or general revolution we'd be fine

I would be totally fucked as I'm not strong or ruthless, and neither is anyone else in my household. I also live in a town centre so couldn't hide easily.

Dh and I are ex military and have both done survival courses, so as long as we could stay away from violent people we’d be ok! We’re both currently physically fit and don’t require much food. We’ve both gone days without.
I think I’d hear somewhere remote as people would be the main issue here.

I don't think many women would last long. The youngest would be allowed to live for reproduction, but God knows how many would die in childbirth. Apparently our hips are narrower and babies heads are bigger than historically so even more would die than in the past.
Tough luck for older women, they'd not be protected or welcome in many groups I shouldn't think.
I'm quite resourceful so if I could live wild undetected I'd be okay for a bit, but if found, probably raped and eaten. Society has gone a long way to protect the old the weak and women.

@Melbourne12 @MyCousinsNotVinny

I've googled some more and although I could've sworn it was BBC, its actually Channel 4 and available on the All4 app. It's the drama documentary one, although I have rather ruined the ending 😯Sorry!

I could cope mentally and physically. I think. Practically, I live in a small flat with no supplies and two small dc. Once it gets to the travelling nomad phase where people move around scavenging for food and supplies I think I'd come into my own.

Ex dp fancies himself as a survivalist, Rick James type. He's physically strong, but not as clever as he thinks so we'd probably kill each other arguing over a plan of action.

And if you lost or broke your glasses, you’d just get added to the dinner menu, limb by limb. 😆

Through the course of my work in the past, I unfortunately know some of the nightmarish details of what soldiers (often drugged up on god knows what) do to women in wartime.

It is surreal to think of how bad things could get in a particular set of grim circumstances. No zombies required.

@Melbourne12 @MyCousinsNotVinny didn't tell you the bloody name of it lol! It's called Blackout...the drama documentary one. Filmed Blair Witch style!!

As I said, we were some of the lucky ones - for us, it was days rather than weeks. For immediate utilities to be restored that is, reparation of damage to property was years, it was months for schools, it was months for jobs.

Looters broke into whatever. Unoccupied houses were open season. Fancy cars - well, it depended on whether they were buried under liquefaction, or rubble, or in car parks you couldn't get in to, because they could topple at any moment!

It was a funky old time.