Could you handle living in a rougher, tougher society?

[fuckingcoldshowers]

Thinking about this as it's freezing where I am, and thanking my lucky stars we can stick the heating on.

I would be 100% shit in a tougher world. Anything from the grinding hardship of WW2 to dystopias like The Walking Dead. I'd be so shit I mean, actually I wouldn't survive in the first place but if the universe was having a laugh and I did make it past the initial event, I'd be rubbish. I mean, obviously it would be very scary and devastating, but the sheer MISERY of it all would sap my motivation to survive, I reckon.

I can't think straight when I'm really hungry. Also, hanger would lead to some sort of stupid spat with the wrong person.

I'm also terrible without decent sleep. After enough sleep deprivation I'd give up.

Finally - even if fed and sleeping I cannot deal with no nice, clean shower or bathing facilities. I'd be SO CRANKY feeling grubby and dishevelled all the time, traipsing around trying to survive.

Could you adapt well and cope cheerfully without these basics after the apocalypse?

No...I'm as soft as butter in a sauna

Traipsing around trying to survive 😂
I’d be the same!

I always think I wouldn't cope well either, having lived (by global standards) a very privileged life. Never had to live with real hunger, never had to go without heating or washing for more than a day or so.

Having said that people do cope with things when push comes to shove. I think most people do what they can to survive.

Definitely easier when you're younger though. I could handle a bit of hardship when I was younger. Not so much now.

I go to Burning Man every year. Some years are pretty dystopian and apocalyptic (2022 and 2023, I’m looking at you) and by the end of the week my cup makes every liquid it touches taste like licking a urinal cake, but it’s all tempered by the knowledge that there’s only ten days of actual apocalypse and the best hot shower of the year at the end of it. Manageable dystopia.

Decently well when younger but far too fat and unfit and CBA now

which I guess is why everyone was dead by 50 a few hundred years ago (if they were lucky)

I get annoyed when people queue poorly so probably not.

I often think no wonder the Middle Ages and beyond were said to be dirty and smelly. Who the hell would choose to bathe outdoors in weather like this?! Sod that, I'd rather smell.

I just don't think our brains are set up for survival on that level anymore. I work with homeless people and when I see how some of them have set up makeshift camps, they're dirty and smell, they eat whatever they can find, wrapped up in sleeping bags and several layers of clothing I just think, could I really do that?!

I think I'm well built for survival, but I'd be miserable. Being cold makes me miserable. Our brains evolved to keep us alive, not to keep us happy.

I'm not cut throat enough. Definitely not likely to survive.

It’s so hard to imagine coping but when there’s literally no other choice? I think most of us would surprise ourselves with resilience we never even knew we had! But yeah I get the cold thing I’m also a wimp. I hate winter!

Ah yes, the smell.

Can you imagine how grim it would be when the toothpaste runs out?

I’m stabby without coffee so that would be a huge problem.

I always think I'd much rather die in the initial disaster, I just couldn't be doing with it.

I can cope with a lot of stuff, but I hate being unwashed and I'm not great when I'm cold.

Do any of you remember after the war? Cold houses (most houses were pretty cold no central heating) and rations or if not actual rationing real shortages. You get a bit tougher but survived. My bedroom always had ice on the inside of the window in winter when I was young, the only heated room was the living room with a coal fire. We have maybe got a bit soft, but I really like it now!

Definitely no, but DH would and he’d save me 🤣

Im reading a book right now about Leningrad when the Germans were trying to invade Russia and it sounds horrifying.

The feels like temp where I live is -25C right now and I have barely opened a door!! I’m delighted to not have to work today!

Surely you just go to the Winchester and wait for it all to blow over

You'll be pleased to know that being 'fat and unfit' is an advantage. In survival situations, like restricted food and water, the first to fall over are the tall, slim, muscly men. Calorie needs are too high and they are 'needed' evolutionarily. Last to die, short fat women. Chub for the win!

I've worked in homeless shelters, travelled in the majority world, and lived in Croydon so I think I'd last longer than some. I would NOT enjoy it though. I like my comforts.

I don't think I'd have the will to survive. My will is about responsibilities and quality of life. I'd only be sticking it out to protect my family and even then, I'd probably be talking them into a quick, painless suicide 😂

Part of me thinks I'd quite like to not have to confirm to societal norms anymore. No need to make polite small talk, or go to work, or pay bills.

Just hole up somewhere remote and try to avoid other humans.

In reality I'd probably be dead within the first week - probably from tripping over or losing my glasses.

Or I'd find myself somehow responsible for admin crap in a larger group where I'd have to be pleasant to everyone whilst finding the end of the world boring as fuck.

In my fantasies I'm very capable and strong, and discover my frequently suppressed irritation with people in general becomes a superpower where I take no shit and headbutt people in the face if they try to threaten me.

This is true. I read a book about the north Korean famine. First to die are infants and very elderly people. Then men, as you say tall, muscly ones especially. Fat adult women fair the best

Nope. Whenever I see a historical drama, or go to visit a castle or something, I mainly just think "it must have been so flipping cold 80% of the time"

I’d probably survive for a while. Short, fat and robust - I come from a long line of peasants. Wouldn’t be much fun though.

I have this thought every time I watch Dr Zhivago on the telly. It looks horrendous and I’m not sure I would want to survive… they don’t even get a happy ending!

I would suck. I have a very easy life and I am a total snob.