Suppose I said a HUGE comet was on the way and Earth had 1 year....

[Junkdrawer]

Would you empty out the bank accounts and start spending "like there's no tomorrow"?

Wouldn't everyone -- who could? Who would work? Drugs?

What if it were 10 years? How about 100?

See where I'm going? See how the belief in the future is the very basis of much of morality and the very fabric of society?

What the hell are WE doing to the kids?

[Duer 157099]

1. I suppose I would join NASA

and try to figure out what to do.

[Scootaloo]

2. I'd buy a T-rex costume

You know, for the last day.

[Nye Bevan]

3. No, I would probably just think you were some nut (nt)

[Buzz Clik]

4. Excellent point.

A lot of DUers and extremists on the right are convinced we are destroying the world. Most people are not. Thank God.

[chervilant]

27. "A lot of DUers"

recognize that we're damaging our ecosystem, insofar as it has been 'optimal' for our species to hedonistically pursue our technological prowess with little regard for consequences. But this planet has been here millions of years before our pathetic species put in an appearance. Doubtless, it will be here long after we exit the scene.

[Buzz Clik]

28. "A lot of DUers"

don't care about environmental issues at all.

My original point stands.

[chervilant]

31. Oooh, yes..

Because it's all about winning!

[Buzz Clik]

32. Winning? Hardly. You made a semantic move, and I countered.

[0rganism]

34. a winning move! you're on the path to victory

keep going, you could win the entire thread

[chervilant]

36. Here's the deal, clik:

(and, I'm not surprised by this outcome),

I was going for irony, hence the quotation marks around 'a lot of DUers.' Unless you've done a scientifically defensible study, you are not qualified to state unequivocally what "a lot of DUers" do or do not believe, despite your propensity to do so. Nor am I, hence my follow up in my post with what I personally believe, continuing the irony -- which you apparently missed entirely.

Since I've seen this type of exchange between you and others, I anticipated your 'get the last word' rebuttal. Obviously, you did not disappoint.

I hope you'll think about this the next time you're tempted to pontificate about what "a lot of DUers" believe.

[LiberalAndProud]

5. I've been partying like it's 1999 since ... 1999.

The world rolls on.

But when I woke up there this mornin',
Could've sworn it was judgment day.
The sky was all purple,
There were people running everywhere,
Tryin' to run from the destruction,
You know I didn't even care.

'Cause they say 2,000 zero zero party over, oops! Out of time!
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999!

[graham4anything]

6. Great article by Joel Stein who indeed is correct. Thanks for posting.

life is more than 60 character tweets and video games as the me me me me's

If the end is coming, second thing I would do is pull the plug on the internet and if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with (c)Stephen Stills.

First thing I would do is shoot up a drone on the comet and then life would go on.

Actually, Alan Jackson said it best after 9-11.
I would put on an I love Lucy or Honeymooners episode

Why would someone waste the time shopping or on the computer or facebook on drugs or drink?
No thanks.

[jberryhill]

9. Who is running the power plant?

You'll put I Love Lucy on what?

[Junkdrawer]

10. The more capable the person, the more likely they'd have the resources to drop out.

or at least try.

If it were 10 years, who would go to med school? Work for that PhD in engineering?

[graham4anything]

12. my battery operated dvd player.

[LunaSea]

7. Just a reminder, Comet ISON is inbound.....

http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/18/17361256-astronomers-gear-up-for-comet-of-the-century?lite

[Warren DeMontague]

22. And mad about the moon bombin'!

Mad Mad Mad!

[pinboy3niner]

8. That one-way trip to Mars would be looking better

But it wouldn't be ready in time if cometpocalypse is only a year away.

[roamer65]

33. Not necessarily a good idea.

Google comet siding spring. At this point due to make a very close flyby of mars in October 2014. Chances for an impact have recently decreased, but still a rather close call...estimated at 68,000 miles.
We should be just a few months off inferior conjunction with Mars at that time, so I certainly will be viewing if clouds don't block it.

[alphafemale]

11. Apples would taste amazing. Making a baby laugh would be the best thing you did all day.

You'd love a red balloon.

[hunter]

13. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1307068

[WCGreen]

16. I started watching the movie...

Ehh...

[Electric Monk]

17. Melancholia

Two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with the Earth.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1527186/

[Junkdrawer]

20. On the Beach...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Beach_(1959_film)

[Mojorabbit]

21. That movie had a big effect on me when I was a kid. nt

[randome]

30. Scariest movie of all.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Junkdrawer]

14. My answers (before I cash it in for the night)....

1 yr or less: Pretty much complete social collapse

10 yrs: Very perceivable effects at first, getting worse, of course, as the years tick on.

100 yrs (longer than any 1 lifetime): Much more subtle with the effects more notable the higher up the social ladder you go, and, I'm afraid, pretty close to where we're at today: A moral rotting at the top and that horrible example trickling slowly down.

[hollysmom]

15. I don't think oif my niece as selfish, she does live with her parents

for 2 reasons, 1) she can't get a job and does random modeling and extra work for cash. @) she is the only thing keeping them from killing each other. She is a very caring person, came and took care of me when I was ill.

[raouldukelives]

18. It'd be about the same. I'd just go along and try to help people/critters as I can.

Of course, practically everyone else would only be concerned about their own skin and would be willing to trample anyone to get ahead.
So yeah, no difference really.

[DiverDave]

19. BUCKET LIST!

Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane for a start

[Marrah_G]

23. Got no money to spend

I'd keep on working. Still gotta eat and have a place to sleep.

[Tien1985]

26. Yeah

I'm not sure how anyone could afford not to work. If a comet was coming in a year, I'd rather not be starving and homeless for 11 months of that time.

[Inkfreak]

29. Haha! This is funny cause I think it's true!!!

[Fla_Democrat]

24. I saw that movie

Wasn't too impressed...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1307068/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan.

[Junkdrawer]

25. Never heard of it until this thread....

Last edited Wed May 15, 2013, 07:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Now I'll keep an eye out for it when it hits the movie channels.....

[Orrex]

35. Most of the people on Earth wouldn't even know about it until it was over

Most of the people who hear about it will deny it, assuming either that it will miss Earth entirely, or that God will intervene to save us at the last minute, many of them identifying the asteroid as God's punishment for abortion or homosexuality or food stamps or whatever.

Most of the rest of the people who hear about it will keep on as if nothing has changed, right up to the last futile minute.


A tiny fraction that understands and accepts the inevitable apocalypse will try to live better lives and spend their final year in meaningful interaction with the people who are most important to them.