Do you believe civilization will collapse?

[King of the Wastes]

So I wanted to know everyone's opinion on this. Do you think that the first Global Civilization is going to crash and burn? Or do you think that everything will go on as it has.

[vault72]

I don't think this is humanity's first go around nor will it be our last, we're like roaches.

[King of the Wastes]

That is true, humanity has been pushed to the edge before. I am sure we can bounce back from just about anything.

[vault72]

Due to extreme weather patterns and increase in geological incidents, fanaticism, complexity of a technologically dependant society, something is bound to happen. Whether it be effects of global warming such as climate shifts that make potable water less available or crop areas less fruitful there by increasing food costs or by displacing people forcing other areas' resources to be strained causing a cascade effect. If due to earthquakes, super volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes doing all that has been mentioned already, coupled with disease due to poor sanitation and decaying bodies. If through acts of terrorism such as chemical, biological, dirty or nuclear devices causing a fall from within due to fear and strain on systems. If through societal or economic collapse, resource scarcity or depletion, collapse of telecommunication systems or EMP. Any of the above isn't so much as a 'what if?' as they are a "WHEN". All you can do is try to be prepared, or as the saying goes "Prepare for the worst but hope for the best".

[King of the Wastes]

You forgot to mention Solar activity. If the sun where to go through another time where the surface darkens, or a massive solar flare(next one is predicted to happen in 2012) we could have a either a ice age or massive blackouts. That saying by the way is one I love I gotta say.

[vault72]

That was part implied with the EMP under a technologically dependant society. I tried to put everything into one of those 3 categories and the solar activity of the sun's pole reversal in 2012 was what I was referring to, the probability of a continental effecting EMP would only be possible from a strategic launch or space borne weapons platform, not really high on my immediate or short term probability charts

[King of the Wastes]

Haha!! You still forgot the darkening of the sun though!! Caused lowered temperatures.

[vault72]

That's not short or medium term likely but would be covered under extreme weather and geological

[King of the Wastes]

It is a rather long term thing, at least 2 years.

[vault72]

That's a holy bible revelations thing not something expected to happen in literal terms. If you are referring to sun spots, those move or go away and have no real noticeable impact on the amount of solar radiation the earth receives. Even if all the dark sun spots came together to form one massive spot, unless it followed the path of the earth during rotation it wouldn't be such an issue for such a period of time as to cause mass extinction, lowered temps yes during a certain period of time during our rotation only as our orbit around the sun is elliptical which denotes that we are still on a self correcting path due to something catastrophic, most likely from the series of large impacts the earth suffered that is considered the cause of several exinction level events in earth's history.

[King of the Wastes]

I remember from history class there was a short time when decreased solar activity caused lower temps for a few years, not long but for a short time.

[vault72]

We are expected to have high solar activity between now and 2013 due to the pole reversal in the sun with expecting sloar flares/bursts to be directed at the earth. The potential for power grid failures or telecommunications blackouts is probably the worst that will happen. The planetary alignment thats suppose to happen in 2012, now that has the potential to cause super volcanoes to erupt , earthquakes and tsunamis due to increased gravitional forces being exerted on the planet. The potential there gives the aftermath a great ability to cause an extinction level event. The ash would block most of the sunlight turning the earth into a temporary iceball killing off most plants then animals and us that haven't prepared. The blocking of the sun is expected to last for 2 years but the earth would stay cold for alittle while longer as the more ice there is the more solar radiation that is reflected back out into space keeping the earth colder then the norm. Telltale signs is suppose to be increased geological activity such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoe eruptions the closer you get to the alignment and continue for an equal amount of years after the alignment so a total of a 6 to 7 year period starting in 2009 and ending probably around the begining of 2016, if, what they say is true, current activity would suggest that they may be on to something with this one. Scary when you consider that we have a super volcanoe and plenty of fault lines in America, hell I live next to fault line and so do you. The super volcanoe wouldn't threaten you initially due to trade winds but I would probably get covered in fly ash cement yay!

[King of the Wastes]

Not a big fan of that one I gotta say.

[pastmaster]

I think it's a hoax/misunderstanding/flat out lie from people who think their experts but don't know jack. It's the polar ices all over again

[King of the Wastes]

You think what is? Which scenario do you think is?