Fear of the Unknown: Why I'm scared of 2020

[Happpy]

Let's be realists here; the only way we're ever going to un-fuck our current situations are if our politicians start thinking less about the economy and more about ecology. The environment has been destroyed only because greedlords rule the countries of the world!
I'm looking at you, America.

Maybe you should look at China instead considering they're the worst pollutant in the world.

That's whataboutism. You're trying to deflect everything to China, and while they are the biggest polluter, guess who's the second biggest polluter is? America.

But both countries have been taking at least SOME measures against climate change, which is better than nothing I guess. Still think there should be more done to curb pollution.

[Totenborg]

I've been listening to a lot of Shining, myself, lately.

[Dumb Ideologies]

The year of perfect clarity, the ruin of the eyeglass manufacturer.

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

The current outlook on the world at the moment also has me pretty depressed as well.

There is a way to keep the economy powerful while fighting climate change, it’s called nuclear power plants, specifically thorium power plants. Quit using fossil fuels and renewables and go fully nuclear.

Thorium gang represent!

[Aureumterra]

Lmao why do doomsday threads come around every December?

[Purpelia]

The OP seriously needs to watch some Monty Python. In particular the ending to "Life of Brian". Everyone who has will know exactly what I mean.

[Aureumterra]

Maybe you should look at China instead considering they're the worst pollutant in the world.

That's whataboutism. You're trying to deflect everything to China, and while they are the biggest polluter, guess who's the second biggest polluter is? America.

But both countries have been taking at least SOME measures against climate change, which is better than nothing I guess. Still think there should be more done to curb pollution.

Second place is India

[Aureumterra]

Let's be realists here; the only way we're ever going to un-fuck our current situations are if our politicians start thinking less about the economy and more about ecology. The environment has been destroyed only because greedlords rule the countries of the world!
I'm looking at you, America.

You’re looking at the wrong place then

[Aureumterra]

Im mortified of 2020. I hope I'm wrong but ill likely be end of the country I though I know and the end of free and fair elections

[Aureumterra]

What's causing this panic and pessimism?

People alarmed that Trump/Johnson/Bolsonaro/Modi won, is what I gather

[Paddy O Fernature]

We can't prevent climate change anymore. It's time to give up and surrender.

And become a Desert Punk.

Laughs in V8 Interceptor...

I've been listening to a lot of Shining, myself, lately.

Not bad, though I would humbly suggest Gary Jules "Mad World" for thread theme song myself.

Lmao why do doomsday threads come around every December?

Really should be called "NS Winter" honestly.

The OP seriously needs to watch some Monty Python. In particular the ending to "Life of Brian". Everyone who has will know exactly what I mean.

Well played Sir. Well played indeed.

[Gagium]

You all really think they're be a 2020 to be scared of? Clearly the world will end the instant 2020 begins, so there's nothing to be scared of!

[Purpelia]

Lmao why do doomsday threads come around every December?

The cold and very short days and long nights in combination with regular work/school patterns means that most of us get little to no sunlight which is vital for good mood in general. In combination with the fact that new year is typically the time for reflecting on the past years and it's understandable people will become somewhat depressed. And than people go on to apply that attitude to the world around them resulting in general pessimism.

[The Emerald Legion]

Lmao why do doomsday threads come around every December?

The cold and very short days and long nights in combination with regular work/school patterns means that most of us get little to no sunlight which is vital for good mood in general. In combination with the fact that new year is typically the time for reflecting on the past years and it's understandable people will become somewhat depressed. And than people go on to apply that attitude to the world around them resulting in general pessimism.

Sunlight sucks. I worked outside for half a decade. It was a living hell.

[Kowani]

That's whataboutism. You're trying to deflect everything to China, and while they are the biggest polluter, guess who's the second biggest polluter is? America.

But both countries have been taking at least SOME measures against climate change, which is better than nothing I guess. Still think there should be more done to curb pollution.

Second place is India

Which also happens to be the only major polluter track to meet their climate goals.

[Krasny-Volny]

As we draw closer to the New Year, there isn't much in 2019 to celebrate. Australia is in flames, the global economy continues to slow, the dramatic rise of depression in young people (including me). The world seems to teeter on collapse, and no one seems to know what will happen. I'm worried that this Christmas will be the last time I feel truly happy, and everything will downhill after. My mind often has questions like "Will there be an economic collapse in 2020?", "Will I live past 30 or 40?", "Will food shortages begin en masse next year?", "Will there finally be a blue ocean event?". The uncertainty of whether I'll live another year kills me. I'm stuck in a headspace of constant worry and despair and I have no one IRL to talk to about this collapse stuff. I see young kids laughing or crying and inside I feel sorrow, I don't want those small kids to suffer so much. 2020 might be the global wake up call, but I fear, and I'm probably right, that call will be ignored and business will continue as "usual".

Sounds like you have a case of TMI. Too much information. You’re overly educated about the contemporary problems of the world and therefore have become anxious and helped fuel your depression despite the fact that some of these have no direct impact on you (Outback wildfires) or you are impotent to actually help resolve them (bad politics and environmental degradation).

Here’s my solution - don’t follow the news and keep your brain occupied with social activities on the weekend and a punctual, disciplined routine during the workeeek. You’ll find you won’t have time to worry about nuclear holocaust or climate change because you’re too busy with things you can actually influence.

Aside from local weather and whatever ten second headlines they find time to spout off in the mornings on the radio during my commute, I swore off the news four years ago. Now I watch The Andy Griffith Show instead, or better yet, go out and do something other than stare at the idiot box. This has done wonders to ease any impending sense of doom.

I also work a field job in the environmental sector and hope to make a career out of it in the long run, so the fact that I’m physically making some small difference also helps enormously to relieve any threat of existential anxiety concerning environmental issues. I’m content I’m doing my part, and if catastrophe overtakes us all anyway I can say at least I tried.

OP, getting involved in the sector which is contributing the most towards your feelings of depression and anxiety, whether as an activist or for a career, is the best way to overcome those negative thoughts permanently - aside from the good you’re doing for something you’re clearly passionate about.

[Auze]

There is a way to keep the economy powerful while fighting climate change, it’s called nuclear power plants, specifically thorium power plants. Quit using fossil fuels and renewables and go fully nuclear.

Ermm... why get rid of renewables? You can't put nuclear power plants everywhere, and there are plenty of areas with naturally massive sources of usable renewable power.

[Samadhi]

There is a way to keep the economy powerful while fighting climate change, it’s called nuclear power plants, specifically thorium power plants. Quit using fossil fuels and renewables and go fully nuclear.

Ermm... why get rid of renewables? You can't put nuclear power plants everywhere, and there are plenty of areas with naturally massive sources of usable renewable power.

You can put nuclear power plants everywhere. They put them on submarines.

Small modular reactors are the way.

"Renewable" is a bad scam.

[Pavonistade]

There are a few things I'll pay close attention to in 2020, like the Democratic primaries. Not sure how worried I am, though.

[Auze]

Ermm... why get rid of renewables? You can't put nuclear power plants everywhere, and there are plenty of areas with naturally massive sources of usable renewable power.

You can put nuclear power plants everywhere. They put them on submarines.

Small modular reactors are the way.

"Renewable" is a bad scam.

The middle of the Sahara desert? I do not think the word "scam" means what you think it means. Renewable has been a practical source of power for much of the world for a century, and it has only grown in practicality since. A large portion of my state would have been out of luck without renewable, and we have a fair amount of nuclear plants.

[Radiatia]

Let's be realists here; the only way we're ever going to un-fuck our current situations are if our politicians start thinking less about the economy and more about ecology. The environment has been destroyed only because greedlords rule the countries of the world!
I'm looking at you, America.

I totally disagree. A lot of the solutions that environmentalists propose - carbon taxes, reduced production or an abandonment of fossil fuels for as-yet non existent alternative energy sources will lead to an increase in food and fuel costs, and it will be the poor who will be hit disproportionately the hardest.

That's not to say I don't think we need to be more environmentally responsible, and I'm totally behind replacing unsustainable energy sources with sustainable ones - but to claim that it is the most important issue in people's lives? To me that smacks of middle class privilege.

[Galloism]

Let's be realists here; the only way we're ever going to un-fuck our current situations are if our politicians start thinking less about the economy and more about ecology. The environment has been destroyed only because greedlords rule the countries of the world!
I'm looking at you, America.

I totally disagree. A lot of the solutions that environmentalists propose - carbon taxes, reduced production or an abandonment of fossil fuels for as-yet non existent alternative energy sources will lead to an increase in food and fuel costs, and it will be the poor who will be hit disproportionately the hardest.

That's not to say I don't think we need to be more environmentally responsible, and I'm totally behind replacing unsustainable energy sources with sustainable ones - but to claim that it is the most important issue in people's lives? To me that smacks of middle class privilege.

Some people have proposed other solutions.

[Samadhi]

You can put nuclear power plants everywhere. They put them on submarines.

Small modular reactors are the way.

"Renewable" is a bad scam.

The middle of the Sahara desert? I do not think the word "scam" means what you think it means. Renewable has been a practical source of power for much of the world for a century, and it has only grown in practicality since. A large portion of my state would have been out of luck without renewable, and we have a fair amount of nuclear plants.

No no, it means exactly that. As a niche energy source it's well, niche. As one to meet the needs of the future it's not relevant. It's more a cats paw to be used in populist politics.

[Ndaku]

(I John 4:17-19)
17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19We love Him because He first loved us.

[The Liberated Territories]

We hadn't had a world war yet like the last century, so that at least is a plus.