avatarEdward John

Summary

The article discusses a hypothetical scenario where an individual wakes up to find themselves the last person on Earth, exploring the psychological and practical implications of such an event.

Abstract

In a thought experiment presented by the article, the author contemplates the experience of waking up to a world devoid of other people. The narrative begins with the protagonist's realization of the eerie silence and absence of human activity. The author outlines a five-step plan detailing how they would confirm their solitude, explore their surroundings, and eventually indulge in the freedom of an empty world. This plan includes checking the internet and contacting loved ones for signs of life, rummaging through neighbors' homes for insight into their absence, and broadening exploration to include other towns and significant buildings like the Houses of Parliament. The article also introduces a twist where the solitude turns out to be an experiment with hidden cameras, akin to "The Truman Show," leaving the protagonist to face the consequences of their actions during the isolation. The author muses on the ethical dilemmas and the potential for liberating experiences in such a scenario.

Opinions

  • The author expresses a sense of intrigue and opportunity at the prospect of unrestricted exploration in the absence of other people.
  • There is an acknowledgment of the uncharacteristic behavior that might ensue, such as breaking into homes and potentially engaging in silly or embarrassing acts due to the lack of societal norms.
  • The article suggests a morbid curiosity in the personal lives of others, as evidenced by the desire to read diaries and access computers.
  • A sense of vulnerability and self-consciousness is implied in the twist, where the protagonist realizes they have been observed the entire time.
  • The author raises concerns about the moral implications of their actions during the period of perceived isolation.
  • The piece reflects on the potential for societal collapse in the absence of humans, such as starving animals and unattended nuclear reactors, through comments from other users.

Imagine This: You Wake Up One Day and Everyone Else Has Disappeared

How would the total isolation make you feel?

Photo by Pietro De Grandi on Unsplash.

Picture the scene: you wake up to complete silence and stillness.

You look out your bedroom window and nothing is going on. No sounds of human activity, and nobody in sight. No cars on the road. No people going about their daily life.

What would you do?

This is what I would do.

Step 1: Confirm that nobody else exists

First of all, I would look on the internet to see if there are any signs of life anywhere in the world. I would also try contacting friends and family. Once I had confirmed that I am the only person on Planet Earth, I would start to explore.

Step 2: Start to nosey around my neighbours’ houses

I would begin by tentatively looking through the windows. Then I would break into a few of them and have a proper rummage around.

I would look to see if there were any personal diaries/journals to read. I would also see if I could gain access to anyone’s computers to see what’s on those.

I would never do anything like this normally, so this would be a wonderful opportunity.

Step 3: Explore other buildings

I’ve always loved the idea of exploring somewhere like a school or hospital with nobody in it. It would be fascinating to look around and see what’s there. Wandering around the rooms and corridors all alone with complete freedom. That would feel liberating.

Step 4: Explore other towns

Once I had looked around all the interesting buildings in my own town, I would broaden my search. It would be particularly interesting to go into some larger towns and cities. I could get to explore some really big buildings.

Maybe eventually I could end up going round the Houses of Parliament in London.

Step 5: Start doing really silly things

If this went on long enough, I might start doing some daft things. I’m not quite sure what. I don’t know, but maybe if it was summer I might run around naked or something.

The twist

What if you woke up one day and everyone existed again?

What if it turned out that it was all an experiment? Everyone had gone away and hidden somewhere. You didn’t realise hidden cameras were everywhere and everyone was watching you. Sort of like The Truman Show.

People might ask you questions like:

  • Why did you eat all my cornflakes?
  • Why did you rummage through my underwear drawer?
  • Why did you wear my knickers on your head
  • Are you going to pay for my broken window?

Notable responses

From dsm2240:

Pity the starving zoo and aquarium animals and pets.

All the nuclear reactors would eventually melt down.

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What If
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