avatarAngus Peterson

Summary

The website content discusses the concept of global collapse, a multifaceted process impacting society, economics, and the environment, which is being ignored by the masses despite its ongoing nature.

Abstract

The article titled "The Frightening Reality of Global Collapse" delves into the grim realization that the world is facing an unprecedented period of decline across various sectors including economics, politics, climate, and social structures. It suggests that the phenomenon of hypernormalization—where society is aware of systemic issues but lacks the will or vision to change—is contributing to the inertia in addressing these crises. The author argues that the collapse is not a singular event but a gradual process, evidenced by increasing income disparities, political dysfunction, climate-related disasters, and a general sense of societal malaise. The article emphasizes that while the collapse is happening in real-time, manifesting in deteriorating food quality, economic strain, and resource scarcity, societal norms discourage open discussion about these issues, perpetuating a cycle of denial and inaction.

Opinions

  • The author believes that the current state of affairs is leading to the inevitable collapse of civilization, a process that is already underway.
  • There is a perception that the wealthy are benefiting at the expense of the general populace, exacerbating income inequality.
  • Political systems are failing to address critical issues effectively, and in some cases, are actively contributing to the problem.
  • Climate change is a significant factor in the collapse, causing extreme weather events and impacting food production.
  • The media's portrayal of current events contributes to a sense of impending doom and societal dysfunction.
  • The concept of hypernormalization is used to describe the collective acceptance of a 'fake

The Frightening Reality of Global Collapse

It’s not just theory anymore.

(Image credit: Pixabay)

It’s no secret that things are not as they should be (if they ever were). Everything seems…off.

  • Our income is lower but prices are higher, all the while the rich get richer.
  • Politicians can’t govern, but laws are passed (or rather, struck down) restricting our rights.
  • The weather is both hotter and colder than our childhood memories.
  • The media is a constant scry of bad omens.
  • War is seemingly always somewhere.

If these sentiments ring true, then rest assured you are in good company. So many of us see these things happening, and more, but don’t talk about them out of fear of being a Debbie Downer.

But you’re not crazy. And you’re not alone.

What you’ve been feeling is the realization that the world is literally collapsing around us, but no one can prevent it, stop it, or change it even one single iota.

It’s called hypernormalization, and it will be the undoing of humanity.

“HyperNormalisation” is a word that was coined by a brilliant Russian historian who was writing about what it was like to live in the last years of the Soviet Union. What he said, which I thought was absolutely fascinating, was that in the 80s everyone from the top to the bottom of Soviet society knew that it wasn’t working, knew that it was corrupt, knew that the bosses were looting the system, knew that the politicians had no alternative vision. And they knew that the bosses knew they knew that. Everyone knew it was fake, but because no one had any alternative vision for a different kind of society, they just accepted this sense of total fakeness as normal. And this historian, Alexei Yurchak, coined the phrase “HyperNormalisation” to describe that feeling.

I thought “that’s a brilliant title” because, although we are not in any way really like the Soviet Union, there is a similar feeling in our present day. Everyone in my country and in America and throughout Europe knows that the system that they are living under isn’t working as it is supposed to; that there is a lot of corruption at the top. But whenever the journalists point it out, everyone goes “Wow that’s terrible!” and then nothing happens and the system remains the same.

There is a sense of everything being slightly unreal; that you fight a war that seems to cost you nothing and it has no consequences at home; that money seems to grow on trees; that goods come from China and don’t seem to cost you anything; that phones make you feel liberated but that maybe they’re manipulating you but you’re not quite sure. It’s all slightly odd and slightly corrupt.

The above description is just another way of saying that we are all putting our collective heads in the sand and ignoring the current collapse of the entire world. From climate change to war to economics to food production to health to education, it’s all going down, and it’s going down in real time.

Collapse is not an event; it’s a process.

For the survivalist junkies out there, you will probably not be required to fend off the Golden Horde after an EMP attack disables all electrical devices.

Rather, it will be the slow and inexorable decline in food quality, via the erosion of our topsoil and industrial agriculture

Food production and availability will decrease due to climate change induced extreme weather events and crop failures, resulting in increased prices.

We’ll all be working jobs and getting a paycheck, but they will stretch less and less each year.

And if this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s happening now, right now, in real time, right under our noses.

But no one talks about it because they’ll get ballyhooed and be a social pariah, because everyone wants to party like it’s 1999.

If you think I’m lying, check out this article from Alan Urban. It describes 10 categories of collapse that were predicted decades ago and are now coming true.

The Takeaway

Water is running short. Food is running out. The Earth is getting hotter.

All this, and more, will lead to civil unrest, national and international wars, and the largest mass migrations we have ever seen.

If you think you’re ready for collapse, think again. Because unless you realize that you’re already in the middle of it, then you’re just burying your head further each day in the sand.

Climate Change
Collapse
Economy
Politics
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