This depends on the exact situation, how certain it is, how certain the date is, and how big are any tiny possibilities of survival.
First, realize that many groups will have already gamed the scenario and will have put their reactions in motion long before it’s public knowledge. Us mehums probably start to see effects (stock and long-term futures disruptions) before we know why. Even if there’s almost zero chance of survival, a good fraction won’t believe it’s actually zero, and will divert a LOT of resources into preparing for it, and out of maintaining the status quo for the next 5 years.
Second, realize how fragile modern civilization is. Sure, a lot will want to keep doing their jobs and getting paid, but if ANYONE in the long supply chain is one of the ones who quits, there’s no food to serve, so the waiter has no job anyway.
My prediction: with credible evidence of near-term unstoppable extinction, riots and starvation kill maybe 60% in the first 6 months, probably another 35% before the event actually occurs.
Many parameters can be changed to lead to different reactions. It doesn’t take much uncertainty to let people live in denial and stick with the status quo (but note that if the elites take it seriously, this lets them plan but makes the masses more likely to give up). It doesn’t take much hope of stopping it to get enough people to band together WW2-style to both carry on and conserve, and to contribute to the survival effort.
This depends on the exact situation, how certain it is, how certain the date is, and how big are any tiny possibilities of survival.
First, realize that many groups will have already gamed the scenario and will have put their reactions in motion long before it’s public knowledge. Us mehums probably start to see effects (stock and long-term futures disruptions) before we know why. Even if there’s almost zero chance of survival, a good fraction won’t believe it’s actually zero, and will divert a LOT of resources into preparing for it, and out of maintaining the status quo for the next 5 years.
Second, realize how fragile modern civilization is. Sure, a lot will want to keep doing their jobs and getting paid, but if ANYONE in the long supply chain is one of the ones who quits, there’s no food to serve, so the waiter has no job anyway.
My prediction: with credible evidence of near-term unstoppable extinction, riots and starvation kill maybe 60% in the first 6 months, probably another 35% before the event actually occurs.
Many parameters can be changed to lead to different reactions. It doesn’t take much uncertainty to let people live in denial and stick with the status quo (but note that if the elites take it seriously, this lets them plan but makes the masses more likely to give up). It doesn’t take much hope of stopping it to get enough people to band together WW2-style to both carry on and conserve, and to contribute to the survival effort.