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2016: A Damnable Year

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FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Jul 24th 2016 at 11:46:03 AM

Retrenchment of nationalism. Crises world wide that seem to have a domino effect on everyone else, An economic status quo that no longer works, an wave of technologies changing the very nature of how industry, economy, and society operate, and an intensified struggle between revolutionism and pragmatism and idealism.

These factors, all together have led to perhaps one of the darkest years in modern history. And we've only just entered the second half of it.

This thread is to discuss what it all means. Is a world war brewing months down the line? Another depression or recession? Chaos? Is this much ado about nothing? Something else?

I think the only thing clear is that we've reached the End of an Age.

edited 24th Jul '16 11:46:24 AM by FFShinra

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#2: Jul 24th 2016 at 12:12:26 PM

Depressing, interesting, so opening.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#3: Jul 24th 2016 at 12:19:06 PM

The opening makes me think of this age as some form of Modern Warring States Period. War, betrayal, crises and many ordinary people caught in the middle. So I wonder, who is the Nobunaga of the planet? Who will revolutionise war, the economy and create a vision of a united world?

Maybe we'll get enough material from this thread to create a book called "The Year of Resurgence by The Tropers For The Tropers". Then put it in a time capsule.

Also the thread theme:

edited 24th Jul '16 12:31:11 PM by TerminusEst

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#4: Jul 24th 2016 at 12:41:26 PM

I think we're about to hit a dark period, I don't know if we're about to have another economic crash or if 2008 was it, but things are looking like they're going to get bad. I suspect the dark period is going to be a decade or two of things getting worse and then better, we're going to have a lot of evil and chaos to fight for the next few decades.

The one bright start is that history tends to pendulum, the coming decade or two of suck should be followed by a time of prosperity, of rebuilding and advancement as we look at the mistakes made and go "never again".

We of Generation Y may well get to be the next greatest generation, but we're going to have to suffer and loose a lot to earn that tittle, so I guess we'd better buckle up for the ride, we may not all make it.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#5: Jul 24th 2016 at 12:47:53 PM

I guess Argentina is, as always, going in the opposite direction to the rest of the world.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#6: Jul 24th 2016 at 12:58:37 PM

I dont think its been THAT bad really, it does seem like a lot of the post-cold war highs are wearing off though and that cold war kind of mentality returning.

RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#7: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:00:43 PM

Let's see: Insane, misguided terrorists; seemingly unprovoked shootings; that guy in San Diego who was burning the homeless in their sleep; those snipers in Dallas; Trump might become President; the possibility that technology will cause an massive wave of unemployment; the war on drugs...Feels like your average year in America since the 9/11 incident to me.

Who knows, maybe things will get better next year. Or maybe they won't. It all depends on who's suicidal enough to start the next world war.

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:29:11 PM

South America could be an island of stability...or if Venezuela and/or Brazil fall off a cliff, it could just be the calm before the storm for the rest of the continent.

I had thought, as the rest of the world started to get more and more fragile, that sub-Saharan Africa, in the greatest of ironies, might escape the worst of it. Now we see Robert Mugabe's regime teetering. South Africa is faltering. DR Congo remains an open sore, and South Sudan (nevermind its erstwhile master to the north) is collapsing into another Central Africa Republic.

I don't know where this all ends. I don't know who is going to set off the true madness, but I feel its imminent.

[up][up]I'd argue the post-Cold War highs died with 9/11. Certainly in the US, but in Europe as well, by affiliation.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#9: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:32:27 PM

[up]It might be wishful thinking/personal bias on my part, but Canada seems to be politically stable enough. The political parties aren't going nuts (even after two of them lost an election), Quebec separatism is at an all-time low in support, we are working through our First Nations issues. The economy is iffy but whose isn't at this point?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#10: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:33:44 PM

True, Canada seems fine. Maybe it shall take the US's mantle after all this. Wouldn't surprise me. All the advantages, none of the obvious drawbacks.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#11: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:37:32 PM

How could Canada take the US' mantle? We have 1/10th of the population and a fraction of the military/diplomatic/cultural clout.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#12: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:38:34 PM

I meant more as the beacon on the hill like the US was postwar.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#13: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:43:30 PM

If the US goes batshit, Canada and Mexico are getting dragged down with it one way or another.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#14: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:45:02 PM

If Trump goes around starting trade wars or WW3, yes. If we can avoid getting entangled in that I would think that the Americas (well, those that aren't already in deep shit, some of South America isn't looking good) could do fine.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#15: Jul 24th 2016 at 1:45:27 PM

[up][up] As well as Greenland, Central America (Who have enough problems of their own) and the Caribbean, since they are also parts of North America.

edited 24th Jul '16 1:45:39 PM by Bat178

FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#16: Jul 24th 2016 at 2:25:21 PM

When was the last time so much bad happened in one year? Honest question.

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#18: Jul 24th 2016 at 3:49:00 PM

[up] Yes, all those were much much worse. 1919, 1943, 1968, and 2003 especially, at least in modern times.

Now if Trump wins then it will top that list though.

edited 24th Jul '16 3:49:36 PM by Memers

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#19: Jul 24th 2016 at 3:51:46 PM

A lot of that list is only talking about the US, shits been going down globally this year, the Refugee Crisis in Europe, Brexit, the Eurozone crisis, Syria, the South China Sea, terrorism across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

1836 at least is international with the talk of the slave trade, but 1837 is purely US focused, 1876, 1877 and 1919 (WW 1 was over but that sucked for the US so the year was the worst ever, how American centric can one get?) are similar.

1943 probably wins out, 1968 likewise sucked globally and 2003 while certainly a starter point for a lot of bad I would say wasn't specifically the shit year itself.

I miss 2011, it was bad people dying and getting blown up them.

edited 24th Jul '16 3:57:14 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#20: Jul 24th 2016 at 3:54:53 PM

The big one, right now, I think, is the EU spinning apart. It's all a symptom of increasing wealth disparity, and populations of people in the bottom half lashing out and fighting for a larger share of an ever shrinking pie. Longer term, of course, we have peak oil and global warming.

But things have to get bad before they get better.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#21: Jul 24th 2016 at 4:01:02 PM

Most of the world isn't doing well, no, although supposedly Abenomics might be coming around again after a 2 year setback from the sales tax hike in 2014 that kicked them in the junk.

I still feel bullish on India and Pakistan's chances if they don't get undermined by ethnic strife or war. Both countries seem to start to be getting their shit together too, but India's going to have it better than Pakistan.

Mugabe's regime faltering in Zimbabwe is a good thing, as is the trouble besetting the ANC in South Africa, which could shake the sclerosis the country has settled into after the initial wave of reforms following the end of Apartheid

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#22: Jul 24th 2016 at 4:01:04 PM

The success (or lack thereof) of the those far-right nationalist parties in Europe will determine the fate of the EU I think. We can only hope that the voters over there remain sane and stay within the centre of the political spectrum.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#23: Jul 24th 2016 at 4:02:43 PM

With the luck we've had this year India and Pakistan will flare up again in the next few months, because we're not allowed silly season anymore.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#24: Jul 24th 2016 at 4:17:29 PM

With all the unrest in Kashmir I wouldn't be surprised if the sub-conintnent exploded (hopefully in a non-nuclear manner) in the near future.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#25: Jul 24th 2016 at 4:33:03 PM

[awesome]On the plus side, we're getting closer to nation-wide legalization of pot. So should shit go down, we can simply get baked to the point where we stop caring.

edited 24th Jul '16 4:33:40 PM by nervmeister


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