im so scared about how the world is becoming, especially with AI and billionaires (i also cant stand the current state of the world)

Posted by Positive_Garlic5128@reddit | collapse | View on Reddit | 61 comments

I'm so scared about how things are evolving "for the worse" with how people aren't being held accountable for the epstein files, how AI is taking away jobs, how social media and AI is making people dumber, and war + nuclear weaponry..

What about AI and the wealthy top percents solidifying their control through tech and AI? I don't understand what's going on but especially with countries like the US and the power of billionaires and how most people dont seem to know or care about this is so terrifying

my worst fear isn't even death but how terrible things can get and how terrible things are happening to people all over the world right now and that I can't do enough about it.

i already do my small part like donating when i can and raising awareness and stuff but it feels so unhelpable from my current capabilities.. im so scared about it happening to my loved ones too..

i already have so much internal trauma to deal with and am sucidal as is but all this makes life so much more hopeless and unbearable.. I don't know what to do and I'm so terrified i dont understand why everyone else doesnt feel this way and isnt suicidal and even wants to have kids in a world like this..

What's going to happen or is it all not as bad as it seems? How the hell do I cope..

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DaFuK_4@reddit

I know it’s scary but it has to collapse in order for humanity to grow. The other side of this storm will produce better sunny days.

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Curious-Row2410@reddit

Dude the most credible evidence is implying 50% human mortality by midcentury. Put down the copium pipe.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

what will be the cause of the mortality? by mid century you mean 2050?

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Curious-Row2410@reddit

The one study (UK Society of Actuaries January 2025) was giving it as 50% excess mortality due to all causes - temperature, storms, drought, food systems collapse, conflict etc.

That was predicated on 3°C warming by 2050. We have no firm proof that we will hit that by then but if you've been reading this sub you've seen plenty of individual signs that things are accelerating - I'm with Hansen et al.

I think we'll have a BOE and mass permafrost melt as the biggest accelerators.

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fratticus_maximus@reddit

What would you say is the "most credible evidence" to corroborate your point?

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DaFuK_4@reddit

You will see.

I’m a woman, btw

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ApesAPoppin237@reddit

I mean, I would love for you to be right and hope you are, but that's just not where the evidence is pointing.

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DaFuK_4@reddit

You are looking for evidence in the wrong places. Keep looking.

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Ok_Possibility_4354@reddit

I genuinely think the most rational response to all of this is to do your best to live your dream life and become the person you always hoped to be. Not to ignore what is happening— but in case it does turn in the way we are all scared it will turn— you’ll know you lived as full of a life as you could have given the circumstances. Hike that trail you’ve been putting off, try that new restaurant, take a painting or pottery class, make that food that’s intimidated you for years but has always been on the back of your mind, take an exercise class bc it’s always seemed like something you’d do. Do it while knowing the world is burning and at the end you can know that your time was enough, this is what I am trying to do at least 🤷🏼‍♀️

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Front_River_2367@reddit

You can also organize with a serious political org that seeks to make a difference. Even if the attempt is futile, you can at least live knowing you fought the good fight.

This tendency towards escapism and individual fulfillment is part of the reason we're in this mess. People don't believe that positive change can happen when it absolutely can, we just need to foster mass-movements through class-consciousness to start.

I'm not saying that living a full life is bad, but don't make your entire existence about yourself when we're all in this together whether you like it or not.

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Ok_Possibility_4354@reddit

Class-consciousness? Have you spoken with the people who call themselves MAGA? Escapism and individualism is massive symptom of capitalism. As the systems crumble something else will be pushed forward but it will not happen until capitalism fails. I think you have a few things misconstrued. Did I ever say screw everyone and only focus on yourself in what I said? Don’t put words in my mouth.

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Front_River_2367@reddit

Yes, I know there's practically 0 class-consciousness in this shithole country and that this is just an obvious progression of capitalism, I just didn't wanna go full obnoxious commie. I was only saying that one should consider collective organization and planning in preparation for the worst impacts of the empire's collapse, and to educate others on alternatives to capitalism for when it's all over. This is advice in addition to living personally fulfilled life.

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Ok_Possibility_4354@reddit

Ok so you should’ve worded that better, respectfully.

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jaybsuave@reddit

yea i’ll add that volunteering for causes you care about is nice as well, also learning a language if don’t know any other already really adds another layer to your humanity

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digdog303@reddit

I go back and forth between this and [getting removed by reddit]. I think they are both ideals to strive for, at different ends of a complex spectrum. Your comment and the greater situation make me frequently think of the calligraphy scene from Hero

https://youtu.be/B9WCCh09sIA

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NDotOh@reddit

This is all so true. I'd add, make a deliberate attempt to connect or support someone else. We need each other and engaging with other people is important for survival

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BellaRyder2505@reddit

This is so true!

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kiwittnz@reddit

At the end of the day, it is in your interest to carry on with your life and accept most of what is happening is out of your control to change. All people can now do is make sure that they

Reduce their debt as fast as possible

Don't become as 'good consumer' by buying too much

Look after your closest family to ensure they are OK

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

why is reducing debt important? and what do you mean by the second part

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kiwittnz@reddit

Debt means powerlessness. Reduce your spending.

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JacksGallbladder@reddit

Go out in the world. Take a walk and notice the flowers. Find a hobby community or a book club. Hang out with your family. There is plenty of beauty and community all around you.

Terrible things have been happening around the world since the dawn of humanity. We now live in an age where the tragedies of the entire world can be served to you 24/7.

Humans were not designed to do that. If you internalized the constant feed of doom and trauma you'll just go mad, pointlessly. You're not going to change it. It's never going to go away. You need to find the healthy balance between staying informed and just tending to your life and the world you actually occupy.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

But then who's gonna do something about the terrible stuff happening? Is it never going to he solved?

What if I can't stop thinking about everything terrible? What do I do when it affects me and my loved ones personally?

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JacksGallbladder@reddit

But then who's gonna do something about the terrible stuff happening?

People in charge

Is it never going to he solved?

Nope!

What if I can't stop thinking about everything terrible?

You have to to live.

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BellaRyder2505@reddit

I feel the same way too

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

how do you cope? i feel paralysed by the constant anxiety

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BellaRyder2505@reddit

I sometimes do too but I think what comforts me and gives me peace is knowing that none of this really matters in the end and that none of this lasts forever.

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Economy_Seat_7250@reddit

It's unwise to internalise the world's problems. It's always had them and always will, despite a grand narrative of collapse, one's own life doesn't need to be defined by it.

Do yoga, eat cheese, revel in end of days.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

but im concerned because if everyone adopts this mindset of not caring and being involved itll make the situation worse, right?

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Economy_Seat_7250@reddit

Personally I'm of a view that it's now too late to reverse/avoid collapse. Individuals can probably do more on a personal or social level to make life more bearable than they can through political means.

It's not necessarily not caring, but rather accepting your own limitations and level of responsibility.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

how do we know that its too late? what do you mean by the second sentence?

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Longjumping-Ad7463@reddit

The scale of change needed to prevent collapse is so great that it would have needed to start about 50 years ago (1970s) at the very latest. The changes needed would include 1) global one child policy 2) degrowth (no more industrialization) 3) lower living standards in Western/ industrialized countries (no meat, fast fashion, automobiles, air travel, international shipping, etc), no dog/ cat ownership, using nuclear energy to reduce fossil fuels, etc.

There was no corporate support, political will, or popular will (people didn't want to sacrifice), so now we're stuck in a world that will probably become uninhabitable in about 200 years regardless of what anyone does.

Decisions were made since the 1950s, but very noticeable by the 1980s, to downplay the risks we were facing and continue "business as usual" because the big banks/ corporations and wealthy world leaders wanted us to find technological solutions. They didn't want the party to end. They hoped that climate change would be solvable.

However, we now know more about climate change thanks to research over the last 50 years, and the findings are alarming. Thanks to the amount of carbon we have already emitted into the atmosphere, we have already reached unsafe levels. We need to 1) completely stop burning fossil fuels 2) remove carbon from the atmosphere using carbon capture technology that doesn't exist and will likely never exist. Humanity's survival is dependent upon us inventing magical technology. Nothing you or I can do will matter if we cannot invent this magical technology, and the clock is ticking. Every year spent continuing business as usual is doing more damage to the ecosystem -- some irreversible. If we do enough damage, then tipping points and feedback loops will take over so that earth will become uninhabitable for most large living creatures (like humans).

Although in theory "it's not too late" and "there's still time," in practice, thanks to the scale of the problem and the timeline needed, it actually is too late to turn the Titanic from hitting the iceberg, or to stop a speeding car from crashing, or to keep someone who jumped out of a tall building from hitting the ground.

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Economy_Seat_7250@reddit

I just guess that the amount of people + lack of fresh water + warming climate is a recipe for war and ultimately collapse. But that's just me.

And I mean focus on what you can control. Hold the hand of a loved one etc.

Taking to the streets in protest is only going to squander an afternoon that could have been spent reading a nice book.

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False_Raven@reddit

Well, that ship has kind of sailed a while ago, probably around 50 years ago.

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Ok_Possibility_4354@reddit

The situation is already in a free fall and there’s nothing we can really do to fix it sadly. I hate this viewpoint. I’ve always been like BUT THERES SOMETHING WE CAN DO. We can’t fix this. They’ve known since the 50s, this was baked in before you or I were ever born. It’s in every single aspect of our lives.

If you really want to do something choose a cause and pour into it, knowing it won’t be enough but it matters because it matters to you.

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Decent-Box-1859@reddit

The best you can do is to stop having kids. Recycling, driving a hybrid, and being vegan pale in comparison to the impact of a child's carbon footprint. Yes, the future is likely bleak, so don't take it so hard when your efforts don't feel like enough. By not having a kid, you can prepare better for you and your community.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

I agree with this so much

I can't imagine why people who are at least aware of how things are, are still having children. I think a lot of them are religious so they don't question their decision much?

The future is bleak, but how do I cope with knowing that? Im trying to focus on my day to day like everyone says. But there's too many reminders of whats terrible and everytime i fall back into this spiral of not being able to function and just being paralysed from anxiety

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False_Raven@reddit

Hey, I've been struggling with suicide for well over a decade now, it still lingers on the back of my mind daily but I've got control over it mostly.

I let the suicidal thoughts exist, but I don't let it dominate my headspace. The feeling of despair and hopelessness is inescapable... Even more so now than ever before with just how things are going.

I want you to focus on your in circle and things that affect your immediate life, focus on what you can do instead of insurmountable tasks like changing or fixing the world, as an ordinary individual its physically impossible. Wondering how you can fix the world is just going to make you spiral, like pushing waves at a beach, thinking you'll make the waves go the other way... you can't, its hopeless.

You have to go with the flow and only focus on things you can actually have an affect on, I'm not saying to ignore the news, but maybe don't let it affect you as much as it does.

Spreading awareness is kind of pointless, majority of people deliberately live in ignorance out of their own choice.

I know its sad, the world is shit, but please stay for the time being for your family and friends. I am only saying this because this is my current decision, to be here for my family while they need me, to try and enjoy as much as life has to offer before shit really hits the fan. Suicide is an easy way out that will always be an option, but you need restraint to not get swallowed up by it.

My choice is this: if the suffering around my inner circle is too great to bare, then I'll reconsider the easy option, until then... I live

Maybe this is the mentality you should adopt, it could help you find peace in your life, even if it is partial.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

I am also staying because I assume it would be traumatic for my family and friends to lose me to scide

But i cant find any reason to stay for myself and so im so miserable and resentful about everything

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NyriasNeo@reddit

Fear is in your head. Hope is for children.

It is pointless to have mental anguish of something you have no control over. The only thing you can control is yourself.

Accept and make peace. Live as if the world is not going to end, until it does.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

But how do I do that last part? Even if I accept it, I can't function from the anxiety and hopelessness that plagues me from accepting it

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JackBlackBowserSlaps@reddit

Yep, this is why I am cheering for collapse. If society continues on its current course, I fear a dystopian future worse than that of collapse.

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CannyGardener@reddit

Collapse is the dystopian future you fear. Children of Men is what collapse looks like imo, people working because they have to, until they cannot, at which point they become the mass of poors.

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NapalmCandy@reddit

So what it already is? Senior citizens are the fastest-growing homelessness group in the United States, and any of us not born rich basically have no choice but to work (even though we're still poor while working). https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/1253992705/1a-06-11-2025

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Katerena@reddit

The world was always going to end, whether by our hand or simple entropy. Humanity as a species was always going to die out. That is the truth. It's happening sooner than it should but it was always inevitable.

You have a responsibility to YOURSELF. You cannot change anyone or anything. Climate change being our end was already decided before you were even born. Humanity had a chance a long time ago to avoid this and chose to steam right ahead. And yeah it feels like if people did this or that we could fix it but it's already been decided.

You're not giving up you're giving in. Get off this sub, stay away from the news and live your life to the fullest. We are born to die. There's nothing any of us can do about that or the fate of our species. We can however, live a life that is our best effort. So give yourself your best effort and do what makes you happy.

And seriously, get off this sub until your mental health is better.

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genericuser642@reddit

We're all right there with you my guy. None of this is normal. None of this is okay.

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BellaRyder2505@reddit

I don't fear death. There are worse things than death. Death is the only thing that brings me comfort and peace.

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Distinguishedflyer@reddit

it's not about billionaires and AI. It's about the planet rapidly overheating and that's real fucking worrisome.

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DensePoser@reddit

Just gonna leave this here

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/30/us/luigi-mangione-case-rulings-trial

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

im so confused what is this for?

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OctopusIntellect@reddit

Plumbing.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

im still so confused

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JackBlackBowserSlaps@reddit

Doing god’s work.

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nightswimsofficial@reddit

Try finding community offline. The world seems far worse than it is when you spend a lot of time online. And please seek support if you are suicidal. Life is beautiful and weird and every day is a gift. I hope you find a way back to seeing how special you are.

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jo_ker94@reddit

We can all find comfort in the fact that life is not eternal. Imagine being trapped here forever and unable to die or stuck in a box or prison and unable to die. There is a lot of bad on this planet but there is also some good. Take comfort in the little things. Get excited with reconnecting with old friends and loved ones. Don't stress or worry because none of us are stuck here forever. Enjoy life while you can. And don't worry about the planet. It is out of our control. The planet and universe will find a way to rid itself of us when it finally reaches that ultimate breaking point. Basically, enjoy your hobbies and the little things, tell people you love them, and don't stress or panic.

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OctopusIntellect@reddit

Nuclear weaponry has been around for 80 years now, and hasn't been used in combat for 79 of those years. And there are actually a lot less nuclear weapons now, than there were in the early 1980s.

What impacts from AI and billionaires can you see affecting your actual day-to-day life right now? Probably not many.

What do you raise awareness about?

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RsquSqd@reddit

r/liberalgunowners water’s fine!

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ContestNo2060@reddit

It’s hard watching what is happening and your feelings are normal. It sucks losing your country to fascists, but this happens around the world and has happened repeatedly throughout human history. We have to adapt and reengineer our system and its ordinary people like yourself, doing small things, that are responsible for change. It may not happen in the timeframe you expect, but your contribution and persistence matters. Can you link up to a local group of like-minded people? I think it will help with feelings of isolation and powerlessness. Keep your head up - they have shiny new tools and power, but so did every fallen elite group. We also have innovation and ways of employing tools that they haven’t even thought of. The good thing is that they’re not too bright and tend to self-destruct. So hang in there.

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Informal-Chemical-79@reddit

Yes things are not great but you learn to adapt. Just remember that many people around the world have it far worse than you or I. My concern is that you say you are suicidal. If you need help dealing with your mental health reach out to someone and if you don’t have anyone call your local mental health hotline. None of this is worth taking your life over. Do you mind me asking where you are located? I can help you find and get in touch with someone who can help you navigate your helpless feelings.

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Positive_Garlic5128@reddit (OP)

thank you for your help i should have mentioned that i am already seeing multiple professionals for my issues but most of them don't seem to know or care about this stuff and hence ive taken to reddit

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Informal-Chemical-79@reddit

Ok that’s good.

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ElsieCubitt@reddit

Stop consuming news and social media. Things are going to happen, and you causing yourself grief over it isn't helping anyone or anything - it's only hurting you. Focus on the things you can control and impact - your hobbies, your community, etc.