The Psychology of Doom

One thing that has always fascinated me is the overall feeling of doom and gloom prevalent on the boards. It doesn't even have to be backed up with any sort of reasoning, there are lots of people out there who are just positively convinced the end is nigh.

Ive been around a lot of natural disasters - hurricanes and the like - where I have also noticed that people seem to want disaster to occur. There is something about the expectation of something unusual happening, the excitement of it, that seems to really make people want to wish for disaster.

I do not believe people can wish themselves into doom, but I do believe that if enough people believe in something they will make it happen via mass hysteria or other means. Usually the doom and gloom theories are pretty scattered and only small minorities of people are predicting "the end" on a rolling basis at any point in time (someone has predicted the world to end nearly every year since we can record history).

Now that everyone is focused on one date, do you think people will create their own doom by causing mass hysteria or something like it? What is it about doom and gloom that leads people to want it so badly?

I really liked your subject. I think that is true also. I have read a lot on this. It makes you always want to think positives thoughts.

Fresh doom, stale doom, we know the difference.

One more line for quality assurances.

I've been considering this as well - upset of a normal routine by way of irreversible social quandary is always a heart pounding experience that, more often than not, results in the best efforts put forth.

I think maybe it's because we're all stuck in a very stilted cycle and any sort of different course is a true godsend. Sadly we are forced to seek or expect it through inconvenience. Our ability to go there at will is part of what's suppressed, I've always figured.

People here are just like us! More aware and acute to emotional disturbance.

It's one thing to be in a mindset of doom and gloom.
It is another to connect the dots over the last eight years.
It's not a pretty picture.

upset of a normal routine by way of irreversible social quandary is always a heart pounding experience that, more often than not, results in the best efforts put forth.

I think maybe it's because we're all stuck in a very stilted cycle and any sort of different course is a true godsend

I am also fascinated because I see this attitude in myself. The poster who said some seem to wish for it to disrupt a stale cycle;I think hits the nail right on the head.

I think it might be part of the human psyche that we need some upheavel in order to feel a purpose in life. I know myself I have been asking since I was a teenager " Why am I here?" Even though the scietific part of my brain says " You are just a coincidental mix of cells" my probably non exsistant soul screams " You are special, just wait untill you save your family with your knowledge of survival issues after the big collapse.."

In the past more people may have had that ened fulfilled because their knowledge, actions, ect, really DID make a life and death difference in their familie's lives.

In the end though I think personaly I just have this gut feeling that something is in the works, but I thougth that around 2000 too so go figure.

With all due respect.
I believe the 'upheaval' has came and went while we were sleeping.
We are now, just now, waking up to it.

reply to post by jpm1602


Look I don't mean the current political/social climate - Yeah bad stuff has happened in the last decade or so, but we truely don't know upheavel like for example, my grandparents did ( WW2, anyone?). The greatest generation was the last great genenation because they were the last people to experience true danger. Now a days, yes we could be the victim of random crime, or be in a tornado and lose our house but generally we've got it pretty damn good ( Speaking as a westerner of course ).

I'd like to say I am the happiest person on earth to be awarded the sperm/egg here I am alive award.

What I see in the world today depresses me. The future of our country at the hands of fools and takers.

I truly wish I could be more optimistic.

You wont find many admitting that they want it.

You notice it when someones pupils largen while looking at disaster and full-blown-action live or on the TV Screen.

Normally, when we really fear or dislike something, the pupils become smaller.
Unfortunately many are utterly fascinated and entertained by doom.

Think box office breakers such as "I am legend" and "23 days later".

It may come down to simple conditioning, through religion, through government control etc

People have an inate need to believe, and throughout history this has often equated to control through fear.

Fear of hell

Fear of retribution

Fear of death

etc

As society (western) has become more secular in nature, people have looked elsewhere for their fear fix.

Now whether this is due to a need to believe that there is something greater, or fear of the unknown after death, I'm not sure.

But I think it is currently manifesting itself in a series of doomsday predictions.

Good responses everyone.

I think its noteworthy that those who are truly into doom do not admit it. I guess its not surprising that it is a social taboo to admit your hoping for the most horrible things to happen, but yet certain environments like ATS allow those who embrace doom to be more open about it. Its a interesting paradox.

I think its mostly about doom being the great equalizer - those who are unsatisfied with their position in life want horrible things to happen because it "punishes" those who have the most, it brings down the elite in the most equalizing way possible.

Honestly, I think a lot of people that eat doom stuff up are just really unhappy people who want other peoples lives to suck more than theirs do.
They are the glass half empty type. Nothing can ever make them happy.

Just take a look at the predictions section of ATS or BTS. People never seem to predict anything wonderful happening, it's alway something to do with some sort of mass destruction.

I will be pleasanlty surprised the day a prediction is made pronouncing something good happening for a change.

I meant to add this to the thread:

Evidence that the end is not nigh

while initially i too was very fearful, i am now moving onto the excited expectation of a transformative event, what ever it happens to be, I've read that we are all blessed to be living at this time because it is truly a special time for humanity, so I guess whichever direction we choose we will be learning important lessons that will help us to mature and evolve...

What I think is people are afraid of the unknown. They have many thoughts of the "what ifs" scenario, which in return brings about the doom and gloom. However, it does not all come from thoughts of the present but what is said in the past. Since the Mayan calender stops at 2012, people mingled that with the bibles revelations, which also mingled somehow with Nibiru you get all these doom and gloom theories.

None the less, they are interesting to read but I would not worry about it. Whatever happens happens.

Congrats, Sky, on winning your debate for Everything is gonna be alright. It is a must read for those who feel doom is "attractive to the eye". What if thinking is both good and bad. In order to prepare for survival during threats, for gratitude, for realizing just what is important. But to want it, is not healthy for anyone. Doing your part to make the world a better place is the only answer, and being optimistic is important for our children. If we think in terms of doom, then we are likely to say "what the hell, I am going to do what I want then" without regards for the consequences. This leads to criminal thinking. I am denying "Doom" as well as ignorance.

Congrats on the debate Sky - I have to say I am surprised, and not because I don't think you did a excellent job. I'm just surprised that the need to endorse doom and gloom which is so ingrained in ATS didn't cause unfair judging - but this gives me new faith in ATS debates.

I think the opposite of the Psychology of Doom is the Psychology of False Hope - which is really the minority of threads on ATS, but I do see them. They generally pop in in these "were all going to evolve/ascend/whatever" threads. I'm going to read them for a while and try to understand why some people do the opposite of the Psychology of Doom, and might post another thread about that here.

I think both extremes are dangerous...its just the overwhelming need to preach doom and gloom is by far the most popular thing on ATS. And really, I'd much rather see everyone going the opposite way if I had to pick an extreme. It just makes for less anger all around.

I agree, those ascension threads really POIAJÖnfcdlkjubhvdjkhgf dew##wpissmeoffäöla#jksmndc...*cough*...

...good point.

Maybe they are reactions to an ingrained belief in doom. In other words "OK, this planet is a shthole, Im going to ascend".

So neither doom-ism nor ascension-ism give much credence and appreciation to life-as-it-is.

In this sense its all escapist BS, imo.

reply to post by ALightinDarkness


I agree with your reasoning. I do think it's possible to envision doom and if enough energy converges things may happen. But what happens is still in the air to me. It could be a reversal of that doom, or the very doom itself.

I remember being fairly young and experiencing a hurricane in a home while huddled with my family. A small part of me loved it, even though I knew of its destruction and was scared. It was exciting, despite the "doom" it caused.

I'm sure many people would agree that a worldwide "doom" would be considered a climax of this type of excitement. While being a extremely negative thing, the finality and importance of it could not go overlooked, therefore many would embrace and then welcome it.