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Giant Asteroid Heading Straight For The Earth

by travlinguy
21 replies
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Well, not really. But what if there was news today that it was true? Scientists are absolutely sure there's a massive space rock half the size of the moon heading straight for us at astronomical speed. It's due to strike in a month. Only five percent of the population is expected to survive.

How would people behave? What would you do? How would you spend that four weeks?
  • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

    Well, not really. But what if there was news today that it was true? Scientists are absolutely sure there's a massive space rock half the size of the moon heading straight for us at astronomical speed. It's due to strike in a month. Only five percent of the population is expected to survive.

    How would people behave? What would you do? How would you spend that four weeks?
    Spending as much time with my family as I can. Nothing else worth doing IMHO
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  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    I would get into my space ship and head back to K-Pax...
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

    Well, not really. But what if there was news today that it was true? Scientists are absolutely sure there's a massive space rock half the size of the moon heading straight for us at astronomical speed. It's due to strike in a month. Only five percent of the population is expected to survive.

    How would people behave? What would you do? How would you spend that four weeks?
    Travlinguy: A half moon sized asteroid would liquefy the Earths's crust. Nothing would survive. It doesn't matter how fast it was going.

    But..for the sake of your question. I would spend quality time with my wife. Try to get my son to stay with us....and wait.

    The problem is that everything would beak down. Why would anyone do their jobs? Some would panic, riot, loot.

    So a vacation would not be possible. Staying at home..waiting...would be about it for me.

    I would watch it happen though. How magnificent and terrifying it would be.

    The movie Melancholia captured probably what it would be like.
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    • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      Travlinguy: A half moon sized asteroid would liquefy the Earths's crust. Nothing would survive. It doesn't matter how fast it was going.

      But..for the sake of your question. I would spend quality time with my wife. Try to get my son to stay with us....and wait.

      The problem is that everything would beak down. Why would anyone do their jobs? Some would panic, riot, loot.

      So a vacation would not be possible. Staying at home..waiting...would be about it for me.

      I would watch it happen though. How magnificent and terrifying it would be.

      The movie Melancholia captured probably what it would be like.
      Yeah, this isn't the earth-liquefying variety of asteroid, just the severe-earth-damaging-and-wiping-out-95%-of-the-population variety. :p

      I figured people would reason there would be civil unrest. I also thought by now someone might have said they'd try and be in 5% of the people that somehow managed to survive.

      I remember a move from the late 90's I think with Tea Leoni and Tom Skerritt where there was a big rock (I think) heading for the planet. They figured the tidal waves from the impact would flood everything so they headed for the mountains. I think they still got a bit wet.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
        Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

        Yeah, this isn't the earth-liquefying variety of asteroid, just the severe-earth-damaging-and-wiping-out-95%-of-the-population variety. :p

        I figured people would reason there would be civil unrest. I also thought by now someone might have said they'd try and be in 5% of the people that somehow managed to survive.

        I remember a move from the late 90's I think with Tea Leoni and Tom Skerritt where there was a big rock (I think) heading for the planet. They figured the tidal waves from the impact would flood everything so they headed for the mountains. I think they still got a bit wet.
        With only a 5% chance, I would assume I would end up i the 95% group. Heck, I am usually on the wrong end of a 50-50 situation

        But if I did survive then who knows? I might just take my own life if none of my family survived - or maybe the survival instinct would kick in. I pray I never have to find out..

        I am not a "prepper" by any stretch so unless a LOT of dry/canned goods made it through the cataclysm then I'm toast anyway
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

        I figured people would reason there would be civil unrest. I also thought by now someone might have said they'd try and be in 5% of the people that somehow managed to survive.

        I remember a move from the late 90's I think with Tea Leoni and Tom Skerritt where there was a big rock (I think) heading for the planet. They figured the tidal waves from the impact would flood everything so they headed for the mountains. I think they still got a bit wet.
        I'm 58 and my wife is 65 years old. I doubt that we would be in the 5% that survived. I'm not even sure I'd want to be.

        The movie you're thinking of is Deep Impact.

        My wife and I have had this same discussion a few times. I once said "If we were the last two people on Earth, you would still obey traffic laws and stop at Stop signs, wouldn't you?"

        "Yup".

        I do know that if there was a lottery for survivors, we would not participate.
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        • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          I'm 58 and my wife is 65 years old. I doubt that we would be in the 5% that survived. I'm not even sure I'd want to be.

          The movie you're thinking of is Deep Impact.

          My wife and I have had this same discussion a few times. I once said "If we were the last two people on Earth, you would still obey traffic laws and stop at Stop signs, wouldn't you?"

          "Yup".

          I do know that if there was a lottery for survivors, we would not participate.
          I don't know, I think I'd want to be there. What a time in earth history it would be. I've had extensive disaster training so it would take a lot to rattle me. I realize that losing almost everyone would be traumatic. If you believe in certain legends cataclysmic stuff has happened to the earth before.

          I think of how messed up this country was in the aftermath of the Civil War. Brothers on opposite sides hating each other. 600,000+ dead. Nearly all of the state of Georgia smoldering for weeks. Man, what a royal mess. And WWII was much worse than that.

          Neither could compare to a natural disaster that would take out billions of people.
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    I would spend time with my son, 3, help him discover and enjoy as much of the magic around him that he can. Yesterday, when he was walking on a short wall, he saw an ant for the first time in his life and jumped back onto the sidewalk, then stared at it and other ants in total fascination. He said, "Hello, ant. Where are you going? Wait! come back!"
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I would do a thorough investigation on everything known about the asteroid and pick out what I thought would be the safest spot to go to. Then I'd get as many in my family to go there as possible, then I'd enjoy the earth until the hit and hope to be in the 5%. I'd also hope that all our leaders would go to underground bunkers and get buried forever so the 5% didn't have to deal with their crap when it was all over.
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    • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I would do a thorough investigation on everything known about the asteroid and pick out what I thought would be the safest spot to go to. Then I'd get as many in my family to go there as possible, then I'd enjoy the earth until the hit and hope to be in the 5%. I'd also hope that all our leaders would go to underground bunkers and get buried forever so the 5% didn't have to deal with their crap when it was all over.
      That's the spirit, Sal. I wish I could give ya 10 thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Khemosabi
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

    Well, not really. But what if there was news today that it was true? Scientists are absolutely sure there's a massive space rock half the size of the moon heading straight for us at astronomical speed. It's due to strike in a month. Only five percent of the population is expected to survive.

    How would people behave? What would you do? How would you spend that four weeks?
    Behave? What is this "behave" you speak of? :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

    Well, not really. But what if there was news today that it was true? Scientists are absolutely sure there's a massive space rock half the size of the moon heading straight for us at astronomical speed. It's due to strike in a month. Only five percent of the population is expected to survive.

    How would people behave? What would you do? How would you spend that four weeks?
    I would max out my credit cards & get a 1st/2nd mortgage just for the heck of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
    Banned
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post


    It's due to strike in a month.

    How would people behave? What would you do? How would you spend that four weeks?

    A month is a long time, and not just in politics. I'd do this lot just for starters . . . .

    Immediately destroy the mother-in-laws birthday reminder pinned to the fridge. Quickly followed by burning the monstrous striped sweater she got me last Christmas. The one I have to wear every time she visits.

    Pee over next doors dog. See how he likes it.

    Throw paint over the neighbours immaculate, precision manicured lawn. And their new car while I'm at it. Oh, and their trailer.

    Open all the cages at the zoo to let the animals free.

    Order the most expensive meal and champagne at the restaurant, then climb out the toilet window without eating or paying.

    Empty 137 bottles of bleach over the 9th green at the golf club. One for every bogey/bogey+ I've made at that goddamn hole.

    Drive a bulldozer through the kebab shop that gave me diarrhea last month.

    Eat four tins of beans then fart all day in the local library.

    Drain the local lake. I'll get "Titan" the carp if it's the last thing I do.

    Deliberately leave the cap off the toothpaste to antagonise the wife.
    Deliberately leave dirty socks on the bedroom floor to antagonise the wife.
    Deliberately leave the toilet seat up to antagonise the wife.

    Wear my underwear on the outside of my pants. If Superman can do it so can I.

    Talking of Superman . . . armageddon won't happen as I'm sure Claude would call in a favour from his superhero friend. For children everywhere, I imagine it would look something like this . . . .

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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      I would do a thorough investigation on everything known about the asteroid and pick out what I thought would be the safest spot to go to. Then I'd get as many in my family to go there as possible, then I'd enjoy the earth until the hit and hope to be in the 5%. I'd also hope that all our leaders would go to underground bunkers and get buried forever so the 5% didn't have to deal with their crap when it was all over.
      Hmmm, l would search for survivors and make sure they were wiped out. The political ones, and SEO's of particularly evil company's.


      But in all honesty most of them would probably take refuge in space somewhere. Possibly Mars, probably have a villa there somewhere with a pool? :rolleyes:


      I would join in with the other couple of million people that are planning to storm Area 51, so we can get some real help!

      As well as the usual stuff!

      Shane
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

        Hmmm, l would search for survivors and make sure they were wiped out. The political ones, and SEO's of particularly evil company's.

        But in all honesty most of them would probably take refuge in space somewhere. Possibly Mars, probably have a villa there somewhere with a pool?         :rolleyes:

        I would join in with the other couple of million people that are planning to storm Area 51, so we can get some real help!

        As well as the usual stuff!

        Shane
        Shane; This is a serious question. Do you really think like that?
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        • Profile picture of the author yukon
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          Shane; This is a serious question. Do you really think like that?
          This is for real?

          OMG I have to go hide under my bed!
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    • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Horny Devil View Post

      A month is a long time, and not just in politics. I'd do this lot just for starters . . . .

      Immediately destroy the mother-in-laws birthday reminder pinned to the fridge. Quickly followed by burning the monstrous striped sweater she got me last Christmas. The one I have to wear every time she visits.

      Pee over next doors dog. See how he likes it.

      Throw paint over the neighbours immaculate, precision manicured lawn. And their new car while I'm at it. Oh, and their trailer.

      Open all the cages at the zoo to let the animals free.

      Order the most expensive meal and champagne at the restaurant, then climb out the toilet window without eating or paying.

      Empty 137 bottles of bleach over the 9th green at the golf club. One for every bogey/bogey+ I've made at that goddamn hole.

      Drive a bulldozer through the kebab shop that gave me diarrhea last month.

      Eat four tins of beans then fart all day in the local library.

      Drain the local lake. I'll get "Titan" the carp if it's the last thing I do.

      Deliberately leave the cap off the toothpaste to antagonise the wife.
      Deliberately leave dirty socks on the bedroom floor to antagonise the wife.
      Deliberately leave the toilet seat up to antagonise the wife.

      Wear my underwear on the outside of my pants. If Superman can do it so can I.

      . . . oh, . . and a bunch of fives in the kisser to that hypnotherapist who charged me a small fortune to "cure" my memory problems.
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  • Profile picture of the author ozzie2012
    I'd stock up on water and food, and hope for the best
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    I would shoot in the face the next person who offered me a salad. Nothing but ribs and chicken wings would go down my gullet from now until Kindom Come.

    For dessert? Nothing but Scotch, hookers and line after line of cocaine while listening to Sister Christian on a loop while wearing nothing but tighty whities and a bath robe.

    Then, to pass the time, I'd bowhunt the hookers I grew bored of. Not for any sort of religious idealogical reasons. Just for sport.



    (OK, so I wouldn't do any of that. I'd just hang out with my wife and dogs and wait to get disintegrated. BUT, I'm sure somebody would pull off the plan above. I'd just hope it wasn't my neighbor.)
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    Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Shane; This is a serious question. Do you really think like that?
      No, l would expect that they would be overrun by the meek, at their beach retreats, etc. So l wouldn't need to do anything?

      Seeing them in court, the percentage that survive, and answering to their crimes, would be enough!

      Can't really answer the second one, but l will say l was having a bit of fun! Enough said! :rolleyes:

      But l would storm Area 51 or Pinegap, AU, ?

      Shane
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