Simple guy

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Last updated on June 24th, 2017 at 01:35 pm

Guy Rundle – “an Australian writer covering the US presidential elections” – delivers a global scoop:

Put simply, society has collapsed, and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others, and their ability to see themselves as an active force in their own world.

You’d think the Age would have run this on the front page. Then again, Rundle may simply be projecting.

(Via Imre Salusinszky, who – noting the rise of this impressive talent – emails: “Loewenstein, watch your back!”)

Posted by Tim B. on 03/02/2008 at 02:34 AM
    1. Put simply, society has collapsed, and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others, and their ability to see themselves as an active force in their own world.

      I wish someone had told me that society’s collapsed and we’ve all lost our family and friends and our abilities to influence our own lives.

      Posted by Ash_ on 2008 03 02 at 03:04 AM • permalink

 

    1. American society has collapsed? Paco, Wronwright, all you other American commenters, why didn’t you tell us? We could have sent food parcels or something.

      Posted by squawkbox on 2008 03 02 at 03:05 AM • permalink

 

    1. Sounds like Michelle Obama’s stump speech. Fast forward to 2:14.

      Posted by MannyC on 2008 03 02 at 03:27 AM • permalink

 

    1. Ack! I knew I should have hoarded more toilet paper!

      Posted by lil varmint on 2008 03 02 at 03:46 AM • permalink

 

    1. That’s it! It’s Zombie Time! Crack out the ole pump-action, load up on jerky and whisky, and roll downtown to get me some Rundle Zombie action.

      Posted by CB on 2008 03 02 at 04:01 AM • permalink

 

    1. Tracee’s bay dredge has undermined society and it has collapsed. Is this possible? We need an expert to determine if a dredge down under affects a society up there. Is there a truther in audience?

      Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 03 02 at 04:01 AM • permalink

 

    1. “…America in particular, has shifted beneath the foundations that…”

      WrrrrrITer!!!

      Posted by ooh honey honey on 2008 03 02 at 04:35 AM • permalink

 

    1. Get ready to rundle!

      Posted by blogstrop on 2008 03 02 at 04:43 AM • permalink

 

    1. So that’s why I had to shoot my way across town and loot the bodies of the dead today. Oh wait—no I didn’t.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2008 03 02 at 04:44 AM • permalink

 

    1. and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others,

      society has collapsed, Armageddon is here, and now we all need therapy.

      Posted by daddy dave on 2008 03 02 at 04:44 AM • permalink

 

    1. We hear this over and over from the chattering classes. Society has collapsed, people are disconnected,blahblahblah, handwringing.
      This IS projection of epic proportion. Out here in the real world, I know nobody who thinks this way. We are optimistic about the future, take seriously our responsiblility to speak into the next generation, have lifelong friends and meaningful work.Too bad our intellectual betters are so miserable. Most of us are not.

      Posted by debi L. on 2008 03 02 at 04:44 AM • permalink

 

    1. Good point, Squawkbox.

      Let us know what you need, guys – food, toiletries, the important things like lemon-powered laptops so we can get more Detective Paco mysteries.

      Our postal service isn’t too bad when it comes to sending stuff over, so it shouldn’t take more than a week.

      Think you can hold off descending into total anarchy until then?

      Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2008 03 02 at 04:54 AM • permalink

 

    1. #2

      American society has collapsed? Paco, Wronwright, all you other American commenters, why didn’t you tell us? We could have sent food parcels or something.

      I dunno: I’m not sure I’d trust the Parcel Administrating Charity Ofamerica with all those jars of vegemite. It’ll all end in tears!

      Posted by AlburyShifton on 2008 03 02 at 05:27 AM • permalink

 

    1. So is it just like Mad Max, but with better weapons?

      Posted by lotocoti on 2008 03 02 at 05:42 AM • permalink

 

    1. Put simply, society has collapsed, and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others

      Apparently Rundle’s connection to reality was the first casualty.

      Posted by Ian Deans on 2008 03 02 at 05:44 AM • permalink

 

    1. I love the use of the term “Put simply” implying that the author has a vast compendium of data that they are sparing the audience from because we are a bit simple.

      It’s a phrase beloved by clueless science journalists on the ABC.

      Posted by Margos Maid on 2008 03 02 at 06:05 AM • permalink

 

    1. I’ll give a hint: if society had collapsed, then the idiot wouldn’t have been able to blog about it.

      Posted by John A on 2008 03 02 at 06:09 AM • permalink

 

    1. Once again, an utterly clueless foreign journo thinks all he hears on the Manhattan cocktail circuit must reflect the reality of America. Never mind flyover country, where the collapse-of-society memo didn’t get distributed to the Kiwanis chapters in Peoria and Dubuque, where their sense of community is doing just fine, thank you.

      Posted by Tommy Shanks on 2008 03 02 at 06:14 AM • permalink

 

    1. As Mark Twain said, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

      Posted by ErnieG on 2008 03 02 at 09:29 AM • permalink

 

    1. If society has collapsed, do I have to go to work tomorrow?

      Posted by Rob Crawford on 2008 03 02 at 10:48 AM • permalink

 

    1. Ohferchrissakes.

      Is it any wonder that “professional” journalists are not respected by a majority of the public anymore, and the few reporters and columnists who still possess a modicum of common sense, like Tim Blair, are considered “iconoclasts”?

      Posted by Spiny Norman on 2008 03 02 at 10:53 AM • permalink

 

    1. #2

      American society has collapsed? Paco, Wronwright, all you other American commenters, why didn’t you tell us? We could have sent food parcels or something.

      It’s not too late to send beer.

      Posted by ErnieG on 2008 03 02 at 12:00 PM • permalink

 

    1. And Australian wine is pretty good, too.

      Posted by ErnieG on 2008 03 02 at 12:04 PM • permalink

 

    1. It’s never too late to send beer.

      Posted by Spiny Norman on 2008 03 02 at 12:29 PM • permalink

 

    1. There is no need to specify a detailed program to them, because it is implicit in what “hope” is — of a health system where people are not sent home to die of easily curable diseases, of a minimum wage that is liveable, affordable study, an end to meaningless wars, and more.

      I’m so glad Obama has come along to rescue us from the disease-ridden, poverty-stricken wasteland that America is, and not bother us with details about how he’s going to do it.  Frankly, I’m looking forward to my pie in the sky and fairies in the garden, tra la!

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2008 03 02 at 12:49 PM • permalink

 

    1. Damn, here it is 12:00 local time and I’m just hearing about this collapse. I sure hope all the best looting locations haven’t been overrun by the local anarchists.

      Posted by greene on 2008 03 02 at 01:10 PM • permalink

 

    1. Mur’kin commenter here.  Can’t add any more provision requests that haven’t already been suggested:  Beer and Vegemite.  Thanks, Squawkbox and Nilknarf Arbed!

      Posted by reese on 2008 03 02 at 01:26 PM • permalink

 

    1. I don’t know about society, but my last Jenga collapsed. I feel so unconnected.

      Posted by Some0Seppo on 2008 03 02 at 01:27 PM • permalink

 

    1. Oh, I’ve thought of another provision.  Each surviving male will need eight Aussie chicks, selected for attractiveness and intelligence, to repopulate “society.”  (A-la Dr. Strangelove.)  Thanks.  Standing by smartly.

      Posted by reese on 2008 03 02 at 01:42 PM • permalink

 

    1. Reese, good request but it’s not ‘chicks’, it’s ‘Sheilas’(otherwise we might get tiny chickens).

      Posted by Gerry on 2008 03 02 at 03:01 PM • permalink

 

    1. “of a health system where people are not sent home to die of easily curable diseases,”

      Poor sumbitch is in Britain.  No wonder he is seeing society collapse all around him.

      Posted by ushie on 2008 03 02 at 03:06 PM • permalink

 

    1. Gerry, I need no Sheilas, but could stand to have some tiny chickens.  I could raise them on my balcony and eat them.  You know, because all the supermarkets have closed…

      Posted by ushie on 2008 03 02 at 03:07 PM • permalink

 

    1. “Sheilas.”  Right, thanks Gerry.

      Send us some Sheilas!  Make them look like Olivia ca. 1979 or that Sheila in the Divinyls.

      Posted by reese on 2008 03 02 at 03:37 PM • permalink

 

    1. Well, damn.  That announcement wasn’t in the church bulletin this morning.

      Posted by SwampWoman on 2008 03 02 at 03:49 PM • permalink

 

    1. I’m a pretty active force in my own world. Maybe those other folk just need to change worlds. My world is much better than theirs.

      Posted by SwampWoman on 2008 03 02 at 03:51 PM • permalink

 

    1. #3: Thanks for the link MannyC. Very interesting. There’s a whole new shared reality out there of which many of us have been unaware.

      Posted by Henry boy on 2008 03 02 at 07:06 PM • permalink

 

    1. Guy perfectly demonstrates the worst of the liberal – oops, ‘progressive’ – mindset: the bedwetting, thumbsucking, blanket-hugging scared child who wants Mommydaddy Government to scare away the boogeyman, and give them back that warm-puppy feeling.

      Posted by cuckoo on 2008 03 02 at 07:09 PM • permalink

 

    1. Amazing how society can collapse and unless it’s mentioned on FOX, you don’t notice.

      Disappointing in a way, though. My investment in guns, ammunition, and canned goods hasn’t started to pay off.

      Posted by trainer on 2008 03 02 at 08:33 PM • permalink

 

    1. Thanks everyone, the Appeal for Societally Challenged America is officially on the move. The first shipment of vegemite sandwiches and pie floaters should be with you within the week.

      Reese, about the sheilas…

      Unfortunately, we did had some financial problems after the cheque from Pacific American Charitable Organisations (“Distributing other people’s money in the best possible way”) mysteriously failed to clear. As a result we had to lower our selection criteria a little. However, I’m sure you’ll find that Adele, Marilyn, Margo and Traceeee are great little battlers who will eagerly fulfil your every need.

      Posted by squawkbox on 2008 03 02 at 08:35 PM • permalink

 

    1. “Put simply, society has collapsed” i.e. those dullards aren’t listening to us anymore.

      What a whiner.

      Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2008 03 02 at 10:05 PM • permalink

 

    1. “Put simply, society has collapsed”

      i’ve got the serum
      and i’m going to take it
      all the way to boston
      oh i’ve got to get through
      the going won’t be easy
      but i’m going to make it
      it’s the only thing
      that i’m cut out to do
      ride the post-atomic
      radio-active trash
      the sky is on fire
      from that nuclear flash
      diving through the burning hoop
      of doom
      in an 8-wheeled anti-radiation tomb.
      thank you doctor strangelove
      for going doolally
      and leaving me the heritage
      of damnation alley
      damnation alley-way.

      no more arizona now
      phoenix is fried up
      oklahoma city
      what a pity it’s gone.
      louisianna’s wiped out
      and the
      mississip’s dried up
      no more chattanooga
      cherokee,
      lexington.
      ride the post-atomic radio-active trash.
      the sky is on fire from that nuclear flash.
      diving through the burning hoop of doom.
      in an 8-wheeled anti-radiation tomb.
      thank you doctor strangelove
      for going doolally
      and leaving me the heritage
      of damnation alley
      damnation alley-way.

      craters coming at me now
      ashes coming at me
      radiation wasteland
      i’ve got my anti radiation machine
      oh thank you doctor strangelove
      for giving me ashes and post-atomic dust
      and the sky is raining fishes
      it’s a mutation zoo
      i’m going down damnation alley
      well good luck to you……
      …………………….
      armour-plated angel
      motor pony express
      going down damnation alley
      it’s one hell of a mess
      the sky is raining fishes
      it’s a mutation zoo
      i’m going down damnation alley
      well good luck to you.
      Damnation Alley—Hawkwind

      Posted by richard mcenroe on 2008 03 02 at 10:45 PM • permalink

 

    1. Hah!

      You RWDBs not only deny the rampant global hottycold. Now you’re denying global societal collapse.

      This morning on my bus to work, the driver took a wrong turn!!!

      Don’t tell me society’s not collapsing.

      Posted by s.r.intulom on 2008 03 03 at 01:24 AM • permalink

 

    1. Squawbox,

      Thanks to you and P.A.C.O., but we’re probably happy to wait ‘til the next time society collapses.  Please keep Traceeeeeeeee et. al.

      Take the beer and Vegemite, though….

      Posted by reese on 2008 03 03 at 01:29 AM • permalink

 

    1. Richard Mcenroe,

      Dang, dude.  Downer.  Damnation Alley.  (Silly flick—predated the Mad Max trilogy, had that guy with a girl’s name… what was it Leslie Something?  Futuristic tanks and monsters IIRC.)

      Posted by reese on 2008 03 03 at 01:47 AM • permalink

 

  1. “…society has collapsed, and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others…”

    There’s a grain of truth here—after a hard look at my fellow citizens, I really don’t wish to be connected with many of them. Is there something wrong with me?

    Posted by Harry Bergeron on 2008 03 03 at 04:01 AM • permalink