Originally Posted By Mooseless:
These can be fun if they’re done well. There was one some years back about what would happen if all humans suddenly vanished from the earth. Was really interesting.

Originally Posted By WYPete:
I arrived in El Salvador in February 2001 after their second major earthquake.

I was coordinating humanitarian aid for a nonprofit (which I helped found and still does some cool stuff).

Anyhow, I met with the American educated national cabinet, who were on top form; they knew they had at best a month of global attention and generosity. So I got whatever needed to get video, photos, access etc.

We had Price Westinghouse accountants at the airport, at the main distribution center and with each aid convoy.

My organization coordinated with pre established networks of Catholic parishes who had up to date family lists…

So the convoy wasn’t mobbed, the local church organized the event. The head man of each family was handed the per family aid package: it was INTENTIONALLY NOT as much as they’d need… but the thinking was if we gave too much they’ll start bartering it away….

But it was enough propane for about a month. Basic pot, pan, steel ladle, etc. one cot. One tarp. Rope. A bin of rice, beans and fat.

Each family showed up, paterfamilias signed for it, everyone knew each other so no double dipping…

And then we moved on.

Very methodical. We brought soccer balls to keep the kids busy.

But even then El Salvador countryside was pretty primitive. Like State park picnic sites are better built than those little towns. It was such a stark contrast between what we take for granted….

The shock also meant no roving mad max gangs. People were afraid of aftershocks. People were uncertain about what was coming.

The one time I met some armed men who could have been highwaymen… they saw me, saw my Nissan pickup and when we mentioned that we were part of a 30 vehicle convoy… suddenly waved us by. We weren’t actually the lead truck that day… but they didn’t know that and predatory men hedge against overwhelming odds.

Only some national disaster that guaranteed no rescue coming would result in the sort of desperation that would lead to people becoming sociopaths like the movies.

Normalcy bias is a thing.

Even in war. The longer a war goes the more brutal it always becomes