Hi, I’ve had this idea for a very, very long time. Frankly, it may never materialise, but the hypotheticals are intriguing regardless. What would happen, how would individuals and societies behave, if they were made aware of an impending and unstoppable eradication of the human species? Either to the very last very or just to the smallest sustainable society. But there’s a big catch: this impending doom will be a slow process that would run its course in about three generations. But there’s another curved ball: everyone’s been vaguely aware this irreversible process has been unraveling for the past three generations, but only now has it began to take its toll. To give some context: picture an isolated medieval Europeanesque setting. Some generations ago, somewhere on its edges, there was a typical war (there always is...). During its course, one of sides did something that pretty much sterilises the soil. Whatever it is, it’s spreading, killing flora and, consequently, fauna. The famine to end all is coming, and it will reach the furthest corner of this land in about three generations. I would imagine that the furthest countries would become like the Mediterranean counties, known for veggie cuisine and lively people. They’d probably become rich exporting food. Then there would be the middle countries, the closer to the disease, the more childless, nihilistic, and decrepit. They’d probably be highly militarised, defending their lands from the inflowing refugees and raiders. Finally, there’d be the closest lands with social structures dissolved and every wretch out for himself. If anyone has any, I look forward to (perhaps that’s not the right expression) up close and personal anecdotes from the Holodomor, failed ocean voyages, and the like. Edit: With the second catch, we're already past the assumption that the inhabitants of this fictional realm would do absolutely nothing until it became an immediately life threatening issue. Save for that one lunatic that appears once every generation. There would be infighting escalating the chaos. At first, country against country, then it would degrade into smaller groups, proportionally to the depletion of food, ending with brother against brother. I think this is realistic.
Realistically? The best example is look at what's going on with climate change. The people who didn't want it to be true (for whatever reason) would create conflict and argument over whether it's really happening, the people would be divided on whether or not they even believe the blight is coming, or whose fault it is, or what can or should be done about it, etc. Even when it's right on top of them, a lot of folks would deny the evidence in front of their very eyes; and when it finally hits head on, they'll probably blame immigrants or atheists or gays or cats or something, and take extreme action in exactly the most useless areas.
Climate change would be fine, but it won't happen nearly that fast. Even if we continue our current path, humanity will still be thriving in 100 years time. Though the pentagon's predictions is that the changing climate will create a lot more fighting for resources in areas that are already resource-poor. An asteroid maybe? If humanity is fractured to the point that Near Earth Object detection is no longer funded, then it'd be usable. Someone might detect it, but serious economic downturn might make it impossible to deflect. Even now, if we detected an object that hit us in a decade or so, we could probably deflect it, but it's still only theoretical and would take considerable expenditure.
People will act as if they have cancer or are in a war. First they are shocked by the news, but later comes the denial to protect their fragile minds. Acceptance will only arrive after it's too late. If it's an alien invasion, a direct war would probably be quicker and less painful than how central banks treat developing countries. Earth would be full of sweatshops after corporate hostile takeovers. All brands and patents would belong to the aliens. So called "recycling centers" of a useless thick gue would only be an excuse to dump toxic waste among people instead of on the moon.
Climate change is an uphill battle because it is not marketable and the science is diluted by partisan agendas. In my case, it might as well be the End Times of religions, no logical justification is necessary. Besides, it's a medieval world so there ain't no scientific method. A great and unavoidable famine is coming. Unlike climate change, anyone can understand that. It's more tangible than climate change, anyone can go up to the fringe and see it at a glance, and these people have had a century to make peace with that. Cults seeking divinity in the situation and with pilgrimages, are likely. As are prosecutions of the people perceived to be descendants of those who caused it. Though, maybe after a century they'd be over it and more busy with refugees of any descent? Why does it look like no one else has read the actual opening post, only the thread title?
