Why We’re All Rooting for the Apocalypse 

I've been plagued for months by a recurring thought of "if the world just ended I could stop. It would be so nice to just stop."

"it is easier to imagine an end to the world than an end to capitalism"

same sentiment to this video's thesis is summed up nicely in Brad Bird's "Tomorrowland" by the primary antagonist, particularly the part about humans acting in bad faith: "In every moment, there is the possibility of a better future, but you people won't believe it. And because you won't believe it, you won't do what is necessary to make it a reality! So you dwell on this terrible future, you resign yourselves to it, for one reason: because that future doesn't ask anything of you today"

Honestly there’s a real unique sense of closure in knowing the rest of the world is going with you, especially if the alternative is the worldwide suffering we currently tolerate

"Everyone, deep in their hearts, is waiting for the end of the world to come." Haruki Murakami

That sponsor segment at the start cracked me up. "We all feel like the world's about to end, but hey, you can keep your hair!"

I've always wondered why "Bad Moon Rising" a song basically about the end of the world had such an celebratory and joyous tone. It definitely makes sense as we are happy its about to all be over.

I think the more appropriate question is, ‘do we secretly want people to end?’.

I've always thought that we would rather die violently and suddenly than believe our suffering will simply slowly continue to erode our life for decades to come.

As a doomer, I don't keep it as a secret. I have nothing, therefore, nothing to lose. I was born in a poor family, in s third world country, so the theme of my life has always been material deprivation. Why would I care for a world where people who don't deserve it vet what I want? As far as I'm concerned seeing rich kids and assholes get a horrific end would be justice.

I'm 28 and have lived through a ton of "World ending" events. The universe needs to stop being such a tease and wipe us out already

Yes! Everything is tedious and heartbreaking and its comforting to know it'll just end.

"Do we really want the world to end?" Me: yes, moving on

It's scary how wisecrack always seem to make videos that address things that I'm secretly thinking about.

like we say here in Brazil "the meteor isn't fear anymore, is a hope"

The apocalypse genre is overplayed. I want to see the utopia genre take hold. Specifically films showing HOW we got from the world we have now to what could be.

I think there is something very cathartic about the idea of the end of the world. Freedom from a world that forces us into it's mold and holds us there all our lives. Watching it crumble would bring satisfaction, even if you have to die with it.

The thing is, I was never prepared for covid or Russia or financial issues. But I’ve spent years training for the zombie apocalypse, let’s bring it on 🤘🏻

Secretly ? 😅

Another reason why the apocalypse is so attractive is “existence is pain but if we all die at once then we will no longer be in pain and still be together” Like people are waiting for a letter to say they just inherited millions including a huge mansion that has loads of butlers, all ready for them to live a life of nothing but pleasure, no pain, no sadness, only bliss

As someone in their 20s I've lived through multiple economic crisis, ecological decline, a global pandemic, the upending of decades-old political and social institutions, and the renewed threat of nuclear war. We've become normalized to the sense that everything is going to end within our lifetimes and that there's nothing to look forward to. Its sad and yet its strangely liberating at the same time.

I just want an end to the madness, if no people are born then no one suffers

Since I am not clinically depressed right now I think that even if the world "ends" that my effort to help out right now would have been worth it. The old starfish parable applies too.

I do think it's relevant that people haven't always imagined "the world as we know it" on the same scale as we do now. The smaller your civilization is (or you perceive it to be) the more probable it would feel for a singular event to destroy it

If I had to guess, the desire for the end of the world comes from the pain of uncertainty. Constantly expecting something horrible to happen, but not knowing exactly when, is exhausting. Seeing things finally fall apart might feel like relief after all the fear. I hope it doesn't end and humanity somehow gets its act together, but I understand the desire to just "get it over with".

Surprised he didn't point out that we had a global pandemic and instead of bringing the world together, it divided people more than ever. Same with climate change. So forgive me if i don't believe an apocalyptic event will bring the whole world together...

To answer the question before the video even starts. Yes, we probably want to.

Everyone likes to play with their possible suffering and demise. Until the suffering comes out to our doors and we experience how truly painful it is. I am from a poor country and I have seen suffering. So I absolutely hate this nihilistic fuckery of people that actually don't know how hellish a hell brought by our own hands can be. May God and everything good in this world have mercy on our lives, our loved ones, and our very souls.

Denial of the possibility of collapse, similar to the current denial that the pandemic is ongoing, merely serves to accelerate it.

I want this abusive capitalistic system to crumble and all the psychopaths who have been hurting others for the sake of profit to burn. But I do not want to see the world to end.

As someone who grewup in the early 80s, lived in the 90s, learned in the Aughts, the 10s reality hits and vibing aimlessly in the 20s. The optimism of the first two decades were wiped off by the last two. Hell Yay!

I really don't want to take responsibility for anything not even the good stuff I accidentally do these days.

Every single time I'm reminded of how absurd humanity is in the real world the more I root for the coming of the apocalypse. Corruption, scams, war, ignorance, hate, greed, hypocrisy and more ... yet people persevere

I think we have passed the point where solutions that require everyone are at all feasible; too many people to gather under one cause with any efficacy. Regarding climate change, only the most radical solutions will push the dial back. There won't be an "end" per say either, just a slow move towards accepting shittier norms.

How do you think the world is going to end? Nuclear winter? Heat death of the universe? Aliens??? Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/wisecrack to get 50% off your first order of Keeps hair loss treatment.

Good video, good sources, good message, you have earned my subscription.

I stopped caring about the end of the world when I discovered how little I could actually do about it. Now I'm just siting and doing my own thing while I wait.

You forgot to quote Mark Fisher... It's easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism

Because the general consensus is that we are headed to either dystopia or apocalypse, and the later is better than the former. Of course, we could make the world a better place. But the question is, if we can do so, or if it is only theoretically possible.

Bro how does this have less than 50k views?? Your content is gold.

The world's been on the verge of ending since the day I was born. 40 something years later and it STILL feels like any day now ...

I wonder if people felt the same way back in WW1, WW2, during the Spanish Plague... There's always "something" there to threaten the world but the world continues to exist.

One of your best videos in a while. Kudos!

Sartre's speculation that an end-time events could bring people together, reminds of a (possible apocryphal) event during a peace conference during the Cold War: the American and Russian representative pretty much ask each other if in the event of extra-terrestrial attack, what would their side do? They both had the same answer, focus on the aliens, to the point of cooperating with their terrestrial neighbor (each other) regardless of other current political situations.

A wisecrack apocalypse notif popup? Immediate smash, watch, like, and comment Where's my popcorn

"Do we secretly want the world to end?" Well, if Persona 3 taught me anything....

Love the videos Michael. Would also love it if maybe you can cover more Eastern philosophies in your videos too.

Loved this!

People like the idea because they fantasize that they'll be free from all societal rules and run around being a badass like Mad Max, and they ignore the fact that realistically, they'd more likely end up as a warboy if they're lucky, a corpse if they're not.

Wisecrack: Do we secretly want the world to end? Me: Was that supposed to be a secret?

I don't want the world to end, but if it is gonna end, I'd like to get on with it before I'm an old man...

I think its in every humans mind to atleast be curious on what happens when the eventual end comes..like i def dont want it to happen in my lifetime, but i also kinda want to be there to witness it 😅

I feel like the pandemic was the ultimate example that human beings cannot, in fact, put aside differences to defeat a common enemy on a global scale and that we are just fooling ourselves by believing that can happen. I don’t necessarily think that means the world is going to end, but it would certainly be difficult to accomplish the heretofore.

people often like to fantasize about post-apokalyptic settings thinking they are the lucky ones to magically survive the first few moments of absolute DOOM.

This video is a whole mood

'The old world is dying and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters' Antonio Gramsci. This quote sums up how I've viewed the world over the past half decade

I think about this sometimes. People don't want to be bored and the end of the world is pretty exciting.

Honestly, I see comments that everyone just basically said that "let the End happened and be done with it". I on the other hand think that we need to stop the world from ending and not make excuses like that.

Im ready for it!

Good video!

"You know, we really had it all." -AILF

I don't want the world to end. That's where I keep all my stuff.

I dont want the world to end as in extinction but an end to the times we're in. Shit is getting worse and nobody feels cared for anymore. I'm 17 and from the UK, i cant say we arent lucky to live in a wealthy country, but i can say for a first world country we shouldn't have to worry about whether we'll be able to make it through the decade.

Yeah, but at once. Everyone dies immediately

I imagine the sentiment is like the first chapter in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, when Shadow Moon was in jail. He felt a sense of relief that the worst has already happened. “Don’t have to worry about the Man getting you because you’ve already been got.” Is how the quote went, roughly.

Two things: 1. The talk at the end reminded me of Watchmen by Alan Moore. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the essence is that humans are supposed to come together in the face of an oncoming threat. Very interesting story. 2. Sometimes I’m with everybody who wants the end of the world to come. I’m like, “yeah a fresh start would be great!” But then I remember I would probably be in the group that does not survive the nuclear fallout/climate crisis/asteroid. And then I think, “I kinda like living, I’d rather not have those happen.”

In my personal interpretation, the reason as to why people want the world to end is to alleviate the sense of agency from their lives, knowing they have no control over the world ending and everyone dying gives them a death cult like mindset as in, well if we all die tomorrow at least I don't have to plan for my future or deal with the stresses of everyday life.

Yes please. Just end it all already. I'm tired.

For me all this apocalypse stuff is the result of both sensationalist sentiments, which people love, meeting the crushing hopelessness in the institutions and governments that sustain us. End of humanity would be quite terrible but compared to what some people endure today and how today's events make us feel about each other and society as a whole, for lots of people the end of everything seems more like a lateral slide

Haha I love how Michael went a little ham at the end there 🤣

Humans would rather die than work with the tribe over the hill. May the wild flowers take over our abandoned cities

There's no redemption in apocalypse. It's just a self-righteous way to say "I don't like this thing or these people, and I want them to die."

To a doom and gloom person they stop developing themselves and often fall into a deep depression. Those people have the same mindset of those who can not see more for themselves and are content with little. The only way I know to snap out that is two things. The Sublime, and Amor Fati. We can only focus on what we can control and let's not waste time dwelling on things we can not control. Live your life full regardless of fate.

Honestly, I feel like the joy of the end is really just the relief of not having to try and get people to pay attention anymore.

He talked about the end of the world, then recited a sponsored add. Why are we just keeping the wheel running.

For me I live in the "best" country in the world where "democracy" is made with gerrymandering, a complete disregard for the commoners thoughts or desires, and has become more spectacle than service. In the "richest" country where homelessness is rampant and our lust for wealth brutalizes and tramples the needs of millions around the world, including in our country. I live in the "freeist" country where the incarceration rate is about 600% higher than the rest of the world. I am a human being, we are inherently kind and helpful creatures, and to watch systems of capital destroy hundreds of tons of food rather than let people eat is heartbreaking... I live in a time where wealth inequality is worse than that of kings and queens, than the French revolution, and the gilded age. I live with amazing technologies that allow me to bear witness the truth of people living in cages (and pay rent on their cage), of torturous factory farming practices, of dozens of wars and coups constantly but the only ones that get discussed are the ones where the white women are at. I see ignorance repeated with fervor, a rallying call for the hateful and the bigoted. I see my own countryfolk suffer unnecessary, die unnecessary, cry unnecessary only to push the bottom line of the healthcare industry. And a myriad of other tragedies large and small on a constant basis. Revolution would be preferable, but doom is also acceptable.

Secretly? I'd push the button anytime if all humans would disappear.

"The World is ending! Make sure you take care of your baldness!" lol okaaaay

Oh I'm quite open about it

Because...we have been living in such chaos for so long...the apocalypse seems like a great long vacation... remember... DON'T LOOK UP!!!

I think for the current younger generations, so much emphasis is put on mortgages, health care, pensions, etc yet these things are getting harder to obtain. There is a certain freedom in the sheer survival of the apocalypse: doesn’t matter if you don’t have health care or a pension or bad credit; you just need to survive

Honestly sometimes yeah...Was just ranting to myself about this a few hrs ago lol

it ain't humanity's fault it's the fault of a literal handful of humans who are intentionally ruining everything for their own benefit.

I won't mind the world to end but I do want it to happen as fast as Thanos snapping his fingers. I don't want it to drag for days and months and dying because of lack of food, clean water or disease.

Y'know, if we live in a world almost all of humanity secretly hopes for the end of the world, we must of REALLY screwed up somewhere in the historical timeline. Or maybe it's comforting, but I like constantly roasting ourselves so I believe the former.

*Opens video and immediately pauses.* *Goes directly to comments section.* "Yes. Continue." *Goes back and actually plays video now.*

Death Camps and Nukes and Jazz, oh my!

I have a feeling that some of all this could be resumed to boredom. Where I live ppl are considering the pandemic as finished and there's a growing interest on other kinds of cataclysms as wars and global warming, with the twist that there's not much as an individual that one can do so about them. But, in reality, ppl were already tired before the pandemic, got entertained and bored by the pandemic and now are waiting for next thing to happen and turn our lives upside down. Not that all the other things like religion and death drive doesn't count, but sometimes I wonder if all that doesn't have some relation to our day to day life

I see a fair bit of the doomer attitude in anti-vaxxers. When presented with two possible outcomes: A) It really was a scam, and you get to feel smug for being right! B) It's real and you've been actively working against the things that could very well save your own life as well as the lives of your loved ones. They enthusiastically bet it all on option A, even though any sane person would know that getting to feel smug isn't worth risking life and limb.

Oh...i read the title as why we're all recording for the apocalypse" silly eyes

It’s not gonna end, maybe for some and maybe even for most, but we are like roaches, we always pull through

As a Doomer myself i dont want it to end i just want the things i dislike to suffer really really bad in other words a simple reset of our souciety

Personally, I've always thought the rooting for the apocalypse comes from sheer narcissism and a fear of being forgotten. It's true that we are the main characters of our stories, and so I think a lot of people don't like to think about the fact in the grand scheme of things, Earth will go on without us. It's slightly narcissistic but a darkly comforting thought to think that the world _literally cannot_ go on without us, as though God (or climate change/nukes/etc) will do a curtain call on the species rather than have the world go on and face the prospect of the world moving on, and the cold fact that for aside from a precious few that make the history books, most of us will be eventually forgotten to history, just another headstone in a cemetery. I think that's also why so many religions and stories over time feature the world being better after the apocalypse. The thought of "well of course _I'll_ survive/transcend/get raptured/etc, how could I not?"

"Do we want to die?" Asks the video sponsored by hairloss prevention. As a balding man, I found this very funny. Thanks, Keeps!

Civilization exists by geological consent. Subject to withdraw at any time.

I personally believe in fighting to change and prevent the "apocalyptic" ending. I do my best to push the agender of positive change and the idea that the power is in our hands and do my best to lead by example, as much as possible. But, i can't deny that i have previously had thoughts of us as humans going through that apocalyptic point as a reset button.

After my husband died, I really don't care if it's ending today or in a year.. I welcome the V O I D, sucks for other people though..

While I will admit, gladly, that there is *nothing* better in life than being able to savor that moment in which you can tell someone "I told you so," I will admit that I would not be able to feel that emotion should I be right about the world coming to a horrible end. Then again, I'm not stupid enough to try and predict the future in the first place.

I ask myself this every day.

My ability to hold onto hope has been destroyed by the combination of big business/governments, and I firmly believe the "satire" plot of "Don't Look Up" is not only a highly plausible possibility but almost certain of how they would act. I don't secretly hope it will burn; I feel like it's the only best/likely outcome anymore. I just hope it's nukes. Be fastest... for most, at least... #positivevibes