At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements. 😉
Did you hear about the 500-foot asteroid that's going to pass really, really close to the Earth tomorrow? That's what prompted today's question:
What if there was an extinction-level near Earth object ready to strike us? How do you think those in the know would react? Would we even find out about it in advance? Would we want to?
(Yes, I know there have been movies and TV shows about this. Most recently, Salvation, which is still on the air--although, I wouldn't recommend it now as that show has severely gone off the rails.)
I think it would be much like the movie Deep Impact. I'd want to live of course, but I wouldn't go crazy trying to do it.
ReplyDeleteSome people would remain cool under pressure, some people would just think about saving themselves..most people while others would panic or just cry and would not be able to move. The few would try to figure out a way to divert or blow up the asteroid like in the movie Alex mentioned
ReplyDeleteoh and I would try to stay alive if I knew
DeleteI think those in the know would do their best to try to prevent it if at all possible, otherwise they too are doomed. I would hope they would say something to the general population so that we would have a chance to possibly say our goodbyes to each other. We wouldn't have to worry too much about distributing our property :)
ReplyDeletebetty
I have this distinct feeling that, should our condition be hopeless, the powers that be would do their best to keep this under wraps. And I believe I'd prefer blissful ignorance. ~grin~ Let's hope nothing like this is on the horizon!
ReplyDeleteLike tomorrow's asteroid?
DeleteDeep Impact and Armageddon were spot on in my mind. there would be looting (really?), riots, survivalists in their shelters, but mostly it would be cars packed on fwys and screaming people running down the streets.
ReplyDeleteWhat would I do? Take some happy pills and eat meals w/ excellent desserts. Take a shower and put on clean underwear. Pray, not for a miracle, but thanking God for His grace in my life.
I would reach out to my family and tell them how precious they are, and ask if they were saved by Christ's sacrifice.
I didn't see those movies. Probably for the best.
DeleteI remember reading a 1933 book called "When Worlds Collide" when I was a teenager (yes, even then, I was into Science Fiction) where a planet crashes into Earth, destroys it, but then takes its place in orbit - sort of. I understand the writing is quite dated - I would love to pick it up one day. OK, that didn't answer your question. I would, honestly, rather not know, because what could I do?
ReplyDeleteI think those of us into SFF tended to get into it early. I know I found the genre as a teen as well (much later than you ;)
DeleteI cracked up reading "probably" in the headline. Maybe I'll reconsider doing a load of laundry tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer not to know.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us would prefer not to know. Especially if we could do nothing about it.
DeleteThis is going to get deep, but my in-laws were killed in a car crash and so I always try and live my life now as if tomorrow will be my last day on earth... asteroid calamity or not...
ReplyDeleteWell, I least I always pick my dirty washing up off the bedroom floor and put in the laundry basket before I go out the next day!
Hugs to us all loving happily ever after now :)
Wren x
I'm so sorry. That's awful.
DeleteIf that were to happen, scientists would scramble to do something to save the earth and its people. May be deflect it, may be splinter it. Idea would be be save some people at least if not all the people.
ReplyDeletePersonally, it would be worrying no doubt. But, we are always at the mercy of Nature, though we may not always realise that. There is only a limit to which we can tamper with Nature. After a point, Nature will make its own moves.
At least, that's what they do in the movies...
DeleteEh. If there's nothing I can do I don't see the point in knowing, I guess. Actually pretty accurate about a lot of threats. Working with military folks and those in security there's a TON of threats the general public has absolutely no idea about because they're stopped in time. The panic of knowing all of those as they happen...nope rather not know.
ReplyDelete