What would you do if you were one of the survivors?

[Checkman]

This is actually a post that I found on www.imdb.com. It's from the forum for the television mini-series of The Stand . The poster goes by obtec2001. It was such a good post I figured I would bring it over here and let everyone read it. Enjoy.

obtec2001


A lot of posts about what people would do if they were the last one on Earth. They would visit this place or that place. They woud live in a multi million dollar Home. I think most would go insane. Remember, there are plenty of crazy people in the world now. They are normally kept ”some what“ in check with our judicial system. There's always that chance that maybe you werent the last one. What realistic scenes can you imagine?

You would be terrified all the time . But the nights? Oh the nights you could drive yourself insane. Are you really the only one?? You would be afraid to play your music to high because you might not hear the noises outside. And of course any things outside would see your place miles away with your generated light and noise. Little creaks outside would chill your blood and cause your hair to rise. Was that a tree branch or something walking out there? Should you get up and investigate or try to be real still, making a face to hear better, clutching your loaded 45 in your sweaty hands under your blanket. It begins to storm. Is that a face you see outside your window each time the lightning lights up the darkness? Is someone in your home already? Maybe something that has already gone completely insane long ago. Something beyond disturbing to look at or even think about. Something that wouldn’t mind shimmying slowly across your compound floor all night. Should you jump out of your bed real fast and start aiming your flashlight and gun around? If you slowly put one foot off your bed ever so silently will it get grabbed? . Would you do something real stupid and cheesy like call out: “whose there?”
Would you instinctively dial 911 on that cell phone under your pillow? The one you still carry and dial numbers randomly to see if anyone answers. The one that you used to use to dial up friends just to hear their voice recording before the state power grids systematically failed. The one that you still pray every night to ring .
Some posters said they would throw a few manikins around their place to make it more cheery. Yah right. Remember as a little kid when that one doll or puppet freaked you out when you saw it with its frozen grin in the moon light? Did it move or did you put it where it’s standing now? All that would come back again as an adult I can promise you.
Yah, most people, no matter how tough they thought themselves, would probably go insane.
What are your thoughts on how it would really be?

[xkittyx]

I like this post, because I've always imagined what i would do if i was in the book.

[Checkman]

Glad you enjoyed it. The writer of the original post seemed to be channeling Mr. King.

[Lefty Writer]

Interesting, and thought provoking post....

Having never been in this type of situation, it's hard to say exactly how I would react, but I'd like to think it would be more than just relegating myself to what the post described as a quivering, fearful victim.

Having been born and raised in Texas, and having a natural love of the outdoors, I feel the survival instinct would kick in and movtivate me to make the best of what was there.

Given the title of this thread, I'm also assuming this is in the context of the story. In this case, one could assume that as a survivor, one would be called to either the good side or dark side. Having said that, I think my dreams would be of Mother Abigail, and as such, my energy would be devoted to preparing for the pilgrimage to Nebraska or Colorado.

:cool:

[Haunted]

If I were one of the survivors, I would hole up in my local library and read and read. I am never alone when I can read.

[bopropadop]

If I were one of the survivors, I would hole up in my local library and read and read. I am never alone when I can read.

Brings to mind the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith. He finally has time to read... If it weren't for the fact he broke his glasses. Bummer.

[TPG555]

With a 99.4% communicability and 100% fatality rate, that means 4 out of 1000 people live. There are about 309 million people in the US so that would leave around 1,236,000 people in the country after the plague. Given the area of the US, that is about 3 people per square mile.

Also, today's technology that would still be around with power for at least a month (if not longer with gasoline generators and an abundance of fuel sitting in abandoned cars everywhere) after everyone else died, it would be easy to locate other survivors...especially in a city. There would also be an abundance of canned food around in every supermarket...too much and too spread out for the remaining population to really hoard.

So, if I were a survivor, I'd be concerned with getting in touch with others and establishing some type of governmental structure to ensure safety from those that would inevitably resort to violence for one reason or another.

[xkittyx]

Yea that's one of my fave Twilight Zone episodes. Poor guy.... :down:

[Lefty Writer]

Brings to mind the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith. He finally has time to read... If it weren't for the fact he broke his glasses. Bummer.

That's exactly what I was thinking, when I read that post!

[motocop]

Id go to those gov. facilities like trashcan did and see if there really are aliens in there.

[LEELEEBG]

Funny my brother and I talk about the what if something like this or any kind of emergency we have a place the family has agreed on and wait for a week no more then 2 ...if no one shows... continue to look for others..

[Kevin Enns]

Rape, pillage, burn.


Just kidding, as I am far too weak to undertake such a life.

I'd find a mansion and live there, alone, and watch movies and such.

[Rand]

With a 99.4% communicability and 100% fatality rate, that means 4 out of 1000 people live. There are about 309 million people in the US so that would leave around 1,236,000 people in the country after the plague. Given the area of the US, that is about 3 people per square mile.

Also, today's technology that would still be around with power for at least a month (if not longer with gasoline generators and an abundance of fuel sitting in abandoned cars everywhere) after everyone else died, it would be easy to locate other survivors...especially in a city. There would also be an abundance of canned food around in every supermarket...too much and too spread out for the remaining population to really hoard.

So, if I were a survivor, I'd be concerned with getting in touch with others and establishing some type of governmental structure to ensure safety from those that would inevitably resort to violence for one reason or another.

Excellent points about the technology. The phones and most of the internet would still be working too, television and radio stations could transmit to anyone scanning them. Even twitter and facebook would still be running.

The post quoted by the OP also doesn't take into account the adaptability of the human mind. Eventually everything gets old, even fear. Need a xanax to help tide you over until you get used to things? Guess what, drugs are not only legal without a prescription now, they're free and self serve.

[GNTLGNT]

I'd like to think I'd be strong, virile and a credit to my gender-but more than likely I would have a pansy attack and have to run into a wall to settle myself down...then as a nurse, tend to any who had need in my immediate area. Afterward, I would take care of Maslow's Hierarchy as it applied to myself before planning any "long walks" to re-establish connection with a Mother A. led type of society...oh hell, who am I tryin' to kid? I'd just hunker down and gorge on Bugles and Twizzlers before passing into a diabetic coma...

[fushingfeef]

I'd probably do what I'm doing now, working for a large organization.

[Natjen26]

I'd panick.. then I'd pass out.. Panick again.. maybe calm down.. to gain strength for another panick attack (I'm seeing a pattern) :D

And after a few days of this, I would search for the essentials (food, water if needed, medical supplies, anything to keep you warm, fuel that burns easily and I'd camp out in my house, sitting on my porch and waiting for someone to pass by. Because when everyone is on the road, where do we all head towards?
And I'd still have my two cats, since they don't get affected by this type of flu. :)

[fushingfeef]

I watched the movie "The Road" last night and it was one of those movies where you ended up envying the dead. Rampant cannibalism and chaos. I kept wondering though if this would really happen to all the rich and powerful people in the world (and there are a lot of them). They always figure out a way to come out on top.

[Checkman]

Rape, pillage, burn.


Just kidding, as I am far too weak to undertake such a life.

I'd find a mansion and live there, alone, and watch movies and such.

So just like Bill Murray in Zombieland . Great. That's a funny movie. I like when they arrive at his mansion and there is a giant BM on the front gates. Wonder how many people caught the joke? :eyebrow:

[K4driver]

lets see, raid the pharmacies, raid walmart, "Borrow" an RV, stock said RV up with food and anything else (etc Guitars,) get a Harley, find a way to take that as well, drive down to NC, "Borrow" an Amtrak locomotive and a set of auto train cars, Fuel the Locomotive up, and use America's Railroads to go out to Boulder Co. Good plan huh?

[nate_watkins]

I'd probably just try to go with the flow, do what everyone else was doing. As long as I found such things to be acceptable anyway...

[sena]

i would be afraid/sacered/terrified at nights :D i would need somebady else. but if i get used to it, it can be even enjoyable to be alone ..i wanted it a few times, when i was reading the stand . but probably i would not join the group. i would prefer to be alone . as i said if i can get used to it.

[cormac]

I'd go masturbate on home plate in yankee stadium ... not really ... but that's the response of a guy larry underwood runs into after everything has hit the fan in new york city ... i'd still think that someone was watching and i'd get in trouble lmao

i'd crank up my generator and play my 140-watt peavey amp full freakin' blast ... i've never had an opportunity to do that ... people have bitched when i have it on 4 ... :P

i wouldn't worry much about finding other people really ... i can't say i have many friends and so i'd try and check on them ... but i'm a loner so i wouldn't be rushing to restart the whole mess again frankly ... i have that cynical edge of glen too lol ... society ain't all it's cracked up to be ...

and also i'd read and read ... i love reading. .. and as have many like minded people on the board, i think fo the poor hen pecked burgess meredith twilight zone character ... i saw a poll of favorite twilight zone episodes once and that one was on top ... it's a perfect episode ...

one thing i'd have to do tho is something i've never thought i had to do ... and that's buy some guns and ammo ... pump-action shotgun sounds good ... looks cool too ;) ... an m1 rifle always seems to work well for every gun episode on mythbusters so that would be another option ... other than that, i love spagheti-o's, chef boy r dee canned pasta, etc so i'll be fine for a while anyway ... of course stockpile some first aid stuff, water, etc ...

sorry kinda rambly ;) lol ... just off top of my head ...

[steveo269]

I've often thought about this,I think I'd find a small farm,grow my own food,rear some animals,find a woman (or women) and start again.I live in England so no journey to Nebraska/Vegas for me unless I learnt to sail/fly !!

[melindaville]

What an interesting discussion! Humans are such social creatures--we need to socialize with others--it really is a need just as having food and shelters are needs. I think the first thing I would do would be to try to find other survivors and I'm pretty sure that I would believe that if I was alive, others would have to be also. I would think of where the most logical place people might gather, such as down by the town hall, the library, or other building. I would be too scared to be by myself so for me, the first thing I would want to do is to build a support network. Then my pals and I would go kick Flagg's evil butt. :exclaim:

[Checkman]

I'm not a social butterfly. But I like people and I like them to be around. Not necessarily involved in my business, but around. I'm a loner who doesn't necessarily like being alone. Go figure that one out. The Human race drives me crazy at times, but I don't want to see it die off.

So yes I would seek out people.

[BorderCollieMum]

If I survived id be too traumatized by my dogs dying to care

Im sociophobic anyway (terrified of people) been that way now for over 14 years , so no-one around would be my idea of heaven