r/collapse

Control over our lives will be far easier if we are convinced the things that stole our jobs, removed our independence, and monitor our very existence are superior to us. While ‘artificial’ leaves room for vulnerabilities that humans can overcome because humans maintain a perceived intelligence edge, ‘super’ implies humans are sub-par and cannot win. And by corollary, the handful of masters that control the ‘super intelligent’ are far superior to everyone else.

It’s psychological warfare. Make the enemy (humans in this case) think they are defeated before a shot is even fired.

I understand that living in America has meant that my life has put me near the top of the heap as far as access to creature comforts and food availability goes. However, I don’t think I’m alone in noticing that homelessness has increased dramatically in my lifetime. My job pays well, but my office is in an industrial part of town and homeless people routinely sleep right outside my office window. As I sit in my comfy office chair and boot up my computer for the day, sipping on my first hot cup of coffee and snacking on a breakfast bar, I can hear the guy who’s been sleeping next to our office all week picking his stuff up and getting ready to leave rather than deal with us asking him to move along. He’ll spend the day across the street, panhandling at the driveway to a supermarket, just him and his dog. I want to help, but I know social services are available three blocks away, and I don’t want to encourage the behavior. This really feels like training for the coming collapse. I’m gonna do everything I can to stay warm, dry, and fed while I watch people around me, suffer with hunger, cold, and uncertainty. Sometimes this feels justified and at other times I feel like a monster.

I made a comment on this sub several days ago about having to make a decision about lifesaving surgery. I had my pre-op assessment and I'm too frail to have the surgery. If I survived, I'd be worse off, in a lot of pain, and would need permanent nursing care. I hopefully have a few years left.

I would appreciate any suggestions, especially humorous ones, of what I can do to help with the time I have left. What can a wheelchair-using, unwell person living in Scotland do to make people aware of collapse?

I am very grateful for all the kind comments (and birthday wishes) I received.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-tells-france-germany-release-diesel-stocks-or-face-us-export-ban-sources-say-2026-10-01/

Submission statement: First, a few hours ago, China announced that it was suspending export of diesel in October. Considering that China is a major supplier of fuel to neighboring countries, and its supply over the last 6 months has helped keep global energy markets stable, this has the potential to be disruptive.

Then, a few hours later, Reuters reported that the US government is apparently pressuring its allies France and Germany to release a large part of their diesel reserves, or face an export ban (significant because France, Germany and other European countries have come to rely more on the US for oil and gas since the start of the Ukraine war).

This comes after numerous US states like Texas have already announced emergency measures in recent days to deal with diesel shortages as farmers head into harvest season.

It appears October is starting off with a shock to the energy markets, which will likely ripple out into other markets in my opinion. I think this has the potential to spiral into something like an "energy lockdown" as a result of fuel controls. Wait and see, I guess.