Ask HN: Are we heading towards World War 3?

h2odragon · 2023-10-18T01:40:31

If you're nervous, it wouldn't hurt to see to some basic and universally useful things like a disaster kit. You got stored water? Food? a little cash on hand?

You don't have to go full on "prepper" and dedicate a room in your house to supplies and a day of each week to maintaining them; but double checking the flashlight batteries and seeing that there's a few jugs of water for drinking, and a few more for toilet flushing, is not a bad idea.

It won't do anything to fix the world's problems; but then nothing in your power is likely to do that either. What it will do is help remind you of the world you live in and your power to make it better with your own hands.

reify · 2023-10-18T05:19:39

It only takes enough rage, loss of hope, lack of empathy and one psychotic narcissist.

The inevitability of human self destruction is always in the background waiting to consume the planet in the name of progress and ideology.

Egged on by the manipulative one sided media reporting. Generating fear in the masses while at the same time never speaking the truth to the people.

I have seen the decline of our freedoms in the last 60 years and the slow creation of that inner anger, seething and gnawing away at any sense of meaning as to what being human actually is. A breeding ground for the destruction of, and lack of care of, our fellow human beings.

The majority of the worlds population are uneducated, easily manipulated, hungry and desperate, dissociated from the suffering and trauma they endure, will be cheering on the powerful as his or her hand hovers above the button of doom.

War is like suicide! Its not the destruction of the organic self that is the aim of suicide but the destruction of the psychological pain that drives the suicidal ideation.

Phileosopher · 2023-10-18T06:12:42

To start with, I don't think anyone sincerely wants WWIII right now.

In the lens of history, wars were quite popular in Europe in the 19th century because it was the best way for the floundering aristocracy to maintain their wealth (i.e., invest in the war equipment, then invest in rebuilding afterward, and send the losing country the bill).

But, during the Great World War (the war to end all wars, as it was ironically touted), LOTS of favors were pulled in from many directions, and everyone attacked everyone. It was, strictly, a profit motive, for most parties involved.

Nowadays, the vehicle of the corporation has allowed tremendous wealth distribution without any violence, so it's both sustainable and (theoretically) more ethical.

Russia has a geographical interest in Ukraine more than anything else (since it's flat land all the way to Moscow from there), and Israel/Palestine are fighting a war that travels farther into the realm of the religious than most Western society can comprehend.

Sure, the USA could jump in and fight a war, but the 20th century always showed them weighing in when they expected they'd win (and failed at that expectation with Vietnam).

Further, there's usually plenty of bluster before anyone actually does anything. Threatening to nuke a neighbor generates FUD, but actually nuking them means you've obtained a glass crater when you invade them.

Mini-essay aside, I think we must be careful to avoid the propaganda that tells us to be afraid. We each individually have very little control over things either way, and this apocalyptic narrative was a commonplace staple of US/Soviet relations for about 40 years.

simonblack · 2023-10-18T01:50:01

Will China decide: America is distracted with two wars, it’s time to take Taiwan?

Very unlikely, unless the Taiwanese do something really silly like declaring independence and secession. (You know, like firing on Fort Sumpter)

In effect, The Chinese invading Taiwan is pretty much like the Marines storming ashore in Manhattan. A waste of everybodys' time.

smt88 · 2023-10-18T02:40:00

The Chinese invading Taiwan is like Russia invading Ukraine: something people said was foolish and impossible until it happened.

simonblack · 2023-10-18T22:59:34

Taiwan is legally part of China. (Or conversely, China is legally part of Taiwan.)

Both China and Taiwan claim control over all of the combined China-Taiwan.

The US and most other countries officially recognise Taiwan as Part of the 'One China Policy'.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_China

smt88 · 2023-10-19T06:41:41

If you read your own link, you'd know that the US doesn't take a stance on whether Taiwan is a sovereign state.

Taiwan is not "legally" part of China because international borders aren't governed by laws. They're constructs of implicit military threats and explicit diplomatic relations.

annor · 2023-10-18T03:11:13

Be aware you are stressing your own system out simple anticipate ww3. It’s vapor war at this point.