End of the World Put Off Yet Again
Last week marked yet another put off of the end of the world, a/k/a, TEOTWAWKI - The End of the World as We Know It. Not that it's stopping hard liners from dwelling on dark dreams of a bleak future. The "End of the World" industry keeps getting smacked down a peg, but its adherents don't appear ruffled in the least. The Greek crisis raised the specter of financial chaos - at least in Europe - for a brief period, then fizzled out. Before it did, China's stock market crash (masking an ongoing severe credit crisis) took up the baton and raced towards oblivion until the government's relentless actions to stem the avalanche of falling stock prices gained some traction.
All in all, the end of the world remains where it's always been: somewhere over the rainbow. Meanwhile, a couple of thoughts about this "End of the World" stuff.
First, investing for the world to end just strike me as perverse. Are you rooting for Armageddon so's you can make a buck? What will you do with your gains when everyone and everything around you turns to ash?
Second, and more important, how has that strategy worked for you to date? You do know that the U.S. dollar - sick as it might be - isn't falling apart, don't you?
Okay, so you're just maybe "prepping" for the possibility of world collapse. Fair enough. You buy some canned food, guns 'n ammo, extra toothpaste...whatever. Nothing wrong with being prepared. Heck, preparations will work just fine if we get another Hurricane Sandy or a massive failure of the electric grid - nothing to sneeze at.
The point here would be that focusing your mind, heart, and soul on the end of the world a) isn't healthy, either mentally, emotionally, or spiritually - never mind financially; b) isn't any fun. "End-of-the-Worlders" tend to be a bit dour, lacking a sense of humor. In the extreme, they tend not to think, say, or do anything that holds any interest for anyone but others of their ilk, as they've likely given up pursuing intellectual or avocational pursuits. Why bother if the world's about to turn to ash?
So, as with the Greek crisis and the Chinese stock market crash, focus your energy elsewhere. If you prep a bit, just do it and go on with your life. Our last post discussed the tasty wonders of Nutella. Now there's something you don't want to be without if and when the end comes.
All in all, the end of the world remains where it's always been: somewhere over the rainbow. Meanwhile, a couple of thoughts about this "End of the World" stuff.
First, investing for the world to end just strike me as perverse. Are you rooting for Armageddon so's you can make a buck? What will you do with your gains when everyone and everything around you turns to ash?
Second, and more important, how has that strategy worked for you to date? You do know that the U.S. dollar - sick as it might be - isn't falling apart, don't you?
Okay, so you're just maybe "prepping" for the possibility of world collapse. Fair enough. You buy some canned food, guns 'n ammo, extra toothpaste...whatever. Nothing wrong with being prepared. Heck, preparations will work just fine if we get another Hurricane Sandy or a massive failure of the electric grid - nothing to sneeze at.
The point here would be that focusing your mind, heart, and soul on the end of the world a) isn't healthy, either mentally, emotionally, or spiritually - never mind financially; b) isn't any fun. "End-of-the-Worlders" tend to be a bit dour, lacking a sense of humor. In the extreme, they tend not to think, say, or do anything that holds any interest for anyone but others of their ilk, as they've likely given up pursuing intellectual or avocational pursuits. Why bother if the world's about to turn to ash?
So, as with the Greek crisis and the Chinese stock market crash, focus your energy elsewhere. If you prep a bit, just do it and go on with your life. Our last post discussed the tasty wonders of Nutella. Now there's something you don't want to be without if and when the end comes.
Comments