Decent into anarchy

[cheerful_deviant]

Does anyone else seeing the reports from New Orleans wonder at how quickly a society degrades in a tragedy?

Look at New Orleans; At this time last week it was the same as any other American city. In less than an week it has been degraded to what resemble a demilitarized zone after WWIII. Looting, shootings, rape, bands of thugs roaming the streets, bacically complete chaos. The police are unable to maintain order, some are even turning in their badges rather than go out there. All basic services whiped out, no water, sewer, food, medical, electrical, communications… the collapse seems total.

Now finally some supplies are making it to the desparate and some order is being restored by the military. But what does it really say about a society when you have to call out men armed with automatic rifles and armored personnel acrriers to maintain order?

It really is frightening just how fragile the fabric of society really is.

 

[Guest]

 

[dr_mabeuse]

You have 50,000-100,000 people without food, water, electricity, sanitation or communications, crammed together amidst filth and death and intolerable heat, and a handful take to the streets and turn thug. The rest of them seem to be helping each other as best they can.

I don't think that's so bad.

 

[The_Fool]

There is always that rabble element. I think you can find that level of "self-gratification" in any area where conflict or disaster has allowed a breakdown in basic law and order. You can find examples of that in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Why should the US be any different?

 

[LadyJeanne]

There is always that rabble element. I think you can find that level of "self-gratification" in any area where conflict or disaster has allowed a breakdown in basic law and order. You can find examples of that in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Why should the US be any different?

We like to think we're different. Above it all.

 

[The_Fool]

We like to think we're different. Above it all.

I know...I wish for better....But isn't that just another form of hubris?

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

I don't really blame them. You have no food, water, or means of escape. Every report you hear is of cops and FEMA representatives treating people like shit and providing jack while good food goes to rot in stores you're "not allowed" to loot after your home has been destroyed with all of your possessions and the knowledge you'll receive squat. You're out of a job, your home is gone, your future is over, grandpa just died, and you have the shits from drinking contaminated water out of desperation.

Now a bunch of white cocksuckers talk about maintaining order and use the forces meant to be evacuating and rescuing you as armed forces to create the illusion of order which starts to look like facism as anarchy spreads.

What is your reaction?

I'm sure I would be most gentlemanly and urbane and would wait quietly for the promised rations from the kindly officials.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I know...I wish for better....But isn't that just another form of hubris?

Wish, hope, denial, hubris...the reality of survival brings us all to the same place, the lowest common denemonitor, demoninator

 

[Guest]

 

[Liar]

I don't really blame them. You have no food, water, or means of escape. Every report you hear is of cops and FEMA representatives treating people like shit and providing jack while good food goes to rot in stores you're "not allowed" to loot after your home has been destroyed with all of your possessions and the knowledge you'll receive squat. You're out of a job, your home is gone, your future is over, grandpa just died, and you have the shits from drinking contaminated water out of desperation.

Now a bunch of white cocksuckers talk about maintaining order and use the forces meant to be evacuating and rescuing you as armed forces to create the illusion of order which starts to look like facism as anarchy spreads.

What is your reaction?

I'm sure I would be most gentlemanly and urbane and would wait quietly for the promised rations from the kindly officials.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Save from a few who were already savage and criminal prior to this, people turn "savage and criminal" because they frankly don't see the options.

One of the problems re: looting is that it is, from the outside, judged with the rules and standards of a functional society. But NO is at the moment a non-functional society, where the boundaries of what to respect has been pushed back. People can't afford to respect corporate property at the cost of their health and lives, so they (most of them, the god and decent people, maybe not the ganga and criminals) focus on respecting persons' integity and give up on property's integrity.

It's no more immoral than picking apples from the trees of an abandoned farm, or scavenging dumpsters for useful stuff. I'd say that the fact that the majortiy of people there have still not turned all Lord Of The Flies on each other, and just on goods, is a testimony how well they handle things.

 

[AppleBiter]

I just think the whole situation is sad beyond words.

 

[oggbashan]

The UK's 1950s plans for a post Nuclear war scenario (that are no longer secret) assumed that the surviving population would revert to anarchy and that the hardened Regional Centres of Government would have to be defended with deadly force.

They assumed that anarchy would arise within a week...

Og

 

[DwayneDibley]

There's a saying that any society, city, etc. is only 3 meals away from anarchy. This tragedy proves that point rather well

 

[Equinoxe]

Well, it's not quite bellum omnium contra omnes, but I am not surprised.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Sorry to start this thread then abandon it... I fell asleep.

I don't begrudge the people looting/taking/stealing (whatever you want to call it) food from abandoned stores, when your kids are hungry you do what ever it takes, I would do the same. The stealing of TVs and appliances is someting else, that's still just common theft regardless of the circumstances.

The part the terrifies and amazes me is just how quickly the whole thing came appart. In less than 3 days it went from a city to a bunch of refugees trying to survive. It really is astounding how much modern society has come to depend on what is obviously a very fragile balance of services and utilities.