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Fake End of the World

You only have days to live (hah, not really).
  (+11, -6)
(+11, -6)
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against]

I've seen all those asteroid movies where everyone finds out that the world will end in a few days. People say the things that they've always wanted to say and, in general, come to realize what is really important in thier lives. I always fantasize about what I might do in this situation. The government, should stage a fake "End of the World" event. Reputable NASA scientists describe the nature of the impending disaster; they could even launch a fake comet that could be seen by the naked eye at night. The president would announce a national emergency. No contingency plans would be mentioned since the massive comet would obviously wipe out all planetary life. Then, after everyone said their goodbyes, told their boss to screw himself, etc. and gotten it all out of thier system, it would be announced that it was all fake and everyone could go about thier normal lives.
riromero, Oct 28 2003

...or a helping haNDE? A_20helping_20haNDE
One of my ideas is similar in nature [not_only_but_also, Apr 02 2007]

The War of the Worlds (radio) http://en.wikipedia..._Worlds_%28radio%29
The story of Orson Welles' broadcast. [Jim Bob of Merriam Park, Oct 19 2009]

[link]






       And if anyone survives the global economic collapse and massive looting and anarchy that would ensue, they can sue the government for fraud for some massive sum.
krelnik, Oct 28 2003
  

       I'm voting for this even though I think it's a bad idea. I've entertained end-of-the-world and post-apocalypse scenarios since I was a kid and I can report that these things are fun to ponder.   

       A hoax of this magnitude, though, would surely de-stabilize civilzation - what with all the panic in the streets, anarchy, looting, pillaging, etc. I'm sure the world economies would grind to a halt and many unnecessary deaths would ensue.   

       I couldn't justify all that in return for the benefit of having a worldwide catharsis. But it's kinda kool anyway.
snarfyguy, Oct 28 2003
  

       What about her adament chastity? I guess that's not as important as teaching some jerk a lesson.
snarfyguy, Oct 28 2003
  

       Baked by various cults, at least once a year someone tells us the world is going to end on x day.
PiledHigherandDeeper, Oct 28 2003
  

       I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the whole Y2K debacle yet. I'm sure there are still many dissapointed survivalists glumly muching their way through their 3-year-old stockpiles of tinned rations even as we speak...   

       Was it a genuine problem skillfully avoided or just another case of media hype and scaremongering?
lostdog, Oct 28 2003
  

       At least half-baked in the panic that ensued when War of the Worlds was first broadcast.
reap, Oct 28 2003
  

       More importantly, use this idea for your own greater good, start a cult, tell people that the world is to end on x day and that they need to dispose of all their assets (by giving them to you) to get into heaven!
PiledHigherandDeeper, Oct 28 2003
  

       The term 'Reality TV Show' is just a euphemism for crap. There is no reality on TV. It is a medium that relies on imagination and fabrication. Even so-called documentaries and news programs are written and edited in such a way as to influence or reinforce the viewer's perception of the events or people they depict, ie purse-snatching drug dealers are evil and homeless puppies are cute.
Canuck, Oct 29 2003
  

       I already half baked this with my "faux minute warning", which was at least a pun (I made up some rubbish about how it might balance western europe's 'population crisis'. Suffice to say I deleted it 'cause it was a terrible idea (-)
neilp, Oct 29 2003
  

       Orson Welles baked this a while ago with that radio broadcast where he announced that the world was being invaded by aliens. Massive chaos, i should say.   

       I can't help but wishing I could have been there to see it.   

       However, if someone made me believe that the world was coming to an end within days... I think I'd spend all my money on a very expensive trip with all my loved ones with stops in Rwanda (Africa), Ayers Rock, White Haven and Fraser Island ( in Australia) and that ice hotel in Norway... there are so many things I have to see before I die.
Pericles, Nov 01 2003
  

       is that true or did you make it up?
po, Dec 01 2003
  

       Idunno. What do you say to the thousands of families that had someone shoot themself, jump off a building etc? And what about the millions of soon to-to-be-parent idiots? (Well actually I guess we laugh at them, funny joke, hahaha!)
Madcat, Dec 05 2003
  

       Wouldn't you assume an 'End of the World' event was fake? I mean, if someone announces on the radio (in classic style) that the world is about to end, then what are they doing sitting there when the world is about to end?!
Kettlefish, Apr 16 2004
  

       interesting. very interesting. of course- just hope that you don't tell things to ure wife u might regret later....
nine_stories, May 04 2004
  

       “ure?”
bristolz, May 04 2004
  

       I almost had a 50-mph car wreck yesterday. I would give almost anything to give people the same feeling I felt fifteen seconds after that experience. [+]
ghillie, May 21 2005
  

       If you could get some inside influence at snopes.com, you could start an email hoax and get snopes to back you up on it. That *would* scare people.   

       On second thoughts, don't.
wagster, May 21 2005
  

       Good call [Pericles]. Orson Welles did do this on a radio program, and a great deal of the American people did take it as truth.   

       I work at a video store and we sell a movie that I've had my eye on called "The Day That Panicked America". There is an edition that comes with the original broadcast. Hmm, payday just came, I think I have to go to the video store......
Night, Mar 31 2007
  

       From what I gather he didn't do it intentionally though. A lot of listeners switched over from another station a few minutes into the broadcast, missing the beginning moments (when they warned listeners that the following broadcast was just a drama play rather than a real life news broadcast).
imaginality, Apr 01 2007
  

       The Brain fron Pinky and the Brain would have a field day with this.
Smurfsahoy, Apr 01 2007
  

       greatest idea from the extinction of dinosaurs to date.
sweet, Apr 01 2007
  

       This kind of thing would be high on my things-to-do list if I ever become a crazy billionaire. I'd send a spacecraft a few AU away carrying an asteroid-esque balloon which would be inflated (to 1 mile diameter) and pushed in Earth's direction.
amicus curious, Oct 18 2009
  

       [+] I'm voting for this because it's a good idea even though it's been proposed in many ways before. I would love to watch all the security camera videos afterwards.
xandram, Sep 26 2013
  

       This idea proposes the grandest and most senselessly irresponsible act of guerilla art I can imagine. The horrific implications are as delightful as they are bountiful. Immediate bun.
Alterother, Sep 26 2013
  

       Surely this is 'climate change'?
MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 26 2013
  

       //I ever become a crazy billionaire.//   

       I'm halfway there myself. No, I'm not worth $500 million.
AusCan531, Sep 27 2013
  

       How did it take six years for somebody to link to the War of the Worlds radio show archetype ?   

       Anyways, this is what I thought happened with the WTC bombings... wasn't 'til I flipped through 4-5 different channels showing the same thing I started to twig to it.
FlyingToaster, Sep 27 2013
  

       Interesting: I assumed that it was a humorous advertisement - probably for insurance - until it had run on for a minute and there was no sign of a tag-line.
pertinax, Sep 29 2013
  
      
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