Writing About the End of the World discussion

The 'end of the world' can come in many forms. Sometimes it can be literal, such as an asteroid heading for the earth and wiping out all life. Sometimes it can quite simply be a change in the way people live, so it is the end of the world 'as we know it'. One could argue that the discovery of electricity was an end to the old world as our ancestors knew it, and our civilisation embarked on a new era of technological advancement.

So what other features could symbolise the 'end of the world'? If it is an end that is man-made, how would it be brought about?

I think we can also agree that it can be the "end of the world" for people in a particular area (a continent or subcontinent, for example) and not actually be the demise of the planet. That's the way we've gotten the stories of the "world-wide flood" that is part of so many ancient mythologies. It certainly seems like the end of the world to the people affected!

I think this question is awesome.

I believe if the world is going to end realistically, it is either going to end in a way that is completely out of our hands (meteor, our sun explodes, solar flare knocks out all the power, etc.) or it is going to happen because of our own action, either through environmental discord (we will have a war over water someday) or by letting out technology get the better of us.

I do think that we have to look at the "end of the world" as not being necessarily the physical end, as the word "apocalypse" actually means "change." The end can easily be a new beginning.

Jay--Love the idea about "change", but "change" isn't always good, depending on who is affected (just thinking about some of the Dr. Who episodes, and Torchwood), so a change that fundamentally alters the way the world works could seem catastrophic to some (like the fall of the Roman Empire).