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[Aramco]

Given the following two scenarios, which would you consider to be a greater/larger/whatever threat?

1.) Something really really bad, though, admittedly not very likely (say, the whole universe instantly collapsing into dust)

2.) Something much more likely, but not nearly as bad (say, the "tomb" over the reactor at Chernobyl failing and releasing radiation into the atmosphere)

I'm just curious about which one people tend to worry about more. You know, because I'm just the kind of guy who wants to know how the human mind works, just for giggles and/or because I can.

So... yeah. Preferably, you would expand on why you consider the one you choose to be the greater threat, otherwise there isn't much point.

[Flying Dice]

2. Things like that are preventable and predictable. Scenarios like 1 aren't really the sort of thing we'll see coming or be able to stop, so why worry about them?

[Aramco]

2. Things like that are preventable and predictable. Scenarios like 1 aren't really the sort of thing we'll see coming or be able to stop, so why worry about them?

While I understand your logical, for the sake of discussion, let's say that neither are preventable or predictable, and just leave it at likely/not so likely.

[Flying Dice]

It's still a simple matter of priorities, then. The threats which are most immediate are the ones with which we concern ourselves, both because they are more likely to happen before we die, and because it is more likely that we will need to deal with the results. Certainly the low-probability, long-term threats can be assessed and considered, but not as a primary focus. You don't worry about the asteroid which may or may not collide with Earth in a few hundred years when someone is mugging you.

[Aramco]

It's still a simple matter of priorities, then. The threats which are most immediate are the ones with which we concern ourselves, both because they are more likely to happen before we die, and because it is more likely that we will need to deal with the results. Certainly the low-probability, long-term threats can be assessed and considered, but not as a primary focus. You don't worry about the asteroid which may or may not collide with Earth in a few hundred years when someone is mugging you.

Makes sense. I was expecting this result, though I must admit I was hoping for:

"THE UNIVERSE IS GOING TO COLLAPSE INTO DUST?!?!? RUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN"

[King DZA]

If the collapse of the entire universe is both entirely unpredictable and unpreventable, worrying about it at all seems rather silly to me.

[Itnetlolor]

It's still a simple matter of priorities, then. The threats which are most immediate are the ones with which we concern ourselves, both because they are more likely to happen before we die, and because it is more likely that we will need to deal with the results. Certainly the low-probability, long-term threats can be assessed and considered, but not as a primary focus. You don't worry about the asteroid which may or may not collide with Earth in a few hundred years when someone is mugging you.

Makes sense. I was expecting this result, though I must admit I was hoping for:

"THE UNIVERSE IS GOING TO COLLAPSE INTO DUST?!?!? RUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN"

You go ahead and run, I'm breaking out a cooler of beer, a bag of weed, and trippin' balls as I witness the end of the 'verse. I mean, I have front-row seats, let's enjoy the show as much as possible, if death is inevitable.

[The Fool]

1. I'll take a seat at the restaurant at the end of the universe.

I wouldn't be surprised if we could hop to another universe by then though. Maybe we can build a restaurant that views the universe collapsing every night from just outside a portal leading into the doomed universe. We wouldn't even have to abide by traditional physics! We can have everything based on movements through a kitchen!

2. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of natural environmental reaction that counteracted the radiation. If not we can invent something to soak the radiation.

[Mr. Palau]

It's still a simple matter of priorities, then. The threats which are most immediate are the ones with which we concern ourselves, both because they are more likely to happen before we die, and because it is more likely that we will need to deal with the results. Certainly the low-probability, long-term threats can be assessed and considered, but not as a primary focus. You don't worry about the asteroid which may or may not collide with Earth in a few hundred years when someone is mugging you.

Makes sense. I was expecting this result, though I must admit I was hoping for:

"THE UNIVERSE IS GOING TO COLLAPSE INTO DUST?!?!? RUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN"

You go ahead and run, I'm breaking out a cooler of beer, a bag of weed, and trippin' balls as I witness the end of the 'verse. I mean, I have front-row seats, let's enjoy the show as much as possible, if death is inevitable.

BEST ATTITUDE EVER!

[Eagle_eye]

multiply sentients killed by the probability for each scenario. The higher one is worse.

[Powder Miner]

Universe collapsing into dust?
You'll make the law of conservation of matter even sadder than it already is.

[GlyphGryph]

Which is the greater threat? Universe, obviously. Chernobyl shield collapsing doesn't exactly do a lot to me, especially now that most of the super radioactives have burned themselves out and we've only got the slow-burners left. Probably suck for people in Europe though!

Now, if I lived in Chernobyl for whatever reason, I'd probably consider that one the greater threat.

However, assuming I knew it was coming, I could at least avoid it.

Ultimately - I think the question is incredibly vague, bordering on meaningless, and not really worth a genuine final answer.

[Aramco]

Universe collapsing into dust?
You'll make the law of conservation of matter even sadder than it already is.

physics are a lie

dust is a lie

the universe is a lie

therefore, the universe collapsing into dust is not a lie

[Soadreqm]

Why would you worry about something you can't predict or prevent? There are infinite scenarios where the world is suddenly destroyed for no reason, but as any vigilante psychologist worth his comfortable armchair knows, you'd have to be crazy to give a fuck.

[GalenEvil]

1. I'll take a seat at the restaurant at the end of the universe.

I wouldn't be surprised if we could hop to another universe by then though. Maybe we can build a restaurant that views the universe collapsing every night from just outside a portal leading into the doomed universe. We wouldn't even have to abide by traditional physics! We can have everything based on movements through a kitchen!

We should develop Bistro Math and make this happen