TEOTWAWKI
TWOTWAWKI is an acronym for "The End of the World as We Know It". While this statement has its general definition of being hailed as a "post-apocalyptic" or "post nuclear war" state for the world, the more common definitions are actions that can happen any time and make you feel as if it is TEOTWAWKI:
- Dramatized Definition: a catastrophic event that destroys all existing infrastructure, institutions and norms of society.
- General Definition: a devastating event resulting in harsh survival conditions for an extended period of time.
- Variable Definition #1: a state of mind where you see the world in a new light, and you feel as if the world will never be the same. (examples include: post family death, post repressive era, etc.)
- Variable Definition #2: a state of economy or climate where we know certain things will be different going forward. (examples include: financial institutions after the great depression, health regulations post pandemic, etc.)
TEOTWAWKI vs SHTF
It is important to note that "The end of the world as we know it" is much different than a "Shit hits the fan" scenario. SHTF scenarios are smaller disasters where uncomfortable living will only last for a few hours to a few weeks. An example includes after a hurricane or after losing a job. You may be without power for a few days, or you may have to tighten your budget until you find a new job, but everyday life will resume quickly.
A TEOTWAWKI scenario involves long-term devastation and fundamental changes like during the Holocaust for the Jewish community, the Nuclear Bombs in Japan, or the COVID-19 pandemic that struck worldwide. Those events changed the world as we knew it.
