You've probably seen the stories about Mark Zuckerberg's doomsday compound in Hawaii. It made a splash on the internet. Billionaires like Zuckerberg have been building bunkers for years. The whole hobby inspired a satire with a little social commentary:
Doomsday prepping has gone mainstream over the last few years as more and more Americans try to cope with fears of climate collapse and political instability by investing in personal survival plans. One real estate agency is even trying to sell doomsday apartments at $55,000 a pop, calling them "affordable." Young Americans across the political spectrum are now hoarding food and water in anticipation of the 2024 election.
As I've said before, most actual preppers know there's wrong with planning for supply chain disruptions and prolonged disasters. The government even recommends it. At the far end of the spectrum, doomsday prepping becomes an antisocial activity that's going to accelerate collapse and undermine the safety nets and social contracts that keep us safe. Douglas Rushkoff explored this unhealthy ideology at length in Survival of The Richest.
In honor of Zuckerberg, I thought I'd round up some of the stories I've written about this trend over the last year:
Jessica Wildfire
