Would Boston survive the end of the world? Here’s what readers said.
“We are better than many, but not good enough.”
If it were up to Bostonians to save the planet, would we survive?
After the release of “Don’t Look Up,” it was a question that we wanted to pose to Boston.com readers. The movie, which was filmed in Massachusetts, follows two scientists as they try to warn the world of a life-destroying comet headed for Earth.
The aim of the film, according to its stars and director Adam McKay, is to show viewers how people can let ego, greed, and indifference get in the way of the greater good.
With that message in mind, we asked Boston.com readers if they thought the city would be able to band together to fight off a direct, but preventable threat to our planet. After all, Boston has a lot going for it. The city is home to some of the world’s top researchers in all fields and has been known to show resiliency in the face of great adversity.
Unfortunately, very few readers have faith that we would make it through alive.
“The people in this town are some of the rudest, most selfish [humans] anywhere in the world. I grew up here. I’m among you. If the world were in our hands I’d go to the packie, grab a case of beer, and watch the world burn,” said Briv from Medford.
For a lot of readers, more current events like the ongoing pandemic and concerns about the climate crisis have them skeptical of the city’s ability to come together in the face of a threat that large.
“How would we actually react with a direct, but preventable threat to our planet, you ask,” said Chris from Marshfield. “There’s no need to wonder because we are already confronting such a crisis in global warming. Clearly, too many humans prioritize their self-interest over making simple, collective sacrifices that could save the planet. Simply put: we’re screwed.”
Those who said they had no doubt in their minds that Boston would be able to survive were in the minority, but they pointed to moments in the past that have laid bare the city’s resilience. Readers argued, for example, that Bostonians showed great strength in the face of tragedy in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon attack.
Readers also pointed to the city’s many talents in the tech, academic, and medical sectors as a benefit to our chances of survival.
“Bostonians are intelligent, resilient, and care about the planet,” said a reader from Dracut. “We would put our best scientists on the job and we would come up with a plan to save our planet. With the world’s best universities, hospitals and people, we would find a way.”
“Don’t Look Up,” portrays a world where even the best minds struggle to overcome the greed and apathy of those around them to protect the world from impending doom. For many Boston.com readers, it’s a version of the world that rings true.
Jeffrey H. from Concord put it plainly. “We are better than many, but not good enough.”
Below, you’ll find a sampling of responses from readers sharing how they think Bostonians would react to the end of the world and why or why not they think we’d make it out alive.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Do you have faith Bostonians would survive a preventable extinction-level event?
No, I think we’d all be doomed.
“Look at the way we drive. It is an example of how we act when we are trapped together and heading in the same direction. The amount of self-first decision-making and overall antisocial behavior would be exhibited in our response the same as it is expressed every day on Route 128. We would be doomed.” — Alexander, Roxbury
“A question for people who worked on group projects: Did you have some members who were so idiotic, destructive, backstabbing, sabotaging or incredible deadweights that they made the team fail?” — Grou, South Reading
“As a human race, especially in the USA, we’re already doing the exact things this movie depicts when it comes to climate change. Why should we expect anything to change when you have one political party denying science and the existence of an impending climate catastrophe? Every story about climate change is buried in the news. This should be front and center. We’re already doomed.” — Anonymous from South Shore
“The United States has the money, resources, and expertise to ward off disaster. But will it? Consider [our] attempt to have a pandemic response team ward off budding pandemics. Also, consider the portion of the U.S. currently enabling mass COVID infections.” — D.W.
“I don’t think there are enough people in Boston to tip the scales in favor of the human race. Even if all Bostonians were altruistic enough to make an effort to save the species, there is still a big world out there full of humans, and humans have proven themselves over and over throughout history to be the most self-destructive species this planet has ever known. When it comes down to ‘me’ or ‘planet Earth’ too many will choose ‘me.’” — William R., North Reading
Yes, I believe we’d save the world.
“Because we’re New Englanders and very very tough and smart people. Ingenious and curious, which would help us survive along with the planet.” — Honora F., Dorchester
“When the chips are down, Bostonians rally together. What other city would shut itself down for the Marathon Bomber Manhunt!? Because [they] struck at our identity as Bostonians. An extinction-level event that strikes at our identity as the human race, you can bet your cup of Dunks that we’d come together against a dangerous threat like that.” — Fred, Rockingham County
“Boston is home to many impressive minds and many proud people. We would band together and get things done with as much or more gusto as we band together for our sports teams.” — Anonymous
“We have well-renowned scientists and great institutions in the Boston and surrounding area that brings knowledge, credibility, and expertise. Thus, I feel people would be more open to believing the warnings and unite to prevent any impending doom.” — Paula M., North Quincy
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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