[reggieband]

I have fear that the cathartic pessimism we sometimes enjoy ironically is turning into a chronic fatalism. It's like a habit that has become an addiction. I think the author was in a discussion that started as a fun catharsis for all involved and then devolved into an addictive argument that the author felt they needed to win.

There is a cliché which goes: "Expect the best. Prepare for the worst". Articles like this only seem to get the second half of that while clearly violating the first half. A well balanced response to crisis is benefited by both.

I think the author is not actively aware of the importance of expecting the best, both of the world and of their colleagues. I feel their arguments are weak due to this imbalance.

[KerrAvon]

You want to provide a reason based in reality for that level of optimism at the present time? It seems like pessimism is currently warranted absent major upheavals that would change the political situation worldwide, which would bring their own issues.

[krona]

2.5%[0] of the world GDP just doesn't sound very apocalyptic to most people. Especially when you factor in GDP growth projections over the next century.

[0] https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/

[thoms_a]

Life on Earth has survived much, much worse than the burning of fossil fuels. For example, the K-Pg extinction event.

It's all a matter of perspective. But humans are irrationally social creatures susceptible to memetics, so no amount of empirical evidence will alter socially beneficial memeplexes.