Rising Tides of Hopelessness: The Emergence of Doomer Culture 🌋
Rising Tides of Hopelessness: The Emergence of Doomer Culture 🌋
Doomerism: The belief that the world is going to end soon. But most people will be too busy scrolling through TikTok to notice.
“The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. The key to being happy isn't a search for meaning. It's to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually, you'll be dead.” — From Bojack Horseman
Welcome to the dark side of existence. A place where the void of meaning and purpose is ever-present and the weight of the world’s problems feels suffocating.
Doomerism is a worldview that believes the world is heading toward catastrophic collapse, often attributed to climate change, overpopulation, economic inequality, political corruption, or destructive advancements in technology such as artificial intelligence.
But doomerism isn’t just a pessimistic outlook on life; it’s a full-blown belief that the end is near and there’s nothing we can do about it.
And that kind of attitude can be dangerous.
It can lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair, and helplessness, which contribute to depression and anxiety.
And let’s not forget about the isolation that comes with it.
Believing that the world is headed towards inescapable doom, they may see no point in investing in relationships or work towards long-term goals.
→ This post has been adapted from a post on Tripsitter.com (Doomerism & Psychedelics)
Where Did Doomerism Come From?
Doomerism is a product of the internet. While there have always been “doomer” attitudes, the actual term didn’t emerge until the mid 2010s.
Doomer culture is especially linked to the online forum 4chan after a character template called “doomer” was shared by a user. The doomer character is depicted as an early 20s male who suffers from deep depression and has a bleak outlook on the world. Most often these worries are tied to global issues like climate change, socio-political instability, and economic disparity.
There’s even a genre of music known as “doomer wave” which consists of slowed down, pitch-altered 80s and 90s rock.
Doomerism vs. Existential Anxiety
Doomerism and existential anxiety are related because both involve a sense of unease or uncertainty about the future, but they are distinct concepts.
While doomerism can be considered a form of existential anxiety that has developed into a subculture, existential anxiety is a more general term that refers to the human experience of struggling to find meaning in life and dealing with the inherent uncertainty of existence.
It’s especially common in older people or those diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Doomerism vs. Pessimism
Pessimism and doomerism are both worldviews that anticipate undesireable outcomes, but there are some key differences too.
A pessimist tends to expect the worst in all things — whether it’s the outcome of a single event or something more broad like the future of society or lie in general.
Doomerism is much more specific towards the anticipation of a breakdown of society. A doomer may not have a general pessimistic attitude towards other aspects of life.
Doomerism: a belief or mindset characterized by a negative outlook on the future.
Pessimism: a general attitude of expecting the worst in any situation.
Psychedelics & Doomerism
For many, their first experience with existential anxiety came from experimenting with psychedelic drugs such as magic mushrooms, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), DMT (dimethyltryptamine), and dissociatives like ketamine or DXM (dextromethorphan).
One reason for this may be that psychedelics can disrupt an individual’s sense of self and ego, causing them to question their identity and the nature of reality.
This can lead to anxiety, as users feel overwhelmed or disoriented by the experience. Psychedelics can also amplify emotions, making any underlying anxieties and problems even more pronounced.
This is a double-edged sword because it’s through these personal psychological confrontations that psychedelics can also offer therapeutic benefit towards treating these very conditions.
In fact, magic mushrooms (and other psychedelics) have shown a ton of promise for treating existential anxiety in patients undergoing palliative care. This treatment is already legal in Canada.
When applied in psychedelic-assisted therapy, psychedelic substances can help people gain new perspectives on their problems. This gives a sense of liberation from the self, which, in turn, helps them process and overcome feelings of dread.
But before you dive into the rabbit hole, be aware that psychedelic experiences are highly subjective. While some people may find relief from their existential crises through tripping, it could worsen this feeling in others.
A good psychedelic guide or shaman can help users work through these problems safely and come out the side happier and healthier than ever before.
How Philosophy Can Ease Existential Anxiety & Doomerism
Existential anxiety and doomerism have plagued humanity for centuries.
If you’re looking for some answers, why not check out what the philosophers have to say?
These thinkers have different takes on existential anxiety, coming from different philosophical and cultural backgrounds. You might find one that really resonates with you and helps you make sense of what you’re going through.
So, if you’re feeling lost and alone in your existential quandaries, take comfort in the fact that these brilliant minds have been there, too.
When it comes to existential anxiety, there’s no one more iconic than Søren Kierkegaard, the OG of existential thinkers.
1. Søren Kierkegaard
Anxiety is a fundamental aspect of the human condition and stems from the freedom to make choices about one’s existence. Therefore, this anxiety can be overcome by finding a sense of purpose or meaning in life.
→ Philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard (The School of Life)
2. Jean-Paul Sartre
The way to overcome existential anxiety is to fully embrace one’s freedom, accept responsibility for one’s actions, and not let society or external factors dictate ones life.
→ Philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre (The School of Life)
3. Friedrich Nietzsche
Individuals should embrace the concept of eternal recurrence, which holds that all events in the universe will happen again and again in an infinite cycle.
→ Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche (The School of Life)
4. Martin Heidegger
Exist authentically & accept that death is inevitable. The concept of “dasein,” or “being there,” means to be fully present in the world and living in a way that is true to oneself, rather than trying to escape from or deny one’s mortality.
→ Philosophy of Martin Heidegger (The School of Life)
Facing the Void: How to Tackle Doomerism
Doomerism is a natural part of the human experience and can stem from several different sources.
While these feelings can be overwhelming, here are a few key strategies for managing it:
Professional help — Talk to a therapist or counselor who can help you navigate the feelings you’re experiencing. They can provide a safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings and help you develop personalized strategies to cope with them.
Seek out new experiences — Trying new things can help you find new perspectives and a sense of purpose. Take a class, volunteer, or travel to new places.
Connect with your community — Talking to friends and family, or joining a support group, can help you feel less isolated in your struggles.
Practice mindfulness — Adopting the practice of mindfulness can help you stay present in the moment and reduce feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. Try meditation or yoga to help you stay grounded.
Read and learn from others — Reading books (like from the philosophers we’ve mentioned) on existentialism and related topics can help you understand your feelings better and gain new insights.
Top 5 Doomer Movies
Popular culture is a mirror that reflects the anxieties and concerns of society back at us.
1. The Day After Tomorrow
This disaster film depicts a world where global warming has caused a massive climate crisis, leading to a new ice age and the collapse of civilization.
The film’s portrayal of an impending disaster can be seen as a metaphor for doomerism, as it depicts a world on the brink of collapse due to humanity’s actions.
The characters have to face mortality — their own and humanity’s as a whole — contributing to existential anxiety as they struggle to find their place in the world.
2. Interstellar
This science fiction film deals with themes of climate anxiety through environmental collapse and the future of humanity as a group of scientists embark on a mission to find a new habitable planet.
The main protagonist is a pilot and engineer forced to leave his family with the weight of humanity’s survival on his and his team’s shoulders, along with the existential question of what happens if they fail.
“Interstellar” deals with humanity’s limited understanding and how the universe is limited by our perspectives and the technology available to us, which contributes to feelings of existential anxiety.
The film also explores the idea of the human desire for connection and the sacrifices we make for our loved ones.
3. Mad Max: Fury Road
“Mad Max: Fury Road” is a sequel to the classic 1979 “Max Max Trilogy” action films set in a post-apocalyptic world where resources are scarce, and society has collapsed.
This story deals with the themes of doomerism and existential anxiety through the characters’ struggles to survive, the human desire for freedom, the sacrifices made for freedom, and the struggle for power and control in a doomsday scenario.
4. Joker
The Joker follows the story of a struggling comedian, Arthur Fleck, as he descends into hopelessness, isolation, despair, and madness as he feels ignored and mistreated by society.
This movie is an excellent commentary on how doomerism can manifest within an individual — eventually leading to violent and destructive behavior.
Other Examples of Doomer Movies
Doomerism is ubiquitous in the movie industry. Despite the rise in doomerism tendencies with younger generations, representation in pop culture has been fairly steady over the past 30 years.
Here are a few more to check out:
Don’t Look Up (2021)
She Dies Tomorrow (2020)
The Lighthouse (2019)
Under the Silver Lake (2018)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
First Reformed (2017)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of İgnorance) (2014)
Nightcrawler (2014)
Prisoners (2013)
Her (2013)
Enemy (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Drive (2011)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Control (2007)
The Machinist (2004)
Lost in Translation (2003)
Donnie Darko (2001)
American Psycho (2000)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Fight Club (1999)
American Beauty (1999)
The Matrix (1999)
The Truman Show (1998)
Trainspotting (1996)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Naked (1993)
Falling Down (1993)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Blade Runner (1982)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Blue Collar (1978)
Taxi Driver (1976)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
More About Doomerism
→ Who Is The Doomer? - Dealing With An Age Of Hopelessness (Video)
→ Doomerism: The Struggle to Find Meaning (Video)
→ Against Doomerism — VOX
→ AI Doomerism is a Decoy — The Atlantic
→ Nas ft. AZ - Life's A Bitch (Lofi Remix) 🎶
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Credits & Shoutouts
Article by Katrina Lubiano
Artwork by Diego Joka
 | A guest post by
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Loved it. I would just also highlight the importance of channeling feelings (despair, etc.) into taking action to avoid the worst case planetary scenarios. Otherwise we run the risk of simply comforting each other and not creating the change we want to see, possibly ending in eventual self-destruction as a species, as doomers prophesized.