Ask HN: What other low-probability high-impact events are we ignoring?

Re:Ask HN: What other low-probability high-impact events are... by bdr on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @03:18PM (#1433580)

At the risk of sounding crazy, I'll say fascism in a Western country.

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Re:Ask HN: What other low-probability high-impact events are... by timwiseman on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @03:39PM (#1433640)

Sadly, that is not crazy. Remember it was not that long ago in historical terms that fascism did hold a Western country.

Even now, while it is unlikely, it is very possible for it to happen. It is even possible for it to happen through the democratic process (in fact, that may be more likely with the current makeup of the West). People tend to turn to absolutes when they become desperate and it is quite forseeable that some combination of economic, military, political, or natural disasters will make some country so desperate they will once again try anything.

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Re:Ask HN: What other low-probability high-impact events are... by jokermatt999 on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @04:07PM (#1433725)

It Can't Happen Here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Cant_Happen_Here

Edit: corrected link, sorry.

Edit 2: Or...not. Apparently I can't have a URL with an apostrophe.

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Re:Ask HN: What other low-probability high-impact events are... by RevRal on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @06:41PM (#1434081)

Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Can%27t_Happen_Here

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Re:Ask HN: What other low-probability high-impact events are... by btmorex on Tuesday June 15, 2010 @03:41PM (#1433648)

To call that realistically possible, you'd have to believe that World War II and the invention of nuclear weapons didn't fundamentally change the Western world (I think they did. World War II because we saw the results of fascism going unchecked in a major power. Nuclear weapons because realistically another world war would be close to Armageddon)

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