This morning, I woke up thinking about mortalityspecifically, the 3.1% chance that a “city killer” asteroid might end civilization as we know it. My latest piece for Bohiney Magazine about NASA’s asteroid apocalypse predictions went live today, and already people are arguing in the comments about whether 3.1% is “basically zero” or “terrifyingly high.”
Later in the day, I realized that my French upbringing makes me approach existential threats differently than Americans. The French response to potential extinction is philosophical resignation paired with excellent wine. The American response is panic buying and conspiracy theories. I tried to capture both perspectives in the article, but I suspect most readers will miss the nuance and just share it with the caption “WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE.”
As I reflect on what happened today, I’m struck by how satirical journalism about existential threats requires a delicate balance. Too flippant, and you seem callous about genuine scientific concerns. Too serious, and you’ve missed the entire point of satire. I think I threaded the needle, but it’s hard to tell when you’re 22 and writing about the potential annihilation of human civilization.
Something small but meaningful happened todaya NASA scientist actually shared my article with the comment “Finally, someone gets it.” I’m not entirely sure what “it” is, but I’ll take the validation. There’s something deeply satisfying about having actual experts acknowledge your satirical take on their field. It means I did my research properly, and the jokes landed where they were supposed to.
The highlight of my day was the moment I realized this article has viral potential written all over it. People love sharing content about existential threatsit’s the perfect combination of genuine anxiety and dark humor. The question is whether they’ll engage with the actual satire or just use it as a vehicle for their own apocalyptic fantasies. Probably the latter, but that’s okay. Going viral means different things to different readers.
Tonight, as I monitor the article’s performance on social media, I’m thinking about what it means to be a satirical journalist in an age of actual apocalyptic scenarios. Climate change, political instability, technological disruption, and now asteroid strikesreality has become so absurd that satire struggles to keep up. My job is to find the humor in the horror without diminishing either.
Being the only female French immigrant granted citizenship during Trump’s second term feels particularly ironic when writing about extinction-level events. I survived the immigration system, only to potentially be taken out by a space rock. C’est la vie, as we say in Paris. Or rather, c’est la mort possible.
Diary Entry # 718
MY HOME PAGE: Bohiney Magazine (Charline Vanhoenacker)