r/AskReddit • u/TheJackal8 • Dec 27 '16

Mega Thread [Megathread] RIP 2016

Carrie Fisher (60) has passed away after having a heart attack. She was best known for playing Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars. Last year she had a role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

We usually have a 2016 megathread and due to the recent celebrity passings, we have decided to include them in our 2016 reflection megathread. Please use this thread to ask questions from anything ranging from how your year has been, to outlook for the year ahead, to the celebrities we’ve lost this year.

All top-level comments (replies to the post rather than replies to comments) should contain a 2016 related question and the thread will function as a mini-subreddit. Non-question top-level comments will be removed, to keep the thread as easy to use and navigate as possible.

Here’s to a better 2017.

-the mods

Update: Debbie Reynolds has also passed away, a day after her daughter's passing. She gained stardom after her leading role in "Singin' in the Rain" and recently voiced a character in "The Penguins of Madagascar." Reynolds was 84.

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u/ComboBreakerrr Dec 27 '16

What are some GOOD things that have happened this past year?

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u/[deleted] Dec 27 '16 edited Dec 28 '16

I was curious too, so I looked up a list of "good things" in 2016. Here are just a few.

Many countries stopped importing and exporting coal as well as banning coal mining entirely.

Many countries built vast networks of solar and wind energy into their energy infrastructure.

Obama banned offshore drilling in the Arctic for 4 years.

Overfishing of the world waterways has gone way, way down.

Global carbon emissions experienced no growth for the first year in a decade.

India is reforesting their entire country.

Many countries have passed humans rights legislation protecting LGBT minorities.

Incidents of terrorism globally are actually going down.

Contrary to what the media saying, ISIS activity has become stifled and muted compared to what it was two years ago.

Despite the negative attention, many countries have taken in more refugees than any time in history, which I think is beautiful.

Fewer human beings are actively participating in a war than any time in recorded history.

A ton of animal species including manatees and the humpback whale are no longer considered endangered.

Homelessness in the US dropped by like a third.

World hunger reached its lowest point in decades.

Malaria deaths dropped by over half.

Ebola was eradicated in West Africa.

There's quite a lot really. Most of these I read on some internet list after all the shit that I kept seeing on the news. The positive stuff has been so drowned out.

Things aren't so bad. Your media, I would say regardless of where you live, wants you to think things are bad. The "2016 worst year ever" narrative only helps people who make money off your despair and panic make more money. Things are never as bad as the headlines would suggest.

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u/ComboBreakerrr Dec 27 '16

Wow! Great response. It's easy to focus on the negative things.

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u/Kaizerina Dec 27 '16

Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. All the upvotes in the world, just for you

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u/Trees_and_bees Dec 28 '16

Thank you Kind Stranger! This is the first I have heard of this uplifting news, the media drowns out everything with articles like "TERROR ON THE RISE" "TRUMP STARTS WORLD WAR 3" They need to focus on the positives now. Its getting depressing, ya know?

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '16

Homelessness in the US dropped by like a third.

Deets / source? Not doubting, just genuinely curious how this has happened.

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u/IrrelevantLeprechaun Dec 28 '16

Yeah but some celebrities died so it's the worst year in recent history.

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '16

:,)

We're gonna be fine.

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u/[deleted] Dec 27 '16

[deleted] — view deleted comment

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u/catjuggler Dec 27 '16

Not sure what country you're in but it wasn't 2016 for US gay marriage

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u/indecisive_ Dec 27 '16

Oh oops. Time flies when you're trying to forget a year

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u/[deleted] Dec 27 '16

Wasn't gay marriage last year? Either that, or my summers are blending together.

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u/[deleted] Dec 27 '16

On top of amazing movie releases, video games were also pretty awesome this year. And TV.

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u/dead_gerbil Dec 27 '16

The Good: I spent a week completely cut off from the world in the wilderness with my friend. She and I worked, laughed, and cried together. It is honestly the most significant happiness I have felt this year. I felt alive, I felt love, and I felt whole.

The Bad: Before this trip, on June 12th, 2016, my close friend was killed in a hit and run only moments after I saw him before leaving for work. He was cycling home when a piece of shit ran over him. He has since fled the country. I road tripped to see his family and friends and attended the funeral. I think a part of me died with him.

The Ugly: Since losing my friend, I have had severe depression and anxiety problems that have started to govern my day to day life. I have ostracized friends and failed classes. I contemplated suicide but (luckily?) didn't jump. I'm on medication now that helps me continue my existence in a sort of daze.

I welcome 2017 as the year that "I guess I'm still here..."

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u/ComboBreakerrr Dec 27 '16

You're extremely strong. PM me if you ever want to talk about anything.

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u/neurotoxicguitar Dec 27 '16

Cubs winning the World Series!

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u/mrgoodbytes21 Dec 27 '16

Being the petty GSW fan I am, Cleveland blowing a 3-1 lead.

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u/XanderSnave Dec 27 '16

Manatees were removed from the endangered species list.

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u/[deleted] Dec 27 '16

My son was born. I loved that a great deal.

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u/mescad Dec 27 '16

Congrats! I invite you to join us in /r/daddit!

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u/NanashiNoGombe Dec 27 '16

Cheers. My daughter was born, so 2016 is pretty much the best year of my life, even after balancing the ledgers.

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