Whenever I get a chance, I test my friends and acquaintances by broaching the subject of World War III. More often than not, I mention it just in passing, as it were. And then I watch their reactions. Quite a few of the people in question come from all around the world, and a fair number of them are rather successful at what they do. To my continual surprise, not a single one among them dismisses this dreadful subject out of hand. In fact, they take it on without any compunction. It is in the air, to be sure. Most often, the conversation turns to one of the hotspots around the world, of which there are quite a few as of late. The Pacific Ocean and the Middle East are the favorites at this time. The main belligerents come up regularly, too. Lately, America and China top the list, but Russia and Europe are not far behind. Often enough, World War III is discussed for quite a while, as well as with gusto. In short, few people I talk to would be surprised by the onset of yet another global war. The war. Some of them even suggest that it has started already, albeit quietly. Ever so slowly, I am beginning to worry about my ploy. Judging by the reactions of my friends and acquaintances, I am far from crazy. The shit is bound to hit the fan within foreseeable future, that is.

Addendum (February 5, 2024)

A bit less than five years later, World War III has become a common subject. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have made a huge difference the last few years. Nowadays, the subject regularly pops up in all kinds of media. Often enough, one expert or another points out that World War III has already started, and that the only question is when it will engulf the world entire. Although I am happy that this subject has become quite common, for it is high time to start preparing for the tumult, I increasingly worry about the youngsters around the globe. They must be dumbfounded by the prospect of global conflict. Many of them are bound to end up in military units of all descriptions, and all of them will go through hell one way or another. Which is why it is hardly surprising that many youngsters are going through all sorts of mental troubles lately. By now, World War III is everywhere around them and it cannot be shunned aside any longer. The only puzzle that remains is when will it knock at their own door.