19-07-2025
Someone Asked What We're Supposed To Do If A War Actually Breaks Out, And The Responses Are Both Poignant And All Too Familiar
On the always loaded-with-inquiries subreddt r/NoStupidQuestions, Reddit user u/smilingspectre37 asked what they are supposed to do if a war actually starts. Here's what people had to say:
1."As someone who lived through the last 20-year war we were in [in the US], nothing really changes for us. For many of us, it will be far away and distant. We will complain about gas prices going up, or inflation skyrocketing, but until our friends and family come home under a flag, it won't feel real enough to care about."
—u/RevBT
2."If you're in America, keep going about your day. If you're in Jordan, get out quick."
—u/Monte_Cristos_Count
3."I was running a Blockbuster Video on 9/11. I live on the West Coast, so everything had already happened by 10 a.m. Pacific time. I wasn't sure if the world was going to end or not. Called my district manager and asked, 'What are we doing?' He said, 'Open the store. Business as usual. So, that's probably your answer. Business as usual."
—u/NotKD35nope
Related:
4."Imagine being one of the people in a city that actually has missiles being fired at it. American civilians have no point of reference for what it's like to actually live in a war zone. I say that as an American citizen with no point of reference at all. With that said, I'm still planning to have a lazy Sunday and go to work on Monday and get pissed off at the traffic."
—u/awsqu
5."Gas will go up, and it will be blamed on Biden."
—u/2WAR
6."You hide under a wooden desk in your classroom."
—u/Brave_Smell_6981
7."You do realize that we were at war for 20 years after 9/11. You grew up in a country at war, depending on your age."
—u/_ShesARainbow_
8."Unless you're in the military, there is nothing for you to do but to keep living your normal routine. Unless there's an immediate threat to your area or an order to evacuate, life must go on. Everyone has to do their part to keep society running so that the soldiers have something to come home to."
—u/Frosty_Comparison_85
Related:
9."You fire up Call of Duty and defend Burger Town."
—u/Temporary_Ad_5947
10."I guess it really depends on where you live. I heard Israel is closing schools and businesses. I imagine tomorrow will be normal for most US citizens. I think COVID taught us that we don't really know how we'll handle a massive disruption and will figure it out along the way."
—u/Marry_Rubyy
11."If you're in a NATO country, do the same thing you did during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars."
—u/kabekew
12."The number of people who have no idea that the mainland US is pretty much unreachable by any country except Russia and maybe China is really surprising."
—u/Hiredgun77
Related:
13."America's surrounded by two oceans, and there will never be boots on the ground here. Just go on about your day, the soldiers will handle everything. You won't even know a war is happening if you don't watch the news."
—u/ZenkaiZ
14."Iran won't attack Americans directly, but you may suffer more 9/11 type strikes. And you have alienated all of your allies who helped you last time. Good luck."
—u/Stock-Mountain-6063
15."Completely depends how bad things get."
—u/hellshot8
16."On September 12, 2001, I went to school and then to work."
—u/NiceTuBeNice
17."I'm from Ukraine. When the war started, my university didn't even stop lectures at first. And my uncle, with his girlfriend, was still working for their American company remotely (they had given them fewer working hours because of air alarms). Later, when attacks became more intensive, everyone's life went on hold for a certain period. However, when the situation in non-destroyed and occupied regions became more stable, everything returned to its working rhythm, albeit under the constant threat of bombs, drones, and repetitive air alarms. And this was the moment when I realized how humans survived many wars — they just never gave up. Now I'm not in my home country, but my friends and some relatives still are, and they got used to this sick rhythm of life."
—u/peachymarchi
18."What do you mean by 'if?' When a sovereign nation is being blown up by another, it's a war, no matter which more palatable words politicians are slinging."
—u/theschadowknows
19."Depends. Let's say it's a major war in the Middle East with Iran. You're American? You get to complain about prices going up. You're European? You experience very high inflation and a strain on the welfare system due to a huge influx of refugees. You're Iranian? You get bombed."
—u/CanThisBeMyNameMaybe
Related:
20."Love that Americans are finally thinking about what it might be like to live in an active warzone. Hate that y'all never considered that while you spent the last century causing it in other countries."
—u/wrinklefreebondbag
21."If you have the means to avoid dense areas, then yes, you would do so. If war were to occur in my country, my family would likely relocate to my sister's farm. While we live on the outskirts of our major city, we are close enough to a regional small plane airport, which would likely be used for supply runs. Hopefully, we'll have enough time to build another house on the land before we move, but we have access to a caravan."
—u/AnorhiDemarche
22."First time?"
—u/thelimeisgreen
23."Whatever you do, please don't go out and buy all the toilet paper. That is so annoying."
—u/manokpsa
24."Live your life and stay off of social media as much as possible."
—u/Major_Enthusiasm1099
25."People in Kyiv, Ukraine are still going to work. Do with that information what you will."
—u/daXypher
Do you have any advice or general comments on what to do if your country is at war? Comment below.
Note: Some responses have been edited for length/clarity.
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