Doomerism as performative signaling

Some public 'doomer' claims (about AI, climate, or political collapse) are better read as identity or status signals than as beliefs that shape life choices. People can sincerely endorse catastrophic narratives in speech and media while behaving as if those predictions are false or irrelevant. — If doom pronouncements are often performative, policymakers and journalists should treat alarmist rhetoric differently—focusing less on literal prediction and more on the social incentives and credibility effects that drive it.