Originally Posted by BigBen931

A massive pandemic will fly across the world in a matter of weeks, destroying half of humanity.

There will be no rhyme nor reason for who lives or dies. The virus will indiscriminately kill old, young, rich, poor, man or woman. People will become wary of interpersonal communication, and rules of social interaction will change so drastically that people will never be the same.

No more shaking hands, hugging and kissing loved ones. Doorknobs are a thing of the past, and we will finally see those cool futuristic doors that open automatically. People will communicate like this, through a sterile intermediary (keyboard or cell phone or radio link) to maintain personal protective space.

International commerce, travel and governance will be enforced with lethal consequences. People will blame others, joining political and philosophical factions that are opposed to each other. Civil wars will not break out, but the social fabric will change. Clans, private schools and gated communities become the norm.

Finally, people will think that their new way of life is an "improvement" and wonder how on earth we ever lived the way we do now.

Repeat as necessary, ad infinitum