One who imagines the 'worst-
case scenario' as something so completely horrific it borders on absurd. A 'catastrophist' usually starts by saying "Yeah but what if..." then, talking at a
normal speed, increases speed until they'
re talking very quickly as they relate their vision of the 'worst-case scenario' which
may involve any (or all) of the following things: A psycho with an axe, getting chopped up into little pieces, ending up homeless and destitute, sucking dick for crack, any number of serious diseases or medical afflictions (See Chuck Palahniuk'
s "
Choke" the main character had catastrophist tendancies)
see also "final destinationism" (yet to be defined)
"Dude, it's one
stupid term-paper"
"Yeah but if I don't do well on this one then my GPA falls and I'll never get into a good college and I won't get a good job and that will DEVASTATE my mother and she'll commit
suicide and I'll have to take care of my little brother and he'll get Lupus, need a kidney and I will be forced to sell my ass on the street because I can't afford the surgery because I don't have health-care all because I failed this
stupid paper!"
"Stop being such a catastrophist, it's not even worth 10% of your grade!!!"