staakthetvuren

Staakthetvuren is a term that appears in Dutch-language speculative fiction and media-theory discourse to describe a bundled practice that combines a ritual stoppage of fires with a deliberate suspension of televised coverage during crises. The phrase blends staak (to halt or cease) with het vuur (the fire) and a compounded form that suggests fires, yielding a figurative term used in narrative or theoretical contexts.

Definition and concept: In its fictional and analytical use, staakthetvuren denotes a social-technical protocol: when invoked, participants perform a ceremonial extinguishing of communal fires and simultaneously initiate a pause or controlled cessation of public television transmission. The aim is to reduce panic, misinformation, and emotional arousal, thereby creating space for calm deliberation and coordinated action. The dual act is often depicted as part of a broader crisis-management ritual that signals a transition from emergency to stabilization.

Origins and usage: The term is not an established historical practice. It has appeared in Dutch-language speculative fiction and some media-studies writings as a construct to examine how ritual action and media restraint can influence collective memory and resilience in emergencies. In worldbuilding and tabletop games, staakthetvuren can function as a reusable mechanism for crisis governance and narrative turning points.

See also: ritual, fire, media ethics, crisis communication.