If you've ever used the phrase "save the world" what exactly did you have in mind as the focal thing that needed "saving"? 

Eg: environment, civilization, tradition, progress, oppressed people, etc. etc.

Blogger at ribbonfarm.com, running summerofprotocols.com, host of /gloom ☀️

i think to me it's more or less about saving the current "snapshot" (think backup) so that i preserve the *feeling* i have about the world at the moment. 
all to avoid the "yeah, cool, but that's not what i had in mind" kind of situations.