For a minute there I thought I had to get off my couch, when all the while the fact is we don't have to do anything much but keep things afloat for just a few decades more! In fact, we'd best shut up about PO, because if our offspring finds out we knew about it all along, they'll turn and wring our necks come 2036!
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
tex123 wrote:
NEWB here. What I don't understand is why it is so hard to convince others in my daily encounters.
Welcome tex, yep I agree it's weird how little interest a lot of people show re PO, it's something that has intrigued me for a while. I started a thread on that topic last year and got some interesting responses. Possibly tho, smallpoxgirl says it in most pithy fashion:
Quote:
The oil companies have us over a barrel like a crack dealer has a junkie over a barrel. No they're not helping the situation, but we've got an addiction problem of our own that is not going to be solved by blaming them.
Are there alternatives? Yes. All of them involve making do with less, and therein lies the rub. We don't want less. We want more. But less is what we're going to get. So we flail, and blame, and search for a messiah to save us.
These are threatening ideas for most people. I decided a long time ago that the most productive approach is not to try to convince others. It's better to let others start it off with the usual complaints about the price of gas, and then drop in a remark about oil being a finite resource, and how it's only gonna get scarcer. Nothing more than that, definitely no arguing or brow-beating. Let them think it's their idea! Then if anyone gets interested, you can recommend books like The Party's Over and The Long Emergency, or films like A Crude Awakening or The End of Suburbia. Much more engaging and convincing than anything you or I could come up with in a five minute conversation.
Joined: Nov 08, 2005 Posts: 258 Location: The Maple State
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
threadbear wrote:
FreedomSlave wrote:
Or try to "convert" us away from rational thought and fact-based opinions stemming from literally years of research and analysis.
Spoken with the authoritative wisdom of the sage with how many posts? 49?
All of you rocket scientists need to chill and understand that some awkward Newbie likely has plenty to contribute and might not always agree with your version of the status quo. New voices from outside of the echo chamber of Peak Oil forums are welcome.
Interesting, insult someone for being a newbie at the same time insulting him for attacking newbies.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
pstarr wrote:
That's real catchy. Does it have axioms and corollaries?
As the rate of decline inclines the inverse of traffic is peace and quiet? or;
The exploding traffic rolls down the slope into the ditch, smoulders, and then starts to rust?
What can I tell you? The topic of Peak Oil makes my writing more florid than usual.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
keehah wrote:
threadbear wrote:
FreedomSlave wrote:
Or try to "convert" us away from rational thought and fact-based opinions stemming from literally years of research and analysis.
Spoken with the authoritative wisdom of the sage with how many posts? 49?
All of you rocket scientists need to chill and understand that some awkward Newbie likely has plenty to contribute and might not always agree with your version of the status quo. New voices from outside of the echo chamber of Peak Oil forums are welcome.
Interesting, insult someone for being a newbie at the same time insulting him for attacking newbies.
Yes, and being an equal opportunity offender is only one of my rare talents.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
This thread cannot possibly accomplish what the OP intends. In fact I think the subliminal message here is something more like 'We have a bunch of shut-ins here who do not have a life outside this site. Please don't try to take the warm fuzzy feeling of doom away from anyone here, it is the only friend they have.'
Now that I have that off my chest, let's get even more real. Newbs is a put-down plain and simple. The mods have to merge those 'peak oil is non-sense threads' or delete them.
However, in any type of policy effort you have to convince and convince and sometimes reconvince. I am hoping that the goal here is not to curl up in a cold root cellar like Tim Roberts in War of the Worlds. Be patient and take time to at least give one response to new visitors that shows your intellect and character and not your neuroses.
If you act like a slug people are going to treat you like a slug and it will reflect poorly on this site and the efforts of us all.
Joined: Aug 03, 2006 Posts: 4066 Location: Graceland
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:31 am Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
I think we have shown our skill in insulting one another up to this point in this thread.
From here on, could we move the discussion more in the direction of welcoming new folks, answering questions, pointing people in the direction of more information...that sort of thing.
Joined: Aug 03, 2006 Posts: 4066 Location: Graceland
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:52 am Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
btu2012 wrote:
Does brainwashing newbies into "cutting the rope" and abandoning "full belly ethics" count as a welcome ?
The first commandment:
Ye shall prove your non-newb status by agreeing to kill multitudes.
Thus spake the prophet.
Just make sure everyone gets a cup of that delicious strawberry flavored Soylent Green they were giving out near the door earlier.
Make sure to look them in the eye when you shake their hand and act like you mean it when you say "Welcome to peakoil.com. Here, have a snack." _________________
Joined: Nov 11, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Portland metro, Oregon
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
btu2012 wrote:
Does brainwashing newbies into "cutting the rope" and abandoning "full belly ethics" count as a welcome ?
The first commandment:
Ye shall have no other gods besides MQ. For he is a jealous god
The second commandment:
Ye shall prove your non-newb status by agreeing to kill multitudes.
The third commandment:
Ye shall bash Ludi, Shannymara and Threadbear at every opportunity.
Thus spake the prophet.
Once again, you have completely maligned my previous posts and put false words in my mouth with the intent to insult my character and credibility. I will no longer engage in the insult game with you, and my previous posts speak for themselves. You don't fairly or accurately reflect anything I wrote in my earliest posts, and none of it has any relevance to this topic. I had you on my "ignore" list, and you will be going right back on it following this post, but I will not allow you to publicly smear me continuously based on your failure to comprehend my earlier posts (or smear me at all, for that matter).
Once again, btu, I never threatened to sue anybody. I made an observation based upon Monte's non-anonymity and the level of attacks thrown at him. My point was pretty simple - anyone can disagree with Monte all they want, but folks should be careful when they make statements bordering on libel against a recognized named person who is extremely credible in sustainability circles. Unjustly tarnishing a man's reputation may have consequences, right? Is that so hard to grasp?
Mods, I am asking for equal treatment of this poster. I acknowledged my poor choices in going overboard with insults and accepted responsibility. I'm asking for similar accountability from this person. This thread is dead to me, with the exception of responding to further attacks against me.
Joined: Nov 11, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Portland metro, Oregon
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
btu2012 wrote:
Man, why is it so important for you to defend your image on some internet board ? Let it be, for your own sake.
I apologize to you for whatever brought lesions to your image. Cool now ?
It's very simple. Not only have I referred many people to this site who know who I am, I also post elsewhere with the same moniker. When I do make substantive posts, I know that I may be having some influence on people (known to me and strangers), and I may help them utilize critical thinking skills about these issues in ways they may not otherwise have considered. The stakes of PO are too important, and too impending - my point of view may not be liked by some, but if I can help in some way to get people to open their eyes to the ultimate consequences, they might take action sooner to better their own chances of making it.
Moreover, as an attorney, all you have is your credibility - it's worth protecting. And as for character, I've gone through far too many tests of it and "character building experiences" to have much tolerance for wreckless pot shots at it. To be falsely accused of advocating anyone's murder is absolutely unacceptable, on an "anonymous" forum or not.
I have been wreckless of late in my own posting etiquette, and for that I apologize to anyone I offended - even you. My sensitivity to the perception of me by others has been re-alerted, and rightly so. I will try hard to play nice. As we all should.
Now, btu, we can agree to disagree and leave the nastiness out. Or you can go back to the mudpit - I just won't follow you in any more. I really have had enough of this pointless bickering. I would prefer that we leave each other alone.
Last edited by FreedomSlave on Wed May 28, 2008 5:15 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: May 02, 2005 Posts: 3277 Location: at the convention
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: Attention NEWBS
FreedomSlave wrote:
... I will try hard to play nice. As we all should.
Now, btu, we can agree to disagree and leave the nastiness out. Or you can go back to the mudpit - I just won't follow you in any more. I really have had enough of this pointless bickering...
Excellent attitude! Thank you.
I am looking forward your highest quality contributions here. _________________ "Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events."
Robert A. Heinlein
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