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 Aug 04, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: Misanthropists
A lot of the members of this forum view society as a foolish bunch of lemmings that deserve to die, it seems. Maybe that's just because most everyone who thinks this way is vocal about it, but... I'm curious what makes them tick like that.
Do they think they're superior for having special knowledge? Some people are spouting that "the signs are there for all to see", but I doubt most people here would have learned about it without being directly introduced to peak oil.
Or maybe they're psychologically preparing for the fact that they'll have to leave people in the streets to starve to stay alive themselves.
Oddly, I'm not feeling too uncomfortable about not sharing peak oil with anyone. It's weird, considering I could be saving people's lives... Maybe I'm a first-stager of this syndrome.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
All measures must be taken to preserve people's birthright to cheap gas and free money.
Once TSHTF I will be out, distributing free gas and food for those needing it.
I am building a huge stockpile for this. This should be something that all PO.com members should be doing. _________________ capitalism *is* fun blog
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
I would like to add that I, myself, will contribute to this effort. I plan to have special "oversize" stations, where I hand out free 50 gallon filll-ups and 500 calorie donuts.
My motto will be, "If your ass isn't bigger than the seat in your SUV, don't bother stopping, peanut."
I will give away much gas and much donut. _________________ Massive Human Dieoff must occur as a result of Peak Oil. Many more than half will die. It will occur everywhere, including where you live. If you fail to recognize this, then your odds of living move toward the "going to die" group.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
Many of us have known about the consequences of our dependance on cheap energy for 4+ years.
In that time we have been scoffed at, ignored, lectured at about how technology_01 will most certainly save us, etc etc
I wouldn't say they deserve to die, but they certainly are lemmings.
If you want to get a taste for what I'm saying, try this simple experiment. Pick one person a day for 30 days. Start with the ones you feel are most likely to believe you based on your relationship with them and/or their general awareness of current events (outside of sports). Share with them your best arguments for the dangers of energy depletion.
My personal experience began with illusions of saving the world. I spent endless hours researchin and preparing speeches. I talked and talked.
Today, I occasionally start a current events conversation with someone and RARELY get past 1st base without them changing the topic or shutting me down with some rancid tidbit of conventional wisdom.
I understand where you're coming from though. It is difficult to reconcile the need for billions of people to die with an innate desire to save everyone. Best I can offer is... think and live locally. _________________ "The future power is manpower"
Joined: May 13, 2005 Posts: 2610 Location: The Urban Village
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
mrobert wrote:
All measures must be taken to preserve people's birthright to cheap gas and free money.
Once TSHTF I will be out, distributing free gas and food for those needing it.
I am building a huge stockpile for this. This should be something that all PO.com members should be doing.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
mrobert wrote:
All measures must be taken to preserve people's birthright to cheap gas and free money.
Once TSHTF I will be out, distributing free gas and food for those needing it.
I am building a huge stockpile for this. This should be something that all PO.com members should be doing.
You know, sarcasm beyond a certain point just becomes annoying. _________________ Peak oil is sort of like a mental Everlasting Gobstopper, except it tastes like ass and you can't get it out of your mouth.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
@mos6507: Do you honestly think that we can debate and find a solution on how to share peakoil to people, so that they understand it and act upon it?
PeakOil is a VERY simple thing to understand.
What we don't understand is that the problem is not that we suck at explaining it to people. There are people who DON'T want to accept that this will happen.
My parents didn't even knew what PeakOil was a few years back (neither did I), when they decided to leave the city for a nearby small village and buy a house there. Their entire decision was based on prices going up in the future(energy, food, etc), and securing their future.
Do you HONESTLY believe that a college graduate with internet access doesn't understand what PeakOil is, because we suck at explaining it?
It's pointless anyway.
PeakOil humour will be the only entertainment we will get in the future _________________ capitalism *is* fun blog
Joined: Jul 12, 2007 Posts: 43 Location: Mississippi, USA
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
I don't feel superior to anyone. All people have the same chance to survive but some people have become so used to being taken care of they can't imagine having to take care of themselves. When TSHTF everyone will have two choices. 1. Revolt, complain, get violent and demand that someone do something about it. or 2. Withdraw from society for a while and take of yourself. I plan to be a 2. After the first few months the violent types will have killed each other (and many others who don't deserve it). And the people who have prepared to take care of themselves will be able to re-enter society in a peaceful and constructive way. I don't mind helping people but I won't help those that don't help me. If their approach is to attack me and take my hard earned exsistance away I will gladly shoot to kill. If they want to cooperate and build a new community I will welcome them with open arms.
If we all had this attitiude the world would already be a better place. IMO _________________ A horse is like a motorcycle that loves you back!
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
IMO, The fact that people will trust society over one person with a crackpot theory doesn't make them a lemming. You might think your arguments seem well-thought out, but the person you're convincing probably won't see much reason to trust the source.
I do agree though that denial plays a large part of it, but that's really hard-wired. (Although I guess that doesn't seem like much of an excuse.)
Personally, I think most members here wouldn't have believed themselves 5+ year sago.
Last edited by Plarin on Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:17 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
For what is worthed, i'll give you my opinion.
Our planet is a finite system, with a finite amount of non-renewable resources.
As such, it can only sustain a finite number of people. This number depends essentially on the amount of ANY type of renewable resources we can produce.
Our standard of living and our level of population is NOT sustainable if the production of oil (not to be confused with amount or reserves of oil) falls.
I believe that so far, the concepts exposed are not out of grasp.
It should be also clear that that the more oil we leave for our children , the easier we make it for them. Another easy to understand concept.
Now, try to explain these concepts to few people.
99.99% of them will reject them. Why? Because trying to do something to mitigate the problem means 2 simple thing:
1. Reduce our consumption of energy in any form (buy small cars, not SUV, reduce consumption of meat, give up these trips at the mall... in one sentence, give up our consumerism)
2. reduce the number of children any couple can have.
Almost nobody wants to face these changes. They stick their head under the sand, and hope that something will save us. They will rather exploit and destroy the all damn environment (and compromise the surviving of their children) than sacrifice they comfy lifestyle.
Do you think this type of approach is worthy of an adult?
so i think is not really a matter if i hope they will die or not... given their inability to face this issue they will die anyway.... and i am afraid they will take us with them.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
Plarin wrote:
IMO, The fact that people will trust society over one person with a crackpot theory doesn't make them a lemming. You might think your arguments seem well-thought out, but the person you're convincing probably won't see much reason to trust the source.
I do agree though that denial plays a large part of it, but that's really hard-wired. (Although I guess that doesn't seem like much of an excuse.)
Personally, I think most members here wouldn't have believed themselves 5+ years ago.
Your argument might be valid if you were stuck on a desert island. But the fact is there is an abudance of information easily available about peak oil. Including dire warnings from governments and institutions.
Compared to 5+ years ago, the amount of info regarding the imminence of peak oil is staggering.
99.9% of America won't do a damn thing until they are forced to. And by that time the herd will be carrying them right off the cliff. _________________ "The future power is manpower"
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 11991 Location: zombie horde wonderland
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
Thing is, even if you know about peak oil, you may get pushed off the cliff by the rest of the lemmings. Or you may be a lame lemming who simply can't make it in the low energy future.
Does that mean one "deserves" to die?
I know a fair amount about peak oil, but I don't kid myself that will necessarily enable me to survive in the low energy future. In fact, I quite expect not to make it.
*shrug* _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
mos6507 wrote:
mrobert wrote:
All measures must be taken to preserve people's birthright to cheap gas and free money.
Once TSHTF I will be out, distributing free gas and food for those needing it.
I am building a huge stockpile for this. This should be something that all PO.com members should be doing.
You know, sarcasm beyond a certain point just becomes annoying.
Well then, sarcasm's got the advantage on you Mos, because you're always annoying. _________________ Massive Human Dieoff must occur as a result of Peak Oil. Many more than half will die. It will occur everywhere, including where you live. If you fail to recognize this, then your odds of living move toward the "going to die" group.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: Misanthropists
MadScientist wrote:
Plarin wrote:
IMO, The fact that people will trust society over one person with a crackpot theory doesn't make them a lemming. You might think your arguments seem well-thought out, but the person you're convincing probably won't see much reason to trust the source.
I do agree though that denial plays a large part of it, but that's really hard-wired. (Although I guess that doesn't seem like much of an excuse.)
Personally, I think most members here wouldn't have believed themselves 5+ years ago.
Your argument might be valid if you were stuck on a desert island. But the fact is there is an abudance of information easily available about peak oil. Including dire warnings from governments and institutions.
Compared to 5+ years ago, the amount of info regarding the imminence of peak oil is staggering.
99.9% of America won't do a damn thing until they are forced to. And by that time the herd will be carrying them right off the cliff.
I disagree. Although there is a lot of information on peak oil, you kind of actually have to be searching for peak oil to find it.
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