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: Sat May 17, 2008 9:47 am Post subject: Re: No one listens
I started spouting my findings on PO in 2004 at my old job as an early childhood educator. Even though I was working with some pretty open minded folks at the time, I don't think they really cared. I go back to that school now and then to volunteer or just visit and those same people are just now saying, "You were right!" But just one has done any prep work...Actually bought some land outside of town, raising chickens, a huge garden, etc.....she actually thanked me a month or so back and it felt good to know that one person had taken the task at hand seriously.
Where I work now, people have been hearing me spout for 3 years and I know some get it but are apathetic when it come to change. I actually had people telling me the price of oil a few months back and I thought, ok...people are waking up...we can collectively go into this as co-workers...blah blah blah...now everyone is back to their consumer driven ways and partying it up. Here's where I am....I stayed home a few nights back and continued my garden expansion while the company I work for (we're small..about 30 employees) had a get together. The reports were of people puking up their dinner and Petron shots, closing down the bar, and driving drunk to go party even more after that...I was the only one not hung over on Friday morning, I don't drink anyway. But....I had finished my prep work for the day and was satisfied. Granted many of the people I work with are younger, but at this point in the game it pays to get your crap together. I am done talking and will continue my prep in silence... even my 83 year old neighbor can't get why I am transforming my space into a small urban farm!
catbox _________________ President Bush: “There’s no question about it. Wall Street got drunk—that’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras. It got drunk, and now it’s got a hangover."
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 10:15 am Post subject: Re: No one listens
The more I think of this the more it amazes me. How people can be handed something so dismal and terminal by someone ( us ) that just a second ago seemed a "reasonable" person, and then just put up some "wall".
I suppose if you tell a person the heaviest of heavy things, a defense mechanism kicks in to save them from the panic stage. Just thinking out loud here.
I too have experienced an increased number of people that I told a few years ago, admitting that there actually could be a problem.
I wonder what it will be and when it will happen, that which sends the world into chaos when they finally find out that their world is going to end?
Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 276 Location: Rural Western Idaho
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:48 am Post subject: Re: No one listens
SpringCreekFarm wrote:
The more I think of this the more it amazes me. How people can be handed something so dismal and terminal by someone ( us ) that just a second ago seemed a "reasonable" person, and then just put up some "wall".
I suppose if you tell a person the heaviest of heavy things, a defense mechanism kicks in to save them from the panic stage. Just thinking out loud here.
You might be right, SCF, about the defense mechanism.
Other possibilities:
1. Too lazy, entitled, etc, to imagine having to take personal responsibility for own future in a different mode than planned for.
2. Too unimaginative to broaden perspective/perceptions
3. Unable to see any possible way to change personal situation, so opt to hope/plan on "government" (or someone else like that) fixing it up -- or that things will just magically change and "get all better."
Other possibilities ... but need to go feed the pigs now.
Lumpy _________________ Dean Karnazes : "Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up." --- Jackie Joyner-Kersee: "It is better to look forward & prepare, than to look back & regret."
Joined: Apr 08, 2006 Posts: 1239 Location: Somewhere there
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: No one listens
Once more it makes me wonder, how much of your life , health or money would you spare to save some people you never heard of from oil depletion? What is this lunacy with everyone wanting to be a prophet?
Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 276 Location: Rural Western Idaho
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: No one listens
Pretorian wrote:
Once more it makes me wonder, how much of your life , health or money would you spare to save some people you never heard of from oil depletion? What is this lunacy with everyone wanting to be a prophet?
I agree with you -- now. There was a time in the past when I believed that most people, when presented with the facts, would rationally consider them, and then start making calm, appropriate preparations.
I was wrong.
So now I am in, well, we as a clan will prepare, share info with others who are preparing, and go on from there.
I was never in "prophet mode". I was in, "Hey, look at this solid evidence. Pretty sure you'd want to know this, so you could start positioning yourself appropriately" - mode.
Now I am in quiet, getting ready mode, and living it out mode.
Lumpy _________________ Dean Karnazes : "Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up." --- Jackie Joyner-Kersee: "It is better to look forward & prepare, than to look back & regret."
Joined: Apr 06, 2006 Posts: 2947 Location: 3 miles NW of Champoeg, Republic of Cascadia
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: No one listens
catbox - love your sig. Did your coworkers throw a TV Party by any chance?
Thought once about adding to my sig the final verse of Newest Industry by the Huskers - "Standard Oil goes solar power, all try to make a buck" - of course the rhyme in the next line is R Rated and this is a family forum!
Noticed just this morning a thread in the political section of a music forum I frequent concerning "Peak Oil Forums Website." Only the OP. Seems he thinks we're "vicious"! Pshaw. Set him straight. Wonder if that will go anywhere, I never try and win people over outside of here. Low EROEI on erasing most peoples' denial/ignorance. _________________ Cogito, ergo non satis bibivi
I'm just gonna find a cash machine.
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: No one listens
I'm starting to think maybe some people are so stuck in their ways that even if they know their way of life is doomed, they would rather just shrug their shoulders and let it play out. It's almost darwinian.
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: No one listens
Pretorian wrote:
Once more it makes me wonder, how much of your life , health or money would you spare to save some people you never heard of from oil depletion? What is this lunacy with everyone wanting to be a prophet?
Pretorian, although I matter not on this forum (except to me), you've given me a great deal to think about. And a quiet PO'er at work echoed your sentiments to me day before yesterday. Now I'm still in Huntsville, my child has now officially graduated and all of his friends have been here all day (I'm at his house) and they are talking about PO and BELIEVE it. They are alarmed.
Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 12:19 am Post subject: Re: No one listens
Dude: Thanks for the props on the sig....no TV Party for the co-workers, more like a denial festival! Henry really did let everyone know that evening just how he was feeling! Sounds like you may have some punk rawk blood in ya?
Anyway.......
I really do like all the folks I work with and have recently had to tell myself that while some may get it, most won't and I have to be OK with it. I think the tough one is family, mostly my siblings..3 of them have actually left Eugene for Portland (PDX is ahead of most cities in many areas of PO, but it's still big city) to seek high paying jobs and think things will all be better with a new president. I actually hear that one a lot these days...UGH!
It's just nice to be able to come to the PO site and feel like someone is listening.
catbox _________________ President Bush: “There’s no question about it. Wall Street got drunk—that’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras. It got drunk, and now it’s got a hangover."
Joined: Apr 06, 2006 Posts: 2947 Location: 3 miles NW of Champoeg, Republic of Cascadia
Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:57 am Post subject: Re: No one listens
catbox wrote:
Dude: Thanks for the props on the sig....no TV Party for the co-workers, more like a denial festival! Henry really did let everyone know that evening just how he was feeling! Sounds like you may have some punk rawk blood in ya?
Yeah, that stuff was essential to dealing with high school in the late 80s for me. I kept getting into the SST bands right as they'd break up, though. Wonder if there'll be a Decline of Western Civilization Pt 4?
About 12 years ago I got big into Irish folk music - found out to my surprise recently that Spot plays the stuff too!
Quote:
Anyway.......
I really do like all the folks I work with and have recently had to tell myself that while some may get it, most won't and I have to be OK with it. I think the tough one is family, mostly my siblings..3 of them have actually left Eugene for Portland (PDX is ahead of most cities in many areas of PO, but it's still big city) to seek high paying jobs and think things will all be better with a new president. I actually hear that one a lot these days...UGH!
It's just nice to be able to come to the PO site and feel like someone is listening.
catbox
I give the Portlanders here a lot of guff about the Overshoot problem with the place. Guess I am a bit vicious! Reminded them about the earthquake hazards in another thread, too. "Please don't stay!" That line of McCall's should be the state motto!
Doubt it'll matter in the end, though. The whole Ecotopian Lifeboat myth will never die; between that and the army of refugees that'll flee Mexico after their oil revenues dry up we'll be shoulder-to-shoulder in a decade it looks like.
Best of luck down in Eugene. The mayor's somewhat informed, right? Heard a Julian Darley speech which was introduced by the big cheese. _________________ Cogito, ergo non satis bibivi
I'm just gonna find a cash machine.
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: No one listens
There is no future for America as we know it. Don't botther arguing with adolescents about it, their lives are lived iin the context of their society. They might rebel to look cool but when it comes to actually facing and apocalypse they will respond with the same misguided self-confidence that brought us to where we are.
Accept the fact that they are not going to listen. In fact I would argue that for most American citizens they cannot listen. Psychologically, emotionally, and intellectually they cannot concieve of a world without the benfits of cheap oil. They do not really care if we consume more than our share of the golbal oil pie, or what the consequences of that might be for others. As long as America keeps going the way we all imagine it is. And if by some unimaginable consequence the gas stops flowing what will we do then? that is not a thought that occurs to the average American, rich or poor, black or white, christian, bhuddist, muslim, gay or straight.
I've made my decision. With God's help I am getting out of this country. I will stand at a distance and watch the smoke of it's burning. I will not stay here to die with the sheeple when the inevitable consequences of ignorance fall upon them.
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 11:45 am Post subject: Re: No one listens
This is my first post here so be kind. I consider myself level headed, even keeled and reasonable. I have been in love with cars since I backed my dad's 66 LeMans down the driveway at 3 years old. I own 6 vehicles, 3 of them Mustangs. I have hundreds of plastic model cars and hotwheels. All investments for the future...
Until a week ago.
I did not get on board Y2K, I was a voice of reason not to panic. I didn't buy a generator or even stock up. So, when I started reading about peak oil, and how strong an argument there was out there for it, I tried to find good arguments against it. Finding none, I now acknowledge begrudgingly that oil is finite, stretched thin, and every part of my life is dependent on it. However, I will not panic. As a reasonable response to my enlightenment, we have paid off our credit cards and are about to pay off the two cars we still owe on. We have a decent savings and are beginning to plan for stocking food supplies. I just listed two of my Mustangs for sale this morning. All things that make good sense anyway. My fear is I'm a day late.
So, as an encouragement, you've got my attention, and I'm defintely listening.
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Wonder if there'll be a Decline of Western Civilization Pt 4?
"Please don't stay!" That line of McCall's should be the state motto!
