Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:38 pm Post subject: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I can't deal with this. I might have been able to if I was 20 or 30, but I'm only 14. I can't prepare because I don't have money. I can't do anything. My best option now is suicide.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
JudoCow09 wrote:
I can't deal with this. I might have been able to if I was 20 or 30, but I'm only 14. I can't prepare because I don't have money. I can't do anything. My best option now is suicide.
Calm down. Suicide is not an option for this one. You might be 14 but you have your family. I'm 32 but I wish my mom was around
And money is not going to make a lot of difference when there is energy scarcity. Calm down, read the "Prepare for the Future" thread and go out for a walk. Might be a good idea to educate your parents on this one. That always feels good (did it 20 years ago when I was your age and we got solar thermal for hot water). You can even charge them for the advice. _________________ "Nuclear power has long been to the Left what embryonic-stem-cell research is to the Right--irredeemably wrong and a signifier of moral weakness."Esquire Magazine,12/05
The genetic code is commaless and so are my posts.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
JudoCow09 wrote:
I can't deal with this. I might have been able to if I was 20 or 30, but I'm only 14. I can't prepare because I don't have money. I can't do anything. My best option now is suicide.
Welcome to the real world JudoCow09.
You actually play Judo? (I did for many years myself)
A bunch of nice folks will be here to help you shortly in this thread.
You are not alone.
And as for your post... I am 41 & wish I was your age so I had time to become a different man than I am today. One better suited to the challenges in front of us. Us oldsters already made our choices you see... while yours lie ahead of you.
How 'bout them apples?
The fact that you're even here at all at your age is remarkable & somewhat unique in itself. More than many others, your insight and resourcefulness will be needed badly in the coming years.
Glad to have you here. _________________ "When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F Roberts.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Wow there have been a few of these kind of posts lately.
I guess the word is getting around. _________________ Hello, my name is Rax. I live in the Amazon jungle with a bunch of women. We are super eco feminists and our favourite passtimes are dangling men by their ankles and discussing peak oil. - apparently
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Judo,
What are your biggest fears about this, may I ask?
Monte _________________ A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
Live in Arizona? Check out: http://sustainablearizona.org and read my blog.
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6483 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I do feel sorry for today's children and adolescents. They have no idea what sort of a world their elders are preparing for them. It would help if they disconnected their entertainment feeds and starting connecting with the real issues. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Dieing. Not just like being hit by a bus, but starvation. People reacting in a way that the world flings into chaos and continues to focus on money rather than staying organized and working together. That all the things I've heard on websites and in these forums come true; we find no alternate fuel, many people die, and there is no hope for a bright future.
And also that I never get to do any of the things I wanted to do. I have always wanted to be a music teacher, or at least get to be in Marching Band as a Section Leader or something, but at the rate gas prices are going up, I can only infer that PO has happened or is coming closer every second. It just seems like they'll just keep going up until everything will be gone. No houses, no suburbs, it's like everything I know will vanish.
I fear that we won't have any way to really live if it requires energy. People will just die, and murder will be a problem as it seems everyone will try to continue on their own until everyone left is gone. That even if I lived next to a stream and somehow managed to survive, that I wouldn't get to do any of the things I could of. I can't make a difference now because I'm too young, too inexperienced, and I just don't know enough.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Quote:
I can't make a difference now because I'm too young, too inexperienced, and I just don't know enough.
Did you consider that you are making a difference by posting here? _________________ "When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F Roberts.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
By the way, I do actually play Judo although I'm only an orange belt.
I don't understand how you think I'm lucky. I don't have the chance to make the choices you did. Gas hit 2.50 here in Ohio and at this rate it'll hit over $4 before I graduate although I feel it will be much sooner. I have no money. Jobs are scarce, and I won't have a chance to do anything about my inebitable future. And my mom and dad are not in the best shape of their lives. My dad is going through chemo and my mom has such a bad leg that she can't even put her feet together. With all this we have virtually no money.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
JudoCow09 wrote:
Dieing. Not just like being hit by a bus, but starvation. People reacting in a way that the world flings into chaos and continues to focus on money rather than staying organized and working together. That all the things I've heard on websites and in these forums come true; we find no alternate fuel, many people die, and there is no hope for a bright future.
And also that I never get to do any of the things I wanted to do. I have always wanted to be a music teacher, or at least get to be in Marching Band as a Section Leader or something, but at the rate gas prices are going up, I can only infer that PO has happened or is coming closer every second. It just seems like they'll just keep going up until everything will be gone. No houses, no suburbs, it's like everything I know will vanish.
I fear that we won't have any way to really live if it requires energy. People will just die, and murder will be a problem as it seems everyone will try to continue on their own until everyone left is gone. That even if I lived next to a stream and somehow managed to survive, that I wouldn't get to do any of the things I could of. I can't make a difference now because I'm too young, too inexperienced, and I just don't know enough.
JudoCow,
Dieing is going to happen to all of us, some time and we do not know when. This is absoluterly certain so there is no point worrying about it.
People were playing music before fossil fuels, and will likely play and listen to music a long time after fossil fuels are gone. People were able to lead meaningful lives before fossil fuels and they will do so long after the fossil fuels are gone.
The best way to "survive" and "live a meaningful life" is through your local community. This had been the norm till the 1960s and still is in many (even industrial) nations around the world, but unfortunately not here in the US. Running for the stream/hills amounts to you cutting your link to the community; both you and your community will lose, so as far as I can tell this is not a rational response (others may disagree).
The suburbs are doomed, you are right ... it was a mistake to build them in the first place. But think about this for a second: it is like taking a test for which you are not prepared. Yes you are going to fail; unfortunately other people made that decision for you and this lack of intergenerational justice will make us pay dearly till the balance is restored.
Regarding the reaction of other people, you are not alone in thinking that the reaction of the individual will determine the final outcome. This is called "path-dependency" in physics.
Which brings me to the last point: being young you have an advantage that none of us have. You have more time, and more opportunities to educate yourself about anything from small time farming to nuclear engineering, so seize the day.
One final advice from someone older: quite wathcing Hollywood movies. The good guy will not zap the bad duy with an all powerful X-ray. Things will move at a certain pace and nothing will happen overnight. Use the time wisely _________________ "Nuclear power has long been to the Left what embryonic-stem-cell research is to the Right--irredeemably wrong and a signifier of moral weakness."Esquire Magazine,12/05
The genetic code is commaless and so are my posts.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Doing what? I spend all day at school, go to marching band for 3 hours, and then spend the rest of the evening doing homework since I'm an honors student. Weekends are gone as well. And I can't very well stop doing that stuff since my parents won't let me.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
JudoCow09 wrote:
Doing what? I spend all day at school, go to marching band for 3 hours, and then spend the rest of the evening doing homework since I'm an honors student. Weekends are gone as well. And I can't very well stop doing that stuff since my parents won't let me.
Your parents would not mind you spending some time gardening?
Pretend it is for a science class (actually it helped me with biology/science years ago - was growing roses though, nothing edible )
And they certianly would not mind you spending MORE time studying science.
Since you are an honours student, worried about energy, economy and the future may I suggest two papers (have to take it easily though):
One is "Happiness Research" (pretty hot field in economics) and the other one is Renewable energy technologies and thermodynamics. Think of them as a science class assignment. It will help you understand reality and how things work.
In any case the links are:
link 1 link 2
Read and understand ... this is your best bet.
And keep your music talent sharp; if things get really bad (I doubt it) live bands will take the place of reality shows and TV.
Take care my friend _________________ "Nuclear power has long been to the Left what embryonic-stem-cell research is to the Right--irredeemably wrong and a signifier of moral weakness."Esquire Magazine,12/05
The genetic code is commaless and so are my posts.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
JudoCow09 wrote:
By the way, I do actually play Judo although I'm only an orange belt.
I don't understand how you think I'm lucky. I don't have the chance to make the choices you did. Gas hit 2.50 here in Ohio and at this rate it'll hit over $4 before I graduate although I feel it will be much sooner. I have no money. Jobs are scarce, and I won't have a chance to do anything about my inebitable future. And my mom and dad are not in the best shape of their lives. My dad is going through chemo and my mom has such a bad leg that she can't even put her feet together. With all this we have virtually no money.
How?
JudoCow09,
I don't know how much consolation this will be, but most of us are in circumstances not altogether different from yours.
There are people such as myself who have a decent income, but funnel all their money towards debt repayment, which leaves not too much left for peak oil preparation.
There are people such as Aaron, who have young children for which they are responsible. (Imagine the stress)
There are people with chronic diseases, who are aging, etc. . .
In other words, the vast majority of us are entering this situation feeling about as hosed as you do right now. So you do what you can. Right off the bat, I see that you have several advantages over others your age. Armed with this knowledge, you will not let yourself fall into personal debt or out of physical shape. That puts you ahead of most Americans who are either in debt up to their eyeballs, obese, or both.
Actually, given your age, right now would be a fantastic time to start a serious physical fitness regimen. Your testosterone and growth hormone levels are going to be higher than they will ever be in the future. This will allow you to get in great shape much, much faster than say if you were 30, let alone 40 or 50. That will benefit you greatly as things unfold.
At the very least, you will be able to outrun all the fatasses!
Does your school have a future farmers group?
As far as not getting to do the things you envisioned, that too is something most of us deal with also. There are those of us like myself who had invested lots of time and energy into particular career paths (in my case, I went to law school) only to find out about theses issues and realize the future we had planned on may not be viable.
There are people who have mortgages on homes, loans on cars, etc. . . who are making similiar realizations. People who just got married who now find out their spouse is completely unwilling to deal with this stuff even though oil is approaching $70.
There are elderly people who fear "being fed into the thermal depolymerization machine" should they become too feeble to contribute.
Your posts are more clearly written than most I've seen here. Perhaps in a few months when you've taken some steps to get ready you can write an article about what you've done, even if it doesn't seem too be much (it's probably more than you think). There are lots of teenagers who are freaked out by this and would probably appreciate greatly your outlook when you get to that point.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
JudoCow09 wrote:
Dieing. Not just like being hit by a bus, but starvation.
Things are going to get more expensive, but you don't really have any cause to fear starvation in the immediate future, so I wouldn't dwell on that, ok?
Quote:
I can't make a difference now because I'm too young, too inexperienced, and I just don't know enough.
Well, you found your way to this site and you are openly expressing your fears to people who will listen and respond....so for starters, you are making great progress!
Spend some time reading the threads in the Planning for the Future forum.
Your outlook will soon change.
You are here and asking questions. You are ahead of the pack. _________________ A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
Live in Arizona? Check out: http://sustainablearizona.org and read my blog.
Joined: Sep 25, 2004 Posts: 4543 Location: Boston, MA
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Welcome to the rabbit hole.
Marching band, eh?
Which instrument?
Regardless, calm down a bit. I was 15 when I "figured it out". Well, I had a little help from a certain Mr. Savinar.
Peak oil is not the end of the world. It's only the end of the world as we know it.
There's a difference.
And I believe that Matt Savinar said it best at the end of his website with this quote:
"Is There Any Reason to Remain Optimistic/Hopeful?"
If what you really mean is, "Is there any way technology or the market or brilliant scientists or comprehensive government programs are going to hold things together or solve this for me or allow for business to continue as usual?", the answer is no.
On the other hand, if what you really mean, "Is there any way I can still have a happy, fulfilling life in spite of some clearly grim facts?", the answer is yes, but it's going to require a lot of work, a lot of adjustments, and probably a bit of good fortune on your part.
Take that second paragraph to heart. You will get through this. You may not live the kind of life style your parents currently enjoy, but it's not the end of the world.
There are some very common sense basic preperations you can make right now to help you out in the future.
1. Don't move to Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, or any other highly overpopulated area.
2. Don't get a law degree or a degree in marketing. You say you're an honors student, so am I. Focus on a skill that will be more helpful in the future. If you still plan on going to college (and I HIGHLY suggest doing so) pick a major that will have some use in the future. Chemistry, engineering, medicine, or any of the technical skills are good bets.
3. Don't let Peak Oil get you down. Never-ending depression and mood swings isn't the way you want to go through life.
4. NEVER mention peak oil to a possible girl friend, trust me.
I'm sure other people will chime in soon to give you some more tips.
PS. If you want, download TeamSpeak so we can chat. A microphone is only like 10 bucks and the software is free.
Also, to everyone around you, peak oil is an environmental or political issue of interest. It's not TEOTWAWKI. Or at least that's what you tell your parents so they will leave you alone and not ask about the strange people you talk to online. _________________ "www.peakoil.com is the Myspace of the Apocalypse."
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