Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 309 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 10:43 am Post subject:
Of course, if the optmists are right and the peak is 20-30 years away, then, any career plans might still be valid ideas... _________________ "Our forces are now closer to the center of Baghdad than most American commuters are to their downtown office."
--Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, April 2003
Why should I quit my education right now just because something MIGHT happen.
Yes, we will run out of oil. BUT we don't know for sure what will happen. It's purely speculation at this point.
What would I gain by my quitting my school now? I've one degree, I'm starting on a PhD.
I might get hit by a car and and loose the brain capacity to think about complex issues that I need to for my work that doesn't stop me now why should something like Peak Oil?
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6555 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:55 am Post subject:
True Spork, if you believe Licho, it's Morning in America - and everywhere else.
I think it's prudent however, to keep your eyes open and have a plan “B”. IMHO, economic disruptions in the short to medium term are probable and keeping one’s overhead low should be a priority.
I guess that is a fact of life for a student anyway, huh? _________________ Make a plan and work it:
True Spork, if you believe Licho, it's Morning in America - and everywhere else.
I think it's prudent however, to keep your eyes open and have a plan “B”. In my honest opinion, economic disruptions in the short to medium term are probable and keeping one’s overhead low should be a priority.
I guess that is a fact of life for a student anyway, huh?
Yup.
I'm not saying I disbelieve, just saying, what do I gain by quitting now?
Spork, Don't misunderstand me... it doesnt hurt to learn a trade or ocupation, but like Pops said try your best not to go into debt and find a skill you like and could be useful in the future> leaf
A: My wife is working, our cars are paid off and I'm not going into debt
B: I'm in agriculture. I think that'll be pretty valid in the future.
Keep in mind, the guy who emailed me believes the peak and decline to be imminent.
I think that he (like many people) realize what is going on, but are in denial. They understand intellectually, but not internally what this means.
If you honestly believe that we've got 20 plus years before the shtf, then by all mean go into 100,000 plus in debt to get an advanced degree.
Remember, that it's not just the Peak Oil iceberg that is going to destroy our economy. We've got the debt bubble, the housing bubble, global warming, etc. .
And then there's the outsourcing issue.
If I knew 5 years ago what I know now, there is no way I would have gone to law school.
Keep in mind, the guy who emailed me believes the peak and decline to be imminent.
I think that he (like many people) realize what is going on, but are in denial. They understand intellectually, but not internally what this means.
If you honestly believe that we've got 20 plus years before the shtf, then by all mean go into 100,000 plus in debt to get an advanced degree.
Remember, that it's not just the Peak Oil iceberg that is going to destroy our economy. We've got the debt bubble, the housing bubble, global warming, etc. .
And then there's the outsourcing issue.
If I knew 5 years ago what I know now, there is no way I would have gone to law school.
No way.
Matt
What would you have done differently Matt?
Just curious.
I figure even during the decline people will want to eat. Hopefully I can contribute to controlling plant diseases so that we can.
Deciding to change careers, abandon a particular proffession you have worked your whole life for, quit school, etc. . . this is where the rubber meets the road folks.
The ability to adapt is what is going to separate the men from the boys in the years to come.
Anybody not know the parable of the monkey with his arm stuck in the tree?
Deciding to change careers, abandon a particular proffession you have worked your whole life for, quit school, etc. . . this is where the rubber meets the road folks.
The ability to adapt is what is going to separate the men from the boys in the years to come.
Anybody not know the parable of the monkey with his arm stuck in the tree?
Matt
Once again, I asked what you would do differently?
Quitting school doesn't do squat to help anyone in the long run without a plan.
5 years ago, I was just graduating college. I would have become a teacher (which was my alternate plan, anyhow) and started doing what I'm doing now, which is acquiring skills that will be increasingly usefull as we slide down the downslope. (Bike repair and alternative medicine are the first two I've picked)
I also would have invested in Gold - since it has gone up 50 percent in that time!
Don't get me wrong - my legal education was not a waste. If you look at my site, it is written in the "socratic" method using what is known as "IRAC"
IRAC stands for "Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion" - it's a writing "template" used in the legal proffession. It was so beat into me during school that I wrote the site in that format without even realizing it until somebody pointed out to me, "Matt - your site is perfectly IRACed!"
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 309 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 9:22 pm Post subject:
MattSavinar wrote:
Anybody not know the parable of the monkey with his arm stuck in the tree?
Matt
Nope, I don't. Is it an easy story to tell?
As for education, I would say, you can stick to doing what you like while hedging your bets. i.e., getting that business degree and spending your summers working for energy companies (so if other sectors collapse your resume has an edge), taking a dual degree in what you love and something useful post-peak, picking up electives that will help you jump careers if needed, joining the solar car and martial arts clubs at school. You can try to increase your odds of dealing with dim ages and worse, or try to find another way to attack your dream that leaves you more viable in the event of a quick crash. _________________ "Our forces are now closer to the center of Baghdad than most American commuters are to their downtown office."
--Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, April 2003
I was kind of thinking the same thing after reading some of the peak oil sites. I have the summer to study and think about which way to go in life. I kind of wish now I would not have went into so much debt to go to Penn. I also read what Matt told the college student and it was just like he was talking to me. I had the same thoughts and questions. It was some help. Matt I have some good freinds who also are very serious on this topic. We want the facts and we are not getting them at college. Right before the year ended my best friend who brought this issue to me brought this topic up in one of his classes. He is very sharp and clever and knows oil very well. Well the topic went on for the entire class and he had the instructor puzzled. Anyway the instructor and students downplayed the entire isue and ignored it. They really think hydrogen is the solution. Seriously thats how the class ended. That oil will phase out and hydrogen will come into play and we won't even have a change in lifestyle. Matt its like no one cares they just want their little belief systems to keep playing out.
John
The thing with the grad school article is that it is something very close to home. I'm only a year out of school, so I can still relate to folks who are students, or who are paying off their student loans etc. .
As I stated in a separate thread, if I was applying to law school in 2004 in stead of 1999, and I found out about Peak Oil, there is no way I would go through with the process.
Law school is a three year process. 4 years if you live in a state like California where the Bar passage rate is only 50 percent and the test is only administered twice a year.
If I was in my first year right now, I would cut my losses and move onto something else.
If I was near the end of the process, I would finish.
If I was in the middle, I don't know what I would do.
Its situations like these where tough decisions have to be made. It is extremely painful to realize what you have worked so long for was largely in vain.
Its so painful that many people decide to delude themselves with thoughts such as:
"It will be like the 1970's. We got through that. We'll get through this."
or
"There will be a rough 5-10 years and then we will make a transition. No need to be a 'doomsayer' and make signifigant life changes."
This style of delusional thinking allows people to fool themselves into not having to make really, really, tough choices.
It is very childish.
Which is why the motto, "Deal with reality or reality will deal with you" is at the top of every page of my site.
Reality can be a bitch. Dealing with her is often so painful that people opt not to. Having her deal with you, however, is even more painful.
1 percent of us are finding out how painful it can be to deal with her.
99 percent of folks are going to find out just how painful it is when she deals with them.
Is there a link to this College Degree article? Or was this one of those newsletter exclusive things? If so, could I get a summary of what was said by whom? Thanks.
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