No use trying to spread the word now

Roy

Yes, a cynic I am. Dyed in the wool.

But that doesn't mean I'm not living the change I want to see. I've already done a great deal, though there is much, much more to be done.

Pops, a long time member here, has been an inspiration for me (in terms of his response to PO) and inspired me through his action to take like actions. That has been a great thing for me and my family in many ways.

Pops, I owe you a beer and some fresh produce if you're ever in my neck o' the woods. Smile

Hopefully, my "actions speaking louder than my words" will influence others that I know. Undoubtedly, there are a lot of Americans who have a vested economic interest in the status quo. Like Upton Sinclair wrote about people not being able to understand something if their salary depends upon them not understanding it.

I've stopped talking about it, with the exception of this echo chamber, err forum, and now focus on action.

I think PO will become an issue for the mainstream only when its effects are "slapping them in the face" and can't be denied despite the lunatic ravings of the pundits on TV telling us that only wackos believe that oil is finite (even Alex Jones says that).

By that time it may be too late to mitigate the worst effects. Many PO scholars tend to align with that POV. Its easy for someone as deeply cynical as myself to see why.

So, I answer questions when asked, help when requested, and let my family/friends continue living their lives as they see fit. They're either going to come around or they won't. Some posters have gone so far as to say they see them (the uniformed/unaware) as "walking dead people". Perhaps they're even more cynical than myself?

My evangelical zeal to spread the word a few years ago only served to alienate and not enlighten in about 95% of the cases. To entrench the denial response in those people.

Sage advice has been give in this thread, and I for one appreciate it.

PO is the "forbidden zone" in familial and friendly discussions nowadays in my world, unless someone goes there first and asks for my opinion.

I'll leave it to the more convincing and charismatic types to spread the PO message and continue being the change I want to see.

Hope I didn't offend you Omnitir, for that was not my intent.

Peace.

UFCjunkie · Tar Sands Joined: Feb 08, 2007 Posts: 73

Pops

Thanks Roy, you may be a cynic but you are a kind one. :>)

I too have been inspired and tutored by many here, not only those who are taking similar paths to ours but also the many others who are taking different actions.

The world is not a homogenous place and people aren't the same either – appropriate technology to urban gardens to suburban villages to small towns to intentional communities to pre-emptive primitivism all will play a role in the transition to come.

I agree with Roy's point that out walking the walk will prove to be much more important than merely talking the talk.
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Make a plan and work it:

Gideon · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 1144

Montequest is a certified asshole.
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Chief of Asshole Certification

Iaato

I want to go back to something UFC said that presents the paradox of major change.

eXpat · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jun 08, 2006 Posts: 864

I think this article sums up the current shepple consensus about changing habits, link here

Benzin

Someone once told me "Don't argue with a brick wall. In the end they're still a brick wall."

Might as well have some fun and burn some oil 'cause there's nothing stopping this train until its grinds to a halt.

joewp

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3112 Location: Maine

I have been in the depths of despair about people and the fact that nobody wants to hear anything I have to say about peak oil or anything else for that matter. They prefer to ridicule me and my puny efforts. I feel it's better to do something than sit around and wait for the end of the world. They laughed at Noah. The flood is coming. I can hear the roar now.

JPL

Toploader · Tar Sands Joined: Oct 30, 2005 Posts: 21

It's never useless informing your family, friends and loved ones about what is going to happen, even if they do think you are alittle crazy for it.

What I tend to do is give each person a full explanation, just the once when I think they are in a receptive frame of mind. That way, I figure once TSHTF or at least begins to, they will at least know what's starting to happen and may come to me for help.

Just don't go telling everyone at work or at the bar/pub about your plans and fears, because they also may show up at your door step sometime Wink

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3112 Location: Maine

Merci, JPL. I talk to my wife and she feels that we just have to keep on keeping on. Maybe the way we live will influence others. We are getting next year's wood together and getting ready for what's coming. I think we'll make it through with the help of our friends. Hope springs eternal. It's nice to see spring happening!

eastbay

Peak Oil - That brings guffaws and chortles from family members - notwithstanding the fact that they have about 10 minutes of reading and research on the issue under their belts.

Revi, we never learn, do we.

Just when I think I'm done wasting my time trying to awaken people to peak oil, I go and open my big fat mouth one more time. It happened just this afternoon. Someone at my local temple mentioned that another temple has a very small parking lot requiring people to park far away for special events and this may be due to their poor planning.

Well, I suggested that due to reduced oil and gasoline availability we may soon experience increasing prices thereby reducing driving, therefore maybe it wasn't such poor planning after all. One person said, 'what do you mean?' I said, well, as we know, everything is impermanent and that includes oil and therefore gasoline. Oil's getting scarcer, you know, it's running out. Soon it'll be too costly for casual personal trips (or words to that effect). As he started nodding his head and grinning around to the others, I knew I had screwed up again by blurting out a mention of oil depletion.

I should have kept my mouth shut. Not a single person in the group have a clue. Plus, this was a group of really nice and kind people, friends of mine who may now, because of that one series of comments about peak oil, be questioning my ability to organize rational thoughts.

Darn it. Crying or Very sad

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Everything is Impermanent. Shakyamuni Buddha

frankthetank

Today i sat with a bunch of family members and listened to their annoyances with current gas prices. I think one of my brothers almost is there, although he is still delusional about the future. The rest of them are downright clueless. I speak not a whisper. I'd much rather listen and see if i can see any rays of hope. What it comes down to is a bunch of complaining with no hope of any of us changing the situation...its just too bad they couldn't prepare themselves a little better for the coming "change".
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"Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling"
-President Bush 11/07/07

ren3z7frs · Coal Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 2