Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
VMarcHart wrote:
For the last few weeks I've been working nex to a cute suburban mall. You know, the standard AMC theaters, marry-go-around, food court, JC Penny's, etc, type of mall.
I go there for lunch. I had a smoothie today.
I see dead people. 20-something year old couples, with 1-2 small children, 1-2 toddlers, driving SUVs or Mini Vans, buying toys, eating pizza at Sbarro's, all while crude oil and gasoline just hit another record high, mortgage crisis, credit card crisis, inflation, unemployment, war, food shortage, the works. There is no way these folks will live or survive long.
I see dead people. Do you?
I don't know why, but I remember one time being at a wedding in the late 70's or early 80's when my mother pushed me over to the group of men who were waiting to catch the garter belt thrown by the bride. I was determined not to get married, but decided to go over there because my mother wanted me to. The bride threw the garter belt really high in the air and a tall guy right in back of me jumped up and caught it. I had no chance. He was too tall. It didn't matter. I knew we were all doomed anyway.
Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 874 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
misterno wrote:
...friends recently purchased large mansions 30 miles away from downtown Houston. 2 cars in the garage one being an SUV. All purchased with credit ... another friend yuppie calling me other day how to buy a $55K BMW with a credit card ... Used to work for a large utility company in downtown Houston. My manager bought a 8 cyl Toyota Seq driving to The Woodlands everyday. She also had a mansion being built in Conroe...
Hi, Misterno. These guys have another thing coming. What surprises me is their level of sophistication; you don't purchase large houses or become a manager at utility companies without a minimum know-how. If you were talking about trailer park friends, or disadvantaged folks, I'd understand and take my share of responsibility for not being a community contributor. Incredible. Thanks for sharing.
Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 874 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:38 am Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
Homesteader wrote:
...it may be an emotional expression of disengaging from the reality many of us were raised in and thought was normal and would go on forever.
Whereas I always knew this illusion wasn't eternal, I was hoped it would end later on. I'm passed my half-life point, and think we'll all still have another 10 years of decent living, or least better than most nations. After that, even the best predictions are grim. Thus, my half-life point suddenly looks more like the 3/4-point. I ought to get out there and enjoy while it lasts.
Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 874 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:42 am Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
FoxV wrote:
VMarcHart wrote:
I see dead people. 20-something year old couples, with 1-2 small children, 1-2 toddlers, driving SUVs or Mini Vans, buying toys, eating pizza at Sbarro's,
I think those people aren't the walking dead, but the future generation of Les Miserables.
Nice angle. Hugo would have lots to write about. Thanks!
Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 874 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:48 am Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
JPL wrote:
... surely most people have a basic awareness of the core systems that keep them alive & fed, and also opinions about the future direction of the same, don't they? I mean they must do. No-one could be that stupid, could they???
You know, JP, sometimes I wonder if us the PO-aware folks are the problem. Perhaps we over-analyze and internalize it too much. Perhaps the non-aware folks know we all die sooner or later, so why put our underwear in a bundle? Perhaps they're living their last days to the max, while we spend countless hours typing at this site. Please comment.
Joined: Jul 04, 2008 Posts: 181 Location: Europe: European Historian
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:12 am Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
VMarcHart wrote:
I see dead people. 20-something year old couples, with 1-2 small children, 1-2 toddlers, driving SUVs or Mini Vans, buying toys, eating pizza at Sbarro's, all while crude oil and gasoline just hit another record high, mortgage crisis, credit card crisis, inflation, unemployment, war, food shortage, the works. There is no way these folks will live or survive long.
I see dead people. Do you?
* Depends where they live. If in the UK that 20 years old couple has about 10-14 years left to live before they starve to death.
If they are American city thugs...They have less to live. I expect cities to be war zones of gangs "esp in multicultural cities" post peak.
I figure by 2030 over 3 billion people will die to ,starvation, disease, pestilence, and war. The West will also pay the piper.
On Starvation- Most western households have about 2-3 months of food supplies in cans ect....If thier are famines in the land and serve food shortage most people will be dead in 6 months. Mainly elderly first, then men...then kids and then women...Women are natural survivors. In starvation one can go about 3-4 months on 500 calories a day. Ration if any will likely be half of that
Joined: Mar 18, 2006 Posts: 1211 Location: Last outpost of Civilisation
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
VMarcHart wrote:
JPL wrote:
... surely most people have a basic awareness of the core systems that keep them alive & fed, and also opinions about the future direction of the same, don't they? I mean they must do. No-one could be that stupid, could they???
You know, JP, sometimes I wonder if us the PO-aware folks are the problem. Perhaps we over-analyze and internalize it too much. Perhaps the non-aware folks know we all die sooner or later, so why put our underwear in a bundle? Perhaps they're living their last days to the max, while we spend countless hours typing at this site. Please comment.
I used to spend countless hours typing at this site but these days I come in once a week or so (grin).
I don't know if that helps or not.
IMHO there is a basic instinct for people to club together in a crisis - this is good - but the general herd instinct is still going in the other direction so we're all now caught in the general mish-mash of which club to go with.
I don't think anyone on the planet (except the old or infirm) wants to die but that is a far cry from actively wanting to live life to the full & for as long as possible.
Just thoughts...
JP _________________ The three most beautiful things in the world -
a full-rigged ship, a woman with child and a full moon.
Joined: Mar 18, 2006 Posts: 1211 Location: Last outpost of Civilisation
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
GeneralGreen wrote:
* Depends where they live. If in the UK that 20 years old couple has about 10-14 years left to live before they starve to death.
If they are American city thugs...They have less to live. I expect cities to be war zones of gangs "esp in multicultural cities" post peak.
I figure by 2030 over 3 billion people will die to ,starvation, disease, pestilence, and war. The West will also pay the piper.
On Starvation- Most western households have about 2-3 months of food supplies in cans ect....If thier are famines in the land and serve food shortage most people will be dead in 6 months. Mainly elderly first, then men...then kids and then women...Women are natural survivors. In starvation one can go about 3-4 months on 500 calories a day. Ration if any will likely be half of that
GeneralGreen,
Ehh, I wish I was a smart bugger like you.
BTW does your daddy know you're using his computer after bed-time?
JP _________________ The three most beautiful things in the world -
a full-rigged ship, a woman with child and a full moon.
Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 874 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
Pops wrote:
Is this psychology or your just fantasy?
Neither, Pops. I started this thread in PO Discussion, and a Mod moved it to Psychology. I borrowed "I see dead people" from Shyamalan's Six Sense, as a catch phrase. I'm waiting for his lawyers to contact me with a copyright lawsuit. That's how I feel when I see people either unaware or ignoring the risks; I see "dead" people.
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
Pops wrote:
I guess we see people around us differently;
I think they will adapt, and compete one against the other.
If you think they will just die, I believe you are fooling yourself.
That's just my take from reading history tho....
Die-off != Die-out
How many American Indians died?
How many Vietnamese?
How many Jews were gassed?
How many in the Philippines died?
How many Iraqi have died?
How many Armenians died?
How many Aboriginals and other indigenous peoples died?
All these and more "adapted" their adaptation was death.
And that's just reasonably innocent people nothing to do with why the bombs and chemicals are falling on them.
You can go way back in history to famines in India, Ireland, China lots of people adapting, we're not talking going from 3 meals a day to one every second day. We're talking lights out good bye.
Then we can examine the great world wars one and two and see all the "adapting" that was taking place.
Yes sir people will adapt, they will have to. But it might not be the Jetsons future that some seem to think a few solar panels and a wind generator and onwards and upwards. _________________ "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
-Italian Proverb
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:41 am Post subject: Re: I see dead people.
Human life is full of misery. They'll get theirs and you'll get yours. It may or may not be from PO. Let 'em enjoy themselves while they can.
That said, I recall when I first became PO aware, and started to deeply analyze how much oil was a part of our lives. I walked around in exactly the kind of disconnect you mention. I walked out of a building at a college where I worked, and a kid was driving down the street playing some loud music, feeling cool, and the ride was a nice blue mustang.
I remember thinking every aspect of that youngster's peacock feathers was oil driven. The mustang (it better have had the good engine, otherwise why bother), the flowmaster pipes, even the music is an expression of energy. Hard to judge in a moment, but he looked to be a skinny kid. Don't know if he could have held his own in a fight, if he could have carried a pack 10 miles, if he could have saved a damsel in distress (ie things that might express your own power and energy). But he doesn't need to in today's world, in today's world it is all how we harness fossil fuels. And he was doing that pretty well.
Then I realized it wasn't all gong to happen tomorrow (this was 2004 already), so I bought a used Durango. Might as well enjoy the 5.9l v8 while we can. There certainly aren't going to be tons of those in the future.
Finally, one never knows what those mall families know or don't know. They could b e preparing for the Aztec 2012, the mormon end times, or they could have grandma living with them teaching them old time living. Ours isn't the only board in the world full of worry warts and thinking we have the TRUTH. Let em place their bets and go with their best guess.
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