Is Peak Oil nothing more than a Cult?

TheDude

Well, most online forums don't have a Psychology section. I don't think. Mostly I wander around musical sites and they say music makes you well-adjusted. Among other things (incomprehensible, sociopathic, stuff like that).
The "doomers" do often give off a somewhat edgy vibe for some reason. Like Kunstler, on his blog he speaks of going to the Pacific NW and "sitting on airplanes for two days, like a mummy in a casket," then he takes Amtrak and everything's sunny happy, "The view out the (clean) windows was supernaturally beautiful. Loveliness everywhere." An obvious example, I think he pathologically loathes suburbs/cars/materialism so much he's devoted his life to making sure all these rat fink Yuppies know that they'll be eating their own children to survive, which hopefully they won't.
Now, 50 of those would make for some kickass Rules of Engagement with jugs of Kool Aid on hand! I'm sure militia types are sucking up the whole PO message as we type.

Jellric

If Peak Oil is a cult then I've somehow missed out on the Free Love, the drugs and rock and roll portion of the proceedings.

Could someone kindly direct me to that line please?

Many thanks.

Dont_Panic · Coal Joined: Jun 09, 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Philippines

That oil is a finite resource and will eventually deplete is a geological fact. Nobody claims THAT to be a cult or a theory.

However, after this scientific fact is established, people start theorizing and fantasizing about when and how this will happen and exactly what consequences it will have. This is what has the potential of introducing cult-like traits.

Some of the PO high-priests on this forum claim to KNOW exactly what will happen (i.e. proclaiming an imminent apocalypse/doomsday, much like a cult prophet), while in fact they don't know at all. Some of these would do well to get off their high horse and adopt a more humble and balanced position.

The eventual depletion of oil is not a cult, but "Peak Oil" can be seen as a cult because it not longer refers only to the geological fact that oil will deplete, but to a whole bunch of theories and assumptions (which may or may not come true), mostly about how humanity is doomed. I guess that's why the media won't use the term either (some doomers are shocked that the media avoids their beloved term).

catbox

If it's a cult...then it's a cult that has pushed me to live a fuller, healthier, and simple life. Thanks PO! I drank the Kool Aid!

catbox
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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."

f2tornado · Tar Sands Joined: Jun 21, 2008 Posts: 50

Peak oil is a geologic reality but some folks here use this reality to promote their economic and political philosophy. Many of the PO pragmatist statements here come across as religious prophecies. Sometimes I wonder If I'm reading the book of Relevations rather than PO.com. I can honestly see how a person coming here looking for information would leave after reading a few threads and thinking the whole thing is cult-like.

mystiek

Just a thought: Peak oil-if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, its probably a duck....
_________________
Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

charliebrownout · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 17, 2008 Posts: 195

mystiek

Good post CB-its a person's approach and perspective. Peak oil is real-(the ie the duck)-the approach one takes toward it varies upon different peoples perspectives, where they are at in life now (ie: their personal circumstances)and perhaps if they have any mental pathology...
_________________
Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

pstarr

People come here and have their assumptions squashed like bugs Shock

Then they go through those six Kubler-Ross stages: Denial, anger, depression, bargainning, acceptance, and Let's Party Like It's 1999. (LPLI1999)

At each stage the newbie's reaction to the truth and the messenger changes. They describe the messenger as a different architype (per Jung):

Denial: Kook
Anger: Cult
Depression: Prophet
Bargaining: Scientist
Acceptance: Buddy
LPLI1999: Sex toy
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director

ree rah rip ram. sunofabitch godamn. hidey didey christ almighty. rah rah crap wav

charliebrownout · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 17, 2008 Posts: 195

mystiek

pstarr-I'm laughing so hard my ribs hurt-thats a new way to look at the KR stages!!! That's cool-I wish they would have taught KR stages in medical school that way-it would have made it easier to remember on the test-definitely less ho hum. Your point is very good!
_________________
Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

mos6507

Peleg · Heavy Crude Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 391

Yes it is a cult and GW is one of the leaders. It's a secret handshake thing.

pstarr

ROCKMAN

pstarr, Doesn't the question of PO being cultlike hinge on that old axiom: you're not really schizophrenic if you really are hearing voices. Or something like that...I forget.