[Pops]

Here from Rapier,
Five Misconceptions About Peak Oil:

Misconception 1: Peak Oil = Running Out of Oil
Misconception 2: Peak Oil Beliefs are Homogeneous
Misconception 3: Peak Oil is a Theory
Misconception 4: Peak Oil was Dreamed Up By Big Oil to Inflate Prices
Misconception 5: Peak Oil is Denied by Oil Companies Worried about Alternatives.

I'd add:
Peak Oil is an Apocalyptic Cult

Well, I admit that right off the bat it did have lots of wannabes cultists sipping the kool aide. That has kinda settled out now. The folks looking for Overnight Armageddon have broadened their internet horizons leaving behind a more tempered group. Not to say there aren't those still betting (at least virtually) that the end is indeed nigh. But Peakers (as opposed to general doomers) seem more apt to live in town and focus on improving their energy efficiency, especially transportation. Maybe reducing their debt and investing in some personal infrastructure - not really too much of the guns and butter flavor any more.


Any misconceptions you can name?

[babystrangeloop]

Any misconceptions you can name?

Peak Oil = Peak Prices. Did M. King Hubbert discuss prices? Hubbert's peak is about production rates not prices yet I still see many people confused thinking "peak oil" is short for "peak oil prices" not "peak oil production rates".

[Keith_McClary]

PO isn't a problem, we'll just switch to hydrogen or something.

[papa moose]

PO isn't a problem, we'll just switch to hydrogen or something.

Is that your opinion, or is it a misconception that you have noticed?

[sparky]

.
good on you Pops
misconception Nmbr. 1
......the price of gasoline is the most important thing

My own personal sect ( one member )
food price as a fraction of income is the most important thing .

[Keith_McClary]

PO isn't a problem, we'll just switch to hydrogen or something.

Is that your opinion, or is it a misconception that you have noticed?

The latter.

People have been conditioned to believe that the free market and modern technology will automagically supply them with substitutes when needed desired. Is that a "misconception" about PO?

[The Practician]

Misconception: Oil, in whatever quantities desired, Can be bought from the ground with Money.

[Anvil]

Misconception: A common misconception western governments are here to help the world move away from fossil fuels.

Western governments will do anything to support the status qou including disrupting transition to cheap renewable see USA vs China cheap solar power trade war.

[MD]

excellent post Pops.

#1 and #4 are the most prevalent, from my experience. Combined they form the mid-American mantra:

"Big oil is trying to convince us that we are running out so they can jack the price".

[rshizzle]

I get the "but we arent running out" a lot.

I think a misconception, in general, is that oil is strictly a transportation fuel. So we make some electric cars, and voila, problem solved.

Very few realize how much EVERYTHING in modern society revolves around petroleum. Food and pharmaceuticals come to the top of my mind as the most important uses besides transport.