[C8]

Hello again!

I used to frequent these pages years ago and have recently rekindled my interest. I have noticed that many are still here but some prolific posters of yore seem to be no more. Specifically I was wondering what happened to Dohboi, Ibon, and Rockman (if anyone knows)

[JuanP]

Hello again!

I used to frequent these pages years ago and have recently rekindled my interest. I have noticed that many are still here but some prolific posters of yore seem to be no more. Specifically I was wondering what happened to Dohboi, Ibon, and Rockman (if anyone knows)

I don't know what happened to Dohboi; he hasn't posted in a while. Ibon stopped posting about a year ago because he got tired of the political infighting and the fact that most posters here lean Republican. This forum has become more polarized and less polite, just like the world in general. Rockman still posts now and then, but definitely not frequently; he posted a couple of comments in the last few days.

The level of the discussions here has continuously deteriorated over the last decade. I often wonder why I still visit this site and I am thinking of quitting myself, but I still enjoy my interactions with a handful of the regulars here. Time for me to move on, too? I know that would make at least one member here happy.

[Plantagenet]

Welcome back, C8.

Its true there are a lot fewer posters here then there used to be, but thats not all bad.

Back when there were hundreds of posters here PeakOil.com could seem like a big shouting mob, with arguments and scuffles breaking out all over the mob.

Now there's only about 20 active posters, and its more like the group old guys who go out for coffee in the morning at the local cafe.

There are still some arguments and still some bad actors here, but its also easier to find the latests posts from those people who are interesting and who have something intelligent to say.


What peakoil.com was like back in the day....



What peakoil.com is like now

Cheers!

[C8]

thanks for the replies. It seems like when people disappear they don't explain why (which is what I figured but I thought I would ask anyway).

I can remember years ago people totally shredding others in debate- it seems that political/economic forums always bring out intense emotions.

I myself have always felt that this was self defeating behavior. I view a forum such as this to be something like a "commons" where everyone has an interest in keeping it in good shape. PO.com will never be a major site where someone's comments will ever affect policy changes so the need to "win" a conversation at the expense of good will is irrational. The only value to this site is the quality of the interaction among its members. I always remember that this is a small site with interesting people so fighting isn't worth destroying what little is left- I am not going to change the world by body slamming someone verbally.

Not many people are into Peak Oil and those who are should be treated well and preserved- even if you disagree with them. To run off members by nuking them eventually leads to a dead forum and nobody to talk to. It is hard to get people to think rationally about the outcome of their actions but a small group should have some success at preserving community if it is done thoughtfully.

I am glad that so many knowledgeable folks are still here and are willing to discuss issues many aren't aware of or don't care about. I will always value the person more than my argument.

[JuanP]

thanks for the replies. It seems like when people disappear they don't explain why (which is what I figured but I thought I would ask anyway).

I can remember years ago people totally shredding others in debate- it seems that political/economic forums always bring out intense emotions.

I myself have always felt that this was self defeating behavior. I view a forum such as this to be something like a "commons" where everyone has an interest in keeping it in good shape. PO.com will never be a major site where someone's comments will ever affect policy changes so the need to "win" a conversation at the expense of good will is irrational. The only value to this site is the quality of the interaction among its members. I always remember that this is a small site with interesting people so fighting isn't worth destroying what little is left- I am not going to change the world by body slamming someone verbally.

Not many people are into Peak Oil and those who are should be treated well and preserved- even if you disagree with them. To run off members by nuking them eventually leads to a dead forum and nobody to talk to. It is hard to get people to think rationally about the outcome of their actions but a small group should have some success at preserving community if it is done thoughtfully.

I am glad that so many knowledgeable folks are still here and are willing to discuss issues many aren't aware of or don't care about. I will always value the person more than my argument.

Excellent points!

[Newfie]

C8,

I hink the turning point was the Trump/Clinton election. I saw it here and elsewhere. Dohboi became quite radicalized and announceded his departure well in advance and made it a political statement. At almost the same time COG just disappeared. Ibon became very combative, and was reminded frequently to cut out the gross profanity. He eventually left over the issue.

I have seen this outside this forum so and have lost various friends because of their radi raducalization. One really smart colleage, who was of retirement age used to go on about how he loved his job and would work as long as he could. The day after the Trump election he retired/quit because of Trump! Shortly he came back on a part time basis but it did not last. I don't understand, I just report my observation.

[C8]

C8,

I hink the turning point was the Trump/Clinton election. I saw it here and elsewhere. Dohboi became quite radicalized and announceded his departure well in advance and made it a political statement. At almost the same time COG just disappeared. Ibon became very combative, and was reminded frequently to cut out the gross profanity. He eventually left over the issue.

I have seen this outside this forum so and have lost various friends because of their radi raducalization. One really smart colleage, who was of retirement age used to go on about how he loved his job and would work as long as he could. The day after the Trump election he retired/quit because of Trump! Shortly he came back on a part time basis but it did not last. I don't understand, I just report my observation.

There is something very important in what you just posted: people are now demonizing those who hold different political/social views. This was never this intense years ago and I often wonder why this has happened. I have several hypotheses:

1. The internet has tribalized us by locking us into similar groups and exposing us to radical propaganda on a daily basis- the only downside to this view is that people are also living in neighborhoods that are tribalized which shouldn't be necessary if it is all online as anybody can access the internet anywhere

2. The decline of the white percentage of the population has eliminated a commonality that moderated extremism, multi-ethnic societies have higher levels of distrust. The problem with this view is that the polarization of society has proceeded much faster than the decline of the white percent of population

3. Work has become increasingly segregated and isolated so that people don't mix with those who share opposite views and get to understand why they hold those views. The cancel culture may also be scaring people from speaking- as a result, folks don't hear perspectives that are different from their own. This is hard to prove though.

4. America is in decline and folks are turning on each other- again, hard to prove

5. The decline in religious attendance has made politics the de facto religion of the US. Elections are now holy wars.

Of course it is probably "all of the above".

[Newfie]

C8,

Try reading The Social Conquest of Earth by E O Wilson. I think that explains it in simpler and more universial terms. In very short we are programmed to coagulation into tribes and attack competing tribes. A quick k review of human history strongly supports that idea. It is just who we are.

[C8]

C8,

Try reading The Social Conquest of Earth by E O Wilson. I think that explains it in simpler and more universial terms. In very short we are programmed to coagulation into tribes and attack competing tribes. A quick k review of human history strongly supports that idea. It is just who we are.

I have just ordered this from my local library. But I think we still need an explanation for why things have intensified so much the last 20 years. Or maybe it was always this bad? In any case, I will read the book.

[Newfie]

Given the fulness of human history what we are experiencing is all too common. It may seem much has changed yet these kind of upheavals are quite common every few generations. The USA being isolated has had relative domestic calm but we have had the Revolution and Civil War which have far exceeded current strife. Within my lifetime we have had the 60's race riots and war protests.

[jato0072]

I occasionally pop in. My old account from 18 years ago was lost so I had to make a new one.

I am a heterodox Constitutional conservative. I like deep discussions, but don't care to argue about minutia or politics. I am what we used to call a "doomer". Simply stated, I think modern civilization is headed for a decline and collapse. It looks like we have arrived at the "bumpy plateau" of fossil fuel production. Maybe we'll get one more line to snort of oil fracking, but I am not counting on it. I don't know the timing, but I don't see how modern civilization makes it to the 22nd century. I have no faith in the current leadership here in the USA. It seems like war and conflict are now inevitable. Personally I am doing great! I am mostly concerned for my children's future and the future of my country, whatever "my country" even means now (thank you Globalism!).

[jato0072]

There is something very important in what you just posted: people are now demonizing those who hold different political/social views.

I think conflict in the US will intensify from here (I really can't speak intelligently about other regions). When food and energy shortages are acute and then chronic, things are really going to get spicy.

When Trump was elected in 2016, I could not believe the outpouring of hate and contempt. I didn't care for the man either, but I really thought our country was going mad. After the 2020 scamdemic lockdowns, my entire mental model of US Government changed completely. It was quite the wake up call...not that there is much I can do about an authoritarian government.

[Plantagenet]

I occasionally pop in. My old account from 18 years ago was lost so I had to make a new one.

I am a heterodox Constitutional conservative. I like deep discussions, but don't care to argue about minutia or politics. I am what we used to call a "doomer". Simply stated, I think modern civilization is headed for a decline and collapse. It looks like we have arrived at the "bumpy plateau" of fossil fuel production. Maybe we'll get one more line to snort of oil fracking, but I am not counting on it. I don't know the timing, but I don't see how modern civilization makes it to the 22nd century. I have no faith in the current leadership here in the USA. It seems like war and conflict are now inevitable. Personally I am doing great! I am mostly concerned for my children's future and the future of my country, whatever "my country" even means now (thank you Globalism!).

Very interesting post.

Please "pop in" more often.

Cheers!

[C8]

C8,

Try reading The Social Conquest of Earth by E O Wilson. I think that explains it in simpler and more universial terms. In very short we are programmed to coagulation into tribes and attack competing tribes. A quick k review of human history strongly supports that idea. It is just who we are.

I read this book- it is interesting although there is much in it that can't be proven. I agree about the tribal outlook part being our downfall. It is hard to get people to accept this as we live in an age of mass idealism. The idea that there are some things which humans can't overcome is viewed as insulting and anyone who suggest this is seen as a threat.

The differences between tribes/ethnic groups can be minimized when times are good, but when difficulties emerge then people return to more primitive patterns and search for those who share their culture.

[Newfie]

Yes, he overstates some points, but much remains which is valid. His is a big piece of the puzzle.

It does not lead to a bight outlook.

[Nefarious]

Like Jato I pop in every now and again to see what's being talked about here. I checked out mainly due to back then this site was a bastion of liberal socialism and I'm just not a socialist/communist. I pretty much can't stand either political party. Both are filled to the brim with ineptness and corruption that I can't see how anyone could follow either one.
Also like Jato I would still be considered a doomer. With the events of today if you aren't a doomer, you aren't looking very hard at what's going on. With oil and gas prices the way they are, gas being cut off to European countries, shortages of fertilizers, herbicides, drought, and water scarcity. We are about to get a taste of what a post oil world is going to look like with plenty of the black goo left in the ground.

[C8]

Like Jato I pop in every now and again to see what's being talked about here. I checked out mainly due to back then this site was a bastion of liberal socialism and I'm just not a socialist/communist. I pretty much can't stand either political party. Both are filled to the brim with ineptness and corruption that I can't see how anyone could follow either one.
Also like Jato I would still be considered a doomer. With the events of today if you aren't a doomer, you aren't looking very hard at what's going on. With oil and gas prices the way they are, gas being cut off to European countries, shortages of fertilizers, herbicides, drought, and water scarcity. We are about to get a taste of what a post oil world is going to look like with plenty of the black goo left in the ground.

Do come back and post more often!

[Newfie]

Nefarious,

I have come to your appreciation of the political parties. I won’t have anything to do with either of them. There was a time when ai was very different but no more.

[Nefarious]

I doubt it. My post never appeared. Then appeared, saw your response, now my post and your response have disappeared again. Click on a thread with 15 replies only see one post. To aggravating to try and figure out what's the latest post or not. Posts appearing then disappearing you just can't keep up and try to have a meaningful discussion.

[AgentR11]

I try to log in and post occasionally. I think the site has migrated its central thought from prepping to just observing the Great Ungreesing. Which seems appropriate given how things are turning out. My idle speculation, that "Demand Destruction" isn't the problem, but rather the solution to the issues of Peak and shortages, seems to be working out. That said, the price still isn't high enough to make that all happen, but its getting there I think. Just a slow, grinding economic battle between how much we want to burn vs how much there is available to burn at any given time.

Also becoming med dependent as I, and maybe yall as well, as a result of age and injury pretty much takes the intensity out of doom'ing. Its just not as compelling when you think that all available paths for the human race with regard to oil/energy and climate change; have a time horizon that exceed one's own best-by date.