[Ludi]

I don't see why post-peak-oil would lead to a loss of equality of the sexes. It makes more sense during hard times if people work together, which they can do best if allowed to do what they're good at, rather than what someone else thinks they should do.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'I') don't see why post-peak-oil would lead to a loss of equality of the sexes. It makes more sense during hard times if people work together, which they can do best if allowed to do what they're good at, rather than what someone else thinks they should do.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', ' ')I was saying that because romantic love and chivalry seems to have died as a result of equality of the sexes. It's like the old saying goes, "you can't have your cake and eat it too".

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', ' ')I was saying that because romantic love and chivalry seems to have died as a result of equality of the sexes. It's like the old saying goes, "you can't have your cake and eat it too".

[PenultimateManStanding]

BTW Ludi, I think that this is what the lovely and gracious Threadbear had in mind for this thread! She's a pal of mine, so let's try and steer it this way.

[Ludi]

Sorry, PMS, I don't know what you mean "steer it this way"....

I'm not "in the world" much, so no, I don't really know what's going on. I was never exploited by men, so I don't know what that's like...I don't know why equality would lead to exploitation, as is implied...

So, I guess, I'm just really confused about the whole thread....

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'I') don't see why post-peak-oil would lead to a loss of equality of the sexes. It makes more sense during hard times if people work together, which they can do best if allowed to do what they're good at, rather than what someone else thinks they should do.

[threadbear]

PMS, I think one of the things that has killed romance hasn't been purely an issue of gender equality, but easy access to birth control, in a consumer society headed for debauchery as a handy alternative to complete emptiness.

The pill encouraged some men to view partners as commodies to be used rather than people to be cherished. It's unfortuante that the pill hadn't become available in the forties, in a different social mileu. Things may have been different.

In marriages and couple's relationships there's an attempt to solve the basic problem (which boils down to a disruption or circumvention of the normal and spontaneous courting rituals and subsequent bonding) with endless bouts of "talking about it". Talking about love is kind of like dancing about grammar. IF a couple extrudes the entire load of verbiage through really strict reductionist political philsophies, rooted in gender politics, you have a truly stultifying situation which eventually drives people apart. But it was FUN while it lasted. Well, wasn't it? Hell no!!

[SinisterBlueCat]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'W')ouldn't WWII qualify as an event? The Civil War? The Industrial Revolution? The Roman Empire? the Bronze Age? etc.

[larrydallas]

The way I see it cheap energy has closed the divide between men and women in terms of what they are capable of with work and contribution to the family unit. It does not matter how far work is and what weather conditions exist when you have a car and climate control in the workplace. A man or woman could pretty much do any job that does not require physical labor at a similar level of quality.

I think we will start to see a breakdown in this. Well, actually, we will see a big breakdown in types of work that are sort of abstract and do not directly contribute to the basic needs of man like shelter, food, and clothes. Jobs like personal trainer, legal jobs, and entertainment ones will probably be hit hard.

We will again value the physical labor jobs like homebuilding, farming, and mechanical repair that hands down a majority of men are better suited to do just because of how they are built as compared to women.

It won't be like dad just working outside all day while mom is in the kitchen making lemonaide for him and cooking dinner while supervising the kids but it will also not be like now where you can just throw money at problems like who is going to fix what, who will look after kids, etc... and have them taken care of.

I think people will take marriage more seriously because if your marriage dies you may die. Family alliance and what background someone comes from will be a major consideration. These things are major considerations to some people now but in the future it may be like my family know how to farm but can't afford farm equipment but the woman I want to marry comes from a family that makes farm equipment so there is more reason to marry her than someone else who comes from a family that say opperates a press.

It will ultimatly unite more and more.

On a positive note there will be no more of these stupid home improvement shows that encourage you to WASTE resources and energy.

We all know This Old House was and always will be the real deal.

Death to TLC's shows and the ABC one.

[Ludi]

Pfttttt! I guess if people insist on doing old fashioned plow farming or something along those lines men will maybe do more of the hard physical work, but there's nothing in farming itself which a woman can't do. Plowing isn't necessary for farming. I do virtually all of the outdoor, farming type work on my place, and I'm a rather feeble little middle-aged lady. I also do carpentry (homebuilding). So, phooey, I'm not buying it.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'P')fttttt! So, phooey, I'm not buying it.

[ritter]

Hi all,

First post. Great site, lots of useful brainstorming ideas here! Been lurking for a few weeks.....

Anyway, a question I have that doesn't seem to be addressed in all of the planning scenarios is birth control. My wife and I have one daughter, may go for a second at some point. But if things get bad, as in SHTF bad (i.e., no easy access doctors or drugs, pills, condoms, etc.), what are you all going to do for protection? And I'm not talking guns here!

I am asking this hoping for some serious responses. I like my wife and have always been into "family planning," so to speak.

Thanks and hope I can become a useful contributor.

Ritter

[Kooka]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ritter', 'I') like my wife...

[rogerhb]

There is a small op that can be done that ensures no more extra mouths at the dinner table.

[mgibbons19]

snikp snip.

About the cost of two years of pills, or paid for by your insurance. Want another first? Start practing now?

[cynthia]

Google Natural Family Planning or Ovulation/Fertility awareness.
Avoid the Rhythm Method.The people who practice that for Birth Control are called Parents. Avoid BC pills. They are toxic.
Germaine Greer said the withdrawal method was effective for preventing pregnancy. I caught a barnfull of shit for suggesting we explore this amongst the Natural Family Planning women I studied with 20 years ago (and I've not tried it myself since I don't want any more kids).
I have used Fertility Awareness (FA) to avoid pregnancy for the past 16 years. I've combined my FA with the same partner (We are of proven combined fertility) for 16+ years using a condom. We don't have unprotected sex between menses and ovulation. After ovulation has occured and at least three or more days of appropriate mucus symptoms (That I won't even risk explaining here. Do your own research) only then do we have condom-free sex, which I admit is the best...
Look around, the information is there.
And are you sure you want to bring another child into this world? No judgement. I'm glad I have two children, but I had them long before I understood how dire things are. I am 47 and looking forward to THE CHANGE.
Also, fertility awareness information works for both achieving and avoiding pregnacy.
Please tell me you are into home births.

[Evltre]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cynthia', 'I') am 47 and looking forward to THE CHANGE.

[Evltre]

and to add my two cents worth to the original question - if you plan to have another maybe you should consider doing it sooner rather than later, while the going is good. No one here has a crystal ball and truly knows how things will pan out over the next few years - but it may or may not be as safe in the future as it is right now (and please no one turn this into one of those awful you're going to have to eat your children parent bashing threads)

Pregnancy and birth used to kill a lot of mothers, and their babies and there is a lot we take for granted in our modern lives - safe child birth IMO is way up there on the list!

Then I would certainly agree with other posters here - snip snip once your done with the kids - it's the easiest way - and safer for you than your wife.

oh - and Welcome aboard

[Doly]

I seriously doubt that contraception will become a problem. A lot of things would need to go wrong before the pill stopped being available. Expensive medicine will have to go before cheap medicine (such as the pill) goes.