[accept_death]

I think that we're still languishing in doomsday escapism, only it's become so normalized that we no longer see it as "escapism" but just everyday life. I'd argue the fact that peak oil is a more "fair challenge" is all the more reason to be concerned. With nuclear holocaust, there wasn't a lot you could do, other than build a fallout shelter, stack supplies and twiddle your thumbs waiting for the siren. Peak oil is the kind of threat that requires work, and a fundamental lifestyle change, which although more fair, is going to be a lot more difficult, especially for a generation so used to an escapist lifestyle. I was born in 1983, all I've never seen anything resembling a real economic depression. It's always been progress, progress, progress as technology makes our lives easier and easier. Because of this I've noticed a sense of complacency in my peers and to some extent myself, cynical as I am. Even as I look over the facts and sit here typing this message, I find it hard to believe we are going back to the stone age. I just can't wrap my mind around it, and until it starts really happening, I doubt I will (even if it is happening, I may not believe it!).

I do feel there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. My depression early on always stemmed from a nagging feeling that something beyond myself wasn't right; a lack of belonging to anything meaningful, a dead living environment, constant moving around, and a broken family structure amongst my clues. Our society as is has a lot of problems, which peak oil might force us to "correct". I'm not particularly worried about survival, as the screen name implies, no matter how bad things get it's going end up the same way with or without PO. The transitional period however, has me extremely concerned. I feel it is something me and my peers have not been adequately prepared for. I have no idea how we're going to deal with it. I'm worried about myself, and how I might deal. I feel as if life without PO was difficult enough. With it, there's almost a sense of "why bother?" If you could barely handle life with cheap free energy, you're completely screwed without it. Of course, it's the curiosity that keeps me going. Hopefully that will be enough if things get really hard.

Thanks for the replys...

[OilyMon]

I am in complete agreement with you accept_death, and feel very much the same way. I don't think we're going back to the stone age, but am absolutely appalled at the behaviour I see around me.

When all of your peers are filling their life with gadgets and gismos and jumping on the popular culture band wagon in order to feel that their life has "meaning" I think it's hard to find it within yourself. If I was the type of guy to strap some "phat" rims to my "ride" and buy an expensive stereo for my car and get the biggest TV I could afford and relentlessly pursue all of those material things that people fill their lives with I think meaning would be hard to come by, as your life wastes away in your car with the rims and in frount of your big screen TV.

There's no connection with the environment whatsoever, which is like taking your existence out of context. I think the people who do live a lifestyle of consumption do so because of the disconnect, and are craving connections and meaning. Without waxing overly metaphysical, if you only live life once why would you want to waste it doing anything that is not a benefit to yourself or others? I just don't understand people who go through life with the blinders on.

[vegasmade]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OilyMon', 'T')here's no connection with the environment whatsoever, which is like taking your existence out of context. I think the people who do live a lifestyle of consumption do so because of the disconnect, and are craving connections and meaning. Without waxing overly metaphysical, if you only live life once why would you want to waste it doing anything that is not a benefit to yourself or others? I just don't understand people who go through life with the blinders on.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

Accept_death, I'd like you to know that you aren't the only depressed/ clinically depressed peaker, there are a few of us here. We each have found or started to focus on something we can do.

just because a film career doesn't seem to be very peak oil oriented it is still a valuable skill. Do what you love. Do what has meaning to you and make this path your own.

What I am doing and will do to prepare (or not) for peak oil may not be the same as you. but having woken up to the future (which I don't think will be quite stoneage) you have the chance to create a meaninful life

I'd like to point out that if TS truly HTF then we will need someone to tell the story of our lives, society, and give meaning to our end. As a bard with story telling skills you would be in great demand to ease the suffering and hard work of others.

This is also the path of the villiage wiseman and ambassador. Don't give up something that gives your life meaning, that's all there is to life.

[Enquest]

Well I've been thinking about it. Just to forget about it. Why, because PO is a geological event. Humans already have alternatives and wil produce more. Maybe the effect of PO will only be a small recession and that's it.

The hype is always better then the product.

So if that is true I should stop reading about PO. Thats besides my internet addiction!

[ThinkGeek]

Um yeah, I just kinda forgot about peak oil. I saved the "devil's advocate thread on my computer, and whenever I get creeped out, i just read that. http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic2274.html

I try to focus on positive goals, such as getting laid before the world collapses in on itself, as some here predict.
If push comes to shove, my friends and I will stockpile Ramen noodles and tang and live in our high school (They're putting solar panels on it), and do nothing but play Counter-Strike for the rest of our lives. The human race is not going to end, and all civilizations do eventually collapse. but in the words of Louis XV, France (or the world) will survive for now, after me, the deluge.

And to stop myself from going around the internet, my nVidia firewall is usually set to "lockdown" hehehhe.

[Liamj]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('accept_death', '.').. I'm worried about myself, and how I might deal. I feel as if life without PO was difficult enough. With it, there's almost a sense of "why bother?" If you could barely handle life with cheap free energy, you're completely screwed without it. ...

[small_steps]

Life is a balance of many things, and most important are the people around you, those that you love and trust. I have been increasingly neglecting this portion of the balance, and need to place new vigor into it. As a result, I am quitting PO.com.

I wish all of you the best of luck, I feel we are all going to need it.
ss signing off...

[accept_death]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('small_steps', 'L')ife is a balance of many things, and most important are the people around you, those that you love and trust. I have been increasingly neglecting this portion of the balance, and need to place new vigor into it. As a result, I am quitting PO.com.

I wish all of you the best of luck, I feel we are all going to need it.
ss signing off...

[mgibbons19]

Just push those bad thoughts down, way down, until a smile pops out.

--Marge

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('accept_death', ' ')So again, I say to myself, "why bother putting in the effort to watch/learn about films?"

[accept_death]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('accept_death', ' ')So again, I say to myself, "why bother putting in the effort to watch/learn about films?"

[Golgo13]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('accept_death', '.')..I'm thinking of adopting a mindset that says "we'll figure something out, the technology exists, too many people which too much power/wealth have too much riding on our economy bla bla". It's denial I know, but I'm starting to think it might be an effective strategy for now...