[PenultimateManStanding]

If you look up mataphor you find they use 'sea of troubles' as an example. I don't remember in 6 months anyone ever using the Tiatanic Metaphor. Where are we: the guy on deck who says 'why isn't she turning?' The Captain explaining that there aren't enought life boats? Thousands of people trying to get above decks? The musicians playing gorgeous string music? it's a complex scene, where are we?

[Ebyss]

The Onion had a great Titanic headline : "Worlds biggest metaphor hits iceberg".


*Well, I laughed... you'd have to have been there..*

[OilsNotWell]

I can't remember exactly where I saw or heard it, but a similar metaphor's been used regarding PO, try checking Post-Carbon Institute...maybe it was Heinberg....just a guess, though. It might have even been on LATOC, or an audio file somewhere, but it's there, I assure you.

It was quite good...about how folks were having a party on a big raft, and some of the edges started to disintegrate, the water was getting closer, how some chose to ignore it and party, how some tried to warn others, some tried making their own liferaft, etc...

[AirlinePilot]

This is a good thought experiment and kind of fun too.

I think the answer depends on where you think we are today with respect to peak Oil. Everyone has a slightly different take but it appears to be shaping up as time goes on, thats for sure.

I see it like this:

The ship is gliding through the night quietly and gracefully. The passengers are content and happy. Most are turning in for the night after a night of eating and drinking.
Out of the gloom appears a large iceberg. The lookout spots it and is frantically attempting to raise the bridge to alert the Captain as the huge ship speeds full steam ahead towards thier inevitable fate.


What do you think?

[savethehumans]

OilsNotWell: The raft analogy came from Heinberg, all right. He uses it in the Introduction to his book Powerdown, which you should read, if you haven't. He does a good job of summing up the "options" we have, and why the ones being opted for are the wrong ones!

Bet you could find a discounted, good condition, used copy in Amazon.com's New & Used Books section. Just bring up the Powerdown listing, and click on N&U Books.

Amazing parallel of quotes come to mind:

"The Titanic is unsinkable."
"The American Way of life is non-negotiable."

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. . . .

[gnm]

Ok one of my favorites is that the vigorous discussions, debates and attepts at nonsensical solutions ( ie hybrid personal vehicles, we'll just switch to solar etc) amount to "rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic"....

perhaps attempts at fusion could be seen as trying to restart the engines while you are waist deep in water...

-G

[PhilBiker]

I'm one of the musicians.

[Doly]

I think we are at the stage when the iceberg has just hit, the Captain has figured out there aren't enough lifeboats, and he's told the musicians to keep playing.

And a few observant passengers have noticed and are heading for the lifeboats...

[OilsNotWell]

savethehumans: thanks for the confirmation. I should get a copy.

Our 'way of life' is surely up for negotiation. Nature and Geology are standing on the edges of our little game of marbles, and about to call us in for dinner.

[oowolf]

This is a great discussion of my favorite historic event. Notice that it is not too late to buy Titanic stock!
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/it ... html#_edn1

[OilsNotWell]

Here's a fun sound file for you on this topic...

Iceberg! Right Ahead!