[Wildwell]

Consider this:

Very intelligent people invent atomic bombs, weapons, viruses, things that have accidental side effects or wreck business, things that pander to human greed and selfishness and corrupt and create death.

They also invent some brilliant things and prevent suffering.

Very stupid people tend to use weapons, are more likely to be involved in crime and terrorism, mis-use technology.

And they can’t help being stupid and most are harmless…

Who is the greatest threat to humanity in general?

[EnergySpin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wildwell', 'C')onsider this:

Very intelligent people invent atomic bombs, weapons, viruses, things that have accidental side effects or wreck business, things that pander to human greed and selfishness and corrupt and create death.

They also invent some brilliant things and prevent suffering.

Very stupid people tend to use weapons, are more likely to be involved in crime and terrorism, mis-use technology.

And they can’t help being stupid and most are harmless…

Who is the greatest threat to humanity in general?

[honeylocust]

Very intelligent and compassionate people can invent and use technologies that produce enormous destruction-like oil, or coal to oil. Of course, some of them are intelligent and sadistic, or stupid and arrogant. It's just us stupid monkeys in all our variety.

[Omnitir]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Who is the greatest threat to humanity in general?

[lateStarter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kochevnik', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Omnitir', ' ')the inventions of the intelligent will always be misused by the unintelligent.

[turmoil]

"Lord, what fools these mortals be!" - William Shakespeare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Act 2 scene 2

"The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues." - Rene Descartes, 'Le Discours de la Methode,' 1637

[CrudeAwakening]

In my experience, intelligence and stupidity can coexist quite happily in the same person. (a brief moment of introspection shows this to be true )

I think the greatest threat is posed by those who have both power and unshakable belief, regardless of how 'intelligent' or 'stupid' they may be. It seems that people who achieve power tend to be 'intelligent' (using a broad definition of the term), while those with an unshakable belief tend to be 'stupid', to the extent that they view the world in a monolithic, bipolar sense.

Much of human suffering has been caused by powerful idealists who are both intelligent and stupid at the same time: Stalin, A.H, Mao, and more recently, the architects of US foreign policy.

[Phil]

Without the masses of morons (95% of humans), the minority of people who are both "evil" and intelligent would have no power, because they'd have nobody to maniplulate.

[CrudeAwakening]

Sadly, I think you're right, Phil. Any social system where intelligence is unevenly distributed will lead to the more intelligent attempting to manipulate the less intelligent. We could devolve into a discussion of how disparities in intelligence lead to disparities in power - "The Blank Slate" by Steven Pinker is a good read in this regard.

In my more idealistic moments, I like to believe in a world where an 'enlightened elite' may be possible, but history has shown this is unlikely.

[stu]

Here's a thought for you.

I'm sat here surfing the net whilst two of my housemates are lying here watching Big Brother. Nothing interesting is happening. The contestants are just sat there talking the usual crap.

Walking back from my local shop today I heard people discussing who they wanted to win. Big Brother UK is now into it's sixth series.

Now does anyone seriously think that a society that votes more for Big Brother than they do in a general election is prepared to deal with the implications of oil depletion and all the problems that it brings.

I doubt it. It will be a case of sheeple to the slaughter.

[CrudeAwakening]

Yeah, it's frightening.

Our society has become spoilt. Most of us in the West have become so unfamiliar with the hardships of our predecessors. Life for the majority of people who have lived has not been the easy ride it has been for us. When the effects of oil depletion hit, we'll be like babies who've had their toys taken away.

Think of how high our expectations are now.. we get upset if we're made to queue for more than a few minutes at supermarket checkout, imagine the mental angst when TSHTF.

[stu]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('CrudeAwakening', '
')Think of how high our expectations are now.. we get upset if we're made to queue for more than a few minutes at supermarket checkout, imagine the mental angst when TSHTF.

[Wildwell]

The biggest worry in my view is stupid people being manipulated by the media by over simplified headlines and arguments. The usual lobby groups will be wheeled out and the moaning and action will start aided and abetted by the tabloids in order to sell a bit more copy and advertising space. I’m wondering, not scrub that, I’m sure peak oil is too big an issue for the ‘Big brov’ fraternity to get their head around. Tabloid papers need simple concepts which they exaggerate, any journalist will tell you that. The Sun [That’s the most popular UK tabloid for those that are not aware] doesn’t do complex legal cases, complex scientific theories, detail of why parts of society are failing. Even some of the broadsheets oversimplify and are obviously biased. The BBC is not without its bias either; it’s become a lot more ‘populist’ now it’s struggling for its future more. And, PO is not a subject to make you popular only an education plan of some kind can inform on this. For example, robbing the poor man headlines are very seductive and the government and/or oil companies will get the blame and new phrases will be thought up, which will be repeated in lounges eating ready meal and at bars across the country. And no one will stop once to ever consider they are the problem and the solution to an extent.

[stu]

This is what I fear Wildwell.

Already the government is talking about energy conservation in the context of emissions reductions. Not in the context of energy scarcity.

I have a feeling that if war breaks out in the Middle East on a regional scale and continues for some time then the high price will be blamed on supply disruptions and not decling availability.

[Madpaddy]

Stu,

Orlaith had nice tits though.

[stu]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Madpaddy', 'S')tu,

Orlaith had nice tits though.