[JudoCow09]

I can't deal with this. I might have been able to if I was 20 or 30, but I'm only 14. I can't prepare because I don't have money. I can't do anything. My best option now is suicide.

[EnergySpin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JudoCow09', 'I') can't deal with this. I might have been able to if I was 20 or 30, but I'm only 14. I can't prepare because I don't have money. I can't do anything. My best option now is suicide.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JudoCow09', 'I') can't deal with this. I might have been able to if I was 20 or 30, but I'm only 14. I can't prepare because I don't have money. I can't do anything. My best option now is suicide.

[Raxozanne]

Wow there have been a few of these kind of posts lately.

I guess the word is getting around.

[MonteQuest]

Judo,

What are your biggest fears about this, may I ask?

Monte

[Heineken]

I do feel sorry for today's children and adolescents. They have no idea what sort of a world their elders are preparing for them. It would help if they disconnected their entertainment feeds and starting connecting with the real issues.

[JudoCow09]

Dieing. Not just like being hit by a bus, but starvation. People reacting in a way that the world flings into chaos and continues to focus on money rather than staying organized and working together. That all the things I've heard on websites and in these forums come true; we find no alternate fuel, many people die, and there is no hope for a bright future.

And also that I never get to do any of the things I wanted to do. I have always wanted to be a music teacher, or at least get to be in Marching Band as a Section Leader or something, but at the rate gas prices are going up, I can only infer that PO has happened or is coming closer every second. It just seems like they'll just keep going up until everything will be gone. No houses, no suburbs, it's like everything I know will vanish.

I fear that we won't have any way to really live if it requires energy. People will just die, and murder will be a problem as it seems everyone will try to continue on their own until everyone left is gone. That even if I lived next to a stream and somehow managed to survive, that I wouldn't get to do any of the things I could of. I can't make a difference now because I'm too young, too inexperienced, and I just don't know enough.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') can't make a difference now because I'm too young, too inexperienced, and I just don't know enough.

[JudoCow09]

By the way, I do actually play Judo although I'm only an orange belt.

I don't understand how you think I'm lucky. I don't have the chance to make the choices you did. Gas hit 2.50 here in Ohio and at this rate it'll hit over $4 before I graduate although I feel it will be much sooner. I have no money. Jobs are scarce, and I won't have a chance to do anything about my inebitable future. And my mom and dad are not in the best shape of their lives. My dad is going through chemo and my mom has such a bad leg that she can't even put her feet together. With all this we have virtually no money.

How?

[EnergySpin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JudoCow09', 'D')ieing. Not just like being hit by a bus, but starvation. People reacting in a way that the world flings into chaos and continues to focus on money rather than staying organized and working together. That all the things I've heard on websites and in these forums come true; we find no alternate fuel, many people die, and there is no hope for a bright future.

And also that I never get to do any of the things I wanted to do. I have always wanted to be a music teacher, or at least get to be in Marching Band as a Section Leader or something, but at the rate gas prices are going up, I can only infer that PO has happened or is coming closer every second. It just seems like they'll just keep going up until everything will be gone. No houses, no suburbs, it's like everything I know will vanish.

I fear that we won't have any way to really live if it requires energy. People will just die, and murder will be a problem as it seems everyone will try to continue on their own until everyone left is gone. That even if I lived next to a stream and somehow managed to survive, that I wouldn't get to do any of the things I could of. I can't make a difference now because I'm too young, too inexperienced, and I just don't know enough.

[JudoCow09]

Doing what? I spend all day at school, go to marching band for 3 hours, and then spend the rest of the evening doing homework since I'm an honors student. Weekends are gone as well. And I can't very well stop doing that stuff since my parents won't let me.

[EnergySpin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JudoCow09', 'D')oing what? I spend all day at school, go to marching band for 3 hours, and then spend the rest of the evening doing homework since I'm an honors student. Weekends are gone as well. And I can't very well stop doing that stuff since my parents won't let me.

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JudoCow09', 'B')y the way, I do actually play Judo although I'm only an orange belt.

I don't understand how you think I'm lucky. I don't have the chance to make the choices you did. Gas hit 2.50 here in Ohio and at this rate it'll hit over $4 before I graduate although I feel it will be much sooner. I have no money. Jobs are scarce, and I won't have a chance to do anything about my inebitable future. And my mom and dad are not in the best shape of their lives. My dad is going through chemo and my mom has such a bad leg that she can't even put her feet together. With all this we have virtually no money.

How?

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JudoCow09', 'D')ieing. Not just like being hit by a bus, but starvation.

[Tyler_JC]

Welcome to the rabbit hole.

Marching band, eh?

Which instrument?

Regardless, calm down a bit. I was 15 when I "figured it out". Well, I had a little help from a certain Mr. Savinar.

Peak oil is not the end of the world. It's only the end of the world as we know it.

There's a difference.

And I believe that Matt Savinar said it best at the end of his website with this quote:

"Is There Any Reason to Remain Optimistic/Hopeful?"

If what you really mean is, "Is there any way technology or the market or brilliant scientists or comprehensive government programs are going to hold things together or solve this for me or allow for business to continue as usual?", the answer is no.

On the other hand, if what you really mean, "Is there any way I can still have a happy, fulfilling life in spite of some clearly grim facts?", the answer is yes, but it's going to require a lot of work, a lot of adjustments, and probably a bit of good fortune on your part.

Take that second paragraph to heart. You will get through this. You may not live the kind of life style your parents currently enjoy, but it's not the end of the world.

There are some very common sense basic preperations you can make right now to help you out in the future.

1. Don't move to Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, or any other highly overpopulated area.

2. Don't get a law degree or a degree in marketing. You say you're an honors student, so am I. Focus on a skill that will be more helpful in the future. If you still plan on going to college (and I HIGHLY suggest doing so) pick a major that will have some use in the future. Chemistry, engineering, medicine, or any of the technical skills are good bets.

3. Don't let Peak Oil get you down. Never-ending depression and mood swings isn't the way you want to go through life.

4. NEVER mention peak oil to a possible girl friend, trust me.

I'm sure other people will chime in soon to give you some more tips.

PS. If you want, download TeamSpeak so we can chat. A microphone is only like 10 bucks and the software is free.

Also, to everyone around you, peak oil is an environmental or political issue of interest. It's not TEOTWAWKI. Or at least that's what you tell your parents so they will leave you alone and not ask about the strange people you talk to online.

[mgibbons19]

Hey kid, don't sweat it.

But, do read a lot. And the advice about being in shape is excellent. Remember to lift and aerobics both.

Me being me, I'd suggest getting a bike and start riding to the places you have to go. It's great freedom at your age because you don't have to wait for your folks to drive you around. You'll also learn bike maintenance. That will help in the long run. And don't get a credit card.

You will be young, in shape, without debt, and will have learnt lots from your books. You will be better off than most.

And if none of it comes true, you'll still be better off than most.

[backstop]

JudoCow -

I well remember being told I was lucky when I was your age - and considering the Godawful mess my parents' generation had left us: I just couldn't see it either.

Yes - my generation rebelled and had some great times, and millions of us around the world headed out and settled down to a rural way of life - But try as we might we've never got near turning this society around, and now its coming to its long predicted energy crunch.

You asked what you can do - so here's my two-pennorth.

First, you can learn really useful skills. You're already learning to play an instrument and that's pretty rare for young people to take seriously these days. So, unless marching band is un-let-go-able, chuck it in favour of putting that 3 hrs a day into practicing your music and listening to lots of sorts of (accoustic) music.

The reasons I'd suggest this are:

a/. There's likely going to be a call for musicians able to play live without all sorts of electronic kit, and good ones will be pretty sure of getting by quite well however far this society slumps.

b/. At your age my younger boy Joe used to go busking with a freind in London with violin and guitar, playing Irish tunes outside Irish pubs. They regularly used to get over £10/hr each at it (about $17/hr) and this was 10 years ago. I gather you could do with some income, and getting experience of playing live to audiences is a major part of becoming a musician, so learning music you could busk with could be really useful now.

The second thing you can do is to have faith in people of your own age. Between 14 & 21 people are at their most original, innovative and, I'd say, courageous. So find other young people who see the need to prepare and work with them both locally and on the web. God knows the brighter sparks of other generations will do whatever they can to help, but I think it will be your generation that actually finds new ways forward to a different way of life.

So keep your chin up - things will pan out if you work at it. It just ain't going to be like life in the adverts ! (Has it ever been ?)

all the best,

Backstop

[gt1370a]

One huge thing you have going for you is that you have no debt (I assume it isn't possible for a 14 year old to get debt). Don't make the mistake of getting into debt, with the possible exception of limited student loans for in-state tuition, if needed, if that's still an option in 3-4 years. If you get a credit card, pay off the balance every month.

I think the band is probably a waste of time. Join a sports team instead and get in good physical shape. Maybe something like track or soccer or tennis where the risk of injury is lower, whatever is suited to your interests and abilities. Do some weightlifting too. If you can't make a team, do it on your own time.

One thing you probably don't realize is that you have more free time now than you ever will. Take advantage of that. Stop doing low-value tasks (like band) and put your time towards educating yourself and improving your physical condition.

You may have some opportunities in the future, though they probably aren't what you've been expecting. Maybe in 4 years instead of going to Harvard to study business, the top students will study agriculture at University of Georgia. Who knows? Just keep your eyes open for opportunities and take them. You have a big advantage over your classmates because you are aware of how the world is changing.

[JudoCow09]

I can't get out of band now, nor will I since it is one of my favorite things I still do. By the way, I play the Trombone. I still play Soccer in the spring in the Rec league since I'm not good enough to be on a select or highschool team. Besides, in Marching Band I lost 7 pounds during Band Camp last week and it is a fairly phsically demanding not to mention hard working sport persay that teaches you morals which will be needed in any world in my mind and requires you to indure heat all day.

I don't know yet what my highschool has to offer, but I'll be sure to try to focus on some of that stuff.

By the way, when do you guys think we will really start to notice the effects of PO, or rather when will the life we lead now change?

[killJOY]

People who play acoustic instruments could be in high demand. People will WANT, DEMAND entertainment during the crisis.

I've got my fiddles.