[Lucas]

Yeah, being on the inside of something, being a Cassandra, that's going to make you feel weird. My dad is the one that introduced our family to this PO deal, and I only know like two other ppl outside our family that have any idea. Since I am homeschooled (I AM NOT A TYPICAL HOMESCHOOLER), the kind of ppl I run with will just about swear up and down that oil will last a million years. (And if they don't swear that G(lobal) W(arming) Bush is the coolest dude on the planet, it's b/c they think Falwell or Limbaugh deserves the title.)

I tend to be a pessimist (it's genetic, actually) and I really like the sound of saying that the world will go down in nuclear war in 50 yrs or something, but unfortunately I don't think that will happen. But the US will loose world dominance and possible collapse by then, and I don't think I will mind. I plan to jump ship.

How bad things will get is an ugly question. It involves alot of economics and politics, and not much science. I am no economics dude, so I hardly want to guess.

[Lucas]

Yeah, being on the inside of something, being a Cassandra, that's going to make you feel weird. My dad is the one that introduced our family to this PO deal, and I only know like two other ppl outside our family that have any idea. Since I am homeschooled (I AM NOT A TYPICAL HOMESCHOOLER), the kind of ppl I run with will just about swear up and down that oil will last a million years. (And if they don't swear that G(lobal) W(arming) Bush is the coolest dude on the planet, it's b/c they think Falwell or Limbaugh deserves the title.)

I tend to be a pessimist (it's genetic, actually) and I really like the sound of saying that the world will go down in nuclear war in 50 yrs or something, but unfortunately I don't think that will happen. But the US will loose world dominance and possible collapse by then, and I don't think I will mind. I plan to jump ship.

But yes, it's definitely very weird how few ppl are actually aware of this. You'd think as fear-mongering as the media is, it would want us to get worried about oil too, but I suppose that would be bad for SUV advertizers... :rolls eyes: Anyway, it's not quite Matrix proportions, but it's getting there.

[LadyRuby]

It really is kind of surreal. I think I've adjusted to it a little more now, when I first grasped this whole thing I was pretty blown away by it all. Now I've accepted it (sort of, probably sometimes still in denial). But it's still distracting and all consuming, I'm always wanting to talk about it to people (seems like one of the few things of importance) but I have to hold back a lot.

[FairMaiden]

Lucas,

The fear mongering media does so with a purpose. The "terrorism" fear was created to fuel the war and take away some of your freedoms with homeland security. Homeland security was laughed at when Bush Sr tried to introduce it. The "guns" and violence fear is to justify your "free" country having more policing than any other in history (local police, state police, FBI, DEA, Tobacco & Firearms, homeland security, etc). Also, the guns in schools is going to help pass legislature to make it mandatory that all students take mental evaluations. If you are "diagnosed" with something, you will be required to take drugs to attend school. Fuel the pharmacy industry.

There is no benefit to let the general public know about peak oil. Then they might not buy that SUV or they might think twice about a suburban McMansion...that would be bad for the economy (just like Kyoto was)...and who makes money from the current high oil prices? Bush and company...

[BabyPeanut]

Surreal? I just discovered there are homeless people in sleeping bags under the bridge at the end of my block.

[PhebaAndThePilgrim]

Good day from Pheba From the Farm:
Sorry I haven't been around much. Had a Lupus flare, am better now, and finally crawling out from under my rock.
I have been "aware" of this peak oil/surreal business since 1985. But, until a few years ago I was unaware of what my subconscious was trying to tell me.
I had vivid dreams, but could not figure out what was happening.
Here's my take on this insanity.
I believe that we absorb information from our environment in a subconscious manner.
I believe that we catalog and store and organize that information.
I believe that if that information totals an approaching S**tstorm that equals no more shopping or 3000 mile salads, then we perform a total
cognitive dissonance thing in our brains, and make it go away.
The problem is that it still sits there, humming at a very low level, barely audible, irritating, annoying.
We shop, watch reality television, distract ourselves, in a myriad number of ways, but it is still there.
For those of us who are aware, we have overcome that cognitive dissonance with the assistance of scientific reasoning.
For most, that leap is just way to uncomfortable.
The rise in fundamental religion seems to me to be related to this overwhelming desire for cognitive dissonance.
Has anybody else noticed how angry these people are?
These people are just so nasty. The greatest response from the fundamentalist seems to be defensive anger. Defensive against what?
I believe their anger stems from fear, and a need to control their environment. They are just such sheep, and so easily controlled because of that fear.
What better vector to use as a control for people than religion.
I don't get down or depressed over peak oil, and this dissonance, I get angry sometimes, and very frustrated.
I just want to start bitch-slapping.
I have a daughter who is 28. She is a nurse, married to a concrete finisher. (housing bubble)
They are deep in debt pursuing the American Dream.
I have this uneasy feeling that some day they will be living with my husband and I.
Not something I can pin down, just a feelling.
I have tried repeatedly to educate my daughter to peak oil, but she changes the subject and shuts me up.
So, I bide my time.
I only discuss peak oil when somebody else brings it up. Then I go very slow, and keep politics out of it. I don't mention Iraq, etc.
I will be teaching my class next month, and that is my plan for the class also.
I plan on spending a full two hours on entropy and exponential growth.
I firmly believe that a grasp of those two concepts is necessary to understand the implications of peak oil.
Surreal. Surreal doesn't begin to describe it.
I feel alone, and without this web site I would feel a lot more alone.
If only I could bitch slap some sheep, I'd feel better.
Cooknstitch.

[BabyPeanut]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phebagirl', ' ')Had a Lupus flare

[dolphinlady]

Yup, this whole thing is SOOO surreal to me too. I hear people talking about taking trips, and soon they won't be able to, all that fuel for planes, driving around like crazed maniacs, AND spending thousands on house remodels, going more and more in debt. Soon, they'll wish they hadn't gotten themselves so far in debt. Nothing seems real anymore. So I'm quietly collecting books and stockpiling, got a bike, driving less and slower. Oh well!!!

[medicvet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('backstop', 'A')nd what exactly does the breathing of fossil alchohol vapours, known as VHCs (volatile hydro-carbons) do to the human mind ? Particularly with twice daily binges while commuting ?

Worth having a look around in Texas, where breathing VHCs has gone on longer than most places . . .

Regards,

Backstop

[Petro]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carrie', 'I')t's incredibly surreal to me. Have you ever heard of that "many-worlds" theory of time, where time can branch out into an infinite number of different possibilities? Ever since 9/11, I've felt like I took a wrong turn and ended up on this weird alternate-reality branch. How do I get back??

Seriously, it is hard to deal with it, and I find myself in denial quite a lot. It's hard to get your mind around something this profound.

[Carrie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Petro', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carrie', 'I')t's incredibly surreal to me. Have you ever heard of that "many-worlds" theory of time, where time can branch out into an infinite number of different possibilities? Ever since 9/11, I've felt like I took a wrong turn and ended up on this weird alternate-reality branch. How do I get back??

Seriously, it is hard to deal with it, and I find myself in denial quite a lot. It's hard to get your mind around something this profound.

[Petro]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carrie', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Petro', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carrie', 'I')t's incredibly surreal to me. Have you ever heard of that "many-worlds" theory of time, where time can branch out into an infinite number of different possibilities? Ever since 9/11, I've felt like I took a wrong turn and ended up on this weird alternate-reality branch. How do I get back??

Seriously, it is hard to deal with it, and I find myself in denial quite a lot. It's hard to get your mind around something this profound.

[savethehumans]

This whole week in the Gulf Coast, USA has been such a horrifying preview of coming attractions, hasn't it?

Most will learn NOTHING from it. We Who Know must educate ourselves from this. We can now SEE what it will be like, except on a much more massive scale.

This, too, is a form of preparation. . . .

[aldente]

This is a luxury (posting on a thread that is about a year old and standing still). I wonder who of the posters is still around (not alive but around).

Let's see where this goes.

[Carrie]

I'm still around. I've calmed down a bit too...

[LadyRuby]

I'm still around too. But now, a year later, I don't know which problem seems most urgent to me: energy crises, financial meltdown (due to baby boomers retiring, deficits, etc.), or global warming.

Still, it feels surreal knowing about this trifecta of doom, when others are merrily enjoying their summer. (Actually I'm enjoying mine as well, truth be told.)