[FairMaiden]

I've been discussing Peak Oil alot these days. Seems everyone wants to know my predictions/thoughts/etc. Funnily enough, to the majority I am a huge DOOMER. Ah...if any of them were to check out this site

But even tho they are open to the ideas, they continue along their lifestyle with business as usual. No change whatsoever. Even with the high gas prices, there is no effort to "rethink" our strategy on consumption! I am becoming so intolerable to the stupidity of it. I mean, ppl driving 2 blocks to get groceries pisses me off to no end. Ppl driving to the gym - there is an oxymoron. Why not cycle or walk and save the time on the machine?

Even my fiance wanted to drive to a car wash (we have a stall in our basement for that, grrr!) which was right next to a friends house. I had to tell him to return his friend's equipment bc he was just going to do it another day. I say - you are driving RIGHT there! Why not bring it with you NOW and save the gas???

I thought I was making major headway bc everyone is seeing the problem...why has absolutely NOTHING about their behaviour changed then? Not even from my coworkers - environmentalists who are suppose to care about this stuff?

WTF?

[Lukethedrifter]

I just recently learned of Peak Oil (2 weeks ago). I currently drive an SUV to work (15 miles) and have been driving places as often as I did before (with guilt however).

I keep telling myself I'm going to make this grand change soon, but it requires so much of me (new job, new place to live, new mode of tranportation, new leisure activities, etc...).

I guess I'm a prime example of who people say are wasting all of this enery. I don't really feel I'm to blame though, it's what I though I was supposed to be doing (until 2 weeks ago).

I did have a breakthrough yesterday though, I had to return a movie to the rental store. I was just fixing to grab my keys and changed my mind and grabbed my bike off the wall. I rode the two miles to the store and back and it only took me 20 minutes longer than it would have (plus it felt good). It was hot though, 100 F (I'm in Texas).

I'm looking to trade in my car but just haven't taken the time to do so. Plus, I'll have to explain myself to those around as to why I'm trading my car in for a midget box. (I'm tall).

Anyway, I read your rant, felt bad, and wanted to apologize for my behavior. I'm trying to change, I know I will have to.


Luke

[RonMN]

None of my friends are onboard with PO...and VERY few family. This is the 2nd summer i refused to turn the AC on in the house and nobody could figure out why i would do such a thing.

Even after my mom & dad & i were discussing a disaster plan (because of hurricane katrina & the aftermath) my dad later got grumpy & started yelling (i'm 39 & own my own home so i don't mind it when he yells) "STOP taking about this crap, for God's sake your mother is buying sacks of BEANS...who the hell would want to eat BEANS?".

So most are just not going to get it until they're forced to...and if they don't get it then, they'll die...accept that & life gets easier.

I really don't want to see any friends or family die...but if they refuse to lift a finger to help themselves (even AFTER TSHTF) then what can i do?

[rogerhb]

I was listening to FinancialSense regarding impacts of NO on Sunday and my otherhalf asked what was it we were listening to, I said it was a download, half expecting the reply "I hope it's not taking up diskspace", when instead she said "Can you keep a copy, I'd like to listen to it again".

Besides ourselves I know two other families who have made a PO inspired house move.

Give it a couple of years and I can see one set of Grandparents making the move as well.

Ironically one couple who I thought would be resistent to the idea actually said yes it's all very likely, perhaps it's because they are at the bottom of the economic pile and broadly accept more crap being piled ontop.

[FairMaiden]

Hmm...that is an interesting idea - that those in lower economic status would be more accepting. They've seen "crap" so they can deal with it. The ppl I am refering to in my post are indeed of upper middle class social status...

Luke, would you say you are middle or upper societal class? Could it be that there is just so much "more to lose" for you? As you said, a MAJOR life change necessary to act?

It was not my intent to make anyone feel guilty (now, I feel like the schmuck). I'm just so fustrated that even those in the 'know' aren't doing anything - makes you realize what an uphill battle we have if we are going to create a "soft landing"...

[rogerhb]

Alot of PO writings refer to the middle-classes being the biggest losers. I consider myself middle-class so said "that means us" so we made a change voluntarily to move to cheaper house/area, reduce debt etc so that the change was not made upon us, such as losing house, bankruptcy etc.

[Colorado-Valley]

I just bought a motorcycle that gets 100 mph. I raised a huge garden this year. I'm storing beans and rice. I'm totally out of debt, except for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage. I'm buying gold. I live far, far out in the country, on a cattle ranch.

I may buy some chickens, but no turkeys. I hate turkeys.

[IanC]

I applaud the original poster for fighting the good fight and trying to let people in his/her Tribe know about Peak Oil. I've been telling everyone I know about it so I can at least be on record as having seen it coming!

What I find discouraging is everyone's kneejerk response to hoard food, guns, gear, etc without making the effort to enlist their neighbors and Tribe (friends, family, allies). No matter how many beans, rice, ammo, and seeds you store, you will run out. WE NEED A COMMUNITY RESPONSE to Peak Oil, not a bunch of people making their own little fortresses.

I think it is very American to try to go it alone. It's much more work to actually go out of your door, knock on your neighbors door and say,"Hey, you grow the tomatoes and I'll raise the chickens" (for example). Your neighbors will still be there when your food and ammo are gone.

Okay, off my soapbox. We have begun discussing how to go car-free at my house. It's tough because my 2 and 5 year old are too young to bike, but we are looking incrementally: we'll start by logging our trips and miles and seeing where we could cut back. We'll sell our older car and look at phasing out the newer one and go to Flexcar (see the website) if we think we can handle it. There are great websites for bike utility trailers that will solve the 2-3 block drive to the store.

Even our really open-minded friends are making no steps to decrease consumption. We hope to make the best decisions we can and maybe lead by example. As my wife says, "The MEANS are the ENDS".

-IanC
People's Republic of Southeast Portland, OR.

[evilmonkeyspanker]

Adopt my philosphy on peak oil (DON'T CHANGE) because no one else will and why should you incovience yourself... one person can't make a difference.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auctionmonster', 'A')dopt my philosphy on peak oil (DON'T CHANGE) because no one else will and why should you incovience yourself... one person can't make a difference.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('IanC', ' ')WE NEED A COMMUNITY RESPONSE to Peak Oil, not a bunch of people making their own little fortresses.

[Lukethedrifter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('FairMaiden', 'H')mm...that is an interesting idea - that those in lower economic status would be more accepting. They've seen "crap" so they can deal with it. The ppl I am refering to in my post are indeed of upper middle class social status...

Luke, would you say you are middle or upper societal class? Could it be that there is just so much "more to lose" for you? As you said, a MAJOR life change necessary to act?

It was not my intent to make anyone feel guilty (now, I feel like the schmuck). I'm just so fustrated that even those in the 'know' aren't doing anything - makes you realize what an uphill battle we have if we are going to create a "soft landing"...

[Liamj]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lukethedrifter', 'A')nyway, I read your rant, felt bad, and wanted to apologize for my behavior. I'm trying to change, I know I will have to.

[wildsparrow]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('FairMaiden', '
')But even tho they are open to the ideas, they continue along their lifestyle with business as usual. No change whatsoever. Even with the high gas prices, there is no effort to "rethink" our strategy on consumption! I am becoming so intolerable to the stupidity of it. I mean, ppl driving 2 blocks to get groceries pisses me off to no end. Ppl driving to the gym - there is an oxymoron. Why not cycle or walk and save the time on the machine?
...
I thought I was making major headway bc everyone is seeing the problem...why has absolutely NOTHING about their behaviour changed then? Not even from my coworkers - environmentalists who are suppose to care about this stuff?

WTF?