[Chocky]

WELL I'M GLAD THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, NOW WE CAN SAVE THE WORLD!!! DOUFUS YOU LEAD!!!

[Antimatter]

I like stuff

[doufus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chocky', 'W')ELL I'M GLAD THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, NOW WE CAN SAVE THE WORLD!!! DOUFUS YOU LEAD!!!

[doufus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Antimatter', 'I') like stuff

[mididoctors]

there s a lot of trash posted here on PO.com but probably less than many other sites...

the informed level of debate is probably pretty good especially considering the exposure..

however the importance and profile of the issue combined with a uncertain future does present dangers in being perceived a Pollyanna..

a lot of simplistic doomerism sees trends in any headline news story and also has simplistic notions on what the signals of doom are... the most common one being price.

we really have no idea how the economy may react.. the price of oil may collapse for all we know..

a preemptive recession could set us back into a situation where advocates of PO issues look like fools to the average joe who points at the price of oil as an indicator of the state of play.

I for one think PO is a huge crisis but not one that can be mapped out in the simplistic one portrayed by many here.. you could end up discrediting the issue on a temporary basis at a vital moment in time.

it would help if a wider range of informed thinking was put into future scenarios.. the closest we have is the doomerosicity index..

a slow decline scenario is a nightmare as well as it may not be self evident that things will not turn around and characterizations of some sudden disaster may actually make things worse..

the whole thing is head fuck that almost certainly will not pan out in some obvious simple fashion.. there are so many additional qualifying subplots

a good example of sloppy if not ill considered thinking is

the price goes down=conspiracy

whether true or not the arguments in favour are piss poor ill considered knee jerk reactions,

doesn't help IMO

Boris
London

[gt1370a]

Here's a good disclaimer: If you can't think for yourself, go somewhere else.

It's a damn shame that the internet has to have disclaimers and that "your use constitutes implied consent that blah blah blah blah blah." Just goes to show you, there is absolutely no such thing as personal responsibility anymore in America. People expect the government to do everything, and to make sure that they never have to experience anything unpleasant.

[AmericanEmpire]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')eople expect the government to do everything, and to make sure that they never have to experience anything unpleasant.

[ehv_nl]

DISCLAIMER: This is an internet bulletin board. Judge accordingly. But just remember, compared to IRC this is an oasis of politeness and mental soundness.


Seriously: Adrew_S has it absolutely right:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n fewer words you could simply say it's a public internet bulletin board.

People read at their own risk and have to think for themselves.

[RacerJace]

I can see doufus's point... maybe there is the risk of 'group think' and 'mob rules' going on in some of the threads here. But IMO you'd have to be fairly weak minded to just blindly accept or follow the lead of any extremists here.

All the same ... I'm genuinely concerned about the future... there I said it. I think I've made it to acceptance.. ah I feel so much more calm.

Those whom are either still at denial or anger may still want to run away, stick thier fingers in their ears and say "la la la la I can't hear you" or make like Rambo with a developing taste for raw meat... I dunno. But I can accept it. !

[FairMaiden]

Someone on here wrote once, "anyone who has an unbiased opinion about PO hasn't researched it."

I think everyone should be encouraged to make their own mind up. I'm not sure I trust Simmons and Kunstler seems like a "sky is falling" type. But there research is interesting and as an economist, I take this issue seriously.

I do wonder about the folks stocking up on survival gear and giving up on modern society. Are they perhaps getting their deep seeded wish? Reminds me of the bomb shelters of the '60s...look how handy they were...

[Ayoob]

Are you worried that the power and fury of the Doomers is going to shred society and cause murder and mayhem in the streets? Come on. We can't even get anyone to notice that oil comes from teh Middle East.

But ban it for the kids!

[azreal60]

Now doufus, i know from a previous post you said you where a lawyer, but i'm sure that your not that desperate for work that you have to advocate we use a peakoil.com disclaimer just so you can write it. Honestly, how can anyone on here be sued? We are not contracted by anyone to do anything, so without said contract, we aren't really responsible for something. If i read a book and go do something, no matter how inflamatory the book is, it's not the authors fault. You can not be Made to do something from words. That's your own determination.

And yes there are sometimes people who come on here post a couple posts about this type of power or that, which is for their own benfit, and their posts are subsquently checked out and when they are learned to be obvious ads, they are deleted. The people who advocate going to the boonies by and large are not manufacturors of survivalist gear. They are the actual survivalists who by and large are only to happy to have more people stay away from them. So really, no one is benifiting financially from this site. I think there is a post called traders corner where people are swapping advice about the markets based on a peak oil view, but that's no more than you hear around any well informed watercooler at work. (ok, a super wellinformed watercooler)

Realistically, I am afraid i have to disagree, if anything, the people who run this site should be applauded for the public service they are doing and continue to do.

[pjd2]

When I first learned of this site, and of peak oil in general, I was majorly depressed. Depression that leads to behavior change is good. I believe, having a disclaimer on this site is ridiculous.

This forum has given me the opportunity for hope, as well as a way to plan for the future. The disenting view points are why i return, for the fact this it allows me to think critically about things.

Doomerism is a very good motivator. I think it would be socially irresponsible to stifle this view. From my first post on, people have been very helpful, and many have immediately PM'd me or replied to my posts saying exactly what your disclaimer has in mind. "Take everything with a grain of salt, and make up your own mind."

People need to be able to think for themselves, and I stongly suggest that those people that feel depressed to the point of suicide seek help. Honestly, life is worth living until the last breath.

... and as by morbid sense of humor is getting the best of me...
if they do decide to take the cowards way out, more resources and breathing room for the rest of us.