[Lokutus]

Suppose Peak Oil turns out to be a non-event. What do you switch to then to support your claims that the end is nigh?

Me? I'm also into the Tainter theory that empires eventually become too complex to continue and collapse under their own weight.

If you're stumped for a backup doomsday scenario, check out http://1984videos.com for ideas. This site has videos for everyone.

Cheers!

[smallpoxgirl]

Global warming
Endocrine disrupting pollutants
Deforestation
Species loss
Loss of arable land
Bird Flu

There's a long list to choose from. I suppose that they can all be sort of summed up under Tainter's complexity arguement though. The infrastructure has become so expensive to maintain, and provides so little in return, that the center can not hold.

Honestly I think a big issue that lends instability to the current world situation is the destruction of local culture, loss of local self sufficiency, and the resulting fragmentation of community bonds. Neighbors don't talk to eachother, they don't associate with each, they don't depend on eachother, as a result they have less motivation to continue to participate together politically. At least here in the United States, I don't feel like there has been any sense that we were building towards a common goal since the 80's. We're just sitting around all lazy trying to defend what we've got. You live that way long enough, and eventually you get trounced.

[Lokutus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'H')onestly I think a big issue that lends instability to the current world situation is the destruction of local culture, loss of local self sufficiency, and the resulting fragmentation of community bonds. Neighbors don't talk to eachother, they don't associate with each, they don't depend on eachother, as a result they have less motivation to continue to participate together politically. At least here in the United States, I don't feel like there has been any sense that we were building towards a common goal since the 80's. We're just sitting around all lazy trying to defend what we've got. You live that way long enough, and eventually you get trounced.

[eastbay]

If oil depletion waits a few more decades (which it won't) I'm falling back on everything SPG says, but with the bird flu deleted from the list, and maybe a few more added. I ain't a bit worried about no silly little flu. Sheesh.

Basically, oil depletion is gonna be what nails us first in our common race into oblivion. The others on the above short list are all fully capable of quickly destroying civilization all by themselves if given the chance.

[dbarberic]

I'm not that negative. I don't have a back up Apocalyse. If P.O. is a non event like Y2K, then I move my investements out of defensive position and prepare for investment growth.

[worrier]

Environment degredation from the destructive effects of too many people.

[PrairieMule]

The biggest item I watch is the slow breakdown of Just-in-time Logistics because it is based on cheap abundant energy. I belive this is more realistic probability than everyone running around with guns. I think this will be a good thing in the long run despite the short term panic. Everyone will get their food locally and thus supplier-consumer chain will be face to face and food will be more organic w/less or no hormones added. Of course the big loser will be Walmart and Corporate farms. Hopefully their death will bring life back to the local commerce.

Farmers, Ranchers, and landowners will be the new money post 2010.
How did the Kennedy family get their wealth? Grandpa Joe bootleged during prohibition. Not everyone is going down the drain from Peakoil.

[holmes]

Please do not include Y2K in the even the same sentence of Oil depletion and over population. In fact do not even mention Y2K on this website. Believe me overpopulation and resource depletion will not just go away when the ball drops. ok?

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lokutus', 'G')reat minds do think alike.

[PrairieMule]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lokutus', 'G')reat minds do think alike.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrairieMule', 'W')here in Montana are you? I have a uncle who is a track coach at the University in Bozeman.

[PrairieMule]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrairieMule', 'W')here in Montana are you? I have a uncle who is a track coach at the University in Bozeman.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrairieMule', 'C')attle Country!!!

[PrairieMule]

funny!

Here is a old Texas joke..

Have you heard what CBS is doing Survivor:Texas?

Requires 16 participants to attempt to drive from Lubbock to Austin with a bumper sticker that reads "I am a gay lobbyist here to take your bibles and guns away."

[Pops]

I’m not sure what that mule is pulling the bow from, but by the conversations between the two I’ve seen today, it is probably for smallgirl.


Oh, and as for the topic of this thread, if all the bad scenarios fail I still have scenario for which I’ve also prepared…

The one where nothing apocalyptic happens.

[Ludi]

I'm not really into the whole apocalypse thing, but I think I'll go for either "asteroid collision" or "Yellowstone explodes."

[Novus]

I am quite fond of the Teran Nova conspiracy. There is compeling evidence that the sun could go Super Nova in our lifetimes. Such evidence includes global warming on Mars and Comets. Many comets are melting at rates that would have them disipate in few hundred years yet they scientists beleive they are billions of years old. This interplanetary warming is being caused by the sun rapidly increasing energy output.

I use the word conspiracy because scientists know this and have covered it up with global warming. It is not global warming if it happening on mars too. It also puts peak oil into perspective. Who cares if we strip the earth bare and save nothing for the next generation if the sun is going to explode .

[bobcousins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'I')'m not really into the whole apocalypse thing, but I think I'll go for either "asteroid collision" or "Yellowstone explodes."

[Lokutus]

IOW, there's a veritable cornucopia of potential apocalypses looming.

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lokutus', 'S')uppose Peak Oil turns out to be a non-event. What do you switch to then to support your claims that the end is nigh?