College student concerns

by **Blackmane** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 01:16:29

Hi, I am new to these forums and I can now catagorize myself as someone looking into the implications of Peak Oil. I am 19 years old (fairly young, I'm sure) and just started going to college at a CSU. I am worried about economic hardship hitting while I am in school and not being prepared for it.

The problem is is that I don't know what I should be doing to prepare myself. Unlike many on this forum, I don't have any money to put into supplies, guns, or anything like that even though I wish I could. Perhaps as I start making a little money I can put it away into something worthwhile.I plan on trying to tell my parents about this, but even if I do convince them, I don't believe they would be willing to go through some of the changes necessary soon enough.

I was hoping I could get some advice on what exactly I should be trying to do in my situation. Any help anyone could give me would be absolutely great. I do have money set aside for school in a bank account, but is there any safer place to keep it, what with possible depreciation of the dollar?

Thanks

by **NevadaGhosts** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 01:43:03

Hi. Welcome to the board. In all probability, peak oil will be hitting hard or it will have already hit hard by the time you graduate. You will need to make some difficult decisions, and soon. If you are totally convinced that peak oil will hit by 2010, and an economic collapse is coming soon, then I personally would not go to college. A degree is just a worthless piece of paper if society crashes. I honestly believe the time to prepare for a crash is right now. And if college is preventing you from preparing because of money, then you need to make some difficult decisions. Get a lower paying job right now (any connections?) and start to stockpile survival stuff. Or go to college, go into heavy debt, and hope for the best. I really can't see a bright future for any college graduate 3 or 4 years from now. This is just my opinion. Survival courses, survival books, emergency supplies, guns and ammunition will take you much farther in a post-peak crash than a college degree will. Again, don't wait until you have to see the crash with your own eyes to decide what to do about college. By then it will be too late to prepare.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 01:57:19

Let me say one more thing... the only reason you might go to college (regardless of peak oil and a society crash), would be if you are planning on being a doctor. I have a feeling doctors will be in high demand after a society crash. But there are no guarantees that you would make it out of medical school before a collapse. Also, doctors (and hospitals in general)probably won't be the modern 'ideal' conditions that they are today. And remember all that college debt. If you graduate, and can't find a job due to a depression, how will you survive?

But any way you look at it, dark times are coming soon. There really isn't much argument there. Peak oil and a society crash will come. It's jsut a matter of time. Most of the pertoleum experts are predicting peak oil to hit anywhere between 2004 to 2010. We may already be at peak oil and it just hasn't caught up to us yet. It's really difficult to know for sure. But I will say this again: The time to prepare for a crash is right now, while food, supplies, and goods are still cheap and available. You have the advantage of knowing about peak oil early. Most people are not aware of the coming crisis. I would take advantage of that early knowledge and prepare... now.

by **pepper2000** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 02:53:26

I am in graduate school right now and am in a fairly lucky position. I can continue to pursue my doctoral degree, and if things get hairy soon, I can bail out with a master's degree in less than two years. Meanwhile, I don't have to camp in a bunker and wait for the biggest non-event since Planet X didn't pass.

My opinion is that we will see rough economic times but society will continue to function as it did during the Great Depression. I don't think many people are able to prepare for a societal collapse anyway, so I doubt that's the best way to spend your resources. But it would be wise to make prudent preparations for an extended loss of utilities or high unemployment, rather than civil war.

The world will need intelligent, educated people to help build a new and better society. I intend to be among them.

by **gonin02** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 02:54:52

Having money to buy goods doesn't necessarily mean you will be ready for a post PO scenario. All the toys in the world will be useless if you don't have the knowledge and reasoning skills on how to cope in a PO world.

Yes, some laugh at a college degree, but I think there is still some value to be found in the halls of institutionalized education. One thing, you get to meet other people who may share similar interests. Also, take a broad range of subjects, from science to history... the whole peak oil concept is based on a mix of science, economics, common sense..etc..

If you want to do more suvivialist stuff, there are plenty of books you can start reading, and resources on the internet. The essence of it all is surviving with minimal means, so that shouldn't require alot of dough...for now..

"Chance favours the prepared mind"...you have to keep your options open. Stay in college, make the best of things, try to keep a balance on everything... PO is a tough pill to swallow, but if one things certain, its that there will be events/trends in the future that none of us will be able to foresee...

Take a few days...let the ideas sink in..

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Blackmane', 'H')i, I am new to these forums and I can now catagorize myself as someone looking into the implications of Peak Oil. I am 19 years old (fairly young, I'm sure) and just started going to college at a CSU. I am worried about economic hardship hitting while I am in school and not being prepared for it.

The problem is is that I don't know what I should be doing to prepare myself. Unlike many on this forum, I don't have any money to put into supplies, guns, or anything like that even though I wish I could. Perhaps as I start making a little money I can put it away into something worthwhile.I plan on trying to tell my parents about this, but even if I do convince them, I don't believe they would be willing to go through some of the changes necessary soon enough.

I was hoping I could get some advice on what exactly I should be trying to do in my situation. Any help anyone could give me would be absolutely great. I do have money set aside for school in a bank account, but is there any safer place to keep it, what with possible depreciation of the dollar?

Thanks

by **Aaron** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 07:47:00

Please major in a physical science.

If we can make the scientific advances needed to replace oil & gas for energy, we might yet alleviate the worst consequences of post peak.

But that requires that we reach an intellectual "critical mass" so to speak, and that means encouraging the young to pursue technology.

There is a drought of young talent in many physical sciences, in particular energy science.

We may well fail this attempt... but we should at least try. We owe at least that much to the memory of sacrifice which is our human legacy.

"What a mind job... So you're here to save the world."

by **Pops** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 13:45:39

Prepare for anything to happen; even if what happens is nothing.

Since oil is finite, peak production is inevitable, but the timeframe is in question, so by all means continue your education.

But let me make one suggestion, no matter how esoteric a field your studies take you; learn to do things with your hands. Develop hobbies that produce things instead of use them up or only provide a cheap thrill: gardening or woodworking instead of jet skis or dirt bikes.

by **Kingcoal** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 15:39:06

By all means stay in school! The world will need leaders more than ever and won't find them as a gun toting, uneducated person holed up in a cabin in the mountains. We are going to need engineers and scientists to improve energy efficiencies everywhere.

Wall street will probably bid up companies that do quantum level energy research like http://www.blacklightpower.com, however I think the search for a magic solution will be in vain. The government will probably dump billions into hydrogen power, again in vain.

Photovoltaic cells, though much maligned on this board have a lot of promise because the efficiency has a lot of room for improvement. Solar powered furnaces have promise as a heat source to produce manufactured fuels such as biodiesel. Geothermal heat pumps have a lot of promise also for home heating/cooling.

The sky is the limit and if the US made all the logical, practical decisions, we'll pull through. However, what we worry about on this board is that governments and their citizens will probably make a lot of stupid and vain decisions.

by **Blackmane** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 16:24:08

Thanks for the advice everyone. Yea, I had planned on staying in school for as long as possible. Hopefully things don't go too awry soon.

Right now I am majoring in engineering which I figure will give me important scientific knowledge as well as some info in construction and such.

The hobbies idea is great. I have never taken up hunting but I have always had an interest and now is better than never, right? It's time to put a rifle on the christmas list. Luckily, I'm not too unfamiliar with guns thanks to paintballing. Hehe. I'm also looking into farming classes being held at my college. I haven't seen anything yet, but I'm sure I'm either missing it, or there is at least a club for some farming. The area around my college is really rural so I'm sure there is something.

by **jpatti** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 16:35:14

The best years of my life were those I spent in college and grad school. I was dirt poor, a single mother and on welfare... but they were still the best years of my life. There is nothing like it. Assuming the world end entirely in 5 years, do you want to spend 4 years in college and one working a job you love or 5 years working in McDonalds?

It is a cliche, but I learned to learn in college. I majored in chemistry and did my grad work in biochem. A couple years later, I learned programming on my own and haven't been a chemist since. But I learned how to think like a programmer and how to learn stuff on my own while studying chemistry. It changed the way I think.

I hardly ever use chemistry, but I'd not trade those years in college for all the beans, wheat and ammo in the world.

College is where I learned the planning and research skills that will keep me alive through a rough transition to a post-industrial world.

Go to college.

by **jesus_of_suburbia_old** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 17:02:54

See, I told you to wait for someone else's opinion. They were almost unanimous. Stay in school. Just don't be an English major, like me. Unless, of course, you can eloquently put your suffering into words.

Now, back under the bridge I go.

by **Sencha** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 17:31:07

I feel obligated to throw in my two cents on this issue, since I too am a college student, and I think I can perfectly relate to what Blackmane is saying. I hope I can help by offering my own point of view and experience on this.

My personal situation is such that, I simply cannot abandon my college education both for principle and practical reasons. Besides, there is no way I could get through to my parents about Peak Oil. But, there IS a reason to keep going to college, similar to what the other posters have said.

Educated people really might make a difference in the future. I am an engineer too (although in this day and age, that term is thrown around rather loosely, doesn't have the prestige I thought it would, but anyway...) I am a Mass Communication major, and I find it really damn difficult that they'll be any use for me, unless the printing presses keep running or everyone starts chiseling on stone tablets.

However, two things I would point out, is that the ability to simply learn will be a highly coveted skill. As it was said before, college is a good place to do that. Secondly, we learn a wide range of subjects while in college that could contribute in any number of ways after it happens.

Right now, I'm stuck will all these classes I have to take, that have zero to do with my major. It is a real pain in the ass, but if anything good comes out of peak oil, I have a suspicion that those classes would have been worth it. So, please for my own morale and yours, stay in college. Because considering all I've said, it is still really difficult to keep going.

If I know other college students are out there, perservering than I'll keep learning as well.

by **small_steps** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 19:10:25

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Blackmane', 'T')hanks for the advice everyone. Yea, I had planned on staying in school for as long as possible. Hopefully things don't go too awry soon.

Right now I am majoring in engineering which I figure will give me important scientific knowledge as well as some info in construction and such.

The hobbies idea is great. I have never taken up hunting but I have always had an interest and now is better than never, right? It's time to put a rifle on the christmas list. Luckily, I'm not too unfamiliar with guns thanks to paintballing. Hehe. I'm also looking into farming classes being held at my college. I haven't seen anything yet, but I'm sure I'm either missing it, or there is at least a club for some farming. The area around my college is really rural so I'm sure there is something.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 22:43:53

Hmmm. It's usually been my observation (from most of the highly educated people I have met and known) that the more educated a person is, the farther out of touch with reality that person is. Highly educated people are some of the dumbest people I have ever met (dumb as rocks) in my life. Not always, but usually. But I have met some that were extremely wise and intelligent (usually few and far between). I guess this shows that any idiot with a piece of paper is still an idiot. I am not knocking a college education at all. I am also not calling anyone here with a degree an idiot. But is it really wise to go into massive debt if that person truly believes we are on the verge of a society crash? If that person is not really convinced a crash is coming soon, then they should go to college. Absolutely. But if it's a choice between starting college or preparing for a society crash, I would have to say prepare now. This is to say that they cannot afford both at the same time.

by **Schneider** » Tue 26 Oct 2004, 23:58:44

Think the same than Nevada : watch your dept !!!

I was in the IT earlier (2 years),got a simili-college course and cost me a lot

..

Now,where i am : aware of peak oil since 6-7 months and more than 16k$ CA of dept..without this dept,i could purchase a land close of the one of my mother (i'm 25 by the way,want to be close from my familly) !!!

This is the worst mistake i ever done and could cost my own life !

Can barrely pay my dept,so preparing for the Peak Oil is almost impossible :cry:

! The only things i can buy for now are books..

Here is my list (dunno,could help you a bit?) :

Permaculture : A Designers' Manual
By Bill Mollison
(THE permaculture -permanent agriculture- Bible)

Small Scale Aquaculture
By Steven D. Van Gorber
(Hard to find !!!)

The Hand Sculpted House
By Ianto Evans,Michael G.Smith,and Linda Smiley
(How to build house from scratch with Cob)

The $50 & Up Underground House Book
By Mike Oehler
(underground house for cheap)

To be delivered :

Windpower Workshop
By Hugh Piggott
(how to construct windmill from scratch for cheap)

Wanting :

How to Grow More Vegetables
By John Jeavons

Books right now are very "cheap" right now,and the delevery system cost almost nothing (but will change really soon,you know why if you're here)!

It's a beginning i guess,and i plan to buy a survival kit and MRE food sooner than later..i hope my military background will help a bit (woah..,3 years in reserve,big deal :roll:

) ..

I also plan to begin to increase my cash flow in 6-8 months,i'll do whatever will have to be done by any means !! Don't worry folks,i don't think i'll be the first "peaknik" to try to broke a bank,lol

..

I STRONGLY hope we will not face a economic mealtdown in the next 12 months and losing my job (even if it's not a big one,eh)

!

Like a lot here, i need time !!
Please my god,help me to save my ass myself

!

I hope you will have what it make to save your's...

Schneider :wink:

by **wzx** » Wed 27 Oct 2004, 00:35:28

major in something that might be useful, the sciences, engineering, nursing.
drop out of college if you are majoring in not too useful courses like English lit, history, social sciences, econs. besides there is an oversupply of people majoring in such subjects in your country.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Wed 27 Oct 2004, 00:47:53

Schneider wrote:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hink the same than Nevada : watch your dept !!!

by **jesus_of_suburbia_old** » Wed 27 Oct 2004, 01:04:58

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NevadaGhosts', 'H')mmm. It's usually been my observation (from most of the highly educated people I have met and known) that the more educated a person is, the farther out of touch with reality that person is. Highly educated people are some of the dumbest people I have ever met (dumb as rocks) in my life. Not always, but usually. But I have met some that were extremely wise and intelligent (usually few and far between). I guess this shows that any idiot with a piece of paper is still an idiot. I am not knocking a college education at all. I am also not calling anyone here with a degree an idiot. But is it really wise to go into massive debt if that person truly believes we are on the verge of a society crash? If that person is not really convinced a crash is coming soon, then they should go to college. Absolutely. But if it's a choice between starting college or preparing for a society crash, I would have to say prepare now. This is to say that they cannot afford both at the same time.

by **Blackmane** » Wed 27 Oct 2004, 01:17:17

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('small_steps', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Blackmane', 'T')hanks for the advice everyone. Yea, I had planned on staying in school for as long as possible. Hopefully things don't go too awry soon.

Right now I am majoring in engineering which I figure will give me important scientific knowledge as well as some info in construction and such.

The hobbies idea is great. I have never taken up hunting but I have always had an interest and now is better than never, right? It's time to put a rifle on the christmas list. Luckily, I'm not too unfamiliar with guns thanks to paintballing. Hehe. I'm also looking into farming classes being held at my college. I haven't seen anything yet, but I'm sure I'm either missing it, or there is at least a club for some farming. The area around my college is really rural so I'm sure there is something.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Wed 27 Oct 2004, 01:25:57

jrob8503 wrote:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')lackmane, hopefully you have connections to get that low paying job. It's the low paying jobs you need connections for, because they just give out those high paying ones at will. I was offered $50.00 an hour job, but luckily for my connections, I am working for $8 an hour at Walgreens. That's the reality.

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