[Geko45]

This site is a wonderful resource for information on peak oil as well as a friendly place to spend time, but I've noticed something about the PeakOil.com community that troubles me. No one here is an expert in all aspects of this issue. The disciplines needed to completely master this topic are simply too vast. Geology is of course the most obvious of these, but mathematics, economics, geopolitics and engineering are also needed to fully comprehend the implications of PO. That is what is great about this community; we all bring something different to the table. We all come from varying backgrounds and education levels, but we all contribute what we know and more and more the overall picture comes into focus.

What bothers me though is the tendency we have to compete with each other on who knows more. Many times I have seen people offer completely sufficient information (even though not totally complete) in response to someone's inquiry only to have some one else harass them for not giving the most detailed explanation possible. This is usually followed by a very long diatribe that puts on display the protestor’s vast knowledge of the subject. Is this really necessary? Are we so insecure as to need to make ourselves feel better by demonstrating that we know more than others? If we can't put aside petty competition here in order to gain a deeper understanding of the problems facing us then what does that say for the chances of the population as a whole once PO hits?

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Geko45', 'W')hat bothers me though is the tendency we have to compete with each other on who knows more.

[Geko45]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'S')urvival of the fittest?

[Aaron]

It does become irrelevant who knows more at some point.

Like Pop's says...

"Ya ain't gotta out-run the bear... ya just gotta out-run the other guy."

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Geko45', 'D')oesn't bode well for coopeartion in mitigating the coming effects does it? If we can't even control our primitive intincts here in friendly conversation, we'll be even less likely to cooperate with one another when our our lives are at stake.

[gego]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Geko45', '
')Doesn't bode well for coopeartion in mitigating the coming effects does it? If we can't even control our primitive intincts here in friendly conversation, we'll be even less likely to cooperate with one another when our our lives are at stake.

[JoeCoal]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'I')t does become irrelevant who knows more at some point.

[elocs]

I think it is a male thing. You know, you win points by proving somebody else wrong. Every conversation is a competition to be right. Then there is the testosterone rush of making somebody else small which according to the game, then makes you tall. There's extra points for humiliating your perceived opponent. This pretty much explains much of the state of the world as it now stands. Yes, it's about money, power, and being right. Of course, when you have the money and the power it is much easier to make others wrong and thereby make yourself right. Simple, actually.

[OilsNotWell]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hat bothers me though is the tendency we have to compete with each other on who knows more. Many times I have seen people offer completely sufficient information (even though not totally complete) in response to someone's inquiry only have to have some else harass them for not giving the most detailed explanation possible.

[Vexed]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')e: Why the one-upsmanship?

[SoothSayer]

>> I have seriously considered rewriting your original post just to show you how little you understand about the subject.

[Lighthouse]

I really value this community


but the subject makes me very cynical, I guess. Maybe thats the way cope with it??

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OilsNotWell', 'w')hich is a post wherein a poster posts before he or she is aware of enough facts on the matter in question before positing an opinion....

[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')s for the bantering that goes on at this site, I think most people do it more for fun than out of some personal psychological shortcoming. Maybe you are reading too much into the individuals doing the postings.

[pedalling_faster]

reminds me of high school, when the answer was 6.83, and somebody would say, "oh, no, it's not, it's 6.83245", as if the extra sig. digits meant anything in that calculation.

i get a kick out of the doomer one-ups-manship, which almost suggests a kind of board game. it starts out ...

"we'll be eating bugs"
"no, no worse than that, we'll be eating the pet geese at the park."
"it's worse than that, we'll be eating the pet."
...
"hmm ... now that uncle Fusarium is dead ... cremation is SO expensive ($32,000)"
"only if we use knives forks & spoons"
"we haven't washed our knives forks & spoons in 3 years !"

- - -

as far as the one-upsmanship, it is important to get our facts right.

[IslandCrow]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '
')Never let facts get in the way of a prompt contradictory response....

[bochen787]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Geko45', 'T')his site is a wonderful resource for information on peak oil as well as a friendly place to spend time, but I've noticed something about the PeakOil.com community that troubles me. No one here is an expert in all aspects of this issue. The disciplines needed to completely master this topic are simply too vast. Geology is of course the most obvious of these, but mathematics, economics, geopolitics and engineering are also needed to fully comprehend the implications of PO. That is what is great about this community; we all bring something different to the table. We all come from varying backgrounds and education levels, but we all contribute what we know and more and more the overall picture comes into focus.

What bothers me though is the tendency we have to compete with each other on who knows more. Many times I have seen people offer completely sufficient information (even though not totally complete) in response to someone's inquiry only have to have some else harass them for not giving the most detailed explanation possible. This is usually followed by a very long diatribe that put son display the protestor’s vast knowledge of the subject. Is this really necessary? Are we so insecure as to need to make ourselves feel better by demonstrating that we know more than others? If we can't put aside petty competition here in order to gain a deeper understanding of the problems facing us then what does that say for the chances for population as a whole once PO hits?

[Geko45]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gego', 'T')hat is the way it will be. Do you really think that when it comes to a "you or me" situation that everyone will be thinking of mitigating suffering. Have you ever been without food for even a week?

Your reference point is this Eden in which we now live. When the boat sinks and the lifeboats are in short supply, it is highly unlikely that people will be relating based on etiquette.

[Geko45]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bochen787', 'T')his is the AMERICAN way. Welcome to reality.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

While some of the interractions that go on here are more interesting than others. I find it even more interesting that a lot of what you see is actually what you would expect between siblings... yes, siblings.

Perhaps there is a common bond that promotes that kind of interaction. Not all good, some funny but most quite intelligent and certainly thoughtful.