[Jack]

What might that be? Perhaps a group of staid professors at a fine university involved in a food fight? Or a group of wall street executives letting fists fly in a dispute over a penny found in the street?

My friends, those are nothing. Mere pimples compared to great mountains.

Here on PeakOil.com, we discuss the end of cheap energy. Quite a number of us - not all, of course - believe that the peaking of oil will lead to a mass dieoff of humans. (See Overshoot by Catton, among others). By mass dieoff, we speak of billions over the course of decades - or, perhaps, of a shorter time.

And yet, we witness thread after impassioned thread lamenting the death of a few hundred humans in one conflict or another. I wonder how the world will react when millions die in a mass famine? And the next year is worse?

Quite amusing. The only thing lacking is popcorn.

[Specop_007]

We're sorry, but due to the food shortage popcorn is no longer available.
You'll have to settle for munching on grass and tree bark.

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'W')e're sorry, but due to the food shortage popcorn is no longer available.
You'll have to settle for munching on grass and tree bark.

[Andrew_S]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')ne death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he most amusing sight in all the world.

[Grifter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')nd yet, we witness thread after impassioned thread lamenting the death of a few hundred humans in one conflict or another. I wonder how the world will react when millions die in a mass famine? And the next year is worse?

Quite amusing. The only thing lacking is popcorn.

[PrairieMule]

"I regret that I have only one life to give to my country"-Nathan Hale

Well thanks to the Patriot Act II,I found a new way to serve my country when I am no longer here on Earth. It's very similar to donating a organ or kidney. Don't be part of the problem- the solution is within all of us. In fact if you get chipped today, you will recieve $100 in Olive Garden vouchers and this poly/cotton t-shirt.


Citizen, Have you done your part?

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', 'A')nd yet, we witness thread after impassioned thread lamenting the death of a few hundred humans in one conflict or another. I wonder how the world will react when millions die in a mass famine? And the next year is worse?

[Grimnir]

People really do lack proportion when it comes to death. We go ballistic when a few thousand are killed in an attack, yet don't bat at eye at things like the 40,000 who die every year in US car accidents alone. Want to spend billions making the country safer? You'll save a lot more lives going after drunk drivers than terrorists.

[duke3522]

It’s like the US Civil War. At the beginning of the war the public was shocked when a few hundred were killed in a battle. By the end of the war a battle that killed several thousand was a ‘Small Skirmish’.

The MSM makes such a big deal when a few dozen are killed. What are they going to say when the death count numbers in the millions?

[nwildmand]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', ' ')Quite a number of us - not all, of course - believe that the peaking of oil will lead to a mass dieoff of humans. (See Overshoot by Catton, among others). By mass dieoff, we speak of billions over the course of decades - or, perhaps, of a shorter time.

And yet, we witness thread after impassioned thread lamenting the death of a few hundred humans in one conflict or another. I wonder how the world will react when millions die in a mass famine? And the next year is worse?

Quite amusing. The only thing lacking is popcorn.

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '
')Just because it's inevitable doesn't mean that it's not tragic.

[highlander]

You mean like the former peace prize winner who stated she would like to kill W?

[strider3700]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nwildmand', '
')apathy and a cold heart may very well be a virtue in the coming years.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('duke3522', 'I')t’s like the US Civil War. At the beginning of the war the public was shocked when a few hundred were killed in a battle. By the end of the war a battle that killed several thousand was a ‘Small Skirmish’.

The MSM makes such a big deal when a few dozen are killed. What are they going to say when the death count numbers in the millions?

[MacG]

Amusing? Most amusing sight? I'm far beyond the puke-point.
I know the smell of rotting corpses. Not one bit amusing. Specially when you know that you dont have neither the means of cooking, nor salt and pepper around.

Take your "amusement" and stick it somewhere. I'm not one bit amused. I have kids to take care of, and I hate the thought of breeaking the news to them.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'U')proar with 18 were killed in Mogadishu, what's the tally in Iraq now? More than 2600?

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'U')proar with 18 were killed in Mogadishu, what's the tally in Iraq now? More than 2600?

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MacG', 'A')musing? Most amusing sight? I'm far beyond the puke-point.
I know the smell of rotting corpses. Not one bit amusing. Specially when you know that you dont have neither the means of cooking, nor salt and pepper around.

Take your "amusement" and stick it somewhere. I'm not one bit amused. I have kids to take care of, and I hate the thought of breeaking the news to them.

[SeasonOfPain]

I concur with the general idea that faced with an increased frequency and number of deaths, the normally sympathetic mind becomes desensitized to it.

However, I must point out the fact that there are many, many more threads on this board dedicated to observing and/or lamenting the impending die-off of civilization compared to the number of threads lamenting comparatively smaller numbers of casualties in other current events. Even those threads concerned with these "lesser" events tend to tie their way into the larger die-off idea.

The die-off of humanity, while likely, hasn't actually happened yet, while these smaller events are happening now. I also feel that "mourning-in-advance" over the death of civilization isn't quite the same as sympathizing with people who are actually dying or suffering right now.