[pimptaddy]

I view peak Oil as a manifestation of Human Nature. We have always been programmed to reproduce as much as possible and to gain as much territory. Get more attractive mates and more wealth and power. The eternal drive for status and power over others.

The point is this: Most animals have built in checks and balances. A rooster of peacocks tails can only be so large. If they get too large the overall preference they gain by members of the opposite sex are nullified. They would not be able to escape predators as easily and die off. Other animals have similar checks that relate sexual characteristics. Humans have no such checks with regard to money. There can never be enough money and money is a very good thing to have with regard to attracting a mate. More money does not inhibit ones fitness or ability to reproduce like oversized tails, or seals that are too large to be able to go onto land and mate.

Peak oil is manageable, if we just consume less oil and devote more resources to new ways to live. Of course that would entail a huge government edict. Which brings me to the conclusion. Humans will never stop competing for resources, no matter what they may be. Like the idiot that wastes gas in his huge SUV, or the woman that wants a huge home to show to others as a status symbol, it goes on forever. Maybe the earth is telling humans that we are too numerous and too competitive,and destroying the planet. This competitiveness has made us successful, and also built our civilization on sand. These idiots that believe buying a huge home and two SUV's are myopic and only see the small near term picture. They sacrifice the long term success of the species, so that they may gain a small foothold in the present.

[NEOPO]

amen!

[rwwff]

Back to the old question for peak oil it seems.

Question: Are humans smarter than yeast.
Answer: nope.

Move along, nothing to see.

[Etalon]

These checks and balances in other animals are not built in, peacocks, just like us, would love to show off their feathers/cars, but other checks and balances (predators, as you mention) stop this.

Humans also had these checks and balances, not because we wanted them, but because just like the peacocks, we had no choice.

Then, unlike the peacocks, we found a way around them (oil) for a short while at least.

It isnt that humans are stupider than peacocks and yeast, its that we appear to be doing the classic "consume a resource, overshoot and crash" which all animals do to some degree, in spectacular fashion.

[TheDude]

I've always pinned my hopes on humanity colonizing space, since we've so thoroughly fucked up Earth, and in such a short time. We'll fuck up space anyway of course, who cares! There's no end to the elbow room out there. Some of the people here (Montequest etc.) seem to think small enclosed biospheres are about as likely as cold fusion though, so perhaps that's out. There's always AI, which is also filed under: Not going to happen. But perhaps it can be done. Robots are cozy with vacuum, radiation. So long as something with a "brain" is still around, pondering issues, listening to Motorhead, etc.
Humans per se aren't cut out for any long haul I think.

[Daculling]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'W')e'll fuck up space anyway of course, who cares! There's no end to the elbow room out there.

[TheDude]

Persis Khambatta, grrrr!
She even had hair in Warrior of the Lost World. Great, now I'm looking up Wikipedia articles on MST3k movies...