[TheTurtle]

I am more doomerish.

That being said, I am also much more serene about the whole thing.

[mmasters]

Pretty much the more and more aware I become of the whole thing the more bummed I feel. I only learned about all of this 6-8 months ago and have been pretty obsessed with it since. I get bouts of depression from time to time, other times I forget about it for a while and go back to happy go lucky land. The biggest headache thus far has been trying to convince others close to me of PO. I have succeeded in getting my mom to understand, but that's about it. My coworker buddies realize it somewhat but are in denial mostly. Lately they are distancing themselves from me and writing off most of what I say as silly "conspiracy theories" and "doom and gloom". My best friend responds similarly as the coworkers as well as my dad (though I was able to convince him to invest significantly in gold stock).

I agree with some others it will be interesting to watch TSHTF and see how it all plays out, somewhat enjoyable even. Can't ask for a more interesting soap opera. I will feel the least doomerish if things remain somewhat intact and functioning for the next few years. This way I can carry out my relocation plan. PO definitely plays into everyone's survival mechanisms. Once I get myself into a more sustainable model I'm sure my outlook will improve a bit. I would like to have kids someday but I know it's not even worth considering until I get into a sustainable model. Even then it might not be worth considering.

[oowolf]

"Where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise. " said Tom Gray. Anybody here wish they were still clueless, dumbdowned zombies?

[rwwff]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oowolf', '"')Where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise. " said Tom Gray. Anybody here wish they were still clueless, dumbdowned zombies?

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mmasters', '.')..The biggest headache thus far has been trying to convince others close to me of PO...

[BigTex]

Hope is not inappropriate in the direst of situations. My father was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer two years ago and died last year after a brave battle. Being hopeful in that situation reduced the horror of it a lot. I think the same it true of the impending doom that PO represents. Crippling fear is certainly not going to accomplish anything. It is just a matter of facing today and facing tomorrow with the knowledge that a lot uglier things may be around the corner than most people imagine. You think about it, you prepare for it, you look for and hope to find the emotions on the other side of fear and despair and you realize that knowing about PO is really not a lot different than knowing you are going to die--you aren't happy about it, you don't know when it will happen, you hope it is a long way in the future, but the fact is you will die, PO will arrive, disorder will chip away at all human plans and designs. Decay will overtake us all.

But back to today, we've all got a lot of good to focus on, including the awareness of this future problem, which, while unsettling, is going to be less disastrous for some who have spent time thinking about it in AN UNEMOTIONAL MANNER and making common sense plans for it.

[doomed]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')O is really not a lot different than knowing you are going to die

[NEOPO]

I think generally the answer is yes but depending on the level of a persons denial there may be cases were people go into complete and utter defcon 5 denial and at that point nothing will pull them back but themselves.

Certain members of my family have stated "I believe this is real but my mind wont allow me to do anything about it as that would be some sort of final confirmation" meaning.... ignorance is bliss even if only slight ignorance is attainable to provide at least some bliss.

So yes and no - people are all different.

[BigTex]

I think that for many people at some point "doom fatigue" sets in and then the most awful compelling important issue, like PO, becomes just one more thing tugging at their strained attention spans.

[Chaparral]

To answer the original question in the post: Yes.

For me there is still a high level of uncertainty. I ascribe probabilities to the various scenarios of soft/hard/Olduvai landings. I can and do allocate my resources accordingly. Running around paralyzed with fear/denial is not my style.

Those who deny or who don't want to know suit me just fine. Less competition for gold, silver, real estate. Maybe they will happily buy my remaining properties in Los Angeles before things start to really go south. Maybe they'll even want to make me a good cash offer on some fine automobiles.

OTOH, given the uncertainty, I may keep some of those as a hedge against the doomer scenario while simultaneously putting in forward deployment of resources in a far mist shrouded place.

Some I talk to don't even think we will have a recession and are still happily buying 5 series Bimmers and giant Lexus SUVs or are thinking of refinancing to get that Ferrari F-430. I cannot help these kinds of people. I don't lose sleep over their situation either.

As far as emotional reaction, I'm too much of a poker player to get emotional about things. It's all just a hugely entertaining unfolding of history and I actually get to be in it instead of just reading about it. It gives my SNJT or whatever personality type something to play with. Kinda like a real life Rubik's Cube crazyglued to your fingers with a small nuclear charge in it that will detonate if you don't solve it within a specified time limit.

[matt21811]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Kinda like a real life Rubik's Cube crazyglued to your fingers with a small nuclear charge in it that will detonate if you don't solve it within a specified time limit.

[Chaparral]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('matt21811', 'T')he smallest posible nuclear charge requires 10kg of Plutonium and a neutron reflective sphere, which won't fit in a real life Rubiks Cube.

[rwwff]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chaparral', 'W')here instead of a fast merciful dieoff we gorge upon what's left of our future by putting the coal into the atmosphere, turning the last of the topsoil into E85 and scavenging the last of the semi-intact ecosystems of the world for oil palm plantations and biomass fuel? We convert the planet into an 8000 mile diameter version of Easter Island?

[elocs]

The more I have learned, the less doomerish I have become. At first, my needle did swing over to that direction, but then came back down. Maybe it is doomer fatigue. I just found it difficult to maintain that heightened sense of alarm for something that could come next year, in 5 years, 10 years, or who knows how long. Maybe things would be different if I were younger but I am on the edge of 54 and have come to terms with my own mortality, knowing that, yes, I will die. I have now tried to find a balance between preparing within reason the best that I can while still managing to enjoy the good life while it is still readily available. Whatever I do will probably never be enough, but I have learned to live with and to accept that probable eventuality. I'll probably be better off than some, but not as good as others.

[KathyMcMahon]

Your perspective can motivate or cripple you. Yes, I think it is a shock to realize that none of us get out of this life alive. We can focus on our impending death, and get really bummed out. The awareness can also activate us to do something meaningful with our lives NOW.

It's a job to sort out how much of a person's reactions to PO are unique to them, and how much are normal, expected reactions to finding out that the SHTF in this generation, if not the next. Right now, most people I know are feeling the pain of higher prices of everything in the USA, and that alone can leave you feeling gloomy.

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KathyMcMahon', 't')he SHTF in this generation, if not the next.

[Roy]

I had a bout of depression and extreme doomerism initially.

The hardest part to accept was that just about everything I believed, everything I'd spent my 20 year career working for, were either outright lies or something. Retirement account? HAHA.

Anyway, since that time about 2.5 years ago, I've made some pretty big changes in my life, career, location, and outlook for the future.

I've used the feelings of doom as a motivator. At first I was trying to spread the gospel, if you will. I can chalk that activity up as a waste of energy. Defcon Denial level 5 is everywhere!!! (thanks neopo)

So, now that energy is used to prepare, to build a lifeboat, and perhap s build something that my children will use to help themselves and my (hopefully I live that long) grandkids to survive.

I have little hope for the "American way of life" as it is. And for that reason, most of my old friends have abandoned me as a nutjob. They lack the education, curiousity, vision, or whatever it is that leads those of us here to our conlucsions and drives us to learn more.

So, while still watching the news with some excitement/trepidation (like Slim Pickens riding the Hbomb down in Dr. Strangelove), I am now working on my "lifeboat". Building raised beds, planting fruit trees, berry bushes, and working on a small forest garden. Honing the shooting skills, learning about livestock, building a chicken house, etc etc etc.

It is those actions which have lifted me out of a state of despair and given me more hope for the future. I have a long way to go, but I'm much furhter down that road than I was in May 04.

Given the reaction of my personal acquaintances, family, and friends, I really do appreciate this site and everyone who posts here. Its nice to know one is not completely alone. I've yet to meet a person, in person, that shares my interest in peak oil or anything related to the unsustainability of our current culture. That in itself is depressing.

Again, thanks to everyone here! Whether I agree with you or not I do value this site and everyone's contribution.

Now I have to go dig that potato row for my fall spuds.

[KhanCEO]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Hermes', 'B')y the way, as an additional comment: Despite becoming more doomerish I believe I've also gotten over the 'hump' and am looking forward very much to seeing the other side of this exciting time ahead.

So to be clear I believe that our current society is VERY PROFOUNDLY doomed, and that it's a great thing! Furthermore there is a very high chance that I and my family will die, and may die in a not-so-nice way. However I'm at the point that I'm looking forward to the challenge and the prospect of a new, exciting way of life for those that do survive which will be more regenerative to the Earth and humanity.

So... doomerish yet happy. Doomerish about our current way of life/immediate prospects, happy about the likely eventual long-term outcome.

[rwwff]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KhanCEO', 'I') dont understand anyone that is looking forward to this new lifestyle of hard to get energy. As of right now I'm not only trying to figure how to live after this mess but to attempt to NEVER garden or digging ditches.

[WildRose]

I remember that my first reactions to learning about PO were shock, fear and then depression, but not for too long. I did have a voracious appetite for learning everything I could, and the people closest to me thought I was a little wacko. I'm not as fearful as I was at first; I think it's because I know what I can do as an individual (just for my own family) and am taking steps to lessen the impact for us. However, the effect that an economic crash would have on the community around me and throughout my country, also the complications of various nations as they scramble for resources - now that's a little scarier.

I'm prepared to do with less, to walk a lot more, to use public transit, to help other people make changes - I'm just afraid of what would happen if a lot of people didn't have what they need to survive. That's something that gets me feeling more doomerish. I don't dwell on dying; we all have to die, so I put as much energy as I can into enjoying living.

Two things that worry me the most - the physical state of our planet, especially because we're likely to dig up and burn everything possible to keep things going as they are; and the second thing is the amount of hatred we see acted upon by religious extremists of various religions. I don't think we've seen the worst of this yet.

All of that said, I still try to find things to look forward to and realize that even though many reasons exist to make one a doomer, no one knows everything. We may think we know what the results of each of the world's converging problems will be, but I think there's the possibility of a few unknowns that could change the course, maybe for the worse but maybe for the better.