[jupiters_release]

Perhaps not, sure its Christmas eve but less than 100 users online right now. I'd say even 0.01% of Americans understanding peak oil is optimistic.

[rabbit_hop]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')(see this story which made the front page on Friday - NB link might not work for long)"

... you're right, the story is now about Posh Spice's new improved boobs.

<sigh>

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jupiters_release', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')his site has 15,000 members and lets just randomly say another 15,000 lurkers and/or industry insiders.

[AirlinePilot]

Would it be posssible to get an enlarged look at that Geo-map overlay? Thats interesting to me.

Thanks

[Revi]

On the map it's interesting the number of Albertans who are Peak Oil aware! They come from the new oil patch, so I guess they are energy concious.

I would guess that a lot of people are beginning to realize that something is going on. I wouldn't call most of them peak oil aware, but they are getting a clue. The price signal is all they really hear. The idea that the spigot may dry up is really scary. Most people would choose to deny that reality even if they knew it.

They certainly aren't being told about it by the powers that be. Why would you tell them? On the Titanic there was no official announcement, because there weren't enough lifeboats. Why get everyone all worked up? Maybe that's what's happening now. Middle class people might have a chance. We have to tie as many deck chairs together as we can before the ship goes down. We didn't get a spot on the lifeboats. That means we must shrink our energy needs now, and get ourselves in an okay position for what seems inevitable now.

[Peakprepper]

Aaron

Those charts are very interesting, the "New" and "Returning" ratio will be one to watch.

Would it be possible to create a sticky, and have the numbers and charts posted once a month or even week, if it is not too much work?

I definitely feel that a change in the numbers of people viewing would offer another type of canary indicator.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AirlinePilot', 'W')ould it be posssible to get an enlarged look at that Geo-map overlay? Thats interesting to me.

Thanks

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nero', 'F')or example in a recent television program about possible future doomsday scenarios, peak oil was listed along with global warming and the rapture as just another doomsday scenario. No explanation of what it was was felt necessary.

[malcomatic_51]

I work in an energy company, but hardly anyone else has heard of PO - not even amongst the design engineers. There is one other engineer who is well aware of it, but he's generally into anything anti-American and conspiracy theory, so he's coming at it from that side. Even he still drives around in an SUV.

There are people who know about it and it shocks them enough to realise they are looking out into an ephemeral standard of living every morning. These people are very rare, because those who can think for themselves always are.

There are those who know about PO, but it does not worry them very much because it is not a sanctioned belief. There must be a term in the psychology of crowds for a state in which people are perfectly aware of a threat but it has not emotionally connected to their survival instincts, because the "Chief" has not yet made a gesture that they should be afraid. Several of my family are like this. Interestingly, my uncle is a (retired) distinguished oil geologist in Western Canada, and I now recall that for many years he has reminded us that all we enjoy is based on cheap oil. He never broached the topic of a peak. When I last spoke to him in the Spring I raised it with him, and it was pretty clear he's "one of us", a peak pessimist, but I could not engage him in any conversation on the topic. I think he is operating what George Orwell called "Crimestop", that is, the instinctive ability to prevent oneself from thoughts that are a threat to the status quo, or would lead to disturbing introspections.

My department manager at work also knows about PO, but again, it has not sunk in.

This second group of people are much commoner than the first, but still rare. I doubt they would amount to 0.1% of the population.

As for the remainder, they are the mindless herd who are flung about in the storms of life as they haven't the insight to step around trouble. Many of them are perfectly intelligent people and ought to be able to work it out for themselves. But their minds are engaged in figuring a loan for the next Merc/Porsche/Range Rover, wangling a promotion at work and getting a place in the country. That is probably the real problem, our society is so self-absorbing and captivating to those who choose to compete in it that the natural world around our human play-pen just does not register.

Until that natural world intrudes in a major way into the play-pen.

[LGW]

I'd say, for my home country, Sweden, the rough numbers are:

Mentally lucid about that the oil reserves are limited, that we are dependant on oil for a lot of things and that serious problems might be imminent, 10%.

Aware of the above and having fully mentally absorbed its potential "grim reaper" consequences: Less than 0,01%.

[Barbara]

In Italy they know nothing. They just complain (and worry) about gas prices. When you mention PO, they just say "Well, they should lower gas taxes then!!!"

Last week I spoke with an american boy, 14 yo. He's very well educated, very much into environmental topics, endlessy warning people about climate.
I spoke to him about PO: he was shocked. Knew nothing. At the end he said: "I'm young. My future is screwed."

[seldom_seen]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('malcomatic_51', 'T')here is one other engineer who is well aware of it, but he's generally into anything anti-American and conspiracy theory

[Revi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('malcomatic_51', '
')There are people who know about it and it shocks them enough to realise they are looking out into an ephemeral standard of living every morning. These people are very rare, because those who can think for themselves always are.

There are those who know about PO, but it does not worry them very much because it is not a sanctioned belief. There must be a term in the psychology of crowds for a state in which people are perfectly aware of a threat but it has not emotionally connected to their survival instincts, because the "Chief" has not yet made a gesture that they should be afraid.
.

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', ' ') No "Chief" has really recognized the problem of peak oil, or admitted it to the populace. Al Gore has warned the Democrats here in the US that there is a big problem with global warming, but nobody in an influential position has told anybody about peak oil.

[thuja]

Who's Roscoe Bartlett?????

Just kidding. I know who he is and what he's all about. Who else in America does? The Peak OIl cognascenti. That's it.

[AirlinePilot]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('malcomatic_51', ' ')As for the remainder, they are the mindless herd who are flung about in the storms of life as they haven't the insight to step around trouble. Many of them are perfectly intelligent people and ought to be able to work it out for themselves. But their minds are engaged in figuring a loan for the next Merc/Porsche/Range Rover, wangling a promotion at work and getting a place in the country. That is probably the real problem, our society is so self-absorbing and captivating to those who choose to compete in it that the natural world around our human play-pen just does not register.

Until that natural world intrudes in a major way into the play-pen.

[TreebeardsUncle]

See Ice Age II where the vulture says "He's right you know. Look around you. You are living in a bowl. This whole place is melting. ... Once it reaches the hot springs ... "

Ok. I would appreciate a poll on the magnitude of the likely scenario we are facing somewhere on a continuum from "This is no big deal." to "IT"S THE SECOND COMING! We are all going to die!"

1 a non-event, just a blip
2 The 70's are back, but without the bell bottoms and disco etc.
3 The return of the 70's will be followed by a return to the 30's and with the dust bowl due to global warming.
4 It will be like the fall of the Roman Empire. The United States federal government will become irrelevant and then non-existent. There will be a general return ro regional and local economies. People won't just be allowed to ride on horse-back, but it will be the best way to get around on land other than by elephant, donkey, mule, camel depending on your location and culture.
Hordes of displaced Mexicans and Asians will roam the land displacing white folk and/or vice/versa.
5 It's armagedon. What religion should we join and what lord should we make manifest in our hearts to prepare for the rapture?
Will there be Cool Aid?

Geoff

[JasonHam]

Your average Joe in america has never thought about gas/gas prices until well into adulthood. They dont know the petroleum is used for just about everthing not just gas. They dont understand that western civilization has been built, funded and sustained by.....oil. The problem is its so overwhelming to even think about. And the arguments are so subjective to whoever your reading or talking too. One person/entity.government says, "Okay, it may become an issue in 2050 we need to start addsresssing peak oil". Okay , what does the mean for average Joe American? nothing. He has to get up in the morning and make it to work on time.

Another view is the peak oil is here and the world is coming to and end. Okay, theres really nothing I can do about that.....I can stockpile resources and plan for such a disaster. The same as if bird flu, global warming, terrorist attack, or a dollar collapse occurred.

And then there is everything in between. What exactly can avergi joe american do about it? Trade in are SUVS? Turn out the lights, eat more lettuce. prepare. stockpile. plan. other than that , what else would you like people to do?

[hubbertspeak7777777]

JUDGING FROM ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO, I'D SAY LESS THAN 1% ACKNOWLEDGE IT. MOST JUST KEEP TELLING THEMSELVES, "WE'LL FIND A NEW ENERGY SOURCE."

I'M KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PEAK, I HOPE IT HAPPENS NO LATER THAN 35 YEARS FROM NOW. IT'LL BE WORTH IT JUST TO SEE THE LOOKS ON THE FACES OF ALL THE ARROGANT YUPPIE BASTARDS. OR HOPEFULLY A GIGANTIC METEOR WILL COME AND CRASH INTO US... THAT WOULD BE EVEN COOLER. THE ONLY THING THAT SCARES ME IS THE SUPER VOLCANO AT YELLOWSTONE PARK WHICH IS DUE TO GO OFF ANY DAY NOW. PEAK OIL ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL BE FUN AND WHEN IT STOPS BEING FUN, I WILL JUMP OFF A SKYSCRAPER WHILE DRUNK.

[pea-jay]

I think the understanding that something is amiss with oil and other energy sources is beginning to seep into common conciousness and a decent percentage would agree with the statement "oil will run out eventually." But delve into the details and you'll quickly find few people have the capacity to understand the entire concept and fewer still grasp the true implications.

There is also a geographical component. I'd say here in northern California and western oregon where I used to live a larger than national average number of people had heard about peak oil, namely due to the actions of local activists.