[Pops]

Thanks Roy, you may be a cynic but you are a kind one. :>)

I too have been inspired and tutored by many here, not only those who are taking similar paths to ours but also the many others who are taking different actions.

The world is not a homogenous place and people aren't the same either – appropriate technology to urban gardens to suburban villages to small towns to intentional communities to pre-emptive primitivism all will play a role in the transition to come.

I agree with Roy's point that out walking the walk will prove to be much more important than merely talking the talk.

[Iaato]

I want to go back to something UFC said that presents the paradox of major change.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('UFCjunkie', 'O')il is power! To make a difference we have to change the way we are living and that means cuting down our use of oil. That will lead to disarming and become more vulnerable. This will only make other contrys take advantage of the situation and take control of the remaining oil and with that have more power.

I believe that this has to go all the way, no one will let go until its over, at least thats what I think. So the only thing we can do to make things better is getting in our cars and drive, drive, drive and drive. Or do you have an plane, fly! Anything to get rid of the oil as fast as possible. I believe as long there is oil this will continue, the people who runs the world have been PO aware for decades and the aint going to change there minds now.

[eXpat]

I think this article sums up the current shepple consensus about changing habits, link here
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') local Board of Architectural Review refused to issue the Saracheks a permit for the solar apparatus, having received a letter from at least 15 neighbors -- among them doctors, lawyers and other presumably well-educated people -- arguing that the panels "would clearly be an eyesore in our lovely Quaker Ridge neighborhood."

[Benzin]

Someone once told me "Don't argue with a brick wall. In the end they're still a brick wall."

Might as well have some fun and burn some oil 'cause there's nothing stopping this train until its grinds to a halt.

[joewp]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('keehah', '
')I've thought of that two and attempted an explaination from congnivtive dissonance. (linked articles and my attempts: http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=120343)

[Revi]

I have been in the depths of despair about people and the fact that nobody wants to hear anything I have to say about peak oil or anything else for that matter. They prefer to ridicule me and my puny efforts. I feel it's better to do something than sit around and wait for the end of the world. They laughed at Noah. The flood is coming. I can hear the roar now.

[JPL]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', 'I') have been in the depths of despair about people and the fact that nobody wants to hear anything I have to say about peak oil or anything else for that matter. They prefer to ridicule me and my puny efforts. I feel it's better to do something than sit around and wait for the end of the world. They laughed at Noah. The flood is coming. I can hear the roar now.

[Toploader]

It's never useless informing your family, friends and loved ones about what is going to happen, even if they do think you are alittle crazy for it.

What I tend to do is give each person a full explanation, just the once when I think they are in a receptive frame of mind. That way, I figure once TSHTF or at least begins to, they will at least know what's starting to happen and may come to me for help.

Just don't go telling everyone at work or at the bar/pub about your plans and fears, because they also may show up at your door step sometime

[Revi]

Merci, JPL. I talk to my wife and she feels that we just have to keep on keeping on. Maybe the way we live will influence others. We are getting next year's wood together and getting ready for what's coming. I think we'll make it through with the help of our friends. Hope springs eternal. It's nice to see spring happening!

[eastbay]

Peak Oil - That brings guffaws and chortles from family members - notwithstanding the fact that they have about 10 minutes of reading and research on the issue under their belts.


Revi, we never learn, do we.

Just when I think I'm done wasting my time trying to awaken people to peak oil, I go and open my big fat mouth one more time. It happened just this afternoon. Someone at my local temple mentioned that another temple has a very small parking lot requiring people to park far away for special events and this may be due to their poor planning.

Well, I suggested that due to reduced oil and gasoline availability we may soon experience increasing prices thereby reducing driving, therefore maybe it wasn't such poor planning after all. One person said, 'what do you mean?' I said, well, as we know, everything is impermanent and that includes oil and therefore gasoline. Oil's getting scarcer, you know, it's running out. Soon it'll be too costly for casual personal trips (or words to that effect). As he started nodding his head and grinning around to the others, I knew I had screwed up again by blurting out a mention of oil depletion.

I should have kept my mouth shut. Not a single person in the group have a clue. Plus, this was a group of really nice and kind people, friends of mine who may now, because of that one series of comments about peak oil, be questioning my ability to organize rational thoughts.

Darn it.

[frankthetank]

Today i sat with a bunch of family members and listened to their annoyances with current gas prices. I think one of my brothers almost is there, although he is still delusional about the future. The rest of them are downright clueless. I speak not a whisper. I'd much rather listen and see if i can see any rays of hope. What it comes down to is a bunch of complaining with no hope of any of us changing the situation...its just too bad they couldn't prepare themselves a little better for the coming "change".

[ren3z7frs]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Omnitir', '
')I mean, what would be the effect if PO was in the public consciousness? It wouldn't matter if some groups refute it, because in this scenario the majority of people are aware of hydrocarbon depletion issues and are concerned enough to make noise about it.

This would mean that efforts for change would be made. Many people would conserve, maybe changing their SUV's for small cars, or even just small things like using more efficient light bulbs etc. (apparently if every US household changed just one regular light bulb to a fluorescent one, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road!).

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grifter', '[')I tried, now if I ever mention it I pretend to be an optimist. I find people much older than me are far more likely to think and have something insightful to add. People below the age of about 40 I find to be totally blind and unable to construct meaningful arguments.

[ucosty]

Maybe it's being saved at the 11th hour is so ingrained in our conciousness. Every conversation I have had about PeakOil has eneded along the lines of

"Well, I'm sure somebody will think of something..."



And don't mention price gouging near me unless you want your eyes gouged out. (Just kidding, remember I'm more scared of you than you are of me )

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ucosty', 'M')aybe it's being saved at the 11th hour is so ingrained in our conciousness. Every conversation I have had about PeakOil has eneded along the lines of

"Well, I'm sure somebody will think of something..."



And don't mention price gouging near me unless you want your eyes gouged out. (Just kidding, remember I'm more scared of you than you are of me )

[Grifter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sheb', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grifter', '[')I tried, now if I ever mention it I pretend to be an optimist. I find people much older than me are far more likely to think and have something insightful to add. People below the age of about 40 I find to be totally blind and unable to construct meaningful arguments.

[Bas]

Reading all your replies, I guess I should consider myself lucky having convinced/interested all of my close relatives and most of my close friends. None of them seem to have started contemplating how to react to PeakOil though, but as I make that preparation part more and more my own focus I expect they will follow there too.

Outside of that small circle though, I find mostly a lot of disinterest, or if interested the "11th hour technology fix" argument.

Either way, I guess I'm concluding that it is worth trying to talk about it as even if people aren't really interested, you still sow a seed that might grow rapidly when the oil prices shoot up; people might not be interested in oil even then, if it wasn't for that little seed.

so carry on people, as the world will soften up for our message when oil prices go up.

[Toploader]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', '
')
Either way, I guess I'm concluding that it is worth trying to talk about it as even if people aren't really interested, you still sow a seed that might grow rapidly when the oil prices shoot up; people might not be interested in oil even then, if it wasn't for that little seed.

so carry on people, as the world will soften up for our message when oil prices go up.

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grifter', '
')Perhaps I should have said most people.
What is your experience of talking about these issues in the real world? Just interested.

[Judgie]

I've tried, and i've stopped trying to help the greater population. I thought of joining the Environmental Action Group at my uni, and i', still thinking of it. But the amount of progress they've made and the attention they get even with a decent amount of members is not encouraging. It seems more than a few members have joined merely to feel as though they're doing something, even without doing anything.

I remember going to parties as a 15 year old and getting depressed at what I saw. And see. Even more so when you'd talk to someone, and conversation would slowly slide towards these things. It was like beating my head against a brick wall trying to get them to understand what was coming. Maybe I just didn't use the right words. I do that alot. Within the next few months I intend to trade in my ute for a small motorbike with saddlebags and a pack on the back. Thats enough for everything that I take with me on a daily basis. The way I see it every little bit helps. I recently succeeded in convincing my parents that energy saving bulbs are the go. Now every bulb on our property is of the E.S. variety. Can't wait to see the next power bill . Thats just the start. We grow our own hay for our horses and i'd like to see some of that land used for other things. It's only 5 acres but we can make use of that for food and other things. If the angry locals in the suburbs a kilometer away don't murder us for it when the time comes. And thats the problem. Defending ourselves if the crunch is as bad as many are predicting.

I'd do an engineering degree in a snap but I lack the mathematical inclination for heavy algebra and much of pure maths. I was OK at physics though, it was easy to relate it to the real world. And at Trigonometry and Geometry too. So I'm doing Environmental Management. On the side I'll be going for my Coxswains soon enough (Day rating only, since I am colour-blind, although rated as "safe" to obtain a day rating), and eventually my Yacht-Masters. I have my OH&S at sea cert., Senior First Aid, etc, and I make absolutely sure I maintain an active role as volunteer crew on the local tall ship "One and All". I figure some people will still want to travel locally for business/family reasons, etc post-peak. If I can find the time I also want to enrol in a basic boatbuilding course. I'm doing what I can for myself and my family and friends (those who will listen, not to say I won't try to help the others when the time comes. They are my friends), but as far as to help the world. Thats too much to ask.

Unless there was some way of raising a concerted effort (with the current worldwide mindset, not likely).