[DYBoulet]

Hello everyone, my name is Denis and I have first discovered about Peak Oil in 2004. I was actually registered to this forum in 2004 as "Metronome" and I contributed several times, especially in "Planning for the future".

Later, in 2005 and 2006, my friends and family convinced me that earth was indeed big and plenty of ressources. That I would never see the problems such as Peak Oil and Global Warming in my life time, that everything is going to go well, that necessity is the mother of invention as Socrates would say, and therefore, I have nothing to fear.

In other words, I was sold a lie and I bought it.

I guess I can't be blamed for buying into it. I'm young and I want to have a good life, so of course, it is seductive for me to buy into an idea that would insure a blissful ignorance of the impending eschatonic reality.

So here I am now, enrolled full-time to university in order to obtain a specialised Bachelor's degree in History. Dorm room reserved and ready... I feel like I'm marching straight to the slaughter house.

I live on a sylviculture farm with many wood lots and lands under our family name. Recently, I'm falling in love with the great outdoors and I honestly think... that I don't want to pursue this wild dream to become a university professor anymore because it's just NOT an option in a post-oil age. I am absolutely seduced by the self-sufficient and simple life style of living off the land... So many books I would buy right now on these very subjects!

What's really painful about this, is looking around and seeing how everyone is SO oblivious of Peak Oil. I feel like jumping on the rooftops and crying out loud for preparedness. Yet, I feel like this is almost useless. Nevertheless, I try to educate some of my friends, yet, I KNOW most of them will simply do nothing about it. So why bother?

As I look around me, I see how my fellow classmates are all rushing towards college and university degrees, as if it was the end-all solution to preparing your future. The worse thing is, as they run through the front doors of college, skipping and laughing, ALOT of college seniors are marching, head down, from the back doors asking "What now?" when faced with a shockingly cruel reality.

Again, we are student are being sold a lie, and we're buying into it.

It seems now that I HAVE to go to University, for at least one year, my parents tell me, to try it out and test the waters, and only after this year will I be free to take a decision...

Yet, I just know what the outcome will be...

In any case, this was a random rambling, a fairly disorderly post, pouring out how I feel right now, giving you an insight of what's it like to look through the eyes of a high school senior who's very much AWARE of what this civilisation is being faced with.

Thank you so much for reading...

[Pablo2079]

What drove you to re-examine your thoughts regarding Peak Oil again? If prices drop again, will you go back to your previous mindset?

The reason I ask is that it is hard to fathom someone understanding Peak and then dismissing it. Was it peer pressure? Or, did they actually have a good counter argument?

[DYBoulet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hat drove you to re-examine your thoughts regarding Peak Oil again? If prices drop again, will you go back to your previous mindset?

The reason I ask is that it is hard to fathom someone understanding Peak and then dismissing it. Was it peer pressure? Or, did they actually have a good counter argument?

[steam_cannon]

A few of my rambling thoughts regarding college...

You could always change your major to ecology/hydrology. Water scarcity will be a big problem in the future and you will find jobs... Also if you do go for your doctorate that can be some good insurance. In Ukraine when the soviet union collapsed many highly educated people were working in open markets selling goods. Minor jobs perhaps, but they could still get jobs unlike most people.

Also in college you can meet up with more people your own age who understand the world is going to hell. I'm a suit and tie kind of guy, but plenty of my friends are your standard eco/hippy/treehugger and they're good people. Young college hippies are fun and usually understand the trouble the world is in, and will understand you. So college could be a chance to make connections to people who are in touch with what is going on and that could be an excellent way to prepare for the future.

What university by the way? I went to Slippery Rock University, a cheap Carnegie Mellon knock-off were you could work on projects with your professors, have cup of tea, talk to professors in different departments...

And since you like history, one of my favorite pieces of comparative history...

Closing the 'Collapse Gap': the USSR was better prepared for peak oil than the US
by Dmitry Orlov
http://energybulletin.net/23259.html

Post-Soviet Lessons for a Post-American Century
Dmitry Orlov
http://survivingpeakoil.com/preview.php ... et_lessons

Two versions of the same report. You may have read these, but I thought since you liked history I might share.

[thuja]

You're not the only one who decided to fall back asleep. My brother-in-law and I would talk avidly about Peak Oil and its implications. I hadn't talked to him for a number of months and when I saw him and brought it up he said "Actually I'm kind of over it." I inquired further but he just brushed it off as if to say I'm not concerned with that anymore.

He just got accepted to law school at San Francisoc and is looking to buy a condo in the City. I don't fault him for his plan. I think going deeper into the belly of the beast might not be a crazy plan for the next 10-15 years. But his nonchalance in completely disregarding Peak Oil after understanding the whole enchilada astonished me.

I think its just a hell of a lot easier not to think of life with a deep sense of foreboding and fear of impending doom. The ulcers just start to vanish...

[steam_cannon]

On the other hand, if you really don't want to go to college and you have some money to invest, I'd suggest metals. I wouldn't expect you to mention if you have money on a public forum so I am just putting the idea out there as a hypothetical.

Metals
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... 3-2007.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... _Euros.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... 3-2007.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... _Euros.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... 3-2007.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... _Euros.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... 3-2007.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... _Euros.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... 3-2007.gif
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/Price_ ... _Euros.gif

In less then 30 years below and above ground silver assets will be mostly used up by industry! Interesting stuff...
http://www.tohearmore.com/notes2/USGS_p ... ummary.jpg

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And if you don't want to go to college but don't have money... Well, right now you could get a job, earn money and perhaps put it in metals and other investments. After the soviet collapse in Ukraine, everyone lost all the money in their bank accounts. But nobody lost their silver spoons...

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Also I like how Heinekens plan is working out. He is bought land for growing food... I understand if you are worried about economic collapse, leaving your parents land is probably worrying.

Heineken Buys Mo' Land
http://www.peakoil.com/modules.php?name ... ic&t=28986

Well, just a few ideas. There are multiple ways to win, just depends on what game you're playing

P.S. Don't totally give up on your parents, when they are paying $5,00 at the pump they might listen to you... Or they may keep listening to Rush, I don't know... Good luck.

[gnm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', ' ')I think going deeper into the belly of the beast might not be a crazy plan for the next 10-15 years.

[thuja]

Depends what you mean by we don't have 10-15 years...

Yes most likely a set of recessions will occur along with increasingly expensive energy. But there will be demand destruction during a recession/Depression. There will be a pullback which will drop oil prices for a short while. Then things will ratchet up again.

So if you mean we don't have 10-15 years before serious economic hardship- I agree- But if you believe that in 10-15 years we will all be eating each other, I heartily disagree.

In any event- trying to become one of the power brokers- the elite on the inside- is a strategy that may have some merit. Just as in times of war, the elite always find a way to eat and be comfortable, so too will the elite find a way to weather the worst aspects of post peak.

[gnm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', 'S')o if you mean we don't have 10-15 years before serious economic hardship- I agree- But if you believe that in 10-15 years we will all be eating each other, I heartily disagree.

In any event- trying to become one of the power brokers- the elite on the inside- is a strategy that may have some merit. Just as in times of war, the elite always find a way to eat and be comfortable, so too will the elite find a way to weather the worst aspects of post peak.

[thuja]

LOL- true- I doubt the lawyers will last long...perhaps the first to go when the canibals come to town...Matt Savinar?

[gnm]

Watch out Matt we're saving some fava beans and a nice chianti for you!

-G

[Tyler_JC]

Why the reluctance to try college?

At the very least, you'll get to learn things that you could never learn on your own on the internet. You will get to meet people and make important friendships that will last a lifetime. You will be able to get a degree in a useful field, hopefully in something that you also enjoy doing.

As long as it doesn't put you deep into debt, education is always worth it.

And seeing that you are Canadian, I doubt that your university degree will cost you much.

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'W')hy the reluctance to try college?

[MOCKBA]

If I could dedicate 10-15 years to going back to college I would have definitely went to study property laws/taxation. In 5-10 years there would be a lot of confusion about who owns what and people who would know how to settle it would be in demand.

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DYBoulet', 'I')t seems now that I HAVE to go to University, for at least one year, my parents tell me, to try it out and test the waters, and only after this year will I be free to take a decision...

Yet, I just know what the outcome will be...

In any case, this was a random rambling, a fairly disorderly post, pouring out how I feel right now, giving you an insight of what's it like to look through the eyes of a high school senior who's very much AWARE of what this civilisation is being faced with.

Thank you so much for reading...

[Baldwin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')s far as being one of the "elite" I am thinking that choosing a job as a lawyer would probably put you on the "A" list for eating or at least extermination in hard times...

[DYBoulet]

Thank you so much, everyone for responding to my thread, I see how indeed this community is so responsive!

You have indeed helped me with your valuable advice.

I must say, however, that going to university WILL indeed put me deep into dept. And I abhor dept almost to the point of phobia, so that is equally one part of the problem I think.

Right now, I will be reading and inquiring and doing all the things a good school boy like myself will do when faced with a problem, before actually taking a decision. This is my life we're talking about here!

I also considered becoming a Jesuit priest, I had contacted the vocation office of the Society of Jesus and was almost on my way until I suddenly fell in love...

So yes, I am very judicious about this. All I want is to do the right choice. I know it's hard to hit the bull's eye, almost impossible, but I atleast want to aim and hit somewhere closest to it as possible...

[Revi]

I know that it looks scary, but a college degree in something useful isn't a waste of money at all. check out the offerings at the local tech college. A bit of electrical knowledge will go a long way towards a career in solar. The world isn't going to stop with the energy crisis. It will change. Be ahead of the change. A two year tech school degree won't set you back much. It could put you in a good position for what's coming.