Ignorance is Bliss: Learning about PO

by **stu** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 07:16:26

After seeing Senchas comment on wishing he could go back and not have learned about PO I was wondering whether anyone else feels the same.

Personally I'm so glad I learned about PO. It's totally changed the way I look at human society and made me realise how important energy is in order for our continued survival.

I kind of compare it to the situation of Cypher in the Matrix. After becoming sick of the real world he says to Agent Smith: "Ignorance is Bliss".

by **Chuck** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 07:20:42

My experience is that most people prefer ignorance over knowledge.
I myself prefer knowledge, but certainly not because it makes life easier.

by **Sencha** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 07:26:24

In my experience, learning is a depressing process. Especially if you cannot realistically apply that knowledge in a constructive way. I guess I feel the way I do because I'm just that kind of person. I'm sure there's more than one way to cope with peak oil.

People think its a chance to start over, or that its a challenge or something. I just can't seem to get over the fact that all of this, is going to disappear. Alot of it should I admit, but there's so much left to do and take advantage of. If I was a survivalist or something, if I completely hated our way of life, not just parts of it, learning about PO might not be so bad.

But I admit my dependence on the way our civilization is run, what do I have left in the post-peak world? Before I knew about peak oil, my future was broad, but now it is narrow and it feels suffocating.

by **stu** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 07:51:59

I'll admit it has affected the way I look at the future too. I graduate from Uni this year and when I tell people that I could be planning a future based around PO I do get a few puzzled expressions. I also go through days when I think about what kind of job I should be getting in a normal world but then PO rears its ugly head again and reminds me of what is to come.

So glad I learned about it though because as world events occur around PO we can almost guarantee the mass media will not show things happening from a PO angle. Instead people will think that the "war on terror" continues and that it's ok to carry on consuming.

by **marek** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 08:14:14

As an existentialist, Sencha should know that what makes us human is "Fear and Trembling."

But seriously, I think that I never regretted learning about anything important, even if it was unpleasant news.

by **Jack** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 08:38:41

Know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

If you know about a threat and prepare for it, you can (and probably will) do better than will the less informed masses. The price for the knowledge is a lack of blissful ignorance today.

The fable of the ant and grasshopper is apropos.

by **Sencha** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 10:00:23

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', 'K')now the truth, and the truth will set you free.

by **0mar** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 11:26:42

Not knowing anything is awesome, but generally we call those people retads.

I never regret anything. Peak oil changed my life outlook. Hell, my graduate studies is because of peak oil.

by **stu** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 11:34:06

Agree with Omar on this. PO has definately affected my career decisions on life. Seeing as I'm considering a life in Journalism this could just be an excellent topic to write about.

by **uNkNowN ElEmEnt** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 15:50:57

yeah, the aim of my business studies is on new era firms (ecologically and socially responsible). but if PO happens I'll just use it to run a farm or something. I can't wait to take job costing next semester.

by **clv101** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 16:03:42

I would never choose to be ignorant of anything. I live for knowledge, I always want to know more, know the truth no matter what that truth is. Yes knowledge has curtailed various plans I had years ago, it has changed my life but in hindsight I'm glad. I realise now my previous aspirations for the future were an imposable fantasy and I'm glad I didn't waste time and effort trying to peruse them.

Anyone who wishes they didn't know the truth because it has curtailed their behaviour is a short termist. They would rather live for today and to hell with tomorrow. That's just not me.

by **uNkNowN ElEmEnt** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 16:07:44

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hey would rather live for today and to hell with tomorrow

by **Ludi** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 16:15:14

For most of my life I've wanted to set myself up in a sustainable way of living, eventually off the grid, so it's no huge deal to me personally, just the insecurity of not knowing how long we have to prepare, or how other people will freak out over it. I've only ever earned a modest income so never expected to have a comfy old age. My main personal fear is the probable complete lack of medical care and pharmaceuticals in the future. Aside from these purely selfish aspects, it saddens me that people won't be able to change on their own but will be forced to change, or just die, when it could have been different.

by **Permanently_Baffled** » Wed 05 Jan 2005, 16:21:16

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Not knowing anything is awesome, but generally we call those people retads.

by **mindfarkk** » Thu 06 Jan 2005, 00:43:05

i miss being innocent, but that was a long time ago. now that i think of it, erm.... *cough* let me rephrase that. i miss the time when i had no responsibilities. truth be told i had a pretty difficult upbringing but i do miss that sense of irresponsible freedom of that did come with my early childhood. unfortunately with it came a lot less power and self-knowledge which led to much suffering. so i think iignorance is only bliss until you hit the wall you didn't know was there. no way would i go back.

i am very, very grateful to know what i know now, instead gradually being bled dry trying to live out the "old plan." i have a sense of empowerment where before i felt like i was banging my head against a brick wall. i'm scared, sometimes, but right now i'm just taking it a day at a time because there is far more i don't know than i do and there is no point freaking myself out with imagining the worst. and the bottom line is nothing brings out the best in me like a balls-to-the-wall challenge. i tend to assume i'm going to come out on top, because i always have landed on my feet, and i have lived through some rough shit. i guess i know what i'm made of to some degree, and that gives me confidence. i have a very well developed sense of being able to tell the difference between what i want and what i need, and i have no problem being the point woman for my little band of still-innocent loved ones. i was blessed with a lot of strength, some vision, and a very practical nature. i feel i owe it to my world to put that ability to the best use, and i am no service to anyone if i panic.

ignorance is a false bliss IMO and really you can never trust it so it ultimately brings disquiet and insecurity. whereas happiness, as i've been told many times, is the byproduct of right living.

by **theshadypeach** » Thu 06 Jan 2005, 04:58:07

An ignorant bliss is a false bliss.

An ignorant bliss is synonomous with a stupid bliss.

Even after learning about the possibility of a massive, quick die off, the knowledge is still a positive thing. You at least will gain a greater appreciation for life in addition to the ability of better decision-making and planning with your future. It might give us a chance to reevaluate our lives and lifestyles, and give us a chance to come to terms with death.

Learning about peak oil at least gives you a better chance to provide for friends, family, and yourself.

Grab a cold beer and take the time to relax if you get too stressed over PO

. (Definitely take the time to drink cold beer. After PO hits, we might not get another chance to:roll: . dang)

Cheers

by **Sencha** » Thu 06 Jan 2005, 07:30:52

I can't believe this! The simple fact that we may be deprived of beer after the crash is enough to wish you had never learned of it! This is a NIGHTMARE!! 'Cept its real...

Just before the crash happens, I'm going to go out like someone who has 24 hours to live. I'm telling people off, looting things, breaking things and causing general all around chaos. Of course, so will everyone else but I'll be getting a head start. How's that for applying advanced knowledge of PO?

by **PenultimateManStanding** » Thu 06 Jan 2005, 15:26:33

Isn't "Ignorance is Bliss" an old saying? Must be something to it. If you met John Titor and he could tell you the exact time and manner of your own demise, would you want to know that? If you're watching a tape-delay of the Big Game, would want a buddy to call you and tell you who wins? Or somebody to give away the suprise ending of a movie? I remember John Larroquet on Saturday Night Live had gone up to Heaven and Dana Carvey was the angel who could tell him anything he wanted to know. So he asks, "What the most digusting thing I ever ate?" the angel says, "You don't want to know!"

by **Apathy** » Thu 06 Jan 2005, 17:02:22

If I knew how I was going to die, I wouldn't do anything different.

You just have to do what you can with what you have and dont care about the rest.

What do you mena, if my friend calls me during the game - she does that all the time. Mind you, she is usually wrong half the time too, so I dont really care.

by **uNkNowN ElEmEnt** » Thu 06 Jan 2005, 19:45:55

I think "ignorance is bliss" was the justification they used to use for performing lobotomies. I used to be ignorant and other than sex I can say bliss never entered into it.

Ignorance is Bliss: Learning about PO

Ignorance is Bliss: Learning about PO

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