[Ludi]

gg3, I have a "brain chemistry" disorder (bipolar). Dwelling on negative fantasies isn't part of the treatment plan.

I honestly don't know how some of you survive. If I thought like you do, I'd have killed myself by now. I'm not kidding.

I don't see how it can be considered even slightly healthy, the way some of you seem to think. I advise against it.



But you claim it is "realistic."



I prefer to remain "naive" and alive.

[PenultimateManStanding]

It's called 'gallows humor' Ludi. It eases the pain, for now.

[Bas]

I really haven't made up my mind about the future (as if the shape of it depended on me) but I pretty much "know" it has to be somewhere in between a scenario with only mild climate change, and a rough economic ride and a scenario of total world chaos and a violent and horrific die-off of most of human kind.

On different problems that humanity now faces I may have different thoughs from time to time so my own "likeliest" scenario changes basically all the time. Doom, I think we're all doomers here to the outside world but within this community I may be (though I could be mistaken) one of the "lesser" doomers.

I do expect a lot from "the invisible hand" in the form of feedback systems that will change things in everything from politics, to culture, economics, communities, climate etc. in ways that in a lot of cases we haven't even considered yet here and which as a result may mitigate a lot of the problems we are facing.

So to answer your questions: Doom is anything that is more pessimistic than what I expect, and therefor I'm not a doomer.

[Bas]

and oh yeah, Doom is also a shooting game for practicing your zombie-slayin' skillz:

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'I')t's called 'gallows humor' Ludi. It eases the pain, for now.

[PenultimateManStanding]

Oh, and another factor in doom: trial lawyers. We're going to litigate ourselves into paralysis. Nothing will get done because everybody is arguing at a time when we need to work fast and work together. Not going to happen.

[dinopello]

Doom means never having to say you are sorry.

Seriously, doom is a state of mind, not any particular set of conditions. Ever seen a 13 year old girl who was told to get off the phone - her life is OVER! For PMS it might be when he can't get his canned corned beef, for Jack its when he runs out of bullets.... I like Pops, threadbear and Ludi's answers too.

[PenultimateManStanding]

I understand your anger, Ludi, and I don't fault you for it. Those that I love don't read this site and I haven't mentioned it for years. The theme of the thread is what does doom mean. I gave my answer in earnest while engaging Threadbear in a little banter. That's all. Won't you allow me just that much?

[Revi]

Doom is back there in the darkest peak oil scenarios in my mind. After reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road, I have decided that doom is something like that. I try to keep it in the very back of my mind, but it spurs me to be prepared. Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst...

[vision-master]

Doom - taking care of the 88 year old Mother.

[PrairieMule]

1.Doom is.. Knowing that one day pretty sunflowers and bluebonnets will overtake and crumble all the facist tollroads built in Texas.

2.Color me a Optimistic Doomer with a high capacity for levity.

3.Why? For all the reasons mentioned above. Those that do not see the light will soon feel the heat.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'T')hat sure looks like "giving up" to me, Heineken.

Are you saying that no humans can be saved? That if we try to set up a different ("sustainable") way of life that won't help anyone survive?

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', 'F')or PMS it might be when he can't get his canned corned beef,

[coyote]

Re: giving up -- I certainly haven't, even though certain chronic physical difficulties will bar me from most post-peak jobs, and even though environmental devastation seems certain. I'm expending a huge amount of time, money and energy to get myself in a different place in terms of preparedness. Not only because I'd like to survive personally, but also because I think I have something to contribute. I think all of us here do. We understand, beforehand, the things that are going wrong with how we're living, and why. I think many of the people who don't understand until after tshtf may simply be too overwhelmed, and too in denial, to function. But those of us who understand now, and are preparing, emotionally as well as physically, will stand a better chance post-peak. Some of us may become leaders, and that's important because they'll be able to spread our understanding of these issues, and try to help rebuild in a different direction from where our culture is going now.

As Ishmael said, we need changed minds. A lot of them. Maybe we can start with a few. We're laughed at now -- but a decade or two after peak oil, folks won't be laughing about it any more.

Yes, I actually believe that we here can make a difference in the post-peak world. Talk about hubris -- but if it weren't for that, I might not even bother with all this. I think I can help, and so can others who are thinking similarly. Doesn't change my doomerishness one bit. I think we're collectively headed straight for the cliff at high speed. We can't stop it. But what we can try to do is teach others that it doesn't have to happen again. And how. All the things, large and little, that we could be doing differently. Aren't they all discussed, repeatedly and in depth, on these boards?

I won't live to see the recovery and paradigm shift completed. But if I can do a small part to help its beginning, I'll die happy. I suppose this idealism makes me a positive doomer. I'll take it.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'B')ut if you tirade against me, I'll fight back, regardless of your weak flower protestations.....
How do you like them apples?

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '
')HA! PMS, I think your new avatar has changed you in some subtle way.

[PenultimateManStanding]

I got my mojo workin' but I can't get Ludi to come out and make up. I'm beginning to think she hates me. Damn, but I seem to do better making up with males with the whole fighting angle. It seems I've alienated both Shanny and Ludi. Threadbear at least still likes me. Don't you Threadbear? Every man wants to be liked by women, except maybe gg3. I know that's callous, but that's how I see it.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gg3', ' ')I'm contemplating running a test on the use of pedal power to mix concrete

[Revi]

Doom de doom doom doom....

Doom could be just a few months away or it could be years down the road. I am a little tired of waiting for it, so I'm making other plans.

Time to reorganize our lives so that there is no doom.

Reality is agreed perception.

The sun hits this planet at 100 watts per square meter. No reason not to use it.

If we all lived on incoming solar there would be no doom.

There will be no doom.

I keep telling myself that.