[TheDude]

The MSNBC article has a rather ready-for-bear slant to it, you notice. Over at TOD Sharon Astyk points out that, at least in one case, this is a gross miscatagorization:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')k, this article is moronic. I was actually interviewed by the author, Samantha Gross, for this article, and thankfully, they didn't quote me. She told me the article would be about "people making sustainable life changes because of peak oil" - if she'd told me that she was planning this bit of idiocy, I would have turned her down.

The idea that Kathy Breault (who I hooked Gross up with for this interview) is a survivalist is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. She's a midwife and grandmother who is working her butt off to make sure her little corner of the world (Washington County NY - where Kunstler's novel takes place) doesn't end up like a Kunstler novel. Even in the article, the people interviewed are talking as much about community solutions as personal ones - emergency services, community midwifing, etc...

The problem here is that the media don't fully get peak oil - they want to shoehorn it into easily recognizable categories for one of two reasons - either they don't understand it, and can only look at it as another species of "survivalism" or they want to display it as a fringe movement. Either way, the article fails to get it - but it shouldn't be seen as revealing anything about anything important, except the way media distort our discussions.

Sharon

[mercurygirl]

Thanks, Dude. This article was brought to my attention by a rather optimistic type. I laughed. Be prepared for many more silly articles.

"Survival" for most of us is in the context of a community, as many of the comments to which you linked point out. Of course, working to support beneficial change in our homes and communities is important. JMO.

[TheDude]

I hope we're spinning things the other direction a bit.

Storms, eh? We had donner und blitzen last night - rare treat in our notoriously bland climate.

I remember Bruce Sterling saying that of all his books Heavy Weatherseemed to be turning out to be the most prophetic. It concerns GW - specifically in the form of ever-larger twisters assaulting the American SW - and the possibility of an F6 occurring. Sic! Great Red Spot time, baby!

Can't imagine that one would passed under your (doppler) radar, though.

[Kingcoal]

I think a lot of us are one step past survivalist. I live in a small city and have no intention of moving even though I believe that crime will probably increase greatly as we slide down the backside of the PO curve. When I think of survivalist, I think of someone who hates civilization. They are paranoid to the max and distrust all strangers and think that people are out to get them. Thus, they move to remote areas and live like hermits. That's not me. If crime gets really bad (and I believe it will), I'll just turn my house into a fortress, but I won't stop living my life and interacting socially with people - hell, there's always the bar down the street and as long as there is something to drink, I'll chew the rag with my drinking companions. Even if all the bars close, I'll make my own beer (as long as I can still get hold of barley) and invite friends over.

The greatest thing about peak oil is that we are all in it together, well, most of us that is. While some of the population will respond to it with anti-social behavior, others will rebuild social networks that used to exist before our modern, anonymous society. Humans react to crisis that way, if we didn't, we would have all died off a long time ago.

[BigTex]

In a competitive world, I would think that a "survivalist" would be a highly respected person.

It's funny how one who thinks critically about his basic needs and doesn't trust others to provide for him is often considered a "kook."

Strange world.

I am not a "survivalist." I am a "survival enthusiast."

[Pops]

Funny how people can tack on "ist" to survival and make it a label to be debated and defined.

Of course I want to survive and want my kids to as well.


Don't you?

[mercurygirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', 'I')t's funny how one who thinks critically about his basic needs and doesn't trust others to provide for him is often considered a "kook.

[dunewalker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'T')he MSNBC article has a rather ready-for-bear slant to it, you notice. Over at TOD Sharon Astyk points out that, at least in one case, this is a gross miscatagorization

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dunewalker', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'T')he MSNBC article has a rather ready-for-bear slant to it, you notice. Over at TOD Sharon Astyk points out that, at least in one case, this is a gross miscatagorization

[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dunewalker', 'D')oes anyone remember the 1990 movie "Tremors" with Kevin Bacon & Reba McIntyre? It was a spoof on Frank Herbert's "Dune". Reba played a "survivalist" armed to the teeth. Maybe that's where our image of survivalists comes from...

[dunewalker]

Tex, you're pretty funny sometimes. Btw, I finally figured out who Jackieno Chanov is, duh...

[SinisterBlueCat]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'F')unny how people can tack on "ist" to survival and make it a label to be debated and defined.

Of course I want to survive and want my kids to as well.


Don't you?

[wisconsin_cur]

There is a saying, I believe I heard it attributed to the Green Berets but I'm not sure,

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Someone', 'T')ough times don't last, tough people do.

[Daculling]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SinisterBlueCat', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'a')t some point i will need to step aside for her and her generation. and i am ok with that.

[Revi]

I wouldn't call myself a survivalist. I just take prudent steps to prepare for what might happen. I don't think that makes me a wacko. We all know what the world might be like in 5 years. I think being aware of peak oil makes us think about things differently.

It's like being aware that the ship is sinking. It gives you a little more time to get a raft built. The ship is still going to sink, but maybe we'll have a slight edge.

[The_Virginian]

I hate labels that others thrust upon you to marginalize you and make what you do all seem so wacky...

Prince Bandar is selling an estate with its own electricity generation, gas pumps, and water system...etc. etc.

he's no survivalist, he's just rich

As pops already pointed out, to survive a crisis is a good thing, and not to be ashamed of. However, To be defined by ones Zeal and ability to do so, reeks of elitist pontification.

Jews are commanded "Lismor al nafshotechem" to watch over your souls...both spiritually and physically we are commanded to survive in most situations...


And thanks to G-d we have SURVIVED.

[apphappy]

I prefer to be prepared then be caught by surprise. I have a number of friends and family who belive the same. We plant gardens. We raise animals to eat. We know how to hunt and trap. We do some of these things because it is family tradition and in many cases the things we do are reasons and excuses to get together as a family that doesn't involve a holiday. I was not thinking of survival when I took up spinning, it was just something I wanted to do. I get together with friends and family every Fall and we make soap because we enjoy doing it. I don't know if we are survivalist but we are able to take care of ourselves.


I saw this on Yahoo ....

http://green.yahoo.com/news/ap/20080524 ... lists.html