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Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

General discussions of the systemic, societal and civilisational effects of depletion.

Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby zeke » Thu 13 Nov 2008, 07:22:35

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Economix', 'I')f Peak Oil is only about extraction, who gives a rip? In other words, if we're only measuring extraction rates, why lose sleep over it?
In my opinion, what we're really talking about on Peak Oil is this:
1. The dangerous socio-economic and political impact of Peak Oil.
2. The possible geopolitical violence that could result from Peak Oil.
3. The potential alternatives to oil to prevent #1 and #2 above.
It's not about oil, it's about energy -- and the big problem we have finding enough energy for the world's growing population. Just talking about extraction rates is nothing but a geology debate.
We're talking people here, folks. People = society. People = prices.

I'm not sure what's propelling your argument, truly. You talk about extraction rates as though it's some impertinent factoid unworthy of anything more than dismissal.

Friend...if we need oil to the extent that our every eyeblink, burp and sneeze don't happen without it, that we are willing to engage in never-ending war to get it, then it would seem obvious (to most) that extraction rates are just about as relevant as any fact could ever hope to be.

I have seen variants of this argument before, wherein the arguer will offer up something like, "well, yanno it's all just economics. market forces will take care of it." The implied "reasoning" is that reality is somehow a subset of the human imagination, and that as soon as all the ninnies are winnowed out, then we can get back to the business of schlurping down what we deem to be infinite supplies of everything.

Perhaps that's not what you intend to convey, but it's pretty close to how it reads..to me anyway...plus with a little good-natured ribbing and sarcasm tossed in by yours truly. ;-)
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby Serial_Worrier » Thu 13 Nov 2008, 18:27:14

Gas down to 2.28/gallon. Good times, I'm planning on buying a Ford Expedition soon! :o :o
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby matt21811 » Thu 13 Nov 2008, 19:18:52

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DantesPeak', 'L')ast year I said that the price of oil would range between $78 and $146 in 2008. So far that is almost exactly the range.
I said months ago, before the Bear Stearns failure, that because of the effects of peak oil, we will have a recession in the second half of 2008, where the economy would fall twice as fast in the fourth quarter as in the third.
Why should I eat crow? And when exactly did cornucopians predict oil going up to $147 this year? And if they didn't predict what happened before, what makes them right now?

Your range prediction is now badly busted. The low end is some 40% too high. I dont expect you to eat crow though. Every one here is way too arrogant to do that.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby Twilight » Thu 13 Nov 2008, 20:45:12

This is what victory looks like. Unless anyone thinks we will hit a higher peak after demand destruction kills investment for another decade while we keep up the majority of the underlying pumping and depletion. The credit crunch was a royal flush. It looks like a bit of a fluke, but hey, who is complaining? Oil dropping well under $50 decisively and staying there hands the peak oil crowd everything on the table.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby AirlinePilot » Thu 13 Nov 2008, 22:25:55

I'll say this again for those who seem to be missing the point. if oil goes down to 40 or below, we have a crapload of other problems to deal with. Oil below those prices means global demand collapse, not just incremental destruction. Its not where we want to go.

I believe it will be worst case if we do go down that road. Hope I'm wrong.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby nobodypanic » Fri 14 Nov 2008, 19:32:54

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Serial_Worrier', 'G')as down to 2.28/gallon. Good times, I'm planning on buying a Ford Expedition soon! :o :o

you're getting ripped off. 1.78/gallon here. i am gunning my engine and peeling out every chance i get. soon, i am gonna go on a road trip. gas, pfft... it's like water! :P
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby Roy » Fri 14 Nov 2008, 21:53:10

Hell, at $1.89 I haven't turned my car off since Monday. I like it to stay warmed up. Nobody likes to sit in a cold car.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby Rogozhin » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 02:46:56

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AirlinePilot', 'I')'ll say this again for those who seem to be missing the point. if oil goes down to 40 or below, we have a crapload of other problems to deal with. Oil below those prices means global demand collapse, not just incremental destruction. Its not where we want to go. I believe it will be worst case if we do go down that road. Hope I'm wrong.

Global demand collapse is not going to happen.

Do you know why it isn't going to happen?
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby venky » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 14:07:08

I am still convinced Peak Oil is real and will happen in the near future historically speaking.

The question is how it will affect my future personally. For the past few years I used to mostly believe that Peak Oil would affect me in the near future < 10 years, in regards to unemployment, turmoil in the cities, riots and perhaps even war.

Now I am thinking more that the effects of Peak Oil will occur far more gradually and may or may not affect me personally during my lifetime depending on my circumstances. If I can maintain my employment, live in a relatively stable area or region.
I think oil depletion will just be another piece in the much large problem of resource depletion, global climate change and sustainablity that will play out over a period of decades post 2025 roughly speaking.
I play the cards I'm dealt, though I sometimes bluff.

Only Man is vile.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby Carlhole » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 14:15:42

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('venky', 'I') am still convinced Peak Oil is real and will happen in the near future historically speaking.
The question is how it will affect my future personally. For the past few years I used to mostly believe that Peak Oil would affect me in the near future < 10 years, in regards to unemployment, turmoil in the cities, riots and perhaps even war.
Now I am thinking more that the effects of Peak Oil will occur far more gradually and may or may not affect me personally during my lifetime depending on my circumstances. If I can maintain my employment, live in a relatively stable area or region.
I think oil depletion will just be another piece in the much large problem of resource depletion, global climate change and sustainablity that will play out over a period of decades post 2025 roughly speaking.

Welcome to the club.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby threadbear » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 15:53:54

Posters who think that oil is going to do a complete 180 degree turn and march right back up north of 147.00 are likely incorrect. If it does, depletion may only play a minor role in the price rise, as it did before.

But to people with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby JJ » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 16:34:39

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('venky', 'I') am still convinced Peak Oil is real and will happen in the near future historically speaking.
The question is how it will affect my future personally. For the past few years I used to mostly believe that Peak Oil would affect me in the near future < 10 years, in regards to unemployment, turmoil in the cities, riots and perhaps even war.
Now I am thinking more that the effects of Peak Oil will occur far more gradually and may or may not affect me personally during my lifetime depending on my circumstances. If I can maintain my employment, live in a relatively stable area or region.
I think oil depletion will just be another piece in the much large problem of resource depletion, global climate change and sustainablity that will play out over a period of decades post 2025 roughly speaking.
Welcome to the club.

but aren't the economic collapse things we are watching going on now a result of peak oil?
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby threadbear » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 16:52:34

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JJ', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('venky', 'I') am still convinced Peak Oil is real and will happen in the near future historically speaking.
The question is how it will affect my future personally. For the past few years I used to mostly believe that Peak Oil would affect me in the near future < 10 years, in regards to unemployment, turmoil in the cities, riots and perhaps even war.
Now I am thinking more that the effects of Peak Oil will occur far more gradually and may or may not affect me personally during my lifetime depending on my circumstances. If I can maintain my employment, live in a relatively stable area or region.
I think oil depletion will just be another piece in the much large problem of resource depletion, global climate change and sustainablity that will play out over a period of decades post 2025 roughly speaking.
Welcome to the club.
but aren't the economic collapse things we are watching going on now a result of peak oil?

There hasn't been a true shortage of oil, where orders were left unfilled. If predicted near term shortages were a major consideration, at this point, oil wouldn't be under 60.00 per barrel. The price hike in the summer would have played a role in hastening foreclosure for some people, granted. But it's role as triggering mechanism for a financial unwind and deleveraging, has never been effectively argued on this site.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby sjn » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 19:02:59

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JJ', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('venky', 'I') am still convinced Peak Oil is real and will happen in the near future historically speaking.
The question is how it will affect my future personally. For the past few years I used to mostly believe that Peak Oil would affect me in the near future < 10 years, in regards to unemployment, turmoil in the cities, riots and perhaps even war.
Now I am thinking more that the effects of Peak Oil will occur far more gradually and may or may not affect me personally during my lifetime depending on my circumstances. If I can maintain my employment, live in a relatively stable area or region.
I think oil depletion will just be another piece in the much large problem of resource depletion, global climate change and sustainablity that will play out over a period of decades post 2025 roughly speaking.
Welcome to the club.
but aren't the economic collapse things we are watching going on now a result of peak oil?
There hasn't been a true shortage of oil, where orders were left unfilled. If predicted near term shortages were a major consideration, at this point, oil wouldn't be under 60.00 per barrel. The price hike in the summer would have played a role in hastening foreclosure for some people, granted. But it's role as triggering mechanism for a financial unwind and deleveraging, has never been effectively argued on this site.

Then what is shortonoil's "Available Energy" theory? I fail to understand how so many on the site dismiss how EROEI fits into all of this. The credit bubble was an attempt to counter the effects of falling "Available Energy", replacing Joules with Dollars. As an attempt to reflate GDP, it was never sustainable.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby threadbear » Sat 15 Nov 2008, 20:27:22

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sjn', ' ')
Then what is shortonoil's "Available Energy" theory? I fail to understand how so many on the site dismiss how EROEI fits into all of this. The credit bubble was an attempt to counter the effects of falling "Available Energy", replacing Joules with Dollars. As an attempt to reflate GDP, it was never sustainable.


Cheap oil allowed for a massive expansion of the economy. True. Had the economy continued to expand, at the same rate it would have collapsed due to depleting energy. I guess you could compare it to a race car, speeding along on a little less than half a tank. It hits a brick wall, which prevents the other inevitable scenario, which is running out of gasoline. If the car is repaired on the spot, and allowed to continue the race, it won't cross the finish line anyway. This is the bind we're in. If and when the economy picks up, unless alternatives are developed, we will just run out of gas. It's a perpetual poverty machine.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby sjn » Sun 16 Nov 2008, 00:12:50

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sjn', ' ')Then what is shortonoil's "Available Energy" theory? I fail to understand how so many on the site dismiss how EROEI fits into all of this. The credit bubble was an attempt to counter the effects of falling "Available Energy", replacing Joules with Dollars. As an attempt to reflate GDP, it was never sustainable.
Cheap oil allowed for a massive expansion of the economy. True. Had the economy continued to expand, at the same rate it would have collapsed due to depleting energy. I guess you could compare it to a race car, speeding along on a little less than half a tank. It hits a brick wall, which prevents the other inevitable scenario, which is running out of gasoline. If the car is repaired on the spot, and allowed to continue the race, it won't cross the finish line anyway. This is the bind we're in. If and when the economy picks up, unless alternatives are developed, we will just run out of gas. It's a perpetual poverty machine.

In a market economy why would you expect "running out of gas" to show up as shortages? Not that we didn't have any... (but then we never had a perfect market economy in the first place)
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby threadbear » Sun 16 Nov 2008, 00:23:28

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sjn', ' ')Not that we didn't have any... (but then we never had a perfect market economy in the first place)

A genuine shortage would have revealed itself in sustained high prices, not a creeping up of price, followed by a summer blow up, then an Autumn blow out.

Proof that there was an ACTUAL immediate shortage, due to geologic depletion, requiring a sharp reduction in flow by OPEC hasn't been proven. Bare in mind, I'm saying an immediate problem with supply.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby sjn » Sun 16 Nov 2008, 01:21:04

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sjn', ' ')Not that we didn't have any... (but then we never had a perfect market economy in the first place)
A genuine shortage would have revealed itself in sustained high prices, not a creeping up of price, followed by a summer blow up, then an Autumn blow out.
That is self evidently not the case. Oil prices above a certain point render large swathes of the economy unprofitable - this is exactly what you would expect as more energy is diverted towards energy production and away from the general ecomomy.$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')roof that there was an ACTUAL immediate shortage, due to geologic depletion, requiring a sharp reduction in flow by OPEC hasn't been proven. Bare in mind, I'm saying an immediate problem with supply.
The shortage was chronic, and it exibited itself in the indebtment of the general economy. Credit availablity only shifted what was available to those able to attain that credit and away from those who could not. The credit crunch is/was the process of that pool of credit shrinking, cutting availability first to large parts of what have been until now the first world (including US home buyers) and now into the rapidily developing countries, such as is now occuring in China.

Once the credit bubble burst (due to lack of credit to pay interest on the current debt levels throughout the system), the whole system started unwinding as defaults pushed up the value of currencies that had been used in the carry trade as the credit bubble had expanded, and triggering further defaults and unwinding/liquidation faster than the rate of Available Energy decline.
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby yesplease » Sun 16 Nov 2008, 16:19:49

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sjn', 'T')hat is self evidently not the case. Oil prices above a certain point render large swathes of the economy unprofitable - this is exactly what you would expect as more energy is diverted towards energy production and away from the general ecomomy.
What large swathes are you referring to?
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Professor Membrane', ' ')Not now son, I'm making ... TOAST!
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Re: Are we fools? Time to eat some crow?

Postby sjn » Sun 16 Nov 2008, 18:00:01

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sjn', 'T')hat is self evidently not the case. Oil prices above a certain point render large swathes of the economy unprofitable - this is exactly what you would expect as more energy is diverted towards energy production and away from the general ecomomy.
What large swathes are you referring to?

How secure is YOUR job?
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