[Jack]

Let us consider the development of a post-peak world. Resources will, almost be definition, be more scarce, more rare, and hence more expensive. Anger and resentment will reverberate through many formerly affluent industrial societies.

Can we expect wide-spread, extensive cooperation to overcome the problems, or should we anticipate conflict? I propose a simple question: How many friends do you have today?

Let's define the term "friends."

[boilingleadbath]

Heck, even with the old defenition, I seriously doubted I had more than one or two!

[RonMN]

The first word that comes to mind is "OUCH"...but i cannot deny your brutal logic. This will be a harsh reality! And some those who we "consider" to be our "friends" will undoubtedly want to do nothing but consume your supplies & when supplies run out they will BLAME YOU for not having more.
Welcome to P.O.

[Liamj]

Excellent topic Jack.
What to do about/with your friends is another thing. Its natural to want to tell them about resource depletion, try to get them engaged & preparing etc, but wont necesarily work - its too big/scary/remote etc
So I've made sure that all of them know at least that I think 'its that bad', that i'm interested in any & all ways of cooperating on needs & skill sharing now and in the future, and that i'm even more glad than before to help them however can.

To date been mostly digging out info on what their best no-regret preparations might be (which i can do with relative ease). E.g. have a pal who currently runs planting teams for a big landscaping company, hes been after info related to simple methods of assessing and building soil fertility & sequencing crop rotations. Another friend is very interested in climate forecasts for his part of the country, as wants to supersize all his water collection & holding infrastructure - i get a walk thru on the maths in return & invitation to meet his neighbour who plows with horses for a hobby. These don't relate directly to PO, & may ultimately be not useful to me, but more friends/allies can't be a bad thing.

Oh, Jack - I think allies might be useful term for codependency relationships that aren't particularly heartwarming/friendlike.

[mididoctors]

its an interesting question.. and definition of friend is about right in spirit

the poll options should have been groups with a larger range perhaps.

I believe I have more than 5 now

the assumption this will be the limit of your peer group so to speak in some post peak world is suspect.. as is the nature of such a world.

if we assume some complete basket case scenario it is still conceivable that gangs would produce quite sizable groupings relatively quickly even if they were not all friends by that definition.

Boris
london

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mididoctors', '
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the poll options should have been groups with a larger range perhaps.

I believe I have more than 5 now

Boris
london