[Leanan]

'Recession Apocalypse': Preparing for the End of the World

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')reault isn't alone in her transformation. Thousands are hunkering down for an economic apocalypse and share comments about converging catastrophes on Web sites and Internet message boards, like Peakoil.com.

[NoWorries]

I don't think that's really a positive piece of media coverage.

[Caffeine]

Nice article.

Leave it to the MSM to combine survivalism and a weight-loss article. (I think it's pretty common for Peak Oilers to get more interested in health and fitness -- it's just that it's such a common MSM focus for a story.)

A couple of quotes from the article:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')reault's husband, Michael, 58, didn't support her lifestyle change, and they divorced in 2006.

"My husband was convinced that this wouldn't happen in our lifetime and that things would be worked out and we'd be OK. And we just really disagreed about this," she said.

[Roy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]Some Survivalists Stockpile Food and Guns

Breault isn't alone in her transformation. Thousands are hunkering down for an economic apocalypse and share comments about converging catastrophes on Web sites and Internet message boards, like Peakoil.com.

Some survivalists have moved to rural homesteads, or what they call "doomsteads," where they can live off the land, raise their own livestock and grow their own vegetables. Others are stockpiling food and guns in case widespread panic breaks out.

[mos6507]

I don't think this article is as negatively biased as people here think it is. And I'm pretty picky about MSM coverage of peak oil. I'd say this article ranks up there with the cable news interview of REVI on the high profile peak oil coverage. I mean, just the fact you've got the word "doomstead" showing up on ABC News is a cool thing. it's not a blog or an editorial. It's a full fledged article.

[jdmartin]

I may be in the minority, but I think I prefer anonymity for this board. Frankly, there's no point in keying up any sizeable amount of people to start doing things different, because a lot of preparation depends on everything else kind of operating on cruise control for as long as possible; if there was a mad rush for conservation and sustainability, a whole lot more people would be losing jobs, and the domino effect could take out others who are already preparing but are not quite there yet. Now, I realize this is a selfish outlook, but so be it .

Realistically, I suspect the vast majority of people will continue to live like they've always lived, so I don't really think I have anything to worry about from a mad rush of survivalists, but if you believe that everyone can't be saved (as I do) and that there's going to necessarily be less for all (as I do), then you really don't want to be out there telling people to start hunkering down. On the contrary, I say spend away!

[Narz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')reault's husband, Michael, 58, didn't support her lifestyle change, and they divorced in 2006.

[Schmuto]

58?

When you're 58, you should . . .

. . .
have no dependent children.
have a decent amount of savings and/or land.
have no debt.
Your life expectancy is 20 years.

I can see why the husband wouldn't change. I think he was wrong, but I get it.

At 58 you are in the generation that will be viewed historically as the most profligate generation of the last 1,000 years.

Why admit error and change?

Why not just ride it out?

I'm on the far Doom side of the Doom scale, and even I can see it squeaking out another 5-10 years before things get out of control.

I mean, that's my absolute best case scenario, but I allow for it.

So look at it from his perspective.

If Walmart stays open for 10 more years, his life is mostly over anyway.

Why bust his ass growing peas and beans when he could be finishing his gluttonous, abusive ride through life laying on the couch watching Monday Night Football?

[Caffeine]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schmuto', 'A')t 58 you are in the generation that will be viewed historically as the most profligate generation of the last 1,000 years.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', '
')if you believe that everyone can't be saved (as I do) and that there's going to necessarily be less for all (as I do), then you really don't want to be out there telling people to start hunkering down. On the contrary, I say spend away!

[Sixstrings]

Wow, how did PO.com get a nod? Is this Breault person a member of the site?

It would be interesting to know if there's any spike in site usage after this mention.

[MattSavinar]

Actually, Kathie says she's never visited PO.com. She told them it was LATOC but they got it wrong. Her emails to me, republished with her permission.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')
Hi Matt,

As usual, they got it wrong. I've never been to the site peakoil.com. I mention LATOC when I tell people where to go to find out about PO. And Energy Bulletin. I'm giving up $4.00 Kombucha, not "juice."
I don't consider myself an economic survivalist. I'm interested in community building and permaculture, which they never get right.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=7579167&page=1

It's supposed to air tonight, anyway. I can't believe I showed them that hideous picture. They blew it up and took the kids out of the picture. OMG it looks terrible.

Kathie

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', 'A')ctually, Kathie says she's never visited PO.com. She told them it was LATOC but they got it wrong. Her emails to me, republished with her permission.

[Schmuto]

Matt - How's that posterior chain coming?

Anytime you want that Esq on Esq MMA cage match, you let me know.

The ultimate Doomer Porn -

Savinar vs. Gideon, 5 rounds, no gloves.

[jboogy]

mos 6705 wrote
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') think everyone's going to become a doomer in the end.

[Caffeine]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jboogy', 'i')f it all comes crashing down they will either be forced to acknowledge the doom taking place, or lose their sanity in a last ditch attempt to thwart reality.

[TheDude]

Alright, some of that non-existent bad publicity.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', 'A')ctually, Kathie says she's never visited PO.com. She told them it was LATOC but they got it wrong. Her emails to me, republished with her permission.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')
Hi Matt,

As usual, they got it wrong. I've never been to the site peakoil.com. I mention LATOC when I tell people where to go to find out about PO. And Energy Bulletin. I'm giving up $4.00 Kombucha, not "juice."
I don't consider myself an economic survivalist. I'm interested in community building and permaculture, which they never get right.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'A')lright, some of that non-existent bad publicity.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', 'A')ctually, Kathie says she's never visited PO.com. She told them it was LATOC but they got it wrong. Her emails to me, republished with her permission.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')
Hi Matt,

As usual, they got it wrong. I've never been to the site peakoil.com. I mention LATOC when I tell people where to go to find out about PO. And Energy Bulletin. I'm giving up $4.00 Kombucha, not "juice."
I don't consider myself an economic survivalist. I'm interested in community building and permaculture, which they never get right.

[KaiserCesar06]

This was the 2nd story on Nightline tonight, full 6-7 minute segment or so. Seemed pretty fair for the MSM, aside from referencing "the doomsdayers" when talking about the ramifications of peak oil rather than any legitimate sounding source that has ever said anything about it.

[Stonemason]

We are a planetary species, doomers cannot hope to survive for long or survive a life worth living unless they embrace that we are all one and that a species at war with itself is doomed.

I really no longer understand the doomer mindset, I did at one point, but believe my awareness has advanced to a state where it seems rather pointless.