[AirlinePilot]

This is usually the first question I hear after talking about PO. I have to admit it's the hardest question to answer and I see it as the final nail in our coffins. There are far too many people who will fail to learn the facts on their own. They believe almost religiously everything they see on CNN or in USA today. If the government isn't worried then why should I be? I see this as the main show, the big event, the tipping mechanism, whatever you want to call it. The failure of the general populace to realize something so dire is coming, and to mobilize in time to actually do something about it, will bring us all down. I hate to say it but there are a lot of zombies running around filled with their little microcosm of needs and wants. They are too busy to notice or care about what's beating down thier door.

The feel good backslapping and optimism from Bush's energy speech has been predictable. Just another shot of drugs to keep folks in their consumption induced coma. No worries! Technology will save us all!

This is generally why I have stopped doing anything other than mentioning a "concern" about the future in a very broad and general sense and that I have some trepidations about oil supply and demand effects. I did not think the Olduvai Cliff scenario was really that plausible in this day and age, now I am pretty much convinced of it.

[Ebyss]

I tend to agree with you. People just don't want to know. I one way I'm almost glad, because when TSHTF people will have to get their act together pretty quick, in one fell swoop. On the other hand, they'll just keep chugging along, burning oil and gas and generally making the planet a crappier place to live by the day.

My personal approach has been more guarded than I would usually be. The few relations I've mentioned it to haven't really "got it" yet, and don't understand the full repercussions. My dad is the one person who will "get it" but the timing and the way I tell him will be critical... he just won't listen if I go in guns blazing, talking about TEOTWAWKI, and die-off. He'll figure those things out by himself. I think that's the situation with most people, they so desperately want to "spread the word" that they end up looking like conspiracy theorists and doom-and-gloomers. The way people are told will be as important as what they are told.

With that in mind, I've just decided to keep my head down and prepare as best I can. Get the farm up and running, move towards off-grid living and self sufficiency, and be sure that I can feed around 80 people (family and friends, plus a few extras) if need be. That's the best I can do.

[RonMN]

I really don't think they'll "come around" when the SHTF...i think they'll either stay in their denial (TV will still be shouting "ALL IS WELL") or they're gonna panic & turn violent.

Not a pretty picture either way

[EddieB]

I agree w/your MO. I've spoken about "concern about the future oil supply" a bit, but I have generally refrained from all out TEOTWAWKI talk. Nobody listens because they've heard it all before. Never mind that this is the first time I've ever flipped out about something like this... The Club of Rome (yeah, I know, PO is right in line w/their predictions, but people associate them with a very long time ago...) and environmental groups (which I support) have been predicting catastrophe for so long that now nobody can hear that there actually is an imminent threat. My greatest fear right now is that the US governement will get us into a war and distract us from the actual situation. It seems a nice big war would be just about the only way to avoid having PO percolate thoroughly through the population's conciousness as TSHTF. Iran makes such a perfect target, Islamic fundamentalism, lots of oil, and nuclear weapons. Even with a lack of WMD in Iraq most (a majority I think) Americans beleive that the Mullahs are trying to get nukes and we are therefore justified in stopping them by force. It makes me sick.
On the bright side, PO will be an opportunity to get to know your friends and family in ways we would never choose to... Once we're through the next 20-30 years I see a bright, rather simple, future for humankind.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ebyss', ' ')and be sure that I can feed around 80 people (family and friends, plus a few extras) if need be. That's the best I can do.

[RdSnt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ebyss', 'I') tend to agree with you. People just don't want to know. I one way I'm almost glad, because when TSHTF people will have to get their act together pretty quick, in one fell swoop. On the other hand, they'll just keep chugging along, burning oil and gas and generally making the planet a crappier place to live by the day.

My personal approach has been more guarded than I would usually be. The few relations I've mentioned it to haven't really "got it" yet, and don't understand the full repercussions. My dad is the one person who will "get it" but the timing and the way I tell him will be critical... he just won't listen if I go in guns blazing, talking about TEOTWAWKI, and die-off. He'll figure those things out by himself. I think that's the situation with most people, they so desperately want to "spread the word" that they end up looking like conspiracy theorists and doom-and-gloomers. The way people are told will be as important as what they are told.

With that in mind, I've just decided to keep my head down and prepare as best I can. Get the farm up and running, move towards off-grid living and self sufficiency, and be sure that I can feed around 80 people (family and friends, plus a few extras) if need be. That's the best I can do.

[BiGG]

Everything is going right on schedule I’m sure. Things need to spread slowly so as not to panic the public or short supply lines. The government is fully aware of what is going on and fully aware of how best to deal with it. Slowly people are picking things up and responding accordingly just like they should be.

[Roy]

When I first became aware of Peak Oil and its ramifications, I felt the urge to tell everyone I knew. In hindsight that wasn't the right thing to do, yet the emotions I was feeling seemed to override my rational thought processes.

Now, I sometimes mention to people that I'm concerned about the future of this country without alluding to anything specific.

On the personal front, I've just planted my first garden, The neighbors seem midly curious. I've made initial prepations (stock piling, metals, etc) and now into the hands on phase.

I agree with AirlinePilot. The denial I see on a daily basis astounds and frightens me. There is no telling what people will do once the conept of PO enters thoughts of the majority of people. A panic may ensue. The potential for anarchy in this area is high IMO. I hope to have relocated prior to TSHTF.

Just yesterday the guys in the office were having a big laugh at my expense regarding global warming. The jist of it was that people wouldn't be feeling the effects for at least 75 years. Seems one of them saw Dennis Miller on the Daily Show the other night. His word was gospel to them.

Later, one on one, they're asking me why I got rid of my guzzler in favor of VW TDI, sold my muscle car, sold my house, and planted a garden.

I think people are aware, maybe on a sub-concious level, that something is wrong. That our society is somehow out of balance. They just haven't "connected the dots" yet due to their focus on careers, conspicuous consumption, and families. No time to read they tell me. Yet somehow they all have the time to watch all the hottest TV shows.

That's the first thing I did once I became PO aware. Stopped watching TV mostly and completely swore off mainstream American media.

Roy

[MonteQuest]

It's the hedonistic response. In a kind of last-days-of-Rome syndrome, they will argue that there is really nothing that can be done. What can the little person do except look out for #1; eat , drink and party and wait for the chaos to ensue. Let's go out with a bang! Human nature is just greedy and destructive; let's get ours while the getting is good!

I think subconsciously people realize that all is not well, and they are milking the refi-ATM cow for all she's worth.

On Earth Day, I gave a peak oil presentation for a local spiritual group that sponsors a yearly Earth Sustainability Day. After I spoke, we had Lane Garret from ETA Engineering speak on solar alternatives. A lady in the audience asked if a solar PV panel would charge her golfcart and run her Jacuzzi! Guess she didn't understand the Hubbert's Peak I drew on the blackboard.

[Ebyss]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ebyss', ' ')and be sure that I can feed around 80 people (family and friends, plus a few extras) if need be. That's the best I can do.

[Ludi]

Thank you Ebyss, I'm looking forward to that.

[Phetro]

It seems that different personality types respond to information about things like PO differently, but these can be broken down to four main response types:

1. The "ignore it and do nothing" mentality: these people are, on a subconscious level, normally afraid of change, preferring the idea of comfort and safety to the reality of effort and potential hardship. They will aggressively oppose any attempt to alter their ways of thinking in regards to things like Peak Oil. It will be exremely difficult to wake this person up, so to speak--until, as it's been so eloquently put, TSHTF.

2. The "huh?" mentality: this person needs more information before making a decision about what to do. This is a healthy first approach to have--but it will be essential for this person to actually make a genuine attempt to acquire the knowledge, and then to act on what he or she learns!

3. The "sky is falling" mentality: these people subconsciously want change, and feel that urging everyone else to see the worst case scenario will help bring the change to fruition. Personality 3 is also usually kind-hearted, and wants the change for beneficial reasons, it must be said (i.e., saving the ecosystems, saving lives, encouraging self-sufficiency). In the end, it is important for this person to spend more time preparing for (in this case) Peak Oil and less time trying to convince others of approaching doom, even if it is imminent.

4. This fourth person says nothing to the first, and much to the second, but only as much as necessary to the third. It is this person who is most prepared for cataclysmic events when they do occur, and most prepared to help everyone else become accustomed.

These personalities can be summed up in a teaching that has been around for hundreds (if not thousands) of years before we were born:

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool--shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child--teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep--wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man--follow him.

Of course, the teaching is excellent for describing human states in many other contexts as well.

[Tapas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phetro', '
')He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool--shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child--teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep--wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man--follow him.

[NevadaGhosts]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ut why isn't anyone doing anything about it?

[Phetro]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tapas', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phetro', '
')He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool--shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child--teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep--wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man--follow him.

[TrueKaiser]

you will not find anyone here doing anything about it other then trying to live out their mad max fantasys or trying to convince said group that they are worng.
if you want to actualy contribute to the solution and not the problem may i sujest you delete your acount here and go to these websites to find out more.
http://www.communitysolution.org/index.html
http://www.survivingpeakoil.com/

[Phetro]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TrueKaiser', 'y')ou will not find anyone here doing anything about it other then trying to live out their mad max fantasys or trying to convince said group that they are worng.
if you want to actualy contribute to the solution and not the problem may i sujest you delete your acount here and go to these websites to find out more.
http://www.communitysolution.org/index.html
http://www.survivingpeakoil.com/

[pea-jay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TrueKaiser', 'y')ou will not find anyone here doing anything about it other then trying to live out their mad max fantasys or trying to convince said group that they are worng.
if you want to actualy contribute to the solution and not the problem may i sujest you delete your acount here and go to these websites to find out more.
http://www.communitysolution.org/index.html
http://www.survivingpeakoil.com/

[Omnitir]

I think that realistically, all that can be done by our society is being done. Sure, a massive power down project is what we really need to do to improve our future chances, but is such a project really feasible in our society? I don’t believe it is possible; there are simply way too many people with too much invested in our current way of life for society to change so radically.

What I would like to see is wide scale recognition of the problem, and a strong incentive to power down, but I don’t see how it is possible. There is still too much money to be made in selling “The American way of life” to the whole world, and those raking in the profits don’t want the public to become PO savvy.

I imagine another reason could be about trying to avoid mass panic. If PO becomes widely known about, and the media blasts it into the faces of the masses, what could be the possible results? A likely result is the SHTF scenario. Making the mass public aware and frightened about PO could start the crisis earlier then would happen by adopting a business as usual façade. At least that could be what the worlds leaders believe.