[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrairieMule', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')I might add that, as a doomer, I see my condition as that of a lower officer of the "Titanic," who's fully aware of and horrified at what's coming and doing what I can to forestall it, yet at the same time a detached observer of it.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'N')ice anecdote, Turtle. One difference though between aikido and PO is that the much of the latter can be learned from a FAQ or primer. I assume you can't break boards with your bare hand from just reading about doing so...

I'm interested in this site producing something substantive and permanent, like the Sticky docs in PfortheF, something people can take home/print out, to put to use. Aside from that we have the welfare of newbies to consider, whether we want to give them the Straight Dope, shock them out of their lull, entertain their hopes, what have you. I suppose at this point the site's what it is, and whether the tone of the postings here depends on the veracity or intellect of future new users.

And there'll be plenty of newbs soon, as somebody pointed out. Thought I'd do a search for 'oil' on Google - hold the peak. Third hit is LATOC, first page has www.peak-oil-news.info, Energy Bulletin, Oil Drum. We're on page two, every other hit is Hubbertish.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheTurtle', 'A')bout 6 years or so after I started teaching aikido, I had this moment where I felt as though I had gone over the same thing thousands of times and the "idiots" just weren't getting it. I was frustrated and ready to call it quits. Then I realized that the people who weren't getting it weren't the ones who had practiced thousands of times with me over the past six years. Most of them were new students for whom it was all brand new.

After I came to that simple realization, my whole attitude shifted. Yes, I might be teaching the same thing yet again, but for those I was teaching, it was brand new. And when I had that understanding, I started seeing it all afresh with a beginner's mind.

That was over 12 years ago, and I still find pleasure in teaching the simple basics to new beginners.

I'm not sure exactly how that translates to sharing our views of peak oil year after year with people who are just discovering it for the first time. But I think there's a lesson in there somewhere.

[thuja]

No sugar coating- again thats not the point here...

I like to argue, be grumpy and bicker as much as the next PO poster- I think it is actually useful in some regard- it helps people to make up their minds about things (as long as it is not ad hominem attacks of course)- what I am wondering about is...adding something...

perhaps a newbies thread...perhaps a community preparation thread, perhaps a sticky that is very succinct and informative and updated about the state of the Peak (or Plateau or Decline or Cliff depending on circumstances).

[ironborne]

I am happy that after thuja's initial post and my response , this didn't turn into a cencorship debate.
I don't advocate cencorship and enjoy reading all the doom I can but I believe that there are new people who might get the wrong impression.
My fix to this problem would be to send a short letter to the new persons e-mail. it would say something like; "Thank you for joining peakoil. We hope you will benefit from the advice and thoughts of the people who post here. Our posters have spent a lot of time brainstorming likely scenarios of the ramifications of both a slow decline and a crash. If the content of this site offends you then we recommend that you stay positive and post in our preparedness sections."
Obviously that is just a rough outline but it might give some people a heads up about the subjects they will be exposed to.

[Novus]

When I first came to this forum over two years ago the first thread I read was one very much like this one. It set the direction of the forum telling us where we had been and where we were going. In short it told me Peak Oil was a done deal that was set in stone. The direction of PeakOil.com was going to be changing from a site that spreads information about Peak Oil to an inside debate of those who were smart enough and aware enough would already be here getting ready to adapt. In a way felt like being the last person in a lifeboat on the Titanic.

That transformation foretold in that post is now complete. I now see this site as a radar for what comes next. There is nobody in real life I know that understands the doom on our doorstep. I come here to learn about the truth and talk about the truth.

[thuja]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Drifter', 't')huja, I understand what you talking about. Us old board members have had years to mentally prepare for what is coming. And this board does seem to becoming more doomerish lately. But what do you expect? Peak oil is now on our doorstep, and things are about to get really bad. There are few here who can deny that (well ok, a few). Peak oil is not a happy story. I do honestly think we should all try to stay positive and live for today, because there really isn't much we can to prepare for or prevent peak oil. But we shouldn't delude ourselves into thinking everything is going to be alright. Or that we can move onto more sustainable energy replacements and maintain our current lifestyle. Most of us here know that's crazy and will never happen. But yes, it can be hard for new board members to learn about peak oil now and try to comprehend it right when all hell is about to break loose. Maybe we were the lucky ones to learn about peak oil years ago. Maybe not.

[Pops]

I’m I correct that the Open is now only accessible to Members?

[Pops]

I will mention once again that the Open - as well as the HOF, should be viewable only by registered Members - PFTF as well if that is what it takes.

Seems like a simple enough change if the idea is to give the site less of a Zombie Zone feelling to the casual passerby.

OTOH if that is the idea then we are good.

[SpringCreekFarm]

It's been my experience that after I've told some people about peakoil.com, they start treating me differently... so I don't anymore. What does that tell you?

It goes like this....

ME: "So.....did you check out peakoil.com?"

THEM: "Well yeah man, I had a look at it".

ME: "What do you think? Pretty informative, huh?"

THEM: "Well...yeah....I dunno....I don't really think it will be THAT bad"

ME: "Well it COULD be and facts are there for all to see"

THEM: "I dunno, I just can't think that way right now and if it happens, what am I going to do about it?"

Mind closes, sheeple instincts kick in and that's it. Another person of average intelligence jolted into denial. There must be a better way of getting this message across to them....you know...not everyone...just those we care for. We can't save the world, just try to save our world. It would be a start.

[Heineken]

Exactly right, SpringCreek.

I think that those of us "in the know" about the converging horrors have an absolute responsibility to be as publicly doomerish as possible. If necessary, to exaggerate the sordid details (and, after all, since the evolving story just keeps getting worse, exaggeration may actually be an adjustment providing greater ultimate accuracy).

Whatever it takes to blast through the oaken barriers of the sheeple brain. They do respond to fear, if not to facts.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', '
')Should there be an intro section for newbies so they can "get it" before jumping into our doomer porrn? Should there be a way to ease the masses into our nightmare? Or should we just let the few, brave and strong remain while most everyone else runs fleeing?

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SpringCreekFarm', 'T')here must be a better way of getting this message across to them....you know...not everyone...just those we care for.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', 'I')f readers don't know how bad it could get ...why bother?

Why do you really care what they think of this site...its tone...or Force 10 doomer porn?

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', 'I')f readers don't know how bad it could get ...why bother?

Why do you really care what they think of this site...its tone...or Force 10 doomer porn?

[Twilight]

This forum has perpetual motion on one side, biker zombies on the other, and somewhere in between, content worth reading. Is it really too much to ask of visitors to read and form their own judgement? If they expect absolute certainty professionally packaged CNN-style, maybe they should go back to CNN? I am not comfortable with the idea of tuning anything to mainstream expectations. I would rather sit here and watch the mainstream scramble to adapt. It's more funny too.

[Pops]

I think the current format of news and explanations for those newly aware,

Along with resources and content for those willing to use them should they decide,

Supported inconspicuously in the back by unending doom from those like Roc who seem to want the persona they care about no one…

But whose every post of impending doom from every direction brings in a little Googlemoney from every hit to support the rest of the site…


Seems like a good situation to me.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'I') think the current format of news and explanations for those newly aware,

Along with resources and content for those willing to use them should they decide,

Supported inconspicuously in the back by unending doom from those like Roc who seem to want the persona they care about no one…

But whose every post of impending doom from every direction brings in a little Googlemoney from every hit to support the rest of the site…


Seems like a good situation to me.