by gampy » Wed 04 Jul 2007, 19:19:24
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')I completely disagree. Not much intelligence is required for the peak oil concept, at all. It's far, far more of an emotional matter, in my opinion.
This pretty much answers the original poster's question, I think.
If this was a forum about say...astrophysics, or microbiology, or art, I don't think we would see these folks, or even myself.
Narrowminded, and conditioned people can easily see what peak-oil is all about. It's not rocket science.
There are many intelligent, perceptive, talented people with irrational notions.
It's a function of human nature I suppose.
The human mind can do astounding feats of logic, insight, and reason.
But at the same time, it can be conditioned, and trained like any dog.
The neo-nazi's (or white power, nationalist, or whatever they might call themselves) have been conditioned. They never had black, or asian friends as kids. All they saw of the criminal elements is the black folks. They conveniently don't see the whites who are poor, drug-addled, alcoholic, and criminals in their own midst.
If there were no blacks in their country, or asians, or jews, they would find some other sub-category to find a difference. Maybe the dark haired. Or the shorter. Or the fatter.
It doesn't matter. People will find any way to be a bigot. Any way to make themselves feel better about themselves. It's just a fact of human nature writ large.
I would like to think that the majority of people can overcome these instincts, but I think they are hardwired, and will take many, many more centuries of living in mixed groups to overcome this evolutionary trait.
It's pretty axiomatic that people see differences before they see similarities. It's probably some kind of survival trait that has evolved in us and other mammals. I don't think that trait is necessary at the moment, but it might be at some point in the future. (When groups of humans didn't exceed 15-20, and only saw other groups to interbreed.)
I wonder if that's where we are headed? What a thought.