163. NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF
The doomers often say: "We can handle P.O. technically. It's the fear and hysteria that's going to cause the collapse." Personally, I think fear is counterproductive, and those who are inciting it will be the #1 enemy of our society in the post-peak period. They will have to be marginalized, ridiculed and shouted down.
This is a great speech by FDR, which shows how leadership reacts to hysteria. It is the model which any future President will look to in leading the U.S. out of a peak oil crisis:
I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.Source
-- by JD
posted by JD @ 5:53 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Unfortunatleyt, you are wrong. Future leaders are more likely to follow the footsteps of Hitler, not FDR.
"Unfortunatleyt, you are wrong. Future leaders are more likely to follow the footsteps of Hitler, not FDR"
Do you have any spare crystal balls I can buy?
LOL. I think reality check needs to change his name to nazi fantasy check.
Right on. By far the scariest thing as you learn about Peak Oil, and all similar issues of sustainability and so forth, is the feeling that nobody knows or gives a stuff. In fact, most people are actually not mindless automaton "consumers" but real people, who would be just as interested in the problem as you are if they were simply made aware of it.
Actually, in my experience, most people seem to be completely apathetic, even after they are made aware of the issues, and even after I reassure them that things aren't about to blow up, that there's time to become prepared, that there will be green pastures on the other side of peak, etc.
Anyway, it appears to me that history weighs in on the side of those who believe that we're headed for a more oppressive world than what we have previously experienced.
Of course, if people are apathetic, then they're clearly not fearful so maybe that's a plus!
Go out and buy the latest issue of a magazine called "Adbusters", and you'll know what I mean.
I did that once. NEVER AGAIN.
Cynicism (Adbusters's stock in trade) is even more dangerous than fear.
@JD
"Personally, I think fear is counterproductive, and those who are inciting it will be the #1 enemy of our society in the post-peak period. They will have to be marginalized, ridiculed and shouted down."
Do I detect the same attitude here that you so vigourously attack? JD, *nobody* should be marginalized because of what they utter. That is called free speech.
The more I think about this the more I come to the conclusion that doom&gloom is in the eye of the beholder. In thread 138 there are a few responders talking about "fear" and "fearmongering", let's take a look:
"I was emotionally paralyzed with fear. He talks about metaphorically putting a gun in his mouth. I very nearly did so literally, and only responsibility to my wife and two young children saved me from that."
"I remember when I first came across Peak Oil through the doomer websites, it was like the entire universe had come crashing down. It was the worst feeling I have ever experienced."
"I'm the other Anon who had mentioned that I'd considered suicide at one point."
Right. Are you all going to see a therapist soon? I am very sorry if I offend somebody but this by far too heavy a response to what you should have been seeing as a possible scenario presented by a lawyer on the internet. And nobody should be marginalized, ridiculed and shouted down because these people overreact. Nobody. You may very well disagree with Matt Savinar and Jay Hanson but you should refute them with facts, and we should all take own responsibility in regard to overreaction.
Keep in mind that there's a difference between censorship and censure. People who say outrageous and dangerous things should definitely be shouted down - but not suppressed. That's a big difference.
Thanks anon. I am a firm believer in free speech. No one's rights to free speech should be infringed, for any reason.
On the other hand, if you want to be a fearmonger, you should expect to get a constant earful of blistering, abusive speech.
@JD
While we keep pampering people that freak out to the point of suicide about a website?? A website!
Am I the only one that doubts the soundness of such a reaction? For Gods sake: Please take your own responsibility. Jay Hanson is not dangerous, the lack of independant thinking of people that react as discribed is dangerous. JD, I like your point of view. But I keep repeating: There is no such thing as a peakoil movement. There are several message boards where people discuss the <BLINK>POSSIBLE</BLINK> outcome of a world oil production peak. Offcourse all kind off far off predictions are made. But to call that "fearmongering" is to take away the responsibility of ones own mental health.
Roland just put a ban on cynism as well, by the way. This feels like a Philip K. Dick novel :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Japed
I am scared:
http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2005/11/16/182053/32
I am scared:
Don't be. That calculation still has big holes in it. I described them in the comments at the Oil Drum.
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