Powerswitch shift

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 10 Sep 2010, 23:59

One of the things I've learned from both dealing with depression and learning about permaculture, is to try to have a positive attitude to things. I'm very aware of the potential problems that face us, and what the outcome could be, and I'm certainly not burying my head in the sand, but it's not useful having a negative attitude to it, and it's very unhealthy. It doesn't get us anywhere, and makes it more likely that TS will HTF if we just sit back and wait for it to happen. If it does happen, there's nothing we can do about it, so worrying about it now won't make any difference in the long run, and spoils the good life we could be having now.

I'm not saying we should put it out of our minds, as we need to be very aware of it, but allowing it to make us depressed is very damaging and unproductive. I know how much better life can be when you can change that way of thinking, and it is possible.

By good life, I don't mean burning all the fossil fuel we can get our hands on and trashing the planet, because we're all going to die anyway, but doing everything we can to make the world better for ourselves and other people (whether that's because we really care, or as enlightened self interest). Maybe it won't save us, but if we don't try it definitely won't work. I'd rather face my doom knowing that I did my best to avoid it, than regretting I didn't try, and there's every chance that we may have a good future if enough of us make the effort.

syberberg · Post by **syberberg** » 11 Sep 2010, 01:04

JohnB wrote:One of the things I've learned from both dealing with depression and learning about permaculture, is to try to have a positive attitude to things. I'm very aware of the potential problems that face us, and what the outcome could be, and I'm certainly not burying my head in the sand, but it's not useful having a negative attitude to it, and it's very unhealthy. It doesn't get us anywhere, and makes it more likely that TS will HTF if we just sit back and wait for it to happen. If it does happen, there's nothing we can do about it, so worrying about it now won't make any difference in the long run, and spoils the good life we could be having now.

I'm not saying we should put it out of our minds, as we need to be very aware of it, but allowing it to make us depressed is very damaging and unproductive. I know how much better life can be when you can change that way of thinking, and it is possible.

By good life, I don't mean burning all the fossil fuel we can get our hands on and trashing the planet, because we're all going to die anyway, but doing everything we can to make the world better for ourselves and other people (whether that's because we really care, or as enlightened self interest). Maybe it won't save us, but if we don't try it definitely won't work. I'd rather face my doom knowing that I did my best to avoid it, than regretting I didn't try, and there's every chance that we may have a good future if enough of us make the effort.

+1001

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 11 Sep 2010, 01:19

syberberg wrote:+1001

Why do we need carpet cleaner?

syberberg · Post by **syberberg** » 11 Sep 2010, 02:56

JohnB wrote:
syberberg wrote:+1001
Why do we need carpet cleaner?

Because she uses less electricity than a hoover and, being young and nubile, is very easy on the eye in her maid's uniform

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 11 Sep 2010, 10:38

Lord Beria3 wrote:0.2 out of 1.0 Biff.

Ah, right, I've always thought it unlikely that probability values involved an 'out of'.

Eternal Sunshine · Post by **Eternal Sunshine** » 11 Sep 2010, 12:44

I've noticed quite a shift on here recently, but I think it's just that certain voices are louder than others, and it's just a phase the forum is going through. I tend to read very little of certain people's posts, as their opinion is of little interest to me. If I do read them (which sometimes is inevitable) I try VERY hard not to rise to what is said, and rarely reply.

Like with that Roger guy, it's easy to ignore them, and if we stop providing them with someone to agrue with they'll get bored and hopefully go off and annoy someone else eventually.

Anyway, if we don't like it, we should start lots of other threads about things that interest us, not sit here moaning.

Ludwig · Post by **Ludwig** » 11 Sep 2010, 13:53

nexus wrote:
In the past ,forum members have regularly discussed what form the future might take and there are plenty of doom-minded people on here (come on down Ludwig!) but there was less glorification of a violent doom laden future than there seems to be now.

I wasn't sure if you were including me among the LATOC-style posters, Nexus

I'm a doomer but I hope that, except in my most grim moods, I back up my opinions with reasoned arguments.

I would love to believe in a peaceful future, but I think I'm self-aware enough to tell the difference between what I genuinely, rationally believe, and what's just wishful thinking.

I certainly don't glorify a violent future. I loathe gratuitous violence and I am as disturbed as you are by people who are capable of harming others for the pleasure of it. But unfortunately, that is human nature.

I don't think there are as many "macho" doomers as you make out, I think it's just that we tend to notice posters who get our goat.

When RGR was on this site, after a while I stopped reading his posts completely. It was easy! Maybe you should do the same with the macho doomers?

Eternal Sunshine · Post by **Eternal Sunshine** » 11 Sep 2010, 14:17

Ludwig wrote:When RGR was on this site, after a while I stopped reading his posts completely. It was easy! Maybe you should do the same with the macho doomers?

Yes that's the guy I meant. See, I'd blocked him out so well that I'd forgotten his name.

woodpecker · Post by **woodpecker** » 11 Sep 2010, 14:36

Is there any way of actually filtering out posts from a particular individual on this forum? (I know there is on other forums.)

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 11 Sep 2010, 16:03

Doomers are dull, tedious and boring. Who needs them?

Post by **adam2** » 11 Sep 2010, 18:49

woodpecker wrote:Is there any way of actually filtering out posts from a particular individual on this forum? (I know there is on other forums.)

AFAIK this forum does not have such a facility.
In my view such a facility is of limited use, since filtering out the posts of a member can mean that subsequent posts by other members no longer make sense, without knowing to what they are replying.

Eternal Sunshine · Post by **Eternal Sunshine** » 11 Sep 2010, 20:58

Just filter them out manually. I.e. don't read them.

lurker · Post by **lurker** » 12 Sep 2010, 00:18

I like how everyone is being so polite & not actually naming names

I'd maybe like too read a few yoghurt weaving posts also to balance the Mad Max ones out.

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 12 Sep 2010, 00:33

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

I learn about preparations here, I can hope for the best on my own.

Am I a doomer ?

syberberg · Post by **syberberg** » 12 Sep 2010, 03:13

lurker wrote:I like how everyone is being so polite & not actually naming names

I'd maybe like too read a few yoghurt weaving posts also to balance the Mad Max ones out.

Yoghurt weaving?!?