Oblivious!!

pamey · Post by **pamey** » 22 Jul 2011, 13:13

Is it just me or does every one else have there heads stuck in the sand about everything in our world right now that doesn't fit in with their lifestyle. And the media is the worst culprit promoting the trivial over the important issues as the sheeple may find it to uncomfortable. At work we discuss issues in passing as everyone thinks it's a current issue that will pass i.e the financial problems in PIIGS, the US and the major impending cutbacks everywhere, fuel costs that are laying waste to small businesses across the UK,energy costs in general that are only going up, food price rises that are on the up and staying there and the never ending lull in our econmies that no-one seems to think is strange!

Very few people actually discuss any of those issues in detail or acknowledge that they aren't just a passing concern!

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 22 Jul 2011, 13:17

And the Murdoch thing has taken centre-stage, which is probably what he and they want, to try to distract attention and show that the government can be 'tough'.

Something is going to blow up.

ujoni08 · Post by **ujoni08** » 22 Jul 2011, 13:25

And the BBC web site's front page has an article about the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress being on display!

Jon

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 22 Jul 2011, 14:50

Kate Middleton says to the queen: "What's the secret to a successful marriage?"

Queen replies: "Wear a seatbelt and don't piss me off."

mr brightside · Post by **mr brightside** » 22 Jul 2011, 16:28

pamey wrote:Is it just me, or does everyone else have their heads stuck in the sand about everything in our world right now that doesn't fit in with their lifestyle? And the media is the worst culprit, promoting the trivial over the important issues as the sheeple may find it too uncomfortable. At work we discuss issues in passing as everyone thinks it's a current issue that will pass; i.e the financial problems in PIIGS, the US and the major impending cutbacks everywhere, fuel costs that are laying waste to small businesses across the UK, energy costs in general that are only going up, food price rises that are on the up and staying there and the never ending lull in our econmies that no-one seems to think is strange!

Very few people actually discuss any of those issues in detail or acknowledge that they aren't just a passing concern!

Most media sources aren't a good barometer for national feeling so i wouldn't take their reported stories as being important.

With all the discussion about trolls i'll try and word my post carefully; but with the welfare state paying the least academically gifted people to populate the country, it's hardly surprising to me that the most inconsequential and irrelevant news issues (such as Jordan's sex life) sell the most papers. The heritability of IQ is around 70/80%, as a die-hard Darwinist the welfare state disappoints me terribly.

madibe · Post by **madibe** » 22 Jul 2011, 17:00

And I thought it was just me!

Yes, the phone hacking story (makes me shudder to mention it - I have develpoped an aversion) has been wall to wall on the mainstream for what seems like an age. Personally I really don't give a hoot.

LOL Kates dress...amazing.

Meanwhile, back in the real world there is a complete shit storm brewing.

Latest fest of course will be the Glazier Union of Oslo's latest trick to drum up business.

Pamey - you are so right... in general... but also about the topics of discussion and how people handle the concept of BAU. (or lack of)

I got talking about a couple of issues last night at the local micro-brewery.. (I should have learnt by now to keep stumph) and the look on peoples faces was incredible. Anybody would have thought I had spat in their pint.

So rules: Don't mention the dollar, eroei, blackouts, energy, oil, banks or inflation. Add this to politics and religion, the no-no's of any pub converstaion and you are free to talk about Kate Middletons Dress, Jordans Sex Life and The News of The World....oh and of course the quality of the beer

Happy Times

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 22 Jul 2011, 17:29

mr brightside wrote:such as Jordan's sex life

What's so special about sex in a Middle Eastern country?

gug · Post by **gug** » 22 Jul 2011, 17:47

Funny how they dont mention the 14 billion that the bankers are paying themselves in bonuses this year. Curious huh.

woodpecker · Post by **woodpecker** » 22 Jul 2011, 18:27

NOTW is very niche interest. I've had a couple of people from New York raise it with me on the phone. But I've also had the people around me at a client's office in London poo-poo any discussion of it in favour of chatting about the gym across the road, cake and other important stuff.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 22 Jul 2011, 20:47

pamey wrote:Is it just me or does every one else have there heads stuck in the sand about everything in our world right now that doesn't fit in with their lifestyle. And the media is the worst culprit promoting the trivial over the important issues as the sheeple may find it to uncomfortable. At work we discuss issues in passing as everyone thinks it's a current issue that will pass i.e the financial problems in PIIGS, the US and the major impending cutbacks everywhere, fuel costs that are laying waste to small businesses across the UK,energy costs in general that are only going up, food price rises that are on the up and staying there and the never ending lull in our econmies that no-one seems to think is strange!

Very few people actually discuss any of those issues in detail or acknowledge that they aren't just a passing concern!

It has always been this way. It was no different in Britain in the late thirties. A few brave souls were trying to warn people about the threat posed by the nazis, but most just didn't want to hear it.

There are a number of reasons for this.

(1) Understanding the consequences of peak oil, and the evidence for it having already happened, is not simple. You have to have a grasp of the bigger picture of what is going on on Planet Earth, and most people don't.

(2) People don't like to hear bad news and will shut it out if they can. The worse the news, the harder they will shut it out.

(3) People don't like to hear about problems which have no solutions (otherwise known as "predicaments"). Politicians don't like talking about problems if they don't have an acceptable/workable solution.

(4) The financial system is based on faith - once people stop believing in it then it collapses. Therefore a lot of people will not tell the truth about impending financial doom, because they don't want to be blamed for causing it (or making it worse.) If Ben Bernanke were to say "we're doomed" then the system would (almost) instantaneously collapse.

(5) Sheep mentality - so long as most other people are denying/ignoring it, then it seems safe to deny/ignore it.

(6) Widespread mistrust of politicians and feelings of being disenfranchised/powerless. Also a common, but unjustified, mistrust of scientists, partly the result of politically-motivated anti-scientific propaganda. This is why so many people don't believe in climate change, but the same applies to peak oil.

(7) People don't want to have to change their lifestyles, and don't want to think about their children's futures being rubbish. People without children don't want to have to face the reality of decisions about whether to bring children into the world as it looks to a doomer.

There's nothing new about any of this. The whole history of climate science and the interaction between climate scientists, media, politicians and the general public is riddled with the same problems.

ujoni08 · Post by **ujoni08** » 22 Jul 2011, 22:40

Well said, UE.

rue_d_etropal · Post by **rue_d_etropal** » 23 Jul 2011, 17:28

I was going to post a new thread but is does link into this .
I was wondering when(if not already) those who have been saying we have to do something, get fed up with not being heard, sort out somewhere to go and survive, and give up on the 99% population who will ultimately starve, drown , freeze or burn up, depending which part of the planet they currently inhabit.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 23 Jul 2011, 17:47

rue_d_etropal wrote:I was wondering when(if not already) those who have been saying we have to do something, get fed up with not being heard, sort out somewhere to go and survive, and give up on the 99% population who will ultimately starve, drown , freeze or burn up, depending which part of the planet they currently inhabit.

Or alternatively, go back to consuming, and enjoy life while they can.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 23 Jul 2011, 19:17

rue_d_etropal wrote:I was going to post a new thread but is does link into this .
I was wondering when(if not already) those who have been saying we have to do something, get fed up with not being heard, sort out somewhere to go and survive, and give up on the 99% population who will ultimately starve, drown , freeze or burn up, depending which part of the planet they currently inhabit.

Several people on PS have done this or are trying to do this. We (me and her I mean) are slowly going in that direction. Not quickly enough but we both understand the aim.

It's not so much giving up as setting an example - the only way to do it IMO, otherwise you're accused of 'preaching' or 'evangelising'.

It's not easy telling people that they shouldn't shit in drinking water.

pamey · Post by **pamey** » 27 Jul 2011, 08:58

It has always been this way. It was no different in Britain in the late thirties. A few brave souls were trying to warn people about the threat posed by the nazis, but most just didn't want to hear it.

It is blatently obvious that the only people that do get it are people that can think for themselves, dont beleive all that they are told, understand what goes in the in big wide world and have a smidgeon of intelligence!

PowerSwitch

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Well said