<DrumBeat: July 12, 2006 The Oil Drum Deep Ocean Energy Resources -- A Critical Analysis>

289 comments on Peak Oil, Persuasion, and the World Meme

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version

Torion on July 12, 2006 - 11:14am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top
There's no doubt that your website here and your intelligent discussion of all kinds of aspects of peak oil and conected issues are doing a lot to inform people.  I know nothing about the oil industry and nothing about the technical issues but I've learned an enormous amount from your website alone.  I've been to many of the others and learn from them as well.  

Your explanations and discussions of the technical, geological and industry aspect of oil are clear enough that I can follow them and have an idea of what you're talking about.  If there's too many charts/graphics and its a very technical discussion, I do get lost but that's a small percentage of what I read here.

Just keeping the issues in front of the public on some medium/format is the only thing I can think of to get the message across.  More people, I bet are listening/reading since the gas prices have hit them in the past two years. The only way most people will listen and act is if it's something that really impacts thei own lives.  Just keep on doing what you're doing here!  the word about this issue will keep on spreading, unless you can get some celebrities/public figure to address this as Gore is working on the message of global warming with his movie "An Inconvenient Truth."

thanks for theoildrum.com

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
step back on July 12, 2006 - 3:08pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Prof G:

How do I go about "persuading" you that the chart above is all wrong?

Humans generally do not "think" in the rational, deliberate way ascribed to them by the chart. That "model" of human behavior is highly inaccurate.

There are "specialists" in the art of persuasion. They live in Hollywood. They live on Madison Avenue. They live on K Street. They do not reside in the academic ivory towers (no offense, I really like professors --it's just that "persuation" of the masses is not within their bag of tricks).

Just last night, I saw a new Hummer ad campaign rolling out across my TV. A polite mother is waiting on line at the park by the slide for her 4 year old to get his turn. A more aggressive Mom cuts in line with her kid. "Hey, that's not fair." says the meek, polite Mom. Then she goes out and buys a Hummer. She is sick and tired of getting pushed around. She is out on the road pushing her weight around. Who's the big Momma now? Ha.

Do you "think" this ad campaign is going to sell Hummers? Stop being a meek, polite academic here. Tell us your true emotional reaction to this ad. Damn right this ad is going to work! No one is going to push me around anymore. I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore! (--I think?)

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Rick on July 12, 2006 - 4:49pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
The Hummer ad you've outlined is actually a perfect use of a low-interest appeal using peripheral cues: it corresponds very well to one side of the theory.

Alternately, a high-interest appeal using central processing: the classic print ads for the VW bug in the 1960's, explaining that it was so different it was smart to own.

Petty and Cacciopo's main point? Different mindsets need different approaches. They would not disagree with you.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Consume More on July 12, 2006 - 4:17pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
The only way most people will listen and act is if it's something that really impacts thei own lives.  Just keep on doing what you're doing here!

Exactly.  Give people the facts, help them draw conslusions.  They will persuade themselves.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
step back on July 12, 2006 - 9:27pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Give people the facts, help them draw conslusions.  They will persuade themselves.

You can fill the trough with facts. But when the horse is brought there, he may refuse to drink them. He may refuse to even notice them.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
GliderGuider on July 12, 2006 - 9:30pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
You mean, you can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think?
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
step back on July 12, 2006 - 11:17pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Arggh. Me thinks that be the sailordude's area of expertise. :-)

Cute one though.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Jack on July 13, 2006 - 3:31am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Talk about specialization.
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Don Sailorman on July 13, 2006 - 5:39am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
You can lead a whore to culture.

But it will be a waste of your time and money, in all probability. Trust me on this one;-)

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
step back on July 13, 2006 - 12:05pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Sailorphilosopher, now you have me utterly confused. I thought you were the culture. :-)
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Don Sailorman on July 13, 2006 - 2:42pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I am highly cultured.

But so is every even remotely well-socialized human.

Sociopaths and idiots and psychotics and infants are exceptions to this rule.

(And maybe lawyers;-)

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
bruce from chicago on July 14, 2006 - 1:16pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Hey! I resemble that remark!
Comments can no longer be added to this story.

289 comments on Peak Oil, Persuasion, and the World Meme

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version