The Oil Drum

266 comments on The Course of Our Lives WILL Be Determined by the First Derivative of a Function

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Prodigal Son on July 15, 2006 - 10:51am

I've read Diamond's collapse. That still doesn't answer why they kept cutting does those trees.

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mbkennel on July 16, 2006 - 2:26pm

Because, in the short run, those with power and trying to gain it (for access to females) did better than their peers by getting one more damn tree.

People are biologically programmed to look at threats and competition with other people---and wild beasts---not abstract forces of nature.

Look at the hysteria from 9/11. Compare to the 15,000 people killed by hot weather in Europe, with the knowledge that this, unlike 9/11 is guaranteed to increase in severity for "as far as the eye can see".

It took enormous suffering before people understood the problem of infectious disease and adopted correct assumptions.

People want to find the perpetrator, not the derivative.

Consider the viewership of "real crime" stories which infest all the news channels to the time devoted to physical and biological issues in the world.

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Nick on July 16, 2006 - 4:24pm

"Consider the viewership of "real crime" stories which infest all the news channels to the time devoted to physical and biological issues in the world. "

No question there's a genetic predisposition at work here to look out for predators, but the main thing making people watch crime stories instead of science is that the crime stories are much more entertaining. People are stressed out, and they want relief (escape, encouraging stories, and entertainment), not boredom from bad science documentaries.

When science is covered in a way that's interesting, inspiring and encouraging, people will watch. If it's boring, or depressing, they won't.

Why was Schindler's List a success? It was educational. It didn't whitewash the holocaust. But people watched anyway. Why? because it was entertaining, and inspiring.

I think we should have more respect for the intelligence of most people. For instance, the public in the US is way ahead of the Bush administration on energy and the environment. Think where they'd be if the media and government didn't work so hard to misinform them....

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step back on July 17, 2006 - 4:52am

Why was Schindler's List a success? It was educational. ... it was entertaining, and inspiring.

I think the real answer is because a critical mass of people started seeing it and everyone else wanted to be part of the mainstream stampeding of the herd.

(Why do you care what MSM says if not for recognition that being part of the "mainstream" herd is important? Why do you think Hollywood cares so much about the opening weekend proceeds if not for the stampede effect?)

I don't think there is that much rhyme or reason for why a movie does well or not. Part of it is just the whims of the fickle herd on a given weekend.

Look at this weekend's Box Office chart

11 An Inconvenient Truth $1,112,000 $16,980,000
12 The Fast and the Furious $1,037,000 $59,724,000

In the number 11 slot we have Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth. It is educational. ... it is entertaining (well kind of), and inspiring. But total gross is just under $17M

By contrast, the number 12 slot is occupied by a juvenile car racing (and gas guzzling) movie with a gross so far of just under $60M. It leaves Al Gore in the dust.

And who is in the number one slot position?
1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest this weekend=$62,186,000 total=$258,205,000

Argghh maties. The pirates just blow away the competition. Well at least they use wind power rather than petro power to win the race.