Nate,

Those comments are similar in quality (or lack of it) to ones found on the so-called quality newspaper sites (e.g., in the UK, the Times, Telegraph, and Guardian).

We're on a hiding to nowhere if we expect people to be rational, IMHO.

I can comfortable say that Chris is one of the most articulate people I know. I do have to admit that I've generally had a couple of beers in the timeframe of the conversation, so my judgment might be off a little (Kidding, Chris).

I agree wholeheartedly with Nate...great interview, but the comments were unbelievable. Either outright attacks on Chris and Aaron, or pathetic arguments about the state of PO. A few people where on board, but--sheesh. Nate's use of the word "alarming" is perfect....it really scares me that the wind seems to be blowing the way it is. 'Course, I'm still in shock that I completely missed bringing my own wife around to my somewhat gloomy viewpoint, so I know how hard the fight is.

-dr

At first glance I was pretty alarmed and I thought that the people leaving these comments are likely to be the first to panic when and if TSHTF. But then again, this is the internet and it's known for its low intelligence comments. Give them anonymity and apersonal interaction and people don't think quite straight any more. I don't know, maybe they never did and the internet is just showing us how dumb we really are. In this latter part is true, then now we know how it is that perfectly avoidable catastrophies in history end up not avoided: like WWI for instance, or the extinction of the passenger pigeon, or .... the list goes on and on.

Cognitive Dissonance I believe, is the term for it. I have always been very interested in how stuff works and fortunately for me, I did quite well in science subjects at school. This has made it fairly easy for me to understand how stuff works. I am very aware of the difficulty many people, lacking a good grasp of science, have with grasping concepts that, are to me quite basic. It is quite sad seeing just how difficult it is for people to "get it". The following shows what we are up against.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

To be honest, there are probably people like this all over the world. We are indeed in deep trouble!

Alan from the islands

It is a sad happening that cynicism and ignorance now dominates the public discourse when it comes to questioning an issue that is so fundamental to our society as we know it. I came to hear about peak oil at a property seminar (of all places!) in 2005 and was alarmed enough by what was said to buy Kunstlers book and read it from cover to cover as fast as I could. My life changed.

Sometimes in moments of weakness I yearn for the blissful ignorance and confidence in the future I once had. Perhaps these commenters are really just trying to hold on to their last threads of hope that peak oil and all it's consequences can be postponed indefinitely through vehment denial and mal-informed victriol against those who dare to speak the truth.