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Environment & Energy

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)

15. Why haven’t we had a “World War” recently?

Reply to OKIsItJustMe (Reply #14)

Tue Aug 18, 2015, 10:24 AM

Aug 2015

IMO, because the action has shifted to the boardrooms of the world. TPTB can now gain far more power with pens than swords. Why risk WWIII when you can get a TPP with no violence at all?

Yes, people can alter their behaviour, but collectively this ability is limited to a relatively small set of path-dependent outcomes. Individuals have far more freedom of action, but in groups our evolved social instincts assume more dominance.

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Highlight:

The Death of Peak Oil (at least for now) [View all] GliderGuider Aug 2015 OP

"worst-case thinking" bias (AKA “doomer” bias) OKIsItJustMe Aug 2015 #1

Yes, the same bias is part of my lowball estimate of our sustainability. GliderGuider Aug 2015 #2

I'm lightening up a bit on my position regarding sustainable population levels GliderGuider Aug 2015 #11

“I characterize my lowball estimates as one end of a probability distribution curve.” OKIsItJustMe Aug 2015 #12

Yep. Conditions change, and our knowledge of the factors involved do as well. GliderGuider Aug 2015 #13

“That goes for people too.” OKIsItJustMe Aug 2015 #14

Why haven’t we had a “World War” recently? GliderGuider Aug 2015 #15

World Wars strike me as “group” activities OKIsItJustMe Aug 2015 #17

Apology accepted. bananas Aug 2015 #3

You're most welcome. GliderGuider Aug 2015 #4

Very mature position FBaggins Aug 2015 #6

"Peak Oil" was the optimistic view. That filthy stuff is destroying the world. hunter Aug 2015 #5

I think this post, plus the OP, plus one of GG's former posts... FBaggins Aug 2015 #7

To be clear, my point is not that PO theory was wrong (that's a different discussion) GliderGuider Aug 2015 #8

Peak Oil seemed to be a type of psychological operation Fast Walker 52 Aug 2015 #9

Peak oil has two huge problems, that generally are ignored till it is to late. happyslug Aug 2015 #10

Excellent post. It's a complex problem. Yo_Mama Aug 2015 #16

Psychology is a real stumbling block in group dynamics GliderGuider Aug 2015 #18

I’m going to go with “A major obstacle.” OKIsItJustMe Aug 2015 #19

I think the bandwagon underestimated the establishment psychology cprise Aug 2015 #20