Where would we be today, without oil?

1. 68

   aka-djposted 14 years ago

   Suppose (crude) oil never existed. Where would (humanity) culture, technology etc be today?
   How would it have affected your life, as you now live it?
   Would we still be using horses, carts etc? How about urban development, which may not have gone the way it has, without transport?
   Would stem have been more refined and used? How about electricity, using coal (which, BTW may not have existed either)?
   What's your thoughts?

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      Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not sure, old buddy. Interesting concept.
      
      The romantic side of my personality lives in a bygone Viking age, when men roamed the seas in 'Dragon Prow'ed' ships. Life without coal and oil could have been so different!
      
      The realist side believes that nothing changes - we would still be arguing, fighting and making wars! For oil read gold, and we would still try to beat each other's brains out with clubs.
      
      BTW - Don't know if you have heard of this guy, but the steam age could have been upon us a lot quicker. I think a scholar such as yourself will appreciate this. Genius!
      
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_Alexandria

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         aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Read it. Fascinating.
         I heard some time ago, that most of our economy etc, is based on the ancient Babylonian systems. Who knows what other "technologies" have been lost over the centuries.
         they recon it only takes one generation to lose knowledge?

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      Writer Riderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Uh, not on the verge of extinction? No, seriously, I agree with you because lord knows I don't want use a buggy-to slow. Gas is not evil in itself but it's starting to have a negative effect on the environment so we need a cleaner form of fuel to consume. Think of it as the evolution of transportation-we've evolved beyond the need for gas. In a sense the gas companies are probably shreaking because they'll be losing profits but gas is inevitably on its way out regardless.

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      Poppa Bluesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Of course this question is unanswerable. We can only speculate. Perhaps our energy would be derived from alcohol. You also didn't mention coal, but don't forget. the industrial revolution began with the steam engine.

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2. 59

   Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

   We would be fighting over coal rights instead

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   1. 68

      aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I was thinking more along the lines of everyday life scenarios.
      Eg. transport without cars, or international travel still by sailing ship etc. and the impact these would have on the average "Joe" or "Jane".

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3. 59

   Arian Wonposted 14 years ago

   We probably wouldn't have trees anymore

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4. 59

   Fyxz Van Lightposted 14 years ago

   Well, look at the bright side.
   Crude oil prices rising,
   Transportation and industries also use oil to produce electricity.
   
   Therefore in my view, without crude oil, we will now be using solar energy. This kind of energy was already been found years ago but never been produce on large scale. So, without crude oil, Solar energy is the best alternative, and afterall, its a clean energy.
   
   "Conventional economist said that, Resources are scarce while human needs and wants are unlimited"
   
   "Islamic economist said that, Resources are unlimited, human needs and wants are limited"
   
   My point is, use Islamic views on resources, human can think of other way getting resources such as oil and replacing it with others.

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      aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would venture to say, there are petro-chemicals involved in making solar panels too.
      What if we had none of them eithr, seeing as they come from oil.
      As for the islamic view, why? It's not a majority view.

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         Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I agree - not sure what some stupid religion has to do with anything.
         
         But back to the question - The most logical thing to me is that we would have continued to develop wind power. We have been using wind power to produce electricity since 1891. James Blyth created it first.
         
         And the entertaining thing is - the inventor offered the extra power he created to the community he lived in in Scotland. And they said "No thanks. That is the work of the devil."

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            aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            How about a wind powered horse? Or a new "superfood" to supercharge them to pull cars ( I mean carts) at 55mph?
            "Work of the devil"? Didn't they say that about the steam train (also)?
            Oh, sorry, maybe that was TV's?

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      2. 59

         Fyxz Van Lightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Hehehe  yea, the Islamic view, I'm just trying to say that resources are not limited. Also, as this is not a majority view, why cant we try to understand the real concept. Look at where Conventional views brought us nowadays, Debts, Inflation, High Interest Rate.

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5. 79

   Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

   Donkey Power!
   
   When I was a kid, I remember the farmers using Shire Horses for ploughing and scythes  - it seemed to work well. Plus a big animal like that produces a lot of manure - better for the soil.

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6. 59

   Fyxz Van Lightposted 14 years ago

   Oh man, Mark Knowles, Still living in the old world huh? Being a narrow minded person i can say.
   This is not about religion, just the way they view resources.
   
   Islamic Economic system is not a religion, Its an implementation of economics in muslim ways at the olden days. There are others, the communist, conventional and a lot more, each has different views.
   
   and yea lastly, not even a single religion is stupid. So stop being like you dont have any belief.

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7. 68

   aka-djposted 14 years ago

   Trying to be serious for a minute, would we have a world that looks ANYTHING like what we know?

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   1. 79

      Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Probably even more deforested - wood for fuel, if no fossil fuels. We might have steam-power - they used to make steel with charcoal, so maybe somebody would have the idea of harnessing the heat produced by this process. Sadly, the UK was largely deforested for exactly this purpose

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      1. 59

         Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         If I am remembering my history correctly, I think the UK was deforested to build warships.

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         1. 79

            Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Possibly in many parts, especially around the boatyards, but much was for steel-making. Even when coal was discovered, it was too impure for the furnaces and made brittle steel. This changed when they found out how to make coke.

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8. 64

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Nice avatar Sufi, fits extremely well

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      Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      We thank you Misha - it appears to be silly season on avatars. We must remain in touch with our subjects.
      
      Technically, I am committing treason by defacing a picture of the Queen
      My next post may be from the Tower of London.

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         Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         No it is allowed now - This is my current favorite in light of the looming financial crash. At least some one is getting off their butt and doing something positive -
         
         

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         1. 79

            Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            
            
            Well done, Lizzie. I wonder what Phil the Greek is up to. Probably touring schools promoting an anti-racism campaign. Charles may be working with the Albanian immigrants on a strawberry farm - he can talk to the plants all he wants.
            
            Camilla: pulling a plough somewhere.

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   VENUGOPAL SIVAGNAposted 14 years ago

   Twenty years before, cellphones were not known to Indians. But now nearly 500 million mobile phones are in circulation in India !   If mobile phones did not enter India, life would not have ended there !  Once it was parrots which helped communicating.  But now? (Thanks to Darwin!)  If we go on thinking like these, there will be no end.  It is unlimited resources which help humanity.  We come into contact with each resource separately at different times and different places.

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10. 0

    sandra rinckposted 14 years ago

    If we didn't have oil we would probably still think the world is flat.  hahahahhahha 

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11. 67

    Nickny79posted 14 years ago

    If we didn't have oil we'd be in a Socialist Utopia...and Al Gore would need a new gig.

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12. 89

    Paragliderposted 14 years ago

    Being serious possibly for the last time this year (!)  before we had oil we had coal and steam. Steam technology is inefficient in small engines, but not too bad in huge ones. It is also poor in terms of power to weight ratio. All this suggests we'd have continued to rely on steamships and railways. No aeroplanes or space rockets. Private transport would have been by bicycle, or possibly by electric cars (coal-fired steam turbines and hydro-electricity are not oil-dependent). All in all, we'd not be too badly off and in some respects (no private internal comustion engines) far better off. But of course, the coal would be running out, just as the oil is.
    
    And they'd never have made Dallas...

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