The real dilemma with the current petrol panic

alastairq

And all good government advice you followed then.

So, were we better, worse, or really exactly the same.

In hindsight?

Dunno!

None of us possessed crystal balls at the time [or even, now?]

If we had all run around accusing everyone of panicking....and done nothing ourselves.......then woke up to find the Russians had Nuked Birmingham?

What then?



To bring us back to a motoring -orientated thread.....it is just the above scenario that the Green Goddess pumps were made.......and we all consider them to be somewhat of a joke these days, don't we???

different tale if the sh...t had hit the fan, eh?

[I 'speak'...as a Green Goddess Instructor, as-was]..

TrickyWicky

It's not altered my fuelling habits at all. I let it get below the red line then put in a tenner and thats it. That'll do me nicely and I won't need anymore so I am not contributing to the queues, the fury of queue jumpers etc.

Everyone else is just bonkers. Sure there is a self preservation thing programmed into all of us but the simple fact is we're not cave men anymore are we. We're (supposedly) a civil society where we can act maturely and plan ahead. I did, £10 of petrol will do me nicely - sure there *might* be a strike soon but one hasn't been announced so why should I need any more than normal?

I think the real problem here is that people in this country have got such a cushy life that a shortage of petrol threat is the only bit of action they get to act on in their otherwise mundane lives.

In some countries they still use gas bottles for their hot water and heating and they are often in short supply yet you don't see them panic buying like people in this country.

mikey72

TrickyWicky wrote: »

.................In some countries they still use gas bottles for their hot water and heating and they are often in short supply yet you don't see them panic buying like people in this country.

That's because they call it planning, and keep them full whenever they can as soon as one empties.
They certainly don't try to refill them after letting the last one run out.

getmore4less

By getting everyone into action early you fill the supply chain.

A crucial part is the tanks of all the cars on the road.

There will be the extreams where someone needs a fill up daily but at the other end will be 1000's that do low mileage and normaly fill up once a month or even less, they may even run 1/2 tanks. these will normaly fueling over the next few weeks as they get low,

My last top up was 25ltr about a month a go, I am due next week(on <1/4 tank) if I fill up that should take me to June unless we have some long trips to do.

If you get all those in the latter group to reset their cycle and fill up now they will be out of the loop if a real stock crisis happens.

There is also some limited logistic info about where to target supplies

alastairq

In some countries they still use gas bottles for their hot water and heating and they are often in short supply

Never mind other countries......that sort of scenario is played out all over the UK as well.

Panic buying?

that is a media-led idea.

Self-preservation is more like it....

MAybe....just maybe, those of us who did not respond as apparently a large proportion of the driving population did...maybe it is we who are the daft ones?

Maybe it is we, who would get left behind, stranded without essential supplies?

Simply because we thought 'we knew better' than the other lemmings?

If the Prime Minister tells us to stockpile fuel.....is it wise to ignore the warnings?

And yes, I would be the lemming running the other way...but that's me!

mikey72

alastairq wrote: »

Never mind other countries......that sort of scenario is played out all over the UK as well.

Panic buying?

that is a media-led idea.

Self-preservation is more like it....

MAybe....just maybe, those of us who did not respond as apparently a large proportion of the driving population did...maybe it is we who are the daft ones?

Maybe it is we, who would get left behind, stranded without essential supplies?

Simply because we thought 'we knew better' than the other lemmings?

If the Prime Minister tells us to stockpile fuel.....is it wise to ignore the warnings?

And yes, I would be the lemming running the other way...but that's me!

I'd be the lemming at the front, that's found the stairs, and got to the bottom before the rest come raining down.

frosty

It could of been worse he could of said......and you better stock up on food incase the van drivers cant deliver to the supermarkets .The shops would of been stripped bare in minutes.

colino

The farce continues. Lemmings panic buy, emptying their wallets, the oil companies get richer and the governments coffers swell.

Now the cherry on top, due to surge in sales, tanker drivers strict working hours have been legally "relaxed", to ensure the pumps don't dry up!

Therefore, a bit of sabre rattling gives their union unequalled evidence of what would happen if, if, they did go on strike, and the drivers get the bonus of extra overtime on top. Sheer, utter brilliance. They'll start using this as a case in HR courses soon.

almillar

Anyway, what were we talking about before this whole fuel panic thingy came along? Oh yes, £250k to have tea with the PM. Let's get back to that. Do you think they were trying to distract us?!