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Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

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Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#11

Post by ravenstine »

tomp wrote: post #8

Fossil fuels caused the greatest progress in history of mankind, and resulted in decimation of disease, famine and poverty. Green movement has spent the last 50 years opposing nuclear power, otherwise we would have decarbonised at least 90% already (like France has).

Yeah, I'm not a fan of big corporations using propaganda, especially towards children but, that topic aside, people are kidding themselves if they believe their way of life would exist without fossil fuels. Look up the Haber process; your ability to walk down to a Whole Foods in a city of millions and buy groceries to support your vegan diet wouldn't be a thing. The stepping stone to things like nuclear and solar wouldn't be there. Humanity would be so bass-ackwards by now without fossil fuels that people would still be routinely dying of diseases that today are well treated, as well as mere child birth. The only way someone can't connect the progress of the 20th and 21st centuries with fossil fuels is to view it only in isolation. The "fossil fuels bad" attitude is at best quixotic, and at worst enters the realm of insanity. Next to none of us would give up our lifestyle that benefits from fossil fuels (which includes the advance of nuclear) for the sake of decarbonization.

I can tell someone is going ask you for your "solution."

You know what the solution is, reader? Either support pro-nuclear policies until something better comes along, or shut up about climate change. In my experience, every single person who views climate change as an impending catastrophe responds with "but what if" when asked about nuclear. This is a widespread form of insanity. If we are headed for catastrophe, or extinction according to some, then the purely hypothetical world-ending events related to nuclear reactors shouldn't be any more of a problem. Personally, I'll take 100 Chernobyl-like events over extinction and a dying planet. Think that's crazy? Do the math.

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#13

Post by tomp »

ethanbond wrote: post #9
tomp wrote: post #8

Fossil fuels caused the greatest progress in history of mankind, and resulted in decimation of disease, famine and poverty. Green movement has spent the last 50 years opposing nuclear power, otherwise we would have decarbonised at least 90% already (like France has).

Okay? And now where do we go from here? Decisions about the future shouldn’t be based on some weird tribalistic pride about your fav energy source’s vibes or the historical ethics of it. It’s fucking oil, it isn’t going to get hurt feelings.

[flagged]

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#14

Post by Timshel »

isoprophlex wrote: post #5
defrost wrote: post #3

The youtube comments already down on the official Shell trailer for this don't bode well for this being a PR success: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_UuXnHvsIQ

Why the actual fucking fuck did Fortnite get in bed with these petro boomers?! Shell must be one of the brands farthest removed from the target demographic. I can't believe they need the cash that badly, and like you say, this can only backfire. Millions of views on that vid, almost no likes. I can't believe this exists, it's almost funny. Maybe they can do Depend Adult Undergarments branded content next.

Not clear if they did, don't know Fortnite the article mention just "map creators" so it might be just a mod without any involvement from Epic.

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#15

Post by b112 »

cellu wrote: post #10
tomp wrote: post #8

Fossil fuels caused the greatest progress in history of mankind, and resulted in decimation of disease, famine and poverty. Green movement has spent the last 50 years opposing nuclear power, otherwise we would have decarbonised at least 90% already (like France has).

Was it the green movement opposing nuclear power or fossil fuel companies?

Back when global warming wasn't really widely discussed, or even believed, nuclear power was seen as quite threatening to a environmentalist.

After all, nuclear power was brand new. And the pollution and death if one goes bad...

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#16

Post by bad_user »

I understand this is cringe, but:

> one of the many entities directly responsible for destroying our planet

Do any of you believe this narative?

Honest question: isn't the destruction of the planet due to the 8 billion people that have to be fed, clothed, housed, entertained? Aren't fossil fuels directly responsible for the industrial revolution and people not starving anymore?

I get that "Big Oil" might have delayed some reforms, but isn't the elephant in the room the 8 billion people that still need to be fed, clothed, housed, and entertained?

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#17

Post by sokoloff »

cellu wrote: post #10
tomp wrote: post #8

Fossil fuels caused the greatest progress in history of mankind, and resulted in decimation of disease, famine and poverty. Green movement has spent the last 50 years opposing nuclear power, otherwise we would have decarbonised at least 90% already (like France has).

Was it the green movement opposing nuclear power or fossil fuel companies?

I think it was both.

Fossil fuel companies opposing it I can understand: it’s a straightforward, strategic move.

For green proponents, I think it was an own goal, likely driven by a mix of fear and failing to realize that people would not readily temper their demand for energy and the holistic solution needs to include humanity harnessing substantial amounts of energy. Ruling out nuclear directly (in a single step) means decades of people creating gigatons more emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#18

Post by omneity »

defrost wrote: post #3

The youtube comments already down on the official Shell trailer for this don't bode well for this being a PR success: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_UuXnHvsIQ

It doesn't even look good on pure gaming grounds. What a low-effort endeavor.

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#19

Post by richbell »

bad_user wrote: post #16

I understand this is cringe, but: > one of the many entities directly responsible for destroying our planet Do any of you believe this narative? Honest question: isn't the destruction of the planet due to the 8 billion people that have to be fed, clothed, housed, entertained? Aren't fossil fuels directly responsible for the industrial revolution and people not starving anymore? I get that "Big Oil" might have delayed…

> I get that "Big Oil" might have delayed some reforms, but isn't the elephant in the room the 8 billion people that still need to be fed, clothed, housed, and entertained?

Imagine how much progress would have been made had Shell et al. not buried research for decades showing the harms of fossil fuels and aggressively lobbied against alternative forms of energy.

This is like saying its not Comcast's fault that your neighborhood still only has 50mbps after decades and millions in grants because people still need Internet access.

Re: Shell using Fortnite, TikTok, etc. to convince kids fossil fuels are cool

#20

Post by awestroke »

bad_user wrote: post #16

I understand this is cringe, but: > one of the many entities directly responsible for destroying our planet Do any of you believe this narative? Honest question: isn't the destruction of the planet due to the 8 billion people that have to be fed, clothed, housed, entertained? Aren't fossil fuels directly responsible for the industrial revolution and people not starving anymore? I get that "Big Oil" might have delayed…

> I get that "Big Oil" might have delayed some reforms

That's a huge understatement. They have actively sabotaged green initiatives all along. They have stopped green policies, and green policies is and has always been the ONLY way forward, you can't put shit like this on individuals.

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