Crazier

The continued rise of oil prices has made conditions worse. The issue not only spans the commuting public and drivers, but even extends to ordinary citizens who are watching the situation unfold from the sidelines. That feeling of uncertainty punches through the roof, much like it did six years ago during the pandemic. We all remember clearly how the world was put to a halt. And just like those moments, many are plummeting into the vortex of misinformation that could cause unnecessary alarm.

Globally, tensions have once again tightened supply lines. Conflicts in key oil-producing regions, coupled with production cuts from major exporters, have strained an already-fragile system. Shipping routes are being recalibrated, and economies that rely heavily on imports are left vulnerable. The ripple effects are immediate and obvious since the previous weeks. These include higher fuel prices, increased transport costs, and a creeping rise in the prices of basic goods. Even those who do not directly feel it at the gas pump eventually absorb it elsewhere.

I definitely know that it is not the end of the world. The businessmen whom I talked to also made that clear. We have gone through worse, or so they say. History, after all, reminds us that oil shocks are not new. From the crises of the 1970s to more recent disruptions during global lockdowns, economies have bent but did not completely break. I’ve talked about panicking in previous pieces --that it does no good. While panic is not the prevailing feeling, there is a sense of fear that is contagious even to the well-informed.

What happens when one continues to pollute the internet with wrong narratives? It becomes a chain of messages that could scare people into acting on impulse rather than reason. Hoarding, speculation, and knee-jerk decisions often follow. We have seen this pattern before. Remember the images of empty shelves, long lines, and a cycle of anxiety feeding into itself. The danger is not just the crisis itself, but how people respond to it.

As of present, the national emergency on energy covers concerns with fuel. Stakeholders are preparing, but it isn’t the end yet. Governments are exploring alternative suppliers, adjusting subsidies, and urging conservation. Meanwhile, conversations about renewable energy are once again gaining traction, though these are long-term solutions to an immediate concern. Still, the situation feels different this time. This is perhaps because the world has barely caught its breath from one crisis to another. The fatigue is real and patience may be thin. It is only that disinformation increases the threshold for fear.

If there is anything recent history has taught us, it is that crises often appear more overwhelming at the onset than they eventually prove to be. The challenge now is not just to endure rising prices, but to remain grounded amid the noise. The key is to be sensible, to turn to credibility. Because sometimes, what makes a situation truly crazier is not the crisis itself, but the way we choose to understand it.