Oil was once seen as a menace when it would surface in farming fields and harm crops, but the invention of fuel engines and automobiles in the early 20th century changed perceptions so that oil is now a highly valued resource. The document discusses how crude oil, which was used for centuries for tasks like boiling sea water, became a problem when it contaminated land but is now essential as a fuel source thanks to new technologies, demonstrating that anything can become a resource once people learn how to utilize it effectively.