Are you a prepper?

[Valka D'Ur]

I think it's a mistake, generally. I mean, there are a few outlier events that are likely enough that it's worth insuring against, but my opinion, prepping is taking assets out of circulation that could be better used just reducing the odds of the disaster even occurring in the first place.

Whut?

How does keeping candles, batteries, non-perishable food, etc. on hand reduce the odds of a blizzard or other nature-related problem from happening?

 

[Borachio]

Well. This is a popular fantasy of mine: what to do in the event of total societal collapse.

But that's all it is, a fantasy.

And I think survivalists are fantasists, too. Especially the stock up your bunker ones.

What's the point of going to a lot of expense and bother preparing for something that will very likely never happen, in a way that at most is only going to delay your demise by a year or two, in face of a threat which will more than likely turn out to be something else entirely?

Having said all that, where's the harm in learning how to live off the land a bit?

But stocking up with guns and creating a minature fort for yourself in some remote location can't be a good idea. Isn't it just symptomatic of a lack of ability to get on with one's neighbours?

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I think it's a mistake, generally. I mean, there are a few outlier events that are likely enough that it's worth insuring against, but my opinion, prepping is taking assets out of circulation that could be better used just reducing the odds of the disaster even occurring in the first place.

But would they be used for that purpose if not for dubious preparation? Probably not.

And I think survivalists are fantasists, too.

I like that description. Hardcore role-players who at least in cases are a bit delusional.

Having said all that, where's the harm in learning how to live off the land a bit?

Yup. It reminds me of the Cracked-article on two ghost-hunters. They seemed pretty down-to-earth and not crazy at all. Yet they seemed to chase some kind of delusion. But in their case - why not? This hobby seemed to give them a lot more satisfaction than your run-of-the-mill hobbies.
Likewise with survivalists.

 

[Synobun]

Well. This is a popular fantasy of mine: what to do in the event of total societal collapse.

But that's all it is, a fantasy.

And I think survivalists are fantasists, too. Especially the stock up your bunker ones.

What's the point of going to a lot of expense and bother preparing for something that will very likely never happen, in a way that at most is only going to delay your demise by a year or two, in face of a threat which will more than likely turn out to be something else entirely?

Having said all that, where's the harm in learning how to live off the land a bit?

But stocking up with guns and creating a minature fort for yourself in some remote location can't be a good idea. Isn't it just symptomatic of a lack of ability to get on with one's neighbours?

A large dose of paranoia.

It's why, if I were to ever build one, it wouldn't be for me. The likelihood of my survival is so slim that it's inconsequential. If I were to survive, I likely would not be too enamored with the idea of hiding in a hole until I die alone. I'd want to stockpile knowledge and supplies that last for those who may come across the bunker/hole/cave/whatever in the future. Maybe it'll just be a neat find for some kids, or maybe it'll turn the tides for a nearby village that is struggling in a harsh world. Who knows?

Maybe it's useless for today's world, but it might have value for tomorrow's. What's that quote again? A wise man is the one who grows a tree only his children will be shaded by? I think it has similar merit. As we expand our intelligence and grow our capabilities, our capacity for total destruction increases. Maybe there'll be a plague, maybe there'll be a war. Maybe there will just be a general good ol' fashioned societal collapse. We don't know, and there's a chance nothing will happen. But... being prepared is a good thing.

Note my usage of 'being prepared'. Being obsessed with the idea of being prepared is unhealthy, and that is when we delve into the paranoia territory.

 

[El_Machinae]

But would they be used for that purpose if not for dubious preparation? Probably not.

Kinda. Only a small portion of our assets are spent making our world a better place. In the developed world, an incredible portion is just wasted. BUT, 'a teeny portion' is much much better than 'none', which is what happens when you pull assets out of circulation.

And, if the goal is purely disaster prep, each dollar spent preventing the disaster will have more of an impact than spending on prep. At least for the types of disasters and the amount of money being spent by preppers. Obviously, there are some disasters that are worth preparing for, but that's not what the 'preppers' are arming against. Assets being stocked to prepare against the zombie invasion, or the looters generated from an economic collapse, are just better spent preventing those scenarios. And, importantly, nothing helps cause an economic collapse more than just pulling assets out of circulation.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Ah I didn't think of the circulation...

 

[Narz]

My neighbours are preppers, if it comes down to it I'll just get rid of them and take their stuff.

They must not be very good preppers if you'd be able to do that.

Survivalists and preppers kinda unnerve me. They seem to want to become murder-hermits who just shoot anyone who comes close and who expect to survive the disaster on their own. If there's such a disaster, the real success will come from people banding together, not being hermits.

That's pretty much the type of thing I always said on peakoil.com, that said, it'd be fun to have a cool doomstead with a cool crew & a 2:1 girl-boy sex ratio.

The Simpsons has a pretty entertaining preppers espisode btw (especially considering how bad their recent stuff is).

 

[CavLancer]

Zombies and "murder hermits" seem to be the way this thread has gone, but its not what I think about when considering being a prepper. I doubt very much that people who prepare are preparing for zombies. Maybe there are a few nuts that dream of murdering without consequence but I also doubt this is the intent of most preppers. Guns are for family defense in a situation where the guys with guns aren't doing that job anymore, the police.

It seems to me that there is a popular myth driving responses and that interests me because I wonder where the foundation of that myth is. Popular media creating popular opinion and creating a fantasy for people to adopt? Wherever its from the fantasy exists. I've been away from the US for 5+ years so I don't know what's up.

My intent is simple. Its to provide my family with a place to go and food to eat when there. It should be unknown, as people who are hungry generally do anything they can do to eat and provide for their family. Since its impossible for me to provide for everyone the place should be secret. A shady spot while civilization falls apart.

Instead of idiotic zombies, how about a virus that is lethal and transmitted through the air? If we hear about such a thing killing millions and arriving in a month or two, what will happen to you while my family is safe in seclusion?

I don't know how true it is but I've read that people survived the black death by leaving town ahead of the plague. Makes sense, leave town and find a shady spot in the forest and without knowing it you leave behind the rats, fleas, and black death.

Just seems reasonable to have a go to plan and place. Like having insurance for 'what if'. What if you die do you want your family to be destitute? You have insurance? Same thing. Your insurance agent focus on zombies eating you and leaving your family without? No, because its ridiculous.

 

[Phrossack]

Zombies and "murder hermits" seem to be the way this thread has gone, but its not what I think about when considering being a prepper. I doubt very much that people who prepare are preparing for zombies. Maybe there are a few nuts that dream of murdering without consequence but I also doubt this is the intent of most preppers. Guns are for family defense in a situation where the guys with guns aren't doing that job anymore, the police.

It seems to me that there is a popular myth driving responses and that interests me because I wonder where the foundation of that myth is. Popular media creating popular opinion and creating a fantasy for people to adopt? Wherever its from the fantasy exists. I've been away from the US for 5+ years so I don't know what's up.

My intent is simple. Its to provide my family with a place to go and food to eat when there. It should be unknown, as people who are hungry generally do anything they can do to eat and provide for their family. Since its impossible for me to provide for everyone the place should be secret. A shady spot while civilization falls apart.

Instead of idiotic zombies, how about a virus that is lethal and transmitted through the air? If we hear about such a thing killing millions and arriving in a month or two, what will happen to you while my family is safe in seclusion?

I don't know how true it is but I've read that people survived the black death by leaving town ahead of the plague. Makes sense, leave town and find a shady spot in the forest and without knowing it you leave behind the rats, fleas, and black death.

Just seems reasonable to have a go to plan and place. Like having insurance for 'what if'. What if you die do you want your family to be destitute? You have insurance? Same thing. Your insurance agent focus on zombies eating you and leaving your family without? No, because its ridiculous.

It's a sizable subculture in the US these days. There are TV shows exploring the lives of real survivalists, companies sell weapons advertised (usually in a tongue-in-cheek way) as zombie/apocalypse preparedness, there are online survivalist and/or firearms forums in which people talk about buying an AR-15 or two or ten for the "SHTF" scenario they're so fond of, and so on.

There's nothing wrong with having a grab-bag, radio, generator, and first aid kit for powerful natural disasters or prolonged power outages or so on. But just reading some of the survivalist forums and watching the shows, I'm struck by how a lot of people seem to plan on fortifying their homes and shooting anyone who comes near, and how much they seem actually to hope for an apocalypse. It seems like a lot of preppers and survivalists' basic doctrine for survival is not to band together and help others get through a disaster as a community, but to treat everyone as a probable threat. It's like a "society" composed of badgers or tigers or spiders or libertarians or other fiercely territorial and solitary creatures.

And even if the murder hermits killed or scared off these "threats," then what? Their stores of food won't last forever, the stores and houses will quickly be looted, and now they're alone and hungry, with nobody to help them. What's their end game? Dying alone in their fortified homes after a few years of monitoring their property through a rifle's sights?

 

[squadbroken]

Implicit in the survivalist mindset is that they will be among the few who get to rebuild America the way it should be

 

[Terxpahseyton]

It is an interesting point you raise. This fend-for-yourself mentality ironically works probably best when civilization is actually intact. May actually teach them the value of shared property I mean clearly those will thrive the best who manage to organize in large groups.

 

[Antilogic]

Like many of the urbanites above, I have sufficient food, water, and battery reserves on hand in case of an ordinary natural disaster in my area. That's about it.

 

[warpus]

I've been thinking about what I have, and there isn't much. Most of the stuff I have is my hiking gear and other assorted items, such as a first aid kit, glowsticks, an emergency blanket, good clothing for long distance walking and running, a backpack, a portable stove and gas, portable cutlery, mosquito spray, sun protection, water bottle, blister kit, etc.

In theory the only thing I am prepared for is a long hike to somewhere, but even so I don't have any food except for what's in my fridge and 2 freezers. I guess it'd probably be smart to stock up on some freeze dried food, because that lasts forever (I think?), and takes minimal effort to prepare.

I also own a shovel I could hit zombies with.

 

[Phrossack]

I've been thinking about what I have, and there isn't much. Most of the stuff I have is my hiking gear and other assorted items, such as a first aid kit, glowsticks, an emergency blanket, good clothing for long distance walking and running, a backpack, a portable stove and gas, portable cutlery, mosquito spray, sun protection, water bottle, blister kit, etc.

In theory the only thing I am prepared for is a long hike to somewhere, but even so I don't have any food except for what's in my fridge and 2 freezers. I guess it'd probably be smart to stock up on some freeze dried food, because that lasts forever (I think?), and takes minimal effort to prepare.

I also own a shovel I could hit zombies with.

With its cold in the winter and its clouds of black flies in the summer, Canada ought to be a bastion of safety against a zombie apocalypse.

 

[KMRblue1027]

The biggest killer in any kind of collapse event would be natural causes anyway, disease and malnutrition will outpace anything else. Obviously you should have supplies for like a hurricane or earthquake event but anything else is complete nonsense.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I've been thinking about what I have, and there isn't much. Most of the stuff I have is my hiking gear and other assorted items, such as a first aid kit, glowsticks, an emergency blanket, good clothing for long distance walking and running, a backpack, a portable stove and gas, portable cutlery, mosquito spray, sun protection, water bottle, blister kit, etc.

In theory the only thing I am prepared for is a long hike to somewhere, but even so I don't have any food except for what's in my fridge and 2 freezers. I guess it'd probably be smart to stock up on some freeze dried food, because that lasts forever (I think?), and takes minimal effort to prepare.

I also own a shovel I could hit zombies with.

Isn't all cutlery portable?

Maybe a guide to edible plants would help, too. Unless you already know that stuff...

The biggest killer in any kind of collapse event would be natural causes anyway, disease and malnutrition will outpace anything else. Obviously you should have supplies for like a hurricane or earthquake event but anything else is complete nonsense.

Since the only natural disasters we get here are blizzards, floods, and the occasional tornado, it's actually pretty safe.

 

[CavLancer]

It's a sizable subculture in the US these days. There are TV shows exploring the lives of real survivalists, companies sell weapons advertised (usually in a tongue-in-cheek way) as zombie/apocalypse preparedness, there are online survivalist and/or firearms forums in which people talk about buying an AR-15 or two or ten for the "SHTF" scenario they're so fond of, and so on.

There's nothing wrong with having a grab-bag, radio, generator, and first aid kit for powerful natural disasters or prolonged power outages or so on. But just reading some of the survivalist forums and watching the shows, I'm struck by how a lot of people seem to plan on fortifying their homes and shooting anyone who comes near, and how much they seem actually to hope for an apocalypse. It seems like a lot of preppers and survivalists' basic doctrine for survival is not to band together and help others get through a disaster as a community, but to treat everyone as a probable threat. It's like a "society" composed of badgers or tigers or spiders or libertarians or other fiercely territorial and solitary creatures.

And even if the murder hermits killed or scared off these "threats," then what? Their stores of food won't last forever, the stores and houses will quickly be looted, and now they're alone and hungry, with nobody to help them. What's their end game? Dying alone in their fortified homes after a few years of monitoring their property through a rifle's sights?

I consider the most likely case requiring a place to go and stuff to eat when we get there to be a pandemic. In such a case the last thing I'd want to do during the event is "band together" with anybody but my family. After the pandemic burns itself out then yes, rejoining a community as working, contributing, members would be important.

I wonder if this applies to almost any calamity. Lets say Yellowstone erupts, millions dead are going to do what? Rise up and walk with a hunger for living flesh? No, they are going to spread diseases through decomposition. Diseases are going to infect communities of people banding together. So, better to wait out any event and emerge only when its all completely over. Of course if its one of the super eruptions there isn't much a well stocked bunker will do for one except living longer than most other people.

The idea of shooting people who come to a bi level ranch in suburbia, well that's insane. Better to be a considerable distance from everything and let the world go nuts without us.

Then reemerge when its worth living in again.

 

[KmDubya]

Everyone should have at a minimum a few weeks worth of food and water in their homes in case of a localized natural disaster or a prolonged power outage. Failing to have the ability to sustain yourself for a short period of time forces you to be dependent upon others for your survival or to become a looter.

A loss of the regional power grid in the US due to either cascading equipment failure or outright enemy attack via an EMP might be highly unlikely but it is possible and would leave large portions of the US without food and water within a week. Starving people are capable of anything and the only readable source of food would be humans. Better to have some supplies stockpiled than to be in a position that you could not care for your family.

Buying food in bulk or on sale and storing it would promote family fiscal responsibility and save money that could then be used for other purposes.

If people who could prepared ahead of time with basic food and water, then in the event of a natural disaster the relief efforts could be used to help the truly needy instead of the lazy.

 

[Tee Kay]

I kinda want to die? So, no.

 

[ummmm........]

Voted no. I have trouble making through Christmas Eve night when everything's closed . . .