Is anyone still not 'prepping'?

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by modernpaladin, May 12, 2021.

  1. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    In my opinion, and I don't mean this to disparage you or the idea of prepping at all, I wouldn't want to survive if it came down to living with people that would rather kill their neighbors than work together for the good of the entire group (however "group" is defined for the individual).

    I think about this kind of thing often because it comes up on various message boards I visit and it really saddens me. I remember growing up and knowing ALL our neighbors. We could go to any neighbor's house if we needed something when our parents weren't home. The teenage girls would stay with us if we were afraid of a storm. One neighbor baked pies almost every day. One guy fixed our fallen bike chains. One neighbor owned the corner candy store and made sure we didn't get any until after dinner time. To this day, I still remember all their names and how kind all of them were. Comparatively, we only knew five neighbors in the area where we bought our first house (and lived for 13 years). We didn't have kids then but I would not have left my children with any of them. That number reduced to two where we bought our second house (lived there 7 years) and I would have left my kids with one of them but only in a dire emergency. I don't mean to romanticize the past but with all it's technological advancements, somewhere along the way we (collective) lost connectedness.

    My other reaction to the idea of prepping is the overall "tone". I've had a few college classes on the brain and psychology but I still don't understand why people think scaring someone half to death is a good idea. Yes, you may be able to sell them that widget with the idea it's a solution to the "problem" but you've also messed with somebody's psyche. This became evident in real life for all of us when it was reported that some people died after drinking disinfectant and calls to poison control hotlines went through the roof after Trump just said the words "disinfectants and lights inside the body". For me, ethically and morally, it's not okay to terrify other people even if I would have something "to gain" by selling them a *solution*.

    Ages ago, when I was first learning to drive, one of my parents' friends was with me. It was dark out. I stopped at a light (which I somehow mistook for a stop sign), checked both ways and proceeded through the intersection. After I was clear of the intersection my parents' friend very calmly said "You just ran a red light". I looked in the rearview mirror to confirm and apologized for doing that. She said it was fine as we were safe but reminded me to be careful in the future. Her reaction and response stuck with me. I'm not ALWAYS calm but I usually can temper my emotions to get through a crisis.

    The point being I really think it's counterproductive to shout "The sky is falling!!!!" Some people might consider prepping as a result but many more will be terrified and do nothing except cower in a corner and cry (you know what I mean). I just don't have it in me to do that to another human being regardless of how *right* I think I am.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
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  2. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    I have some friends in other parts of the world that do it. Also, you have to consider that so many countries are food poor that prepping isn't really possible.

    My parents had a contractor make some changes to one of their dens just for the purpose of prepping for Y2K. (I just smile and nod ;-).
     
  3. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    I agree with you but I don't believe that's the case here. Generally, "preppers" don't overbuy DURING a crisis. They buy BEFORE (in anticipation of) a crisis.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
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  4. ButterBalls

    ButterBalls Well-Known Member

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    Well I went the firearm route, then again there are 100X more deer, elk, moose, antelope, sage hen, ducks, geese, rabbits, cows, horses, sheep and fish then there are people here!

    Bullets and a sharp knife is survival here..
     
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  5. Louisiana75

    Louisiana75 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    We are not preppers in the sense that most people would think, but we would know what to do to survive if the SHTF. We know how to kill and clean animals and have the equipment to do it, I can foods and have the equipment and knowledge to do that as well. We always have at least a years worth of firewood on hand and a wood stove for heat. Yes, we live very remotely too surrounded by thousands of acres of forest land. We have a well and a spring fed pond for water sources.
     
  6. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Im just hoping there will be less cowering if people are more prepared to survive adversity.
     
  7. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    In that case, you have more hope than I do. Most people aren't planners. Even fewer are fighters.
     
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  8. Louisiana75

    Louisiana75 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I agree, They will also be the first to die in certain situations.
     
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  9. Quantum Nerd

    Quantum Nerd Well-Known Member

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    I addressed this point in a post a few years ago:

    "Here is an interesting tidbit:

    There are 30 million deer in the US. About 6 million are killed each year during hunting season. Many hunters do not bag a deer during the season, most bag one and very few bag 2 or more:
    [​IMG]

    The number of hunting licenses were about 39 million. If everyone bagged a deer, the population would be eliminated in one hunting season.

    In the case of societal collapse and widespread hunger, this means that the the number of hunters would multiply, as would the number of deer each hunter would try to get. This means that the entire US deer population would likely be eliminated in a month, if not in a week.

    Think about that if you believe that hunting will keep you alive in case of the zombie apocalypse.

    Isn't it fun playing with numbers?
    "

    So, good luck with your fantasy that you'd be able to survive on hunting deer. It's just like with the current gasoline shortage. If everyone would be hunting deer all at the same time, we'd run out of deer very quickly.
     
  10. Louisiana75

    Louisiana75 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Not everyone would kill a deer, because they don't know how or don't have the proper tools to get the job done. Also, deer is just one animal. All animals are edible.
     
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  11. Talon

    Talon Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    A man after my own heart. I always make a point of stocking up on beer before a natural disaster.

    I figure if we're going to get knocked back into the Middle Ages we might as well be civilized about it...:D

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Quantum Nerd

    Quantum Nerd Well-Known Member

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    I've had this conversation before:

    Other animals:
    "Number of wild turkey: 7 milion
    Wild hogs: 5 million
    Wolves: 11,000

    Those numbers don't help you make your point.
    "

    Bears number 500,000

    As to not everyone will hunt: True, however, those who have guns in the household (40% of US households) will go and get as many animal kills as they can, even if they don't have the ability to keep the meat edible. That's just how it works when panic and hoarding sets in. I'd be surprised if the wild animal population wouldn't go extinct within a month, in case of a civilization collapse.
     
  13. Louisiana75

    Louisiana75 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Much of the general population will die off quickly because they will have no knowledge of surviving.
     
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  14. Quantum Nerd

    Quantum Nerd Well-Known Member

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    The ones with no knowledge of surviving would include 99.9% of the population, including you and me. The hunters may survive a couple of weeks longer. Big deal.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
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  15. Louisiana75

    Louisiana75 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    This shows how ignorant you are.
    I could not survive forever, but much MUCH longer than the general population.
     
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  16. gamewell45

    gamewell45 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Yet, humans were able to survive the stone age. Bottom line is you adapt to the current conditions. Life might be rough temporarily but you'll survive just like our ancient ancestors did back in the stone age.
     
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  17. Collateral Damage

    Collateral Damage Well-Known Member

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    The lack of knowing the neighbors has been going on for years... decades really. That IS sad, but 'prepping', non-inclusive of those who live eat and breathe it, is not a far out and absurd thing. Preparing for a rainy day is the classic phrase, prepping the short version. While there are many who deride it and act like anyone who does it is a nut case, the simple version is having a spare tire in the car, an umbrella in your tote, and extra jar of mayonaise in the pantry.

    Most 'preppers' aren't the shotgun wielding character the media wants you to think of. They are people who think beyond immediate needs and want to make sure they and theirs will have food, water and shelter if something in this uncertain world goes sideways. Do people who live in Tornado Alley keep food in their shelters in case of? Are they preppers? Grandma would can up the year's crops and store them in the cellar for winter meals. Is she a 'prepper'?

    If you understand what 'prepping' actually is, you'll start seeing what a load of hogwash the media sells on the subject.
     
  18. Talon

    Talon Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Including the domestic variety.

    I don't need to tell you this, but if you're growing and preserving your own food and perhaps raising some livestock, you hunt to supplement your diet.

    People have been hunting deer in these parts forever. I'd be willing to bet that Bambi & Co. have a better chance of surviving the Zombie Apocalypse than the 80% of our population that lives in cities.
     
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  19. Pants

    Pants Well-Known Member

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    If you are living in a natural disaster area, it is fairly common. Generally, though, that is done prior to the event because many things people buy will be expired by the time they consume them if they are merely 'prepping'.
     
  20. Collateral Damage

    Collateral Damage Well-Known Member

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    FIFO. First in, first out. For example, you have 6 cans of corn on the self, you eat two, and next time you buy two more. They go in back of the ones you already had.

    That way, your stock is always 'fresh', and realistically, most people don't buy or stock up on things they don't normally eat anyway.

    Perishables are just that, and while a root cellar helps keep fresh things a bit longer, you rotate those foods by seasonal availability, or can what's currently in season so you can use them in the off season.
     
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  21. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    I rarely watch television or listen to most news stations. I know a few preppers personally so my idea of it isn't from media.

    As you stated, it really is just planning for the unexpected (or the expected). Before my divorce, I shopped at Costco. I hate shopping with a passion so it was nice to just go every month or two and not have to deal with more frequent smaller shops more frequently.

    Now that I live alone I don't cook as often as I once did. I stock up on non-perishables here and there. I'm in a smaller space which also impacts how much I'm able to keep on hand. Being alone has cured my stress about being prepared (it's on thing to worry about your family versus just yourself).

    All in all, like most terms, I think "prepper" has been overplayed and made into something "crazy" or "extreme" when, as you point out, it really just means planning ahead.
     
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  22. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    Oh, one more point.

    I believe the negative connotation about preppers stem from the idea of them having loads of weapons and talking about cannibalism and fighting to the death over food or supplies. I doubt anybody in the U.S. would even come close to something like that unless some kind of nuclear attack happened. There would have to be constant and consistent attacks on our soil before they would start rationing foods and supplies. In this sense, most people are oblivious just for those reasons. They've never had to do without so planning just seems bizarre and almost paranoid to the average person.
     
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  23. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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  24. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    There were no shortages until everyone went out and started panic buying.
     
  25. Talon

    Talon Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Indeed, and over time that would likely result in an explosion in game populations.
     

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