"Surburban Survivalists"

[smashp]

I think another interesting side note is having a home garden. I have always had a home garden ever since i was a kid when my father taught me. In fact, this year all my tomato and pepper plants were grown from seeds saved from last year's fruit.

Gardening is regaining popularity today, and the prices of plants reflects that demand.

 

[OCGuy]

The people who think that there is no possible way that it could come down to being a "survivalist" are either really dim or.....really dim.

They are more odd than the people who are over-doing it.

 

[thraashman]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
I have guns. So I can take what I need from all of the lefties without them.

I don't have any guns but according to the righties I can easily get an illegal gun and use it to steal because only the illegal guns are used in crimes.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: thraashman

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
I have guns. So I can take what I need from all of the lefties without them.

I don't have any guns but according to the righties I can easily get an illegal gun and use it to steal because only the illegal guns are used in crimes.

When the end comes nothing will be illegal and thus you still won't be able to get them!

 

[Moonbeam]

The Poles, sandwiched between the Germans and the Russians long ago came up with a strategy for dealing with the end of the world and that is to cover oneself with a sheet and crawl to the cemetery.

 

[Rainsford]

My problem with "survivalist" types is pretty directly demonstrated by the fact that, in response to an economic crisis, their plan involves thermal blankets and water purification tablets. It's a hobby that makes them feel better, but their not really doing a very good job being "prepared" for problems that might ACTUALLY happen. In a time when the biggest problem facing people is too much debt and the threat of being laid off, it would seem like it would be better to save the money you're spending on grain mills or whatever in case you need a backup fund. That way, if you get fired, you can continue to shop at Safeway instead of going out in the woods and hunting deer with your AR-15. Less macho and sexy, I know, but still probably a better plan.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
My problem with "survivalist" types is pretty directly demonstrated by the fact that, in response to an economic crisis, their plan involves thermal blankets and water purification tablets. It's a hobby that makes them feel better, but their not really doing a very good job being "prepared" for problems that might ACTUALLY happen. In a time when the biggest problem facing people is too much debt and the threat of being laid off, it would seem like it would be better to save the money you're spending on grain mills or whatever in case you need a backup fund. That way, if you get fired, you can continue to shop at Safeway instead of going out in the woods and hunting deer with your AR-15. Less macho and sexy, I know, but still probably a better plan.

The economic "experts" in this forum (you know to whom I refer) claimed that not bailing out the banks would bring about the end of the world economy. If that happened, money would be fancy colored toilet paper, so saving it would be irrelevant.

So make up your minds, which is it? Is it possible for the economy to collapse entirely or not? If yes, then the survivalists are right. If no, then the economists and their bailout are wrong.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: Rainsford
My problem with "survivalist" types is pretty directly demonstrated by the fact that, in response to an economic crisis, their plan involves thermal blankets and water purification tablets. It's a hobby that makes them feel better, but their not really doing a very good job being "prepared" for problems that might ACTUALLY happen. In a time when the biggest problem facing people is too much debt and the threat of being laid off, it would seem like it would be better to save the money you're spending on grain mills or whatever in case you need a backup fund. That way, if you get fired, you can continue to shop at Safeway instead of going out in the woods and hunting deer with your AR-15. Less macho and sexy, I know, but still probably a better plan.

The economic "experts" in this forum (you know to whom I refer) claimed that not bailing out the banks would bring about the end of the world economy. If that happened, money would be fancy colored toilet paper, so saving it would be irrelevant.

So make up your minds, which is it? Is it possible for the economy to collapse entirely or not? If yes, then the survivalists are right. If no, then the economists and their bailout are wrong.

Well I'm pretty sure I wasn't one of the people suggesting that the world economy was going to end...

But in any case, I don't see a world-as-we-know-it economic collapse happening. Where's the precedent, for one thing? Even the very worst economic problems in modern history don't degenerate into the kind of world survivalists seem to be preparing for. It's just non-sensical, there is too much power with a vested interest in keeping the economy running. And not just hugely wealthy industrialist types...it's in all of our best interest to work within the modern economic model instead of reverting to barbarism. And that's ultimately what makes the survivalist preparation unnecessary...nobody really wants to see it happen.

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

Originally posted by: JKing106

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
I have guns. So I can take what I need from all of the lefties without them.

Except some "lefties," like me, also have guns. Only thing you're taking from me is some lead slugs. You don't actually believe that cartoonish, stereotypical bullshit you hear from Limbaugh, Savage, etc., do you? That all liberals hate guns, support abortion, all those other ridiculous talking points? Never mind, from the shit you post, yeah, you probably do.

Absolutely not! I do not believe ANY of that bullshit. However, I do believe CNN, MSNBC, etc who claim that all right-wingers are gun toting crazies with caches of assault weapons and ammunition. So I am 100% positive that I will have more guns, bigger guns, and be a better shot than you.

I highly doubt that. Some of us lefties love weapons just as much as the right..so you shouldn't assume.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Well I'm pretty sure I wasn't one of the people suggesting that the world economy was going to end...

But in any case, I don't see a world-as-we-know-it economic collapse happening. Where's the precedent, for one thing? Even the very worst economic problems in modern history don't degenerate into the kind of world survivalists seem to be preparing for. It's just non-sensical, there is too much power with a vested interest in keeping the economy running. And not just hugely wealthy industrialist types...it's in all of our best interest to work within the modern economic model instead of reverting to barbarism. And that's ultimately what makes the survivalist preparation unnecessary...nobody really wants to see it happen.

I don't know. I saw it first hand with a power outage that lasted over a week - it turned real ugly, real fast. I couldn't imagine if it was wide spread and lasted a month or more. And when people get desperate you have to be able to take care of yourself. That's when I started to take a firm look at how non-self reliant I had become and took necessary precautions to be prepared. I had the skills from other training, just not the preparations and basic tools/supplies.

That's called being smart and learning from personal experience. Energy shortages or any offset of our delicate balance and we're in for loads of trouble. I'd rather be prepared for that than not by being able to meet my basic needs without relying on somebody else or a store.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil


No. If I approach someone and they have an assault rifle I will leave them alone. If I approach someone and they offer me a hug and an apology for Obama ending the world. I'll shoot them and take their stuff.

lol, like you would even come out from under your bed while the dems freely raided your home

Originally posted by: Nebor

Of course, now I'm in the Army, so in the event of any sort of crisis I'll be one of the first to die due to poor management, stupid planning and an unprepared domestic defense infrastructure.

Suck it up buttercup

Originally posted by: OCguy
The people who think that there is no possible way that it could come down to being a "survivalist" are either really dim or.....really dim.

No possible way? yup that would be pretty dim, but is there really people like that?

 

[PingSpike]

My favorite part about people who want to build their own farm so they have land to live off of when the shit hits the fan is they always forget to build the wall and sentry robots with gattling guns that they'd need to keep all those other people from stealing all their shit. That should be the first thing they build! They seem to operate under some odd assumption that all those unprepared assholes are just going to throw up their hands and say "Well, we didn't prepare...I guess we'll just starve to death! Man, my neighbor sure looks smart now!"

A better plan seems to be to buy a lot of weapons and then steal that guys farm.

Its all pretty silly anyway. Its a good idea to have a bunch of stuff prepared in case of relatively minor upsets in civilization as mentioned. But in a true end of the world scenario, you're just going to be about 2" less screwed then that guy with an empty refridgerator and natural gas heating.

 

[waggy]

i don't see the problem. they are helping the economy and IF (doubtfull but possible) something happens they can survive a little longer before they get eaten by zombies in the zombie masacre scheduled to happen in 2012.


we are prepared for a katrina style event but not something world ending. we have a garden and a bunch of canned goods. we can probably survive 3 months before things got bad. I figure if its world ending type thing it won't matter anyway. BUT i do have enough skills where i could survive (i know farming and hunting/fishing etc) but if its that bad it really won't matter

 

[desy]

After the NA blackout of 03 my wife asked me what do we do esp if this happens in the dead of winter? So I learned.

Water, can't live without it, figure out where your going to get it
Freezing to death, get a good sleeping bag and setup a tent inside your house
Food, stock up on stuff you NORMALLY eat, not MRE's and wheat with a grinder

Firearms, if you think you need them, sure
Generators, another piece of equipment to maintain, I opted for an Inverter for my car cause having electricity even for an hr a day would be huge
Cooking, most easily done with propane and propane stores forever
Bug out bags, OK if you think you'll be relocated like the coast, but I'd bug in instead
Setting up backwoods retreat, once the starving masses from the cities come you won't have the ability to stave of a 24/7/365 seige.

Most other things like medical, communications, and on and on, we depend on society for, so going it alone isn't an option if it gets bad. Strong communities you can depend on will be what makes it bearable

 

[StageLeft]

desy's advice is actually good. So is the above about farms. I don't know how these people think they're going to protect their farm from me. I think a good first aid kit with some survival books from a standard book store would go a long way, and the fact is even just reading them for the heck of it is quite interesting. I remember as a kid reading through the SAS survival handbook and picked up some ideas that took very little time to learn and could pay a good dividend.

 

[Fern]

I've been following this thread since it started. So far nobody's mentioned what I think is probably the most important concern - transporation.

Unless you're already living next to a clean moutain river (water) in the middle of national or state park (fish/game) you're gonna need to travel. You gotta get water, food, firewood or relocate if in an urban area.

If there is no electricity, there is no gas for cars (gas station pumps run on electricity). Even if you could manually pump it or use a generator, the refineries will cease working anyway.

I've got 3 or 4 clean moutains creeks within a few hundreds of my house (OK for water). But the national and state forests (Smoky Mountains etc) are about 10 miles away. Getting fish/game will be a b1tch. And moving firewood around without my truck doesn't seem appealing to me - at all.

I'm thinking if something like you people speak of actually occurs, horses will be damn popular.

Fern

 

[Bateluer]

I just stocked up on high quality TP. You'll all be begging me.

 

[spidey07]

Good point about transportation Fern - why I need more fuel (propane, kerosene). But I wonder just how well bio-diesel fuel stores?

 

[Paddington]

Originally posted by: mstersmith
I have yet to see anyone mention physical fitness yet. Can you run five miles? How about ruck 20 miles with fifty pounds on your back plus water and ammo? Eventually you will be forced to leave the bat cave and survive on your own merits. Ever watch survivor man? Check out how sick he gets all the time. That?s no joke. He is in fairly good conditioning but I think he does a lot of harm to himself by not allowing for a full recovery. It is very easy to get sick and catch dysentery. Ever gotten the craps in the field, try having both ends explode. I took six bags in two hours once, worse day of my life. Last time I forget to wash my hands in the field. All the equipment in the world meens squat if you are a fat, middle aged suburbanite. Your body probably wont tolerate that kind of living for long.

I hate to say it, but ever hear of the "meek shall inherit the Earth". It's not just an old English saying, but something that's backed up by the evolutionary record. If there was a devastating event, your muscle-powered antics would be of less use than the Hollywood movies make them out to be. And in a world of starvation your high metabolic demands would put you at a distinct disadvantage compared to the 95 pound weakling.

Hey, I'm just saying. Nothing wrong with working out, but don't confuse yourself that this makes you more fit for a post-apocalyptic type scenario.

 

[cwjerome]

Originally posted by: Paddington

Originally posted by: mstersmith
I have yet to see anyone mention physical fitness yet. Can you run five miles? How about ruck 20 miles with fifty pounds on your back plus water and ammo? Eventually you will be forced to leave the bat cave and survive on your own merits. Ever watch survivor man? Check out how sick he gets all the time. That?s no joke. He is in fairly good conditioning but I think he does a lot of harm to himself by not allowing for a full recovery. It is very easy to get sick and catch dysentery. Ever gotten the craps in the field, try having both ends explode. I took six bags in two hours once, worse day of my life. Last time I forget to wash my hands in the field. All the equipment in the world meens squat if you are a fat, middle aged suburbanite. Your body probably wont tolerate that kind of living for long.

I hate to say it, but ever hear of the "meek shall inherit the Earth". It's not just an old English saying, but something that's backed up by the evolutionary record. If there was a devastating event, your muscle-powered antics would be of less use than the Hollywood movies make them out to be. And in a world of starvation your high metabolic demands would put you at a distinct disadvantage compared to the 95 pound weakling.

Hey, I'm just saying. Nothing wrong with working out, but don't confuse yourself that this makes you more fit for a post-apocalyptic type scenario.

I don't think he's saying be a body builder. Being physically fit can only help. If you think some pasty, meek apartment dweller has an advantage over someone with a healthy, strong body you're flat out wrong. It's not an episode of Survivor.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Originally posted by: Paddington


I hate to say it, but ever hear of the "meek shall inherit the Earth". It's not just an old English saying, but something that's backed up by the evolutionary record.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: cwjerome

I don't think he's saying be a body builder. Being physically fit can only help. If you think some pasty, meek apartment dweller has an advantage over someone with a healthy, strong body you're flat out wrong. It's not an episode of Survivor.

For real. A co-worker is strenth wise weak, he doesn't have much strength at all. But he has no problems running 26 mile marathons and trains/runs for them. There's a big difference between being fit and being strong - ideally one would be both. I am strong and basically fit, but nowhere NEAR as fit as he is.

 

[StageLeft]

horses will be damn popular.

TO EAT

For real. A co-worker is strenth wise weak, he doesn't have much strength at all. But he has no problems running 26 mile marathons and trains/runs for them. There's a big difference between being fit and being strong - ideally one would be both. I am strong and basically fit, but nowhere NEAR as fit as he is.

I'd rather eat you when the war starts because you'll have more muscle. Your coworker and I will have a feast!!

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
This whole matter is understandable if you know something about what is really going on with people.

Here are the facts in this matter:

1. Everybody was put down as a child and taught to hate himself.

2. The pain from self hate is so great that it can't be allowed to stay in conscious awareness.

3. The sleep or emotional deadness that is required to keep the pain bottled up leads to a deadness in ordinary life. We died as children.

4. The deadness suppresses a craving for life but cannot destroy it. Thus we are split inside and live in inner conflict, doubt, self loathing, and uncertainty, etc. We have become insane and in denial.

5. Since we having shut the door on the voluntary road back to real life, remembering what really happened to us, we have nothing left but our deadness and self hate and longing which leak out of our being unconsciously as a desire for a surrogate, vicarious life. We imagine we are heroes in games and fantasy, survivalists in a mean world.

6. We actually seek our own destruction so as to get back to the feeling that we were destroyed. Our lives are a desire to recreate our childhood trauma. We hate ourselves and seek our own destruction, the end of the world, which day by day we bring closer with our insanity.

7. We are fools who know, unconsciously what we are doing, but we imagine we will survive with our survivalist skills.
---------------

Poor sad sleeping humanity fills chock full of hubris. Poor sad fools we are. Our hate for ourselves gets projected out on the world as the hate of the other, the other on whom our survival depends.

There is only one way to survive and that is to awaken. Good luck to you.

You know you pay your therapist way too much for this kind of stuff, right?

You can just rent this & play it over & over to get the same effect.