Dooms Day Preepers ?

I have watched the show a couple of times now. They seem to have picked the survivalist fringe for the most part. I have to wonder about the folks that have 10's of thousands of dollars of food and supplies at home with NO back up or plans to leave should their home become an unlivable option. One episode had a family that was planning for a Nuclear accident since they live hear a nuclear power plant but I think their game plan was to hole up in their home. Seems like a fatally poor plan to me. If your scenario was to survive a nuclear incident I would think getting as far away from the site of the incident as quickly as possible should be priority 1.
 
I used to visit a couple of forums that are all about that type of survivalists, and I even started thinking like them for a short time. It started making me feel a little depressed, though. They live each and every day in "prepping" for some unknown end that you know deep down they are actually hoping for. It is all just too morbid for me.

There's a difference between being prepared and being obsessed, and most of these folks cross into a side of it that I have no interest in.
 
I'm a pragmatist and gleen what I can from a lot of sources...I live in hurricane country, and my primary focus is short term interruption of services as was witnessed by the 04/05 season ... primarily power outages (it gets really hot without air conditioning) a couple of 3 to 4 day stretches with one of about 7 days , had water and sewer, but have been compromised in past....I have started to store a little more pantry food, and find that having it visible on open shelves makes it easier to rotate stock, and estimate the amount available than when it was stored in a closed pantry.... I guess I'm also a gun snob, and when one of the subjects interviewed relies on a blowback .45 pistol for protection, I fear he may have judgment issues in other areas
 
There is a huge difference between being prepared and stockpiling ammo, food, etc. If something actually caused society to collapse I doubt many people would survive. Who would you use those 40,000 rounds on? I think there has been too much zombie nonsense in the media. Having some extra supplies on hand is good. Buying tens of thousands of rounds in multiple calibers is just stupid to me.
 
Living off the grid, floods, fires, earthquake, blizzards etc. Okay, you can survive. If the world collapses, and survivors are out there ready to take you out because everyone and their brother knows that you have supplies etc? Do you have a medieval keep? Do you have mounted .50's on the castle walls? If someone knows you have supplies, they will be over to take you out.
 
I don't buy the notion that in a major crisis that people will just go crazy and start killing and eating each other. Famine after famine, holocaust after holocause, most people would rather starve to death than behave violently towards their brothers.
 
I wouldn't worry about "most people". There's always the few who don't mind random violence, though.
 
I have been reading up on firearms for HD lately, and that has led me onto a few of the survivalist forums. Interesting reading, but I don't think I would get a lot of satisfaction out of living like I am under siege.

I am of the opinion that, for most of those folks, apocalyptic prepping is a hobby. They simply dig the neat gear. I dig the neat gear too.

Also, I think that focusing on shtf preparation is a way of focusing one's free-floating anxiety about the uncertainty of life and giving oneself the psychological comfort of feeling a sense of control. On that show, the fellow whose health was so poor he could barely walk, as he waddled about with his M14, is a case in point.


For my part, I believe in improved self-reliance and in being prepared for the sorts of non-apocalyptic things that regularly happen, like the prolonged power outages in my area a few months back.
 
Fanglekai said:
There is a huge difference between being prepared and stockpiling ammo, food, etc. If something actually caused society to collapse I doubt many people would survive. Who would you use those 40,000 rounds on? I think there has been too much zombie nonsense in the media. Having some extra supplies on hand is good. Buying tens of thousands of rounds in multiple calibers is just stupid to me.
Click to expand...

ammo's not always for people. world goes to hell that ammo will have to last for a few years. hunting, training new shooters, practise, an occasional roving hoard, or bartering bullets (unfired ones) for food or fuel or meds all that ammo could come in handy. can't eat coins (except those foil covered chocolate ones)but ammo can get you safety and food. barter will be the way of life if the world does go to hell,(i don't think it will or is)and a box of bullets could get you more than gold.

I think a stockpile of smokes and beer could get you more than that. its amazing what some people will do for luxury items when they can't get them.

I've watched a couple of the shows, mostly just while clicking around but they all seem like their plans are set for one thing.IE, the guy in Tennessee is thinking giant emp the people in Connecticut are thinking New Madrid fault line earthquake. if it is the earthquake the EMP guy is screwed.

anybody read the book "the Road" kinda put a different spin on survival for me. i had never thought about it that way before.

if it does go to hell, good luck,
 
Most of us remember 9/11, but how many remember that K-Mart management
immediately stopped selling firearms and ammo.They were afraid we'd go
haywire......... We didn't....they did.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I wouldn't worry about "most people". There's always the few who don't mind random violence, though.
Click to expand...

Quite true. I believe in the rational decency of the majority. The economy was spooking me a bit a while ago, watching too damn much CNN maybe.:p My base line is pretty much what the government of Canada emergency preparedness web site states. Have the basics for a three day natural dsiaster. After a few days people take stock and organize.
 
Glass canning jars of food in preparation for an earthquake. How could the shows " assement" miss that.

I prep for real possibilities. We lost power to damage frogman ice storm. We were only out for 24 hours. Some a couple streets away were a week. My neighbors were " bugging out " for a hotel 5 hours into it.

No mass hysteria. No roaming violent mobs.

Theft was a big concern. Next over town had dozens of generators stolen right off the back porch while they were running. Thieves even stole the generator that was put at the intersection to keep the traffic lights on.

Badge54
 
Foilist said:
Also, I think that focusing on shtf preparation is a way of focusing one's free-floating anxiety about the uncertainty of life and giving oneself the psychological comfort of feeling a sense of control. On that show, the fellow whose health was so poor he could barely walk, as he waddled about with his M14, is a case in point.
Click to expand...

Thats is such a great point you just made. I know most people don't think that much into it but you just said exactly what I thought when I saw that guy on the show:thumbup:

Furthermore, most of those preppers aren't survivalists or even trained in survival. They could almost call the show Doomsday Hoarders. Having tons of supplies won't matter if you can't even start a fire to cook all that food you have. I'd like to see one of them say "hey this is oversized ginormous fire kit", or 'here is my stockpile of water putrification gear', like filters and tablets. They think that if they keep an excess of the stuff they normally have in their homes that they will be okay. You notice that they haven't even shown more than maybe 1 or 2 generators?? I'm pretty sure the guy who feared the collapse of the power grid never once mentioned how he would power his home afterwards. He just plans to grab his kids and scurry off into the desert to live in a shipping container:confused:
But in the end I will still watch the show cuz once and a while there is a good idea or a good method being practiced.
 
the best part for me was when the guy shot his thumb off, what kind of idiot puts his finger in front of the barrel???? and he's prepared???? not more than anyone with half a brain that knows bullets come out of guns....... and also from the same episode, the new york firefighter with the most mall ninja knives possible calling himself capable of knife fighting??? as the saying goes, don't bring a knife to a gun fight, and if he thinks because New York laws suck, that no one will have guns? Cmon, be real, when guns are outlawed only out laws will have guns, and that outlaw will shoot your family to pieces mr. knife fighter
 
There is a principle of threat assessment that you can keep in mind. Threats range from common but minor to rare but disastrous. It's easy to stock up for a few days without power in a storm or kids getting scrapes and bruises in the summertime that don't need a doctor, just bandaids. Keep the basics. Have home protection.

Remember also that major disasters will occur. Earthquakes or tornadoes can wipe out a town. A fire can burn you out of house and home. Home invasions can destroy a family. Knowing what to do is more important than having an unwieldy stockpile, but if you have the space for it, why not stock up? That way you aren't running out for groceries when the hurricane is an hour away.

As in everything, context is important What do you really need?
 
Los Angeles said:
I don't buy the notion that in a major crisis that people will just go crazy and start killing and eating each other. Famine after famine, holocaust after holocause, most people would rather starve to death than behave violently towards their brothers.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but your wrong. People are animals. Law an order only exists because of the threat of the punishment, and an abundance of goods. Remove either, and you will see a drastic change. I've seen the best and worst of mankind during my life, and I truly know what people are capable of on both ends of the spectrum.
 
If most people would rather starve to death than behave violently towards their brothers, why do we have holocaust after holocaust?

The problem is, most people are not brothers and do not see the 'other' as worth respecting. Within a reasonably homogeneous society, we recognize our common characteristics. Unassimilated minorities are harder to love, philosophical principles notwithstanding.
 
I think it's a good practice to stock up on a few things but come on :eek: I think these people are a little out there ! IF there were ever anytyps of "DoomsDay Event" These are the first people that would get looted ! LOL !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top