The First Rule of Survival Is...

Brian Jones

Brian Jones

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Joined
Jan 17, 1999
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...Attitude. If you lose emotional control in a survival situation, your skills mean nothing. It's all over when you lose control of yourself. When you lose rationality, you lose and die in a survival situation.

Remember this when you post here. As soon as you start childish bickering with another forum member, you prove that you have no skills, and are nothing but talk. When you can't cope in an internet forum, you show us you can't cope in daily life. So, we can't expect you to cope in an extreme situation either. If you want credibility here, prove it by your polite personal conduct. Period.

It's okay if you disagree with another's opinions -- respectfully. But if it turns into personal attacks and insults, you write your own infraction tickets. And that ticket may lead to a ban.

Let's get back to enjoying each others' interaction and comraderie. Remember, we are all here because we have WAY more in common than what we differ in...
 
Excellent Post. We truly are our own most important survival tool. We must be sharp and well controlled, or we will fail when it counts.
 
Very well put!!!

But I feel the people that need that advice the most will not take it

Some people just will not listen to reason
 
So how do we develop self control in a survival situation?
Many years ago I used to teach females how to prevent a rape and live to tell about it. A friend, Fred Storaska, wrote a book about it.

My suggestion was that they should mentally roll play rape or confrontation scenes in their mind, they could do this while driving, hiking, or doing house hold chores. The more realistic her roll playing was, the greater the probability she could get out of a situation.

One lady took my suggestion seriously and when she found herself in a bad situation had several options for survival already planted and rehearsed in her mind. The first did not work, but did not prevent her from trying a second scenario, she got herself out of the situation and the police caught the attacker weeks later.

I did the same thing while working on the ranch. I tried to imagine any possible wreck and asked myself what did I need immediately on my person and what should be in my pickup or saddle bags?
What could I teach my Labradors who were always with me that could possibly be useful get me out of a bind?
As I taught them to fetch a shovel, rope, catch and lead a horse to me and many other scenarios I was ready when most events occurred, we rehearsed many of those little things that can become serious quick, but when you have solutions in mind before the event and put them all together they can make a difference.

The more creative our roll playing, the greater our probability of survival.
 
I always believed that the first thing about survival was to try to prevent it in the first place. I've had one experience that came very close to becoming a survival situation. I've always been extremely prepared going into the wilderness. This one time I wasn't, and it could have easily cost me my life. Thats when the reasoning (thankfully) kicked in! Gave me a valuable lesson.

I would bet many survival situations occur because of negligence or complacency.
 
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Great post Brian......Its easy to get caught up, but all can be avoided with some dicipline...
 
I thought the first rule of survival when the chips are down was the Blame Game...

"I thought you brought the matches!"

"No, you were supposed to have them!"
 
I know this thread is a direct result of the thread I started the other day. My initial post was exactly how NOT to start a thread. This thread was meant to get a rise out of people, which it certainly did. But not in the way it turned out.

To start off with a blatant insult (deserved or not) is not the way to start. It set a tone in that thread that had everyone either on the defensive or offensive and quickly blew up. Its fine to have some friendly disagreements, but that thread was way off base to start with and IMO is what caused it to go bad.

My deepest apology to all here for creating such a negative thread. This is a great forum, lets keep it that way.
 
jay99 ... I think you summed it up well right there.

I've learned the hard way on internet forums.

It is hard to fully understand the actual bond between the members on certain forums. You aren't really just dealing with the computer as a box in front of you.

The people on the forum are highly intelligent and have very good memories. It is amazing how mistakes can follow you.

Being humble and sharing knowledge is a benefit to all ... and macho behavior really doesn't help anything.

Good communication is almost a lost art in some circles ... parts of my own life especially.

I've found that the most respected members on most forums are humble and great communicators.

I've personally met some great and very generous people that have driven across the country to see myself and friends.

This really is a great forum and the knowledge base is amazing.
 
Brian,
I dont care what you say...I am gonna be a little pain in the ass, when ever I want....infraction away sucka. LOL.
WOW...you came back in here like the terminator, and layed down the law...I like your style man. You gonna make it to PEACE this year? I think you should....I'll bring the cold ones, and make you dinner...how can you back outta that one brother.
I would like to mention how many calm and candid responses you have in a short amount of time from your post here today....kinda like you have some respect here....oh ya, you do, dont you.
Good to have you chime in El Jefe!
 
YOu can show up at PEACE too! I will cook for you to! LOL.
 
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