The Ultimate Survival Test Question

B

BlackPaladin

Joined
Oct 29, 2006
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127
I have thought about this for years, even before I really was interested in becoming more knowledgable about survival, and was just a minor knife nut. Afer 20+ of mulling it in my mind, I decide to publish! :cool:

You are to decide if a person is a strong candidate as a partner in a survival situation. The person has to answer the question as truthfully as possible, whether it helps or hurts their chances of being selected.

I thought of one question that is the ultimate:
How many knots do you know how to tie?
(I am lumping everything into "knots" so everyone is on the same page. Of course, we have knots, hitches, splices, etc.)

This question, with a reasonable parameter set that I have yet to determine, will give you the best chance at picking a capable individual.

Most average people know how to tie their shoes (overhand knot and and a bow), and maybe know a few other knots.

The people who know how to tie quite a few "knots" are current and ex-military, current and ex- Cub/Boy/Eagle Scouts, experienced hunters and fisherman, experienced hikers and climbers, etc.
 
Well I was in scouting for 14 years, so I know my knots. I can do stoppers, reef knot, sheet bend, fisherman's knot, figure eight, double figure eight, half hitch, two half hitch, clove hitch, cow hitch, bowline, bowline with only using one hand and im sure there a few im missing.
 
I can tie my shoes, a square knot, a hangman's noose, a slip knot, and a fishing knot that holds the hook on...other than that, I'm a knot dummy. I am a former Marine, but in my MOS we didn't tie many knots. I should really learn some more! :D -Matt-
 
I don't see that question as the ultimate one to use to qualify someone.
There are a lot more other important peices of knowledge and skill to know than knots.

Think of this; you could ask someone who sails and they will know a lot of knots, does that determine if they know anything about survival skills? No.
The two are somewhat unrelated.
 
billym said:
I don't see that question as the ultimate one to use to qualify someone.
There are a lot more other important peices of knowledge and skill to know than knots.

Think of this; you could ask someone who sails and they will know a lot of knots, does that determine if they know anything about survival skills? No.
The two are somewhat unrelated.
Click to expand...

You didn't read carefully.

It is the ultimate question to have the BEST chance of getting someone.

Of course, there are umpteen categories of things. There are hundreds of posts here on dozens of different topics everyday.
If you can come up with one question that's better, I am all eyes.
 
"How many edible plants can you identify?" (in whatever area it is that you plan to camp). I can handle the knots. I can build the shelter and start the fire, blah, blah, blah.

Of all my skills, I'm weakest on edible plants. Ideally your partner has knowledge and skills that complement your own so there's no one right answer to your question.
 
BlackPaladin said:
You didn't read carefully.

If you can come up with one question that's better, I am all eyes.
Click to expand...

I will give it a try. I would be less interested in what they know. A skill can be taught, with the right supplies, a "know nothing" partner can still be of use if willing to be taught.

My question would be this: "do you make critical decisions with your mind or your heart".

In essence, do you just react to a stressful, survival, critical, or out of the ordinary situation/scenario. Or do you plan your action with a end result in mind?

Thats a hard question to ask and get an empirical answer, but I could ask someone smarter than me could come up with a experiment, and I would copy that;)
 
BlackPaladin said:
I have thought about this for years, even before I really was interested in becoming more knowledgable about survival, and was just a minor knife nut. Afer 20+ of mulling it in my mind, I decide to publish! :cool:

You are to decide if a person is a strong candidate as a partner in a survival situation. The person has to answer the question as truthfully as possible, whether it helps or hurts their chances of being selected.

I thought of one question that is the ultimate:
How many knots do you know how to tie?
(I am lumping everything into "knots" so everyone is on the same page. Of course, we have knots, hitches, splices, etc.)

This question, with a reasonable parameter set that I have yet to determine, will give you the best chance at picking a capable individual.

Most average people know how to tie their shoes (overhand knot and and a bow), and maybe know a few other knots.

The people who know how to tie quite a few "knots" are current and ex-military, current and ex- Cub/Boy/Eagle Scouts, experienced hunters and fisherman, experienced hikers and climbers, etc.
Click to expand...

Wow, 20 years to come up with the ultimate question. That's a lot of thinking. Did you ever consider asking someone if they had survival skills?
 
magneto said:
Wow, 20 years to come up with the ultimate question. That's a lot of thinking. Did you ever consider asking someone if they had survival skills?
Click to expand...

LOL, smart ass.

The point is, people all say all kinds of shit. But my computer science brain says, hey, maybe empiricize this.

20 years to "publish." Not to formulate. Read. LOL.
 
tarmix101 said:
I will give it a try. I would be less interested in what they know. A skill can be taught, with the right supplies, a "know nothing" partner can still be of use if willing to be taught.

My question would be this: "do you make critical decisions with your mind or your heart".

In essence, do you just react to a stressful, survival, critical, or out of the ordinary situation/scenario. Or do you plan your action with a end result in mind?

Thats a hard question to ask and get an empirical answer, but I could ask someone smarter than me could come up with a experiment, and I would copy that;)
Click to expand...

These professionals did some research along the lines of what you are contemplating:

http://www.inderscience.com/search/index.php?action=record&rec_id=3297&prevQuery=&ps=10&m=or
 
magneto said:
Wow, 20 years to come up with the ultimate question. That's a lot of thinking. Did you ever consider asking someone if they had survival skills?
Click to expand...

That wasn't the question from the original poster:rolleyes: . It was what you thought the best question is to pose to a perspective survivalist.

Sarcasm from what I have been taught isn't really a skill, just a personality disorder:mad:
 
Haha.

If people read the OP carefully, as you did, but come up with a counterpoint, that is all good.

It is not that I didn't think about what you said, but it is hard to quantify. Hence the reference to the psych research.
 
tarmix101 said:
Great link. I looked through quite a few link (glanced really:rolleyes: ) and noticed most implied "business tactics", or "e business survival". Is there a specific link you found referencing, or refuting your original thought/question?

I would be interested to see it:thumbup:
Click to expand...

No, I have never actually seen something where that is quantified. Well, you can do personality tests on people (Mostly Agree, etc.), but they are not definitive.
 
I know just a few basic knots that have gotten me through life just fine.

I may be below par as far as knots go, but I can start a fire with a bowdrill, build shelters, fish, skin small animals, navigate via sun and stars and all other assorted outdoor skills.

There is a really cool older englishman who lives accross the street from my house. I have great conversations with him about all sorts of things. He was in the African military, lived in huts and debris shelters for years at a strech, sailed a boat halfway around the world, had lots of intresting experiences.

That guy can tie a multitude of knots, anything you could ever need.

I doubt he could boil water by himself, can't put a decent edge on a blade, can hardly start a fire with a blowtorch.

Don't put all your faith in knots.
 
When you say your choosing your survival partner based solely on that one question about knotting ability, I would say all your eggs are in the same basket:D .

I know this was a hypethetical situation, I'm just harrassing you.
 
shotgunner11 said:
When you say your choosing your survival partner based solely on that one question about knotting ability, I would say all your eggs are in the same basket:D .

I know this was a hypethetical situation, I'm just harrassing you.
Click to expand...

I don't feel harassed by you, because you came bearing gifts. It actually is a bonus that you have a real-life exception that could go towards proving the rule.

I would wager that your neighbor's situation is somewhat unique, and that the average person that knowledgeable in rope tying has a little more survival in his bones (brain!).

Further, I am not talking about finding Les Stroud walking down Main Street, necessarily. I am talking about finding someone who has a reasonable chance at having some survival skils.
 
I'd ask a different question: "What is the Rule of Threes?"
Answer: - You can go 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, but only 3 hours without shelter (under exposed conditions) - - - It tells me if they have their priorities straight. - - Knots are great, but I don't know if knowing how to tie a lot of different ones is an indication of skills - - a few basic ones can be used for a lot of different situations. And as far as being able to tell you the formal names of those knots - - I don't know, but could look them up for you. - - -
 
BlackPaladin said:
No, I have never actually seen something where that is quantified. Well, you can do personality tests on people (Mostly Agree, etc.), but they are not definitive.
Click to expand...

Noted.... I have been glancing through some of the info on the web site, and I still hold to my original thought. For me at least, I want to be with someone that can stay this side of rational thought and not get off track with the "what if" factor.

Remember this.... the more you know.... the more bad habits you can bring to the table as well;)

Knowledge is a good thing, but if the person throws it out at the first sign of "ohhh sh1t" .... what good is it;) :D
 
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