Well I read and enjoy this forum and I gotta tell ya bud - I aint from America, nor even visited, I read and contribute because I want to, I hope the skills I learn or the knowledge I impart helps myself and others, but it sure aint for no namby pamby psuedo politico-religious drabble!
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Why do we prepare?
- Thread starter g123
- Start date
I volunteer teach emergency prep classes at the county, city, neighborhood and church levels. I am the team leader for my city's CERT team. I've been a SAR volunteer in multiple countries. I teach Boy Scouts. I preach it to anyone who will listen. I do this to help prepare others for whatever is thrown at them and hope that they will listen enough to at least keep a few extra things around the house and I hope this will make them a little bit less of a burden on the system in the event of an emergency. Regardless of any differences, these are still my fellow human beings, as much as I don't like many of them. I do this because it's the right thing to do.
I obsess over urban and wilderness survival preps because I've seen how useful they are in other countries I have visited, especially war torn ones, and because I have survived natural disasters, self-made survival emergencies while in the back country, etc. I also do this because all of us can any second from now be in the same situation as Haiti is right now and it's my responsibility to take care of my family and my loved ones.
Plus it's fun!
I obsess over urban and wilderness survival preps because I've seen how useful they are in other countries I have visited, especially war torn ones, and because I have survived natural disasters, self-made survival emergencies while in the back country, etc. I also do this because all of us can any second from now be in the same situation as Haiti is right now and it's my responsibility to take care of my family and my loved ones.
Plus it's fun!
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2003
- Messages
- 1,461
Here is today's post (not my opinion) from www.survivalblog.com:
America is More Like Haiti than We'd Like to Think
By James Wesley, Rawles on January 19, 2010 1:09 AM
""The recent earthquake in the island nation of Haiti illustrates the fragility of all societies. While Haiti is unusual in its lack of infrastructure and its high dependence on foreign aid--more than half of its annual government budget comes from foreign aid--it is still similar in many ways to other nations: From the 1960s to the turn of the 21st century, as in many other nations, Haiti became an urbanized nation. Before the 1960s a substantial portion of Haitian society still lived on rural semi-self sufficient farmsteads. But as urbanization and specialization went on, fewer and fewer people lived off the land and more and more citizens became dependent on foreign aid and a scant number of industrial jobs. This trend has been repeated around the globe, making nearly all societies increasingly vulnerable to disasters, man-made or natural. The resiliency of traditional agrarian societies has sadly become a thing of the past. Here in America, 2% of the population now feeds the other 98%. This is now something that First, Second, and Third World nations have in common. America is more like Haiti than we'd like to think. Human nature is the same in every culture and nation: fundamentally sinful.
The Thin Veneer
With a few exceptions, most notably in Oceania, traditional Christian values have slipped away in much of the western world. When times get tough the citizenry of most nations loses all compunctions about using violence to expropriate the property of others. As I've written before, modern societies have just a thin veneer of civilization that covers something quite odorous beneath. Here in modern western societies, folks like to think of themselves as highly civilized, but when the Schumer hits the fan, there's no difference between people in the First World and the Third World.
As prepared individuals, we have the opportunity to set ourselves apart with a higher standard of behavior than those who resort to their baser instincts in time of crisis. It's important that there are some of us that have both the means and the willingness to help restore order and free commerce in the event of societal disruption.
The recent events in Haiti should be a reminder that in times of crisis things can easily fall apart. What happened in Haiti was dramatic, and a naturally occurring event, but because of the vulnerabilities of all modern societies, there could just as well be a reversion to savagery in a situation such as an economic collapse. We need to have our Beans, Bullets, and Band-aids squared away, so we can focus on more important things in a disaster than just finding food and water. Not only do we need to just prepare for surviving the next day, but also to be useful in rebuilding infrastructures and free commerce. This requires preparing with logistics as well as training and practicing to be ready to step into the breach.
The Charity Imperative
First World nations have become focused on large organizations, both governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), dispensing charity. The collective psyche is geared toward watching suffering "someplace far away", and dialing an 800 number to make a contribution via credit card. While I truly appreciate people's generosity, it is something quite far removed from preparedness to dispense charity locally.
In the event of a disaster closer to home, credit cards won't do the job. It takes tangible goods in hand to solve crises in your own backyard. So, it's important that we stock up, both for ourselves, and to dispense copious charity to relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. In the event of a nation-wide disaster here in America, there will be no relief from abroad. We must reconstitute internally, starting at the local level. Here is where your skills, your tools, your gear, your garden seed, and your grub will be crucial.
When it comes to knowledge you'll need to be prepared to disseminate crucial, yet simple technologies to your neighbors. These could include how to build a inertial water pump, how to build a simple 12VDC fuel transfer pump, and how to build simple solar projects, such as solar stills, cold frames and green houses, solar ovens, and solar dehydrators. And don't forget, that in the event of a crisis, your local photocopy center is unlikely to be in operation. So, it is important to prepare multiple hard copies of key pieces of information now, to have on hand to distribute when times get tough. There is a wealth of knowledge available on traditional skill and technologies in the SurvivalBlog archives and elsewhere on the Internet, from organizations such as Steve's Pages, Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA), The Hesperian Institute, The Peace Corps, OISM, Doctors for Disaster Preparedness (DDP), and Backwoods Home Magazine. Take advantage of these resources, and make those photocopies so that you will be able to share that knowledge with others!
Teaching for the Moment
Elementary school teachers here in the United States use the phrase "teach for the moment," to describe turning current events into teaching opportunities. I recommend that any conversations amongst your neighbors, coworkers, or church brethren be used as opportunities to spread the philosophy of family preparedness. Water cooler chit-chat should not just be "ain't it awfuling" sessions. You should instead use such conversations to encourage others to actively prepare for similar situations. And if anyone says, "Oh, but it couldn't happen here," then just remind them about the aftermath Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Not only has it happened here before, but it is likely to recur often within our lifetimes.
The Haitian earthquake of 2010 is a stark reminder of the fragility of all societies. It shows us that we need to be well-prepared and vigilant. And for those of us that are not Secret Squirrels, we should also be quietly and persistently leading public opinion, locally.""
America is More Like Haiti than We'd Like to Think
By James Wesley, Rawles on January 19, 2010 1:09 AM
""The recent earthquake in the island nation of Haiti illustrates the fragility of all societies. While Haiti is unusual in its lack of infrastructure and its high dependence on foreign aid--more than half of its annual government budget comes from foreign aid--it is still similar in many ways to other nations: From the 1960s to the turn of the 21st century, as in many other nations, Haiti became an urbanized nation. Before the 1960s a substantial portion of Haitian society still lived on rural semi-self sufficient farmsteads. But as urbanization and specialization went on, fewer and fewer people lived off the land and more and more citizens became dependent on foreign aid and a scant number of industrial jobs. This trend has been repeated around the globe, making nearly all societies increasingly vulnerable to disasters, man-made or natural. The resiliency of traditional agrarian societies has sadly become a thing of the past. Here in America, 2% of the population now feeds the other 98%. This is now something that First, Second, and Third World nations have in common. America is more like Haiti than we'd like to think. Human nature is the same in every culture and nation: fundamentally sinful.
The Thin Veneer
With a few exceptions, most notably in Oceania, traditional Christian values have slipped away in much of the western world. When times get tough the citizenry of most nations loses all compunctions about using violence to expropriate the property of others. As I've written before, modern societies have just a thin veneer of civilization that covers something quite odorous beneath. Here in modern western societies, folks like to think of themselves as highly civilized, but when the Schumer hits the fan, there's no difference between people in the First World and the Third World.
As prepared individuals, we have the opportunity to set ourselves apart with a higher standard of behavior than those who resort to their baser instincts in time of crisis. It's important that there are some of us that have both the means and the willingness to help restore order and free commerce in the event of societal disruption.
The recent events in Haiti should be a reminder that in times of crisis things can easily fall apart. What happened in Haiti was dramatic, and a naturally occurring event, but because of the vulnerabilities of all modern societies, there could just as well be a reversion to savagery in a situation such as an economic collapse. We need to have our Beans, Bullets, and Band-aids squared away, so we can focus on more important things in a disaster than just finding food and water. Not only do we need to just prepare for surviving the next day, but also to be useful in rebuilding infrastructures and free commerce. This requires preparing with logistics as well as training and practicing to be ready to step into the breach.
The Charity Imperative
First World nations have become focused on large organizations, both governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), dispensing charity. The collective psyche is geared toward watching suffering "someplace far away", and dialing an 800 number to make a contribution via credit card. While I truly appreciate people's generosity, it is something quite far removed from preparedness to dispense charity locally.
In the event of a disaster closer to home, credit cards won't do the job. It takes tangible goods in hand to solve crises in your own backyard. So, it's important that we stock up, both for ourselves, and to dispense copious charity to relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. In the event of a nation-wide disaster here in America, there will be no relief from abroad. We must reconstitute internally, starting at the local level. Here is where your skills, your tools, your gear, your garden seed, and your grub will be crucial.
When it comes to knowledge you'll need to be prepared to disseminate crucial, yet simple technologies to your neighbors. These could include how to build a inertial water pump, how to build a simple 12VDC fuel transfer pump, and how to build simple solar projects, such as solar stills, cold frames and green houses, solar ovens, and solar dehydrators. And don't forget, that in the event of a crisis, your local photocopy center is unlikely to be in operation. So, it is important to prepare multiple hard copies of key pieces of information now, to have on hand to distribute when times get tough. There is a wealth of knowledge available on traditional skill and technologies in the SurvivalBlog archives and elsewhere on the Internet, from organizations such as Steve's Pages, Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA), The Hesperian Institute, The Peace Corps, OISM, Doctors for Disaster Preparedness (DDP), and Backwoods Home Magazine. Take advantage of these resources, and make those photocopies so that you will be able to share that knowledge with others!
Teaching for the Moment
Elementary school teachers here in the United States use the phrase "teach for the moment," to describe turning current events into teaching opportunities. I recommend that any conversations amongst your neighbors, coworkers, or church brethren be used as opportunities to spread the philosophy of family preparedness. Water cooler chit-chat should not just be "ain't it awfuling" sessions. You should instead use such conversations to encourage others to actively prepare for similar situations. And if anyone says, "Oh, but it couldn't happen here," then just remind them about the aftermath Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Not only has it happened here before, but it is likely to recur often within our lifetimes.
The Haitian earthquake of 2010 is a stark reminder of the fragility of all societies. It shows us that we need to be well-prepared and vigilant. And for those of us that are not Secret Squirrels, we should also be quietly and persistently leading public opinion, locally.""
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2009
- Messages
- 1,142
For me, it's about magnitude. If it's a small emergency, say a car wreck or hiking accident, I like to be prepared to help others, especially in a world where most people simply choose to look the other way. But if it's something big, I'm all about being able to take care of my family.
But it's always a sliding scale. For instance, severe storm\tornado - if my family is safe and O.K., I'm going to try to help my neighbors or extended family. Nuclear bomb or other 11 on a scale of 10 type scenario - you come near my house and don't leave when asked, your getting shot. If you haven't prepared, that's not on me. I suggest looking for a news crew to cry to ala Haiti style...
But it's always a sliding scale. For instance, severe storm\tornado - if my family is safe and O.K., I'm going to try to help my neighbors or extended family. Nuclear bomb or other 11 on a scale of 10 type scenario - you come near my house and don't leave when asked, your getting shot. If you haven't prepared, that's not on me. I suggest looking for a news crew to cry to ala Haiti style...
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2008
- Messages
- 3,401
I prepare for a time of crisis, so that I and my family might have a better shot at survival.
I don't feel that my responsibility in this matter extends to all of mankind. I'll help others of course, but my primary aim is the security of my family.
Rawls is a panic pimp, and makes his (pretty good) living from keeping the rubes quivering in fear.
I don't feel that my responsibility in this matter extends to all of mankind. I'll help others of course, but my primary aim is the security of my family.
Rawls is a panic pimp, and makes his (pretty good) living from keeping the rubes quivering in fear.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,692
Paranoia
Of course I can only speak for myselves.
+1 lol
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2009
- Messages
- 1,711
I think that being prepared is good, not only for yourself, but for others around you. The unprepared that need help from everyone else are a burden on others, it is not helpful to be a burden and it hinders others survival if they have to expend energy and resources to save your stupid life. Your neighbour may be working hard to keep his family alive, you can help a lot by not needing him to look after you too - look after yourself and let him look after his family without being bothered by a needy and unprepared neighbour.
I think that there are plenty of examples of where the prepared have faired better in an emergency and also plenty of examples of where the survivors have help other people. How can you help others if you don't first take care of yourself?
In Haiti there are people that spent money building better houses that could withstand an earthquake - good for them, but what about those that couldn't afford a well built dwelling? Well, who is searching for others trapped in the rubble? Only the survivors that aren't trapped themselves are able to search for those that are trapped! This reminds me of the instructions on airplanes - adults put on their oxygen masks FIRST, THEN help their children - you can't help anyone else if you don't make sure that you are OK first.
I think that there are plenty of examples of where the prepared have faired better in an emergency and also plenty of examples of where the survivors have help other people. How can you help others if you don't first take care of yourself?
In Haiti there are people that spent money building better houses that could withstand an earthquake - good for them, but what about those that couldn't afford a well built dwelling? Well, who is searching for others trapped in the rubble? Only the survivors that aren't trapped themselves are able to search for those that are trapped! This reminds me of the instructions on airplanes - adults put on their oxygen masks FIRST, THEN help their children - you can't help anyone else if you don't make sure that you are OK first.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
- Messages
- 9,680
I don't have too much time to respond fully so I'll do the point form version.
Why do I prepare?
-Not for Country (I love Canada but if I felt another country suited my expectations better, I'd move in a heartbeat.)
-Not for Religion (I'm an Athiest... many of your forefathers felt that way too)
-Certainly not to uphold any set of rights or rules laid out by any man.
In fact, I wouldn't call it preparedness at all. For me, that word suggests that there is something to prepare for or fear. I have chosen not to contribute to TEOTWAWKI scenarios. I don't even have a BOB. I learn these skills because it makes me feel good. I get a sense of accomplishment with every new skill I learn. It brings me closer to nature and the cycle of the Earth..... and its just really cool!
I guess preparedness is simply a side effect of my obsession... not my intention.
Rick
Why do I prepare?
-Not for Country (I love Canada but if I felt another country suited my expectations better, I'd move in a heartbeat.)
-Not for Religion (I'm an Athiest... many of your forefathers felt that way too)
-Certainly not to uphold any set of rights or rules laid out by any man.
In fact, I wouldn't call it preparedness at all. For me, that word suggests that there is something to prepare for or fear. I have chosen not to contribute to TEOTWAWKI scenarios. I don't even have a BOB. I learn these skills because it makes me feel good. I get a sense of accomplishment with every new skill I learn. It brings me closer to nature and the cycle of the Earth..... and its just really cool!
I guess preparedness is simply a side effect of my obsession... not my intention.
Rick
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
Who the hell would keep a BOB when you have a BOT (Bug out trailer)
Actually I tend to have similar viewpoints as Rick. Canadians don't really get off on the patriotism thing. I mean we like our beer commercials that announce, I am Canadian, but that is about as far is it goes. However, I do believe in my duty to contribute to society. By society, that broadly means my community and to some extent nationalistic boundaries but this also means service to a global society. It doesn't simply mean myself and my family, although those do rank high in the priority.
I don't believe in religion nor do I have a strong sense of spirituality. Yet at the same time, I believe that individuals are supposed to contribute to the betterment of mankind, to be stewards of the earth and to accomplish something bigger with their lives than simply satisfying their immediate urges and wants. As an an academic and environmental scientist, I feel the satisfaction of having a profession that lets me accomplish some of this while getting paid to do it.
As for survival skills. Well, there is practicality to having your students return from the field alive and retaining ten fingers and toes. There is a practicality in being able to survive performing the kinds of recreational activities I enjoy and using my skills to offset risks related to these recreational pursuits. If I find somebody in physical danger or in trauma from an accident, I feel that because of my training I have a duty and moral responsibility to help them.
Finally, I am told that the chicks dig the bow drill. So it is good to have that under my belt - you know for the TEOTAWKI thing....you never know, I might have to find another wife in the SHTF scenario and my dating skills suck. So the bow drill is about my only advantage