What is your opinion of "preppers" (see inside if you do not know what a prepper is)

[Stealhead]

Prepper:http://www.prepper.org/Whats_A_Prepper.asp



I honestly had never heard this term before but I am certainly one to some extent.I mean if you read up some "preppers" are a bit extreme others are normal people that have a plan and supplies in case something very serious occurs.

I do have things stored like water,food,ammo,and medical supplies and also I happen to benefit from having some livestock mostly cattle and chickens(I like being self reliant anyway).

Myself I am not fearful of some nuclear war or Y2K what I am more concerned about is a global economic collapse and I do not want to have to rely on the government coming to help me another possible event is some form of massive infrastructure attack by a terror group.

Look at what happened after Katrina the law enforcement and other vital agencies collapsed and in some cases police stations where attacked by gunmen.I do not see why a similar occurrence anywhere else would turn out much better and some things could be much worse short and long term.


Anyway what are you thoughts about "preppers"(reasonable ones or nutty ones but please specify which you are commenting on) are any other members on here "preppers/survivalists themselves?

This should be an interesting thread.

[Ducimus]

http://goremasternews.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/red-dawn-wolverines1.jpg

[Stealhead]

Wolverines!!!!
They had horrible ambush skills so very Hollywood.

[Schöneboom]

The way things are going, prepping is just common sense. Even in deathtraps like the city I live in, it's smart to have at least a bug-out bag or 72 hrs.' worth of stored food and water.

For some folks it might be hard to decide which is smarter in a given situation, to bug out or dig in (i.e., stay home and make the best of it).

Obviously prepping is by its nature a short-term contingency plan; it's kinda hard for individuals to factor in building a new civilization. :hmmm:

[Oberon]

Not a bad idea. I would be lying if I said I hadn't done a bit myself.

Snag is though, the main things that are likely to happen are disease related and that's a lottery. :damn:

[Ducimus]

I know one thing. In an "end of civilization" type of scenario, California, is the last bloody state in this country i'd want to be in when it happens. That place would turn into a murder hole.

[Stealhead]

I feel bad for people living in large cities honestly it is going to be fairly hard to get out you can forget about using main roads for sure.

Did anyone see that show I do not recall the name but the host was SSGT. Rudy Reyes an ex-Marine Recon trooper he was one of the real life members of the Recon Unit that the book and then HBO series "Generation Kill".If you read the book you have good idea who bad ass(and fashionable:haha:) SSGT Reyes is.

On this show Reyes shows you how to survive and get out of a large city.He strongly advised avoiding other people in general if at all possible good advice I'd say.Major known roads I think would be risky as at the very least all the people who failed to plan ahead will likely be there and will attempt to take what you might have by force.So if you live in large city you might want to plan several routes out of town that are well off the beaten path.

I think most any major metropolitan area is going to be very dangerous as soon as Law Enforcement is out of the picture which might take only days if not hours.

I learned alot form my father and step father my dad was in the Army LURPs during Vietnam and obviously knows a thing or two about roughing it and my step dad went though SERE training back in then when it was much more realistic and dangerous than it is now(not to say that it is easy toady but it was harder back then)

What made me more aware actually was my time in the military seeing how the world really works and what is going down with all these resources that we rely so heavily on they are going to run out some time in this century and no government or other agency is going to tell us until it is too late to do anything if you have not in advance.They are going to be busy tryig to save themselves.

[nikimcbee]

I know one thing. In an "end of civilization" type of scenario, California, is the last bloody state in this country i'd want to be in when it happens. That place would turn into a murder hole.

So Ducimus, You're living in the "Prepper" center of the universe. How do you like it so far?

[Stealhead]

If you mean Utah I'd have to argue that one with you I'd say that there are more "preppers" per capita in say Montana and the Dakotas maybe Idaho.

Oh, you mean the Mormons and the 7 years thing.

@Oberon (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=211178) still not a bad idea to get as far away from mass population centers as possible in a pandemic.Anything that lowers your exposure raises your ticket(if that ticket is to survive)

[Morts]

Did anyone see that show I do not recall the name but the host was SSGT. Rudy Reyes
Apocalypse man

incase people want to look it up

[Stealhead]

Thanks that was an interesting show.I only ever viewed one episode myself did they do anymore?

[nikimcbee]

If you mean Utah I'd have to argue that one with you I'd say that there are more "preppers" per capita in say Montana and the Dakotas maybe Idaho.

Oh, you mean the Mormons and the 7 years thing.

@Oberon (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=211178) still not a bad idea to get as far away from mass population centers as possible in a pandemic.Anything that lowers your exposure raises your ticket(if that ticket is to survive)


That whole region is into that stuff. More independent type off people I guess.

[Stealhead]

True parts of the Dakotas are so isolated in a bad snow storm you might get stuck for a week so some of it is just regular likely to happed types of things out there.

How could we forget Alaska? All the Alaskans after a major cataclysm will be saying: "What the hell is everyone in lower 48 talking about over the HAM network everything seems just the same to me.":haha:

[Morts]

Thanks that was an interesting show.I only ever viewed one episode myself did they do anymore?
ive got no idea

[Ducimus]

So Ducimus, You're living in the "Prepper" center of the universe. How do you like it so far?



Oh, you mean the Mormons and the 7 years thing.




:har: Yeah, people here buy in bulk, and then store it in their basements. My fiancee's dad is probably sitting on about 600 gallons of stored water in his basement. Err at least i think its 600, i honestly can't remember. He has like six, huge, plastic water storage tanks, all plumbed in so they can supply the house with water. All set up in his basement. And then theirs the food stores.......

EDIT:

This article somewhat relevant to, "OMG the world is ending! Prepare now!" :O:
http://www.cracked.com/article/126_5-popular-zombie-survival-tactics-that-will-get-you-killed/

[mookiemookie]

I have 2 cases of MREs and 3 cases of water in my closet. A rifle, plenty of batteries, a lantern and a hand cranked radio. I guess that makes me a prepper on some level. I think it's just being prepared in case of a hurricane.

[Stealhead]

I do not think it is a bad idea at really never hurts to be prepared somewhat just so long as you don't let such ideas overtake your life I suppose.The way I look at it if I had nothing at all and something went down I would feel really stupid for not having something on hand.It is an instinct after all many animals will leave a kill hidden some place just in case so even animals are preppers.

I am sure that many thought that Rome was never going to fall.

Now the folks that are into the "Zombie" thing that is in left field I viewed some video once about how to survive a Zombie Apocalypse
Thought it was a joke but the guy in the video seemed to truly think that such a thing was going to occur.

[Jimbuna]

I've a chest freezer in the garage so I should be good for at least a week :DL

[Ducimus]

Now the folks that are into the "Zombie" thing that is in left field I viewed some video once about how to survive a Zombie Apocalypse
Thought it was a joke but the guy in the video seemed to truly think that such a thing was going to occur.

I think it's a cultural quirk. Last few years, zombies have been a big hit with video games, movies, etc. It also happens to tie in well with the survivalist or "pepper" scenario.

Personally though, it think the only grain of truth from the whole zombie thing, is that in a scenario where there is a complete collapse of government, law, and order, every bipedal animal walking about with a sense of self preservation, is, for all intents and purposes a "zombie". A "zombie" that more likey then not, would just as soon kill you for whatever you might posses, in order that they might survive instead of you.

[Stealhead]

I am sure most of it comes from Zombies being in mass media entertainment.I dont really agree with the whole everyone bipedal basicly becoming a "zombie" though.Sure many people would become desperate and rather do you harm than good but not everyone and if something was long term enough people would end up having to either live in groups with others or at least trade with others for something both parties need.

In along term situation likely you'd have some folks taking advantage of the power vacuum and those types would likely not be very friendly people as a result to that others would have to from communities to protect each other simply because they have a better chance grouping together than they would living in small numbers no matter how many guns you have if a large enough group comes to take what you have by force and there are only a handful of defenders you will not be able to stop them.

Another advantage of a larger group would be that some members can work on survival like growing food and the like and others can focus on defending the area and do both in shifts.A lone or small group of people would have a harder time doing this.

I am no expert but I'd guess that you'd start finding groups of people living in a community likely a former small town that has only a few easy ways into town that can be more easily guarded or at least approaches well observed you might have anywhere from 100 to 200 people in group like that depending on how good their farming and organization was a group that size would stand a pretty good chance.These groups would likely have some form of law as well likely harsh you steal food you die rules like that.

[Anthony W.]

Even I keep a basic bug out in my trunk.

Just a set of 2 way radios, some ultra strong glue, respirator mask, some aspirin, medical tape and other first aid, batteries, a flashlight, and a utility knife.

[Stealhead]

What is the respirator mask for? You think that is going to protect you from some biological or chemical attack?Negative......you'd need a ful set of MOP gear for that and good luck finding a good unused set you'll need several sets of filters as they only last 24 hours and the outer layer MOPS pants and coats only last 24(I think the newer ones last 48) from the moment they are opened which if you buy surplus has long long passed seeing as they where either used for training or rejected by military inspection in which case you don't want them anyway.

Ditch the ultra strong glue(unless it is super glue) and get yourself a few different sizes of rope instead you'll want to be able to tie things rather than glue things in most cases(glue has to dry knots do not and can be undone easily) super glue is good for cuts though you can glue the skin back together only keep the glue if it does not add too much weight over the ropes.And the 2 ways are a liability they can be listened in on by others so keep that in mind.You lack any food or water namely water without some of each the rest of the gear is useless if you cant use it to travel for 3 or 4 days do to no food and water source.The radios might not be so useful if you are alone anyway a hand crank powered weather radio would be more useful.Even if you are with someone else and need to separate it is better to arrange some form of imitated animal call as a way to communicate over short distances you really dont want to get too far out of eye or ear sight of your partner anyway.Just my 2 cents.

[Ducimus]

.I dont really agree with the whole everyone bipedal basicly becoming a "zombie" though.Sure many people would become desperate and rather do you harm than good but not everyone ...

You sir, have far more faith in humanity then i do. :O:

[antikristuseke]

Post apocalyptic survival in 3 easy steps:

1. Get gun
2. Find someone who has stockpiled stuff
3. Take stuff

[Platapus]

Post apocalyptic survival in 3 easy steps:

1. Get gun
2. Find someone who has stockpiled stuff
3. Take stuff

I work with someone who thinks exactly like that. Scary.

[Stealhead]

The only issue with that plan is the person/people that have stockpiled very likely also expects those who wish to take things by force to come along and also has fire arms and is already in a defensive stance then you only end up with bullet holes in you so you are least taking a 50/50 chance you will not survive the resulting gun battle and in such a situation I'd honestly have my gun aimed at any person approaching me order them to place anything they have on the ground before them if they fail to comply they will be shot if they make a move looking like reaching for a weapon they will get it if they have a weapon in their hands or in plain sight they will have even less time to comply and show me they mean no aggression.Sorry but 1,2,3 step is epic failure.:haha:

@Ducimus I do have faith in humanity I have faith that some are good and some are bad you cant ignore the simple fact that humans have survived because some of us are able to work together and not kill each other (or at least not the ones we are working with) we lasted a long time when others failed(the Neanderthals)What will happen is some folks will "tribe" up and be bad nasty killers and take all from others and some will "tribe" up and work with each other and survive that way.We are a pack animal we do best in groups what that "best" is just depends.

[antikristuseke]

I work with someone who thinks exactly like that. Scary.

Though in reality I would go to the nearest EDF supply depot, get my kit and head for the forest and swamps. My previous training will keep me surviving there for a long, long time and it is off the beaten path.

[Stealhead]

I had a feeling that you were saying that in jest.

Really the worst part about that 1,2,3 is the entire obtaining a gun part assuming that one did not have one a world changing event would be about the worst time to try and acquire one.Even the person did have one they'd have to be working in a group with others that where like minded and also hope that they did not run into any one who was a skilled marksmen or that plan might still falter.The guy at Ruby Ridge was fairly expectant of assault and did fairly well against trained federal level SWAT all things considered on his side the shooters where himself and one son.He was a bit paranoid to be honest but the feds where wrong to have bothered him in the first place.

Which leads to my whole idea of things basically being split between folks working in groups to survive by honest means and defending them selves from the "raider" types which would be your other major group the lone folks no matter how skilled would just run out of luck sooner or later and the ones that planned nothing at all are the worst off.