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There is disaster preparedness and then there is prepping, the two don't match each other. Most self-proclaimed preppers advocate atrocious "us or them" social
by 13415 6y ago
There is disaster preparedness and then there is prepping, the two don't match each other. Most self-proclaimed preppers advocate atrocious "us or them" social darwinist ideologies and have policies that could get them and others killed. For example, many of them think it's a good idea to go camping in the woods in case of a natural disaster, which almost never makes any sense. They also frequently talk about shooting strangers instead of helping them and stockpile ammunition instead of antibiotics. They also should worry more about dental care and less about other people.
I'm sure there are exceptions, but as rule of thumb I'd stay away from any US prepper as far as I could in case of a genuine emergency like a Yellowstone outbreak or a worldwide pandemic.
- kube-system 6y agoYour description sounds like the plot of the movie Red Dawn... which is probably not a coincidence.
- hindsightbias 6y agoback in that day, half the audience considered a Cuban/Nicaraguan invasion to be a real thing to worry about.
- 13415 6y agoI've studied the US "prepper" culture intensively for a novel I've written, watched hundreds of videos by preppers for research and read Lundin, Dartnell, and Seymour's books among others. It's not a prejudice, it's my verdict.
- kube-system 6y agoI'm not suggesting you're biased. I'm suggesting that there are too many people taking movies too seriously.
- 13415 6y agoOh yes, I agree. The reason is also that in the US part of the right-wing pro gun / militia / anti-federal government culture on the countryside overlaps with the prepper community. Some of them are also fanatic Christians who literally believe a day of judgment will come soon. There are some survivalists and naturalists among them (like Lundin), but they are in a minority.