4 ms·

In the event of a real emergency, preppers will be a convenient source of resources and supplies to be exploited by whatever roving bands are marauding the land

In the event of a real emergency, preppers will be a convenient source of resources and supplies to be exploited by whatever roving bands are marauding the landscape. If you nerd out on preparedness, you're just increasing the chance that the local Blood King will turn your skull into a goblet when he comes looking for the stash of canned goods you bragged about online in the Before Times.

13415 6y ago
In real emergencies people tend to be solidaric and help each other out.
- f-- 6y ago
  Yeah, usually. It's a common trope, but also a pretty tired one. We have a pretty long history of plague, famine, war, and other "apocalyptic" scenarios, and in almost all accounts, people tend to help each other, and most would die of hunger rather than steal from an innocent person. The main problem is that what we are very good at is building narratives that portray some class of "others" as not-so-innocent, and therefore, deserving all the pillage, rape, and murder we can muster. That's variously the neighboring nation, some minority ethnic group, political opponents, the rich, the clergy... you name them, there's some brutal revolution or war targeting 'em. So, basically, the worst-case scenario is ending up on the wrong side of the pitchfork if / when the revolution comes. Something that, quite frankly, the Silicon Valley should be mindful of.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
metiscus 6y ago
While I suspect a certain level of sarcasm was intended, a valid point for discussion does exist within your comment - The idea that preparing is merely forwarding supplies to your local warlord. This basically assumes a TEOTWAWKI scenario, which should be very far down the list of any preparation. It is always recommended in preparation circles to get to know your neighbors and integrate yourself into your local community. Under any reasonable set of circumstances, a well functioning local community should be able to stand up to any war lord types and would be the atoms from which a new society is formed. The classic advice goes something like this - in a survival situation you will be killed by the first critical problem you can't solve yourself. Communities form for a reason and knowing the geography of your operational area includes the social geography.
- wing-_-nuts 6y ago
  I find it funny that the 'lone wolf' survivor is the archetype of a prepper. It doesn't matter how much food, water, guns or ammo you have. Isolation makes you vulnerable. You cannot hope to have a proper 'watch', even with a small family. I'd expect 'tribe' size groups to be much more successful.
  - corpMaverick 6y ago
    Yes. I think this proverb applies. "Want to go fast go alone, want to go far go together"
  - metiscus 6y ago
    There are a lot of people, some that I know in person, who live in a fantasy of surviving on their own. I've tried, through casual conversation, to get them to understand that you want to build a community around you for mutual benefit. From what I've seen it comes down to a few different things. 1. Some people have trust issues, possibly to a clinical level. They don't trust their neighbors to not be zombies etc knocking at the door to take their stuff. Ironically, when you spread awareness of preparatory issues through community building, you reduce the chance of that happening. 2. Some people are overly focused on one or two particular scenarios and 'optimize' their and preparations on those scenarios. E.g. A real-life neighbor has CBRN gear, firearms, and food but doesn't have a chainsaw or basic hand tools. Like most stereotypes, the lone preppper has some truth associated with it. It really comes down to definitions. I'm not prepared for TEOTWAWKI by any means, but if I lose my job, or we get hit with a hurricane, or my car dies, or my house burns down, I've got reasonable contingency plans for those. Am I a prepper?
    - mrguyorama 6y ago
      You forgot: 3. America has built this idea that you only have value if you are a rugged individual and doing anything for someone else or having someone else do anything for you makes you a devil worshiper who should be ignored and cast aside. Communities are worthless and only built so your lazy neighbor can profit from your "hard work" and you are the best person to understand your problems and needs
anonymousse1234 6y ago
If that would be the case prepare to defend your stash or at least take some of the bandits with you like many preppers do. Don't be an easy target.
- wing-_-nuts 6y ago
  Attackers have the element of surprise. Unless you are part of a group yourself, you cannot hope to have enough people to keep a sufficient watch. The isolated 'living off the land' types with big stockpiles of supplies would be easy targets.
  - anonymousse1234 6y ago
    How are you going to be surprised sitting in your home in case of emergency with not much other to do? Gun guys aren't liked here but if somebody is going to get a nasty surprise it would be the bad guys. If you are a hard target bandits will most likely choose another one.
    - metiscus 6y ago
      You have to sleep. You have to get water and maintain certain other things outside your home from time to time. You may get sick and need additional rest. Or to go and get firewood etc. If 10 people really really want your food and supplies, they will burn you out or crash a vehicle into your home, or drop a tree on it. Alone you are nothing, you are much more in a community. Think minute men vs a lone wolf. It is no contest.
      - anonymousse1234 6y ago
        Robbers will choose the easyiest route. They just want stuff and not assasinate specifically someone, they will rob somebody other if they find a hard target. Probably somebody like you. It works the same with muggings. 2 people is enough to get some sleep and run errands.
      - souprock 6y ago
dragonwriter 6y ago
> In the event of a real emergency, preppers will be a convenient source of resources and supplies to be exploited by whatever roving bands are marauding the landscape. If you nerd out on preparedness, you're just increasing the chance that the local Blood King will turn your skull into a goblet when he comes looking for the stash of canned goods you bragged about online in the Before Times. That's why meatspace social networking is part of prepping for some people: they recognize that, if there is a collapse, the way to survive isn't just to have stuff for yourself, its to have a well-prepared tribe. To be (well, hopefully kinder and gentler than the title sounds, for most preppers who take this strategy) the Blood King, rather than worry about him.

13415 6y ago

In real emergencies people tend to be solidaric and help each other out.

f-- 6y ago
Yeah, usually. It's a common trope, but also a pretty tired one. We have a pretty long history of plague, famine, war, and other "apocalyptic" scenarios, and in almost all accounts, people tend to help each other, and most would die of hunger rather than steal from an innocent person. The main problem is that what we are very good at is building narratives that portray some class of "others" as not-so-innocent, and therefore, deserving all the pillage, rape, and murder we can muster. That's variously the neighboring nation, some minority ethnic group, political opponents, the rich, the clergy... you name them, there's some brutal revolution or war targeting 'em. So, basically, the worst-case scenario is ending up on the wrong side of the pitchfork if / when the revolution comes. Something that, quite frankly, the Silicon Valley should be mindful of.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

metiscus 6y ago

While I suspect a certain level of sarcasm was intended, a valid point for discussion does exist within your comment - The idea that preparing is merely forwarding supplies to your local warlord. This basically assumes a TEOTWAWKI scenario, which should be very far down the list of any preparation. It is always recommended in preparation circles to get to know your neighbors and integrate yourself into your local community. Under any reasonable set of circumstances, a well functioning local community should be able to stand up to any war lord types and would be the atoms from which a new society is formed. The classic advice goes something like this - in a survival situation you will be killed by the first critical problem you can't solve yourself. Communities form for a reason and knowing the geography of your operational area includes the social geography.

wing-_-nuts 6y ago
I find it funny that the 'lone wolf' survivor is the archetype of a prepper. It doesn't matter how much food, water, guns or ammo you have. Isolation makes you vulnerable. You cannot hope to have a proper 'watch', even with a small family. I'd expect 'tribe' size groups to be much more successful.
- corpMaverick 6y ago
  Yes. I think this proverb applies. "Want to go fast go alone, want to go far go together"
- metiscus 6y ago
  There are a lot of people, some that I know in person, who live in a fantasy of surviving on their own. I've tried, through casual conversation, to get them to understand that you want to build a community around you for mutual benefit. From what I've seen it comes down to a few different things. 1. Some people have trust issues, possibly to a clinical level. They don't trust their neighbors to not be zombies etc knocking at the door to take their stuff. Ironically, when you spread awareness of preparatory issues through community building, you reduce the chance of that happening. 2. Some people are overly focused on one or two particular scenarios and 'optimize' their and preparations on those scenarios. E.g. A real-life neighbor has CBRN gear, firearms, and food but doesn't have a chainsaw or basic hand tools. Like most stereotypes, the lone preppper has some truth associated with it. It really comes down to definitions. I'm not prepared for TEOTWAWKI by any means, but if I lose my job, or we get hit with a hurricane, or my car dies, or my house burns down, I've got reasonable contingency plans for those. Am I a prepper?
  - mrguyorama 6y ago
    You forgot: 3. America has built this idea that you only have value if you are a rugged individual and doing anything for someone else or having someone else do anything for you makes you a devil worshiper who should be ignored and cast aside. Communities are worthless and only built so your lazy neighbor can profit from your "hard work" and you are the best person to understand your problems and needs

anonymousse1234 6y ago

If that would be the case prepare to defend your stash or at least take some of the bandits with you like many preppers do. Don't be an easy target.

wing-_-nuts 6y ago
Attackers have the element of surprise. Unless you are part of a group yourself, you cannot hope to have enough people to keep a sufficient watch. The isolated 'living off the land' types with big stockpiles of supplies would be easy targets.
- anonymousse1234 6y ago
  How are you going to be surprised sitting in your home in case of emergency with not much other to do? Gun guys aren't liked here but if somebody is going to get a nasty surprise it would be the bad guys. If you are a hard target bandits will most likely choose another one.
  - metiscus 6y ago
    You have to sleep. You have to get water and maintain certain other things outside your home from time to time. You may get sick and need additional rest. Or to go and get firewood etc. If 10 people really really want your food and supplies, they will burn you out or crash a vehicle into your home, or drop a tree on it. Alone you are nothing, you are much more in a community. Think minute men vs a lone wolf. It is no contest.
    - anonymousse1234 6y ago
      Robbers will choose the easyiest route. They just want stuff and not assasinate specifically someone, they will rob somebody other if they find a hard target. Probably somebody like you. It works the same with muggings. 2 people is enough to get some sleep and run errands.
    - souprock 6y ago

dragonwriter 6y ago

> In the event of a real emergency, preppers will be a convenient source of resources and supplies to be exploited by whatever roving bands are marauding the landscape. If you nerd out on preparedness, you're just increasing the chance that the local Blood King will turn your skull into a goblet when he comes looking for the stash of canned goods you bragged about online in the Before Times. That's why meatspace social networking is part of prepping for some people: they recognize that, if there is a collapse, the way to survive isn't just to have stuff for yourself, its to have a well-prepared tribe. To be (well, hopefully kinder and gentler than the title sounds, for most preppers who take this strategy) the Blood King, rather than worry about him.