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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 forward

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
- souprock 6y ago
  Well, obviously, the answer is a large family. I have 12 kids. Keeping watch should be easy. Dogs can help. There is a trade-off to be had. Larger dogs can actively participate in defense, but they require lots of food. Geese might be a better option; they seem to be happy eating grass.

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
souprock 6y ago
Well, obviously, the answer is a large family. I have 12 kids. Keeping watch should be easy. Dogs can help. There is a trade-off to be had. Larger dogs can actively participate in defense, but they require lots of food. Geese might be a better option; they seem to be happy eating grass.