Is "preparedness" a state of mind?

[grainweevil]

I've been wondering what the serious prepper's plan of action is if they're still sitting on their stockpile, fed and watered, but around them people are becoming ill or even dying from lack thereof. Do they expect to just sit there and not feel any kind of - for want of a better word - guilt? I mean I know there are people who could do that, but have any of them really considered the psychological aspects at all?

Of course, it's unlikely to happen, because your friends and neighbours would notice you're not suffering like they are, and would be round with the pitchforks toot sweet. In that respect, the build-a-fortified-bunker-inna-mountain-for-the-zombie-apocalypse brigade probably have a better idea than the suburban prepper.

Anyway, I think it'll boil down to luck in the end, whether you have the right things on hand or not, be it knowledge or resources. You can only do your best, and whatever you do may help free up public resources for those who can't help themselves at all. So, in a way, I suppose I see it as a civic duty. Which is an outlook so old-fashioned it probably wears a ruff and a powdered wig...

 

[Chris]

I've been wondering what the serious prepper's plan of action is if they're still sitting on their stockpile, fed and watered, but around them people are becoming ill or even dying from lack thereof. Do they expect to just sit there and not feel any kind of - for want of a better word - guilt? I mean I know there are people who could do that, but have any of them really considered the psychological aspects at all?

Of course, it's unlikely to happen, because your friends and neighbours would notice you're not suffering like they are, and would be round with the pitchforks toot sweet. In that respect, the build-a-fortified-bunker-inna-mountain-for-the-zombie-apocalypse brigade probably have a better idea than the suburban prepper.

Anyway, I think it'll boil down to luck in the end, whether you have the right things on hand or not, be it knowledge or resources. You can only do your best, and whatever you do may help free up public resources for those who can't help themselves at all. So, in a way, I suppose I see it as a civic duty. Which is an outlook so old-fashioned it probably wears a ruff and a powdered wig...

This is why I think a small stock of food/water/essentials is important, to tide you over for a week or two. But longer term it’s the tools, skills and general knowledge on how to keep surviving in the longer term which are most essential. Makes one much less of a juicy target.

The big stockpile carries several risks, none of which make it a suitable long term strategy alone. It’s why I think the big stockpiling preppers with 8000 jars of pickled cucumber are living out a fantasy rather than truly making themselves resilient to these apocalypse scenarios.

 

[Pattree]

Very few pitched in in Birmingham.

 

[Woody girl]

Yes absolutely it's about resilience, and looking to have alternatives to mitigate the circumstances if something is out of action for whatever reason. How you can personaly deal with that, and how others might react is also another consideration.
Most Brits are pretty together and will pull together in an emergency, but many have become soft and lazy IMHO.
I think we as a group of like minded people are more resilient and prepared to deal with tough situations than the average person.
I've tried to make sure my friends are clued up, and have gifted home made ikea stoves, candles, and other useful items so at least I know they have them, even if they think they won't need them.
Some are grateful others are unimpressed. They have the basics, it's now up to them to get busy (or not) adding to their resilience.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Ranger Ron's Wilderness survival guide

www.oglaf.com

 

[GreyCat]

Very few pitched in in Birmingham.

Indeed.

Although I wonder if that would have bee different when if became clear that "the authorities" were not going to come and clear your mess up any time soon.... I suspect there would still be a proportion of adult toddlers having tantrums about how hard done to they were, but in the end, a lot more folks would pitch in.....

GC

 

[Glow_worm]

In my view, a great many preppers would have a more realistic view if they studied the very many historical examples of abrupt and less abrupt societal and civilization changes brought about by various catastrophes natural and manmade.

 

[TeeDee]

In my view, a great many preppers would have a more realistic view if they studied the very many historical examples of abrupt and less abrupt societal and civilization changes brought about by various catastrophes natural and manmade.

Please go ahead.

 

[GreyCat]

Of course, that's all back to defining a "prepper" vs being prepared in the "Be Prepared" Scouts' motto type of way.

The book "Survival of the RIchest: Escape strategies of tech billionaires" by Douglas Rushkoff is an interesting insight into the minds of the extreme "preppers." These people worry how they will stop their hired guns from turning on them in their bunkers..... they truly don't care about helping others outside survive. It's quite..... enlightening. Although perhaps not surprising as to become a billionnaire needs a certain mindset.

The underlying question is though, in what format our social bonds would survive catastrophe. That I think depends on the level of deprivation.

In an extreme situation, one of the most ruthless resource acquirers would be I suspect a mother with starving children, biological instinct is extremely strong. As an old English folk song puts it "and hunger the strongest of fences breaks down." I expect we'd see a clan/tribe type structure (re)emerge, probably based around kinship/locality. Resource acquisition would become a purpose, with the victors killing and enslaving the losers (as has happened in tribal societies for hundreds of years).

Whenever I consider the societal collapse end of the spectrum, I reflect that it's skills and being able to make a useful contribution to the emerging clan/tribe that will offer a chance....

At the less extreme end, it's about sitting out a couple of weeks in relative comfort rather than painfully, or managing our response to a storm/flood etc. This type of event I think we can "be prepared" for.

GC

 

[Broch]

Oh dear, nuke subs being moved, all looks a little bit closer

 

[ONE]

Whenever I consider the societal collapse end of the spectrum, I reflect that it's skills and being able to make a useful contribution to the emerging clan/tribe that will offer a chance....

Indeed. Although they also say you should never become indispensable!
One thing I've always wondered about is transferability of skills, take for instance a doctor, general practice, of how much use would a 2025 GP be to a society in which he cannot write a prescription or refer the patient to specialist? That's a genuine question BTW, I don't know the answer. In speculative fiction and people's plans though they always include doctors as important people to have in your community, but of how much real value are they without 2025 society behind them?


Edit - A addendum to this might be how far back would a post-society society slide? In technology terms, in social terms, in theological terms? Whatever. This question may be partially inspired by the recent TV version of Earth Abides (which I've yet to watch). I always considered the book to be a warning!

 

[demented dale]

I've been wondering what the serious prepper's plan of action is if they're still sitting on their stockpile, fed and watered, but around them people are becoming ill or even dying from lack thereof. Do they expect to just sit there and not feel any kind of - for want of a better word - guilt? I mean I know there are people who could do that, but have any of them really considered the psychological aspects at all?

Of course, it's unlikely to happen, because your friends and neighbours would notice you're not suffering like they are, and would be round with the pitchforks toot sweet. In that respect, the build-a-fortified-bunker-inna-mountain-for-the-zombie-apocalypse brigade probably have a better idea than the suburban prepper.

Anyway, I think it'll boil down to luck in the end, whether you have the right things on hand or not, be it knowledge or resources. You can only do your best, and whatever you do may help free up public resources for those who can't help themselves at all. So, in a way, I suppose I see it as a civic duty. Which is an outlook so old-fashioned it probably wears a ruff and a powdered wig...

Why is it that we think of a prepper as a solitary survivalist? One who is only concerned with self preservation. Of course there are such stereotypes but the prepping community is a mirror of society and contains all types of people and many form groups to help one another, I live life alone and I am absolutely prepared but I am also absolutely prepared to help anyone ( if they help themselves),. many people think preppers are mad but when the excrement elevates to a height where it is shredded and dispersed by the blades of a rotating cooling device I am going to say "I told you so". Then I am going to say "How can I help"? X

 

[ONE]

if they help themselves

That statement is carrying a lot of weight here.

 

[TeeDee]

Maybe. Maybe not. The thing about prepper types is they value and respect self reliance as a part of personal responsibility and accountability.

 

[demented dale]

That statement is carrying a lot of weight here.

I won.t edit , rather I will explain. I mean people who are looking to help one another and create something together. I would not however help those who sought to to hurt, steal or even kill. Believe me I have thought long and hard about this subject and have considered each and every scenario. Of course, nobody knows what they would do exactly. I think in a situation those who help themselves are best equipped to help others and that includes looking after people who cannot help themselves through injury or illness. I would hope that what I know could be used for the common good but to return to the original point if you cannot help yourself then who could help you anyway. DD x

 

[ONE]

I understand you, really. But if we're going to be harsh/honest and apply a kind of triage to how we can offer aid to others, who do you help? Are the injured or ill realistically ever going to recover in the given situation? Is an otherwise able individual who has to coin a phrase "peed everything he owns against the wall" going to be a strong back to carry others next month if someone feeds him now? How much of what you have do you let others see? How do you evaluate others as being worthy of your help or not? And I genuinely think it's a question that we'd all have to answer at some point if placed in the situation.

 

[Pattree]

Standard basic first aid training:
You attend.
You serve:
You do not judge or discriminate.

I would have thought that it is fundamental humanity as well.

 

[TeeDee]

Standard basic first aid training:
You attend.
You serve:
You do not judge or discriminate.

I would have thought that it is fundamental humanity as well.

To carry on that metaphor

Whats the first rule regarding administering First Aid?

 

[ONE]

You do not judge or discriminate.

Not how emergency triage works though.

 

[Pattree]

How do you evaluate others as being worthy of your help or not? And I genuinely think it's a question that we'd all have to answer at some point if placed in the situation.

That is a societal judgement that someone in a position to help has no right to allow to affect their intervention regardless of their subjective opinion.

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