How long before things go south if the SHTF?

[Cameramonkey]

Don't forget to mix in some physical fitness with your prep.

Meh. With no job to go to, I'll have plenty of time for exercise after it happens.

 

[Cynical]

People keep asking the same question, from a different angle.
If there's an apocalyptic event, who the hell wants to attempt to survive?
It would require complete isolation and the ability to constantly defend it.
If a large enough group wants what you have, you aren't going to stop them.

I can’t fight the urge not to survive even if the earth is a hellscape. I don’t have a problem defending what is mine, even if I lose. I’m going down swinging.

 

[Mij]

I am convinced that we have seen testing by the government several times.

They always claim it was a technical glitch but a couple times a year, in a select location, the welfare shuts down for 24 hours. Usually in heavily populated urban areas with high density of welfare recipients. By the next morning, there are mobs destroying stores and stealing anything they can carry. They are not shutting off power, heat or transportation, just a 24 hour delay on the welfare cards.

Imagine what would happen if the news announced that welfare stopped nationwide, and then the electricity and cell towers shut down.

Interesting concept, thanks for the prospective!!!…

 

[Mij]

People keep asking the same question, from a different angle.
If there's an apocalyptic event, who the hell wants to attempt to survive?
It would require complete isolation and the ability to constantly defend it.
If a large enough group wants what you have, you aren't going to stop them.

Yep, that’s what the British thought.

 

[Lpherr]

I can’t fight the urge not to survive even if the earth is a hellscape. I don’t have a problem defending what is mine, even if I lose. I’m going down swinging.

Some people just don't seem to grasp the reality of what will actually happen in any of these social breakdown events and the human reaction to them.
It doesn't matter how far out one lives, or how much ammo, food, potable water, etc. that they have. They will eventually be found and it taken from them. Just like you want to live, there are others that do also.
Society would never return to what we know it as. Just look around at how it's been altered in a short time.
It's natural instinct to want to survive, but the result isn't going to be worth the effort. The ones that actually survive, will become slaves to the elitists in control. That's the foresight of these people and what they are driving toward.

 

[cg21]

Some people just don't seem to grasp the reality of what will actually happen in any of these social breakdown events and the human reaction to them.
It doesn't matter how far out one lives, or how much ammo, food, potable water, etc. that they have. They will eventually be found and it taken from them. Just like you want to live, there are others that do also.
Society would never return to what we know it as. Just look around at how it's been altered in a short time.
It's natural instinct to want to survive, but the result isn't going to be worth the effort. The ones that actually survive, will become slaves to the elitists in control. That's the foresight of these people and what they are driving toward.

I honestly think a lot of people would just sit in their houses thinking someone was going to save them….. by the time they realize no one is coming they’d be to weak to do much of anything.

People in the “wild” west still had the will to live…? And a lot of times it was in lawless areas. I’m sure there are other examples and maybe better ones. But the point being life is worth living.

“Life uh, Finds a way” - Dr. Ian Malcom


and for the record you nor me know how it would play out all speculation. You know the saying…… I’d rather have water and not need it, than need it and not have it. I believe that’s how it goes

 

[blain]

I can’t fight the urge not to survive even if the earth is a hellscape. I don’t have a problem defending what is mine, even if I lose. I’m going down swinging.

Backing out from the whole Mad Max scenario and looking back over time, there seems to be 3 groups (or maybe personality types).
1. Not taken alive. Go down swinging. This is the hill to die on.
2. Keep your head down and muddle along. Make the best of a bad situation. Hang on until things change.
3. Give up. Total capitulation. Focus on a spot and just let it happen.

Every scenario has it's specific challenges. But my guess is that the 3 groups above would graph out to some kind of bell shaped curve, with 2 in the majority.
I will concede that #1 does have a noble, romantic, adventuresome appeal.

 

[Leadeye]

I think the best recent example would be the Katrina disaster.

 

[cobber]

Don’t worry, FEMA will be right on top of it.

 

[spencer rifle]

People keep asking the same question, from a different angle.
If there's an apocalyptic event, who the hell wants to attempt to survive?
It would require complete isolation and the ability to constantly defend it.
If a large enough group wants what you have, you aren't going to stop them.

That's what SWMBO thinks. Unfortunate, since she has mad skills. I keep trying to gradually acclimate her to the thought, and sell it to her as a massive close social event, since she is HIGHLY social.

It's possible I will be going out on a pile of hot brass. Though I'd rather not. My plan was to be shot by a jealous husband when I'm 98.

The Shelter - Twilight Zone

Lights Out by David Crawford

 

[bwframe]

Some people just don't seem to grasp the reality of what will actually happen in any of these social breakdown events and the human reaction to them.
It doesn't matter how far out one lives, or how much ammo, food, potable water, etc. that they have. They will eventually be found and it taken from them. Just like you want to live, there are others that do also.
Society would never return to what we know it as. Just look around at how it's been altered in a short time.
It's natural instinct to want to survive, but the result isn't going to be worth the effort. The ones that actually survive, will become slaves to the elitists in control. That's the foresight of these people and what they are driving toward.

Meh. It won't take real long to eliminate those who are "too smart" to prep. The welfare crowd are uneducated and unprepared. On top of the fact that they are weak from talking about it. They'll be eaten by kinda-wannabe preppers, before they even make it out of the 'burbs.

 

[bobzilla]

Meh. It won't take real long to eliminate those who are "too smart" to prep. The welfare crowd are uneducated and unprepared. On top of the fact that they are weak from talking about it. They'll be eaten by kinda-wannabe preppers, before they even make it out of the 'burbs.

agree. I see people say no one will want to live in that world. That's not true. Humanity survives the worst of the worst and still finds a way to thrive. Then we screw around and f it all up again.

 

[Lpherr]

Meh. It won't take real long to eliminate those who are "too smart" to prep. The welfare crowd are uneducated and unprepared. On top of the fact that they are weak from talking about it. They'll be eaten by kinda-wannabe preppers, before they even make it out of the 'burbs.

It doesn't take an education or preparedness to be a criminal.
And the preppers aren't prepared for what those people are capable of.
The preppers aren't "too smart" either, or they would be standing up against everything that's happening to prevent it, instead of prepping for what's to come.

 

[jwamplerusa]

I will be going out on a pile of hot brass. Though I'd rather not. My plan was to be shot by a jealous husband when I'm 98.

I'm stealing this. The second half is utterly implausible with me, but I'll still use it.

 

[Leadeye]

Just the hard logistics of travel under those conditions will pin most urban dwellers where they are. Leadership, the local constabulary, FEMA and maybe the national guard will be operating out of all the big box stores which are a prepackaged logistical base for them so folks expecting to get something there will be disappointed.

For me distance from these areas is still the best security.

 

[blain]

The preppers aren't "too smart" either, or they would be standing up against everything that's happening to prevent it, instead of prepping for what's to come.

Could it be that they're pragmatist?
It may be a chicken & egg situation.

 

[bwframe]

It doesn't take an education or preparedness to be a criminal.
And the preppers aren't prepared for what those people are capable of.
The preppers aren't "too smart" either, or they would be standing up against everything that's happening to prevent it, instead of prepping for what's to come.

You said it all right there. Ignorance is not knowledge. Speculation is not experience.

You are not alone. A lot of folks don't know what they don't know.

 

[Cynical]

Some people just don't seem to grasp the reality of what will actually happen in any of these social breakdown events and the human reaction to them.
It doesn't matter how far out one lives, or how much ammo, food, potable water, etc. that they have. They will eventually be found and it taken from them. Just like you want to live, there are others that do also.
Society would never return to what we know it as. Just look around at how it's been altered in a short time.
It's natural instinct to want to survive, but the result isn't going to be worth the effort. The ones that actually survive, will become slaves to the elitists in control. That's the foresight of these people and what they are driving toward.

Don’t disagree, I’m just saying that that natural will to want to survive or win or whatever you want call it won’t override the willingness to keep going if it means dying is the result of quitting. I know me, and I grew up in the eighties thinking at any moment a Russian ICBM would land on the AFB 12 miles from my house. Ironically I worked on short range nukes and launchers when I served from 1986-1990, Pershing missiles specifically. Intellectually I know it’s a losing proposition. I’m just saying I will never stop trying to live even though I know there is a finite amount of time in my life. I guess the best I can describe it is, if my boat flips I’m not going to quit treading water until muscle failure so I can face the inevitable. I think the natural will to survive overrides logic. Can’t say that for sure because I haven’t been there for real.

 

[Nicu757]

Read “Lights out” the one by David Crawford. Good read. It’s not as popular as one second after. But you can’t say what would happen. It’s happening now just a death by a thousand cuts.

 

[Combat Engineer]

Don’t disagree, I’m just saying that that natural will to want to survive or win or whatever you want call it won’t override the willingness to keep going if it means dying is the result of quitting. I know me, and I grew up in the eighties thinking at any moment a Russian ICBM would land on the AFB 12 miles from my house. Ironically I worked on short range nukes and launchers when I served from 1986-1990, Pershing missiles specifically. Intellectually I know it’s a losing proposition. I’m just saying I will never stop trying to live even though I know there is a finite amount of time in my life. I guess the best I can describe it is, if my boat flips I’m not going to quit treading water until muscle failure so I can face the inevitable. I think the natural will to survive overrides logic. Can’t say that for sure because I haven’t been there for real.

I'm with you brother.Made it thru two tours in a very bad place.When it comes I'll fight tooth and toenails till I'm dead.Come get it fools it ain't gonna be easy as you think.