Why prepping is rational statistically

[Grandpa Rex]

The best defense would be to be invisible. However, if a majority of a population survives a disaster, there is little to no space to disappear to. After a few weeks , people less prepared would start roving. There are few areas other than wilderness where you could truly hide.

We can leverage our success in a disaster in a number of ways...but the best way to survive in a SHTF situation is not to get in one to begin with.

I have no idea how to avoid that situation though...

[Ghost]

The best defense would be to be invisible. However, if a majority of a population survives a disaster, there is little to no space to disappear to. After a few weeks , people less prepared would start roving. There are few areas other than wilderness where you could truly hide.

We can leverage our success in a disaster in a number of ways...but the best way to survive in a SHTF situation is not to get in one to begin with.

I have no idea how to avoid that situation though...

I saw where people used a prison once, then a cyclops ran a tank through the fence.

[Holland&Holland]

The best defense would be to be invisible. However, if a majority of a population survives a disaster, there is little to no space to disappear to. After a few weeks , people less prepared would start roving. There are few areas other than wilderness where you could truly hide.

We can leverage our success in a disaster in a number of ways...but the best way to survive in a SHTF situation is not to get in one to begin with.

I have no idea how to avoid that situation though...

I saw where people used a prison once, then a cyclops ran a tank through the fence.

Grendel would take down that Cyclops no problem.

[crbutler]

Being prepared for some modest calamity is certainly reasonable.

Enough food to get through an event. Ensuring you have clean water. Keeping a stockpile of medication that you need available for an event. Fuel to heat yourself and cook.

The problem arises when the length of time gets longer, and the things you want to protect yourself from become absurd.

A zombie apocalypse? ********.

Nuclear war? Well, odds of a single family surviving this in isolation are nil. The more advanced groups try and develop some sort of mini society, which works if you have enough folks and they all have common purpose, but as common “Preppers” it will not work (your own fallout shelter and keeping the folks not wise enough to be ready out)- having a farm site with game and water available will attract hordes eventually, and short of heavy military gear and training (and a ruthlessness that is probably sociopathic) you will join the have nots if you don’t just get killed.

The likelihood of having an event that you can prepare for is pretty good- a flood, a major storm knocking out power or transport-

But a event removing civil authority to the point that you need weapons to keep yourself alive and protect property without being responsible to the authorities for what will be seen as excessive force is pretty much unsurvivable anyhow, regardlesss of your preparedness.

[Ghost]

Grendel would take down that Cyclops no problem.

True but in this reality tv show they used crossbows, Pythons and samurai swords. They were under gunned.

[Holland&Holland]

Being prepared for some modest calamity is certainly reasonable.

Enough food to get through an event. Ensuring you have clean water. Keeping a stockpile of medication that you need available for an event. Fuel to heat yourself and cook.

The problem arises when the length of time gets longer, and the things you want to protect yourself from become absurd.

A zombie apocalypse? ********.

Nuclear war? Well, odds of a single family surviving this in isolation are nil. The more advanced groups try and develop some sort of mini society, which works if you have enough folks and they all have common purpose, but as common “Preppers” it will not work (your own fallout shelter and keeping the folks not wise enough to be ready out)- having a farm site with game and water available will attract hordes eventually, and short of heavy military gear and training (and a ruthlessness that is probably sociopathic) you will join the have nots if you don’t just get killed.

The likelihood of having an event that you can prepare for is pretty good- a flood, a major storm knocking out power or transport-

But a event removing civil authority to the point that you need weapons to keep yourself alive and protect property without being responsible to the authorities for what will be seen as excessive force is pretty much unsurvivable anyhow, regardlesss of your preparedness.

Yet it is likely some would survive. Mostly by luck or happenstance but the complete extinction of the human race with no survivors is unlikely. Better to try to survive and maybe get lucky than not because it is against all odds.

[crbutler]

Some people will survive because humans are an adaptable animal.

A nuclear war/comet strike/ whatever is not survivable as an individual or as a society.

Within 2-3 generations after such an event we would be back in the dark ages and it would be centuries before we climbed back to similar technology as we have now. Having a family farm with 15 folks armed to the teeth would not change that. The folks who are trying to prep for that are deluded.

Similar efforts to prevent that catastrophe would be vastly more effective. Reading the apocalyptic literature makes a good story, but that’s all it is, a story.

I’m not at all against some level of preparedness, but be reasonable so you don’t get all of us declared to be nuts.

[Grayskies]

<Snip>

I’m not at all against some level of preparedness, but be reasonable so you don’t get all of us declared to be nuts.

Its already too late for most of us...

[Holland&Holland]

Some people will survive because humans are an adaptable animal.

A nuclear war/comet strike/ whatever is not survivable as an individual or as a society.

Within 2-3 generations after such an event we would be back in the dark ages and it would be centuries before we climbed back to similar technology as we have now. Having a family farm with 15 folks armed to the teeth would not change that. The folks who are trying to prep for that are deluded.

Similar efforts to prevent that catastrophe would be vastly more effective. Reading the apocalyptic literature makes a good story, but that’s all it is, a story.

I’m not at all against some level of preparedness, but be reasonable so you don’t get all of us declared to be nuts.

So.... don't try?

[crbutler]

Don't sit around buying geiger counters, full up NBC suits, etc.

Prepare for what is survivable- like a flood or a big power outage.

Self sufficiency in and of itself is fine, but building a big fallout shelter is fallacious.

If you are going to expend enough resources to "deal" with a comet strike, etc. give the money to a research group instead that might actually save us by dealing with the issue in advance.

[INOR]

All well and good, but if we’re going to die anyways, why not go down fighting for your survival to the last breath? I’m not a prepper but just because the reality is that most wont survive a huge catastrophe or cataclysmic world event, doesn’t mean that one shouldn’t be prepared to at least try. I do agree though that first priority should be to survive a temporary situation for a period of time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BigDog58]

I guess that should there be a catastrophe like the one being talked about here, I'm fairly well prepared.

Being fat, will at least allow me to live longer on my "reserves" as long as I can store enough drinkable water, and enough firepower and ammo, to stop those that might try to resort to cannibalism

Once all the skinny people die off, I'll have the run of the place

[Ghost]

I wouldn’t consider myself a prepper but I can see having a decent supply of canned goods on hand and buy a replacement when used. Keep some water filtration systems available. Plus thermal and suppressed weapons for night work/hunting if needed.

All gun owners should have a healthy supply of ammo.

I also like multi-caliber guns in the event ammo became scarce for many reasons. Limiting calibers can hurt if we had another panic.

[INOR]

I also like multi-caliber guns in the event ammo became scarce for many reasons. Limiting calibers can hurt if we had another panic.

I agree with this. For handguns, I mainly enjoy shooting 9mm but I like having some other calibers around too. I’m not so well equipped with different rifle calibers though.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Grayskies]

People interested in prepping should look into ham radio, a tech license is easy and inexpensive. We even train to provide radio communications in disasters and emergencies.