Preparing for Uncertainty and Self Reliance

[C-Mag]

With no loss in red meat for preppers, from Trump Literally Hitler, to North Korean Nukes/EMPs, to American Civil War II there is as much uneasiness about the future as ever.

So one of the main tenants of Prepper's is 2 is 1, 1 is none. IMO, modern American Prepping is generally a bad mix of American consumerism and Old School Survivalism. A buddy of mine makes an apt point, American's have so much shit, they have to rent out storage units to store it all.

Americans have multiple vehicles, many have multiple homes, they have more clothes than they can wear, they have special gadgets for cooking so much as a hot dog. General living supplies is not something that Americans appear to be lacking.

I'm not really asking a question here, just reinforcing my buddies point. It would take decades for Americans to run out of general living supplies. How do you feel about that POV ?

[SuburbanFarmer]

With no loss in red meat for preppers, from Trump Literally Hitler, to North Korean Nukes/EMPs, to American Civil War II there is as much uneasiness about the future as ever.

So one of the main tenants of Prepper's is 2 is 1, 1 is none. IMO, modern American Prepping is generally a bad mix of American consumerism and Old School Survivalism. A buddy of mine makes an apt point, American's have so much shit, they have to rent out storage units to store it all.

Americans have multiple vehicles, many have multiple homes, they have more clothes than they can wear, they have special gadgets for cooking so much as a hot dog. General living supplies is not something that Americans appear to be lacking.

I'm not really asking a question here, just reinforcing my buddies point. It would take decades for Americans to run out of general living supplies. How do you feel about that POV ?

Define 'general living supplies'. And I've only met a few people ever with more than one house.

If you're talking about shit like can openers and measuring cups, sure - we've all got plenty. If you mean foodstuffs, were all one week of failed deliveries from starvation.

[C-Mag]

Define 'general living supplies'. And I've only met a few people ever with more than one house.

If you're talking about shit like can openers and measuring cups, sure - we've all got plenty. If you mean foodstuffs, were all one week of failed deliveries from starvation.

I guess I'm somewhat rejecting the main Prepper mentality. I am weighing the Prepper mentality against Mazlows hierarchy of needs, in which I'm a big believer. Prepper deal almost solely with Physiological needs.
- Air
- Water
- Food
- Clothing
- Shelter
Obviously the need for these physiological needs depends on the current circumstances, a Nuclear blast in your vicinity would require different needs from an EMP attack. To me, Preppers seem mostly focused on merely getting from Physiological needs to Safety.......... spending little of no time on belonging, esteem and self actualization.

[Speaker to Animals]

We Romans should really focus on self-actualization during this crisis.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Define 'general living supplies'. And I've only met a few people ever with more than one house.

If you're talking about shit like can openers and measuring cups, sure - we've all got plenty. If you mean foodstuffs, were all one week of failed deliveries from starvation.

I guess I'm somewhat rejecting the main Prepper mentality. I am weighing the Prepper mentality against Mazlows hierarchy of needs, in which I'm a big believer. Prepper deal almost solely with Physiological needs.
- Air
- Water
- Food
- Clothing
- Shelter
Obviously the need for these physiological needs depends on the current circumstances, a Nuclear blast in your vicinity would require different needs from an EMP attack. To me, Preppers seem mostly focused on merely getting from Physiological needs to Safety.......... spending little of no time on belonging, esteem and self actualization.

Isn't that the entire point of the pyramid? Once any of those lower needs go unsatisfied, the higher ones cease to matter.

Besides, if you're actually considering Belonging and Esteem, then you've already achieved the goal of survival.

[C-Mag]

With no loss in red meat for preppers, from Trump Literally Hitler, to North Korean Nukes/EMPs, to American Civil War II there is as much uneasiness about the future as ever.

So one of the main tenants of Prepper's is 2 is 1, 1 is none. IMO, modern American Prepping is generally a bad mix of American consumerism and Old School Survivalism. A buddy of mine makes an apt point, American's have so much shit, they have to rent out storage units to store it all.

Americans have multiple vehicles, many have multiple homes, they have more clothes than they can wear, they have special gadgets for cooking so much as a hot dog. General living supplies is not something that Americans appear to be lacking.

I'm not really asking a question here, just reinforcing my buddies point. It would take decades for Americans to run out of general living supplies. How do you feel about that POV ?

Define 'general living supplies'. And I've only met a few people ever with more than one house.

If you're talking about shit like can openers and measuring cups, sure - we've all got plenty. If you mean foodstuffs, were all one week of failed deliveries from starvation.

Really?
I know a lot of people with vacation homes/cabins, rental properties, condos, etc.

As far as goods, Americans have a sick amount of clothes, vehicles, guns and shelter. Food is the one thing in urban environs that is in short supply. But America is the breadbasket of the world. In a crisis, the only question is, can it be delivered to urban jungles.

I guess my point is, there is far more to surviving than beans and bullets.

[C-Mag]

We Romans should really focus on self-actualization during this crisis.

I get you're point Doc. How do I explain my thoughts on this ?

The Prepping community is overly focused on STUFF. Gear reviews, stockpiles and caches. Name your site, it's filled with packing lists of Bug Out Bags, Firearms choices and the right tactical knife to buy. What's missing is how you build a community, the foundation of really thriving of in troubled times.

I can attest that it is quite important that people feel generally safe, belong to a group, have a sense of importance in the group and know their role.

If Preppers are really faced with a breakdown of government and society. What do they do past hunkering down and shooting at the 'Golden Horde' when it comes.

[TheReal_ND]

There is still a lot of gas left in this tank. Enough to see people of American descent ethnically wiped out. What happens after that is irrelevant.

[C-Mag]

There is still a lot of gas left in this tank. Enough to see people of American descent ethnically wiped out. What happens after that is irrelevant.

That's kind of my point. I'm not into just surviving, but thriving and holding on to civilization. Putting it back on it's feet in my small sphere of influence.

Can people not look past surviving Anarchy ?

[Okeefenokee]

We Romans should really focus on self-actualization during this crisis.

I get you're point Doc. How do I explain my thoughts on this ?

The Prepping community is overly focused on STUFF. Gear reviews, stockpiles and caches. Name your site, it's filled with packing lists of Bug Out Bags, Firearms choices and the right tactical knife to buy. What's missing is how you build a community, the foundation of really thriving of in troubled times.

I can attest that it is quite important that people feel generally safe, belong to a group, have a sense of importance in the group and know their role.

If Preppers are really faced with a breakdown of government and society. What do they do past hunkering down and shooting at the 'Golden Horde' when it comes.

I was saying this on the old prepper threading on the old forum. Not the mental needs part, but the idea of stocking up being the focus.

At some point, you have to come out of that bunker. And then you need skills. Prepping is, or should be, about learning, not stockpiling.