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rhaig

"preppers" ... nutter survivalists or common sense??

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Stocking ammo and guns to fend off the attacking hordes makes you paranoid, but just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.



Have you honestly never notice the how in disasters there is always an element trying to capitalize off the weak, and helpless? Katrina was a huge example of this, but it has happened in every major disaster in history.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect what you need to survive from those who might try to take it from you. It's being prepared, not paranoid.
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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

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>There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect what you need to survive
>from those who might try to take it from you. It's being prepared, not
>paranoid.

And there is also a line between preparation and paranoia. Stockpiling food may be a good idea; obtaining an arsenal of Stinger missiles on the black market in case a black Russian gunship tries to kill you may be a bit into the paranoia side of things.

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...has list of 137 scenarios he's preparing for...



Nutter.

Sitting down and making a list of 137 anything makes you at least a little crazy.



am I nutters for sitting down and making a prep list for 38 things? (22 blocks, 16 randoms)



If you sit alone in a room engineering every permutation... ...then no, that's just serious dedication to 4-way.

By the way, it's worth noting that there's a whole gamut of possibilities between "no guns" and "stockpiles that draw attention from LE or Stinger missiles"

One worth considering might be "a couple guns"

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Stocking ammo and guns to fend off the attacking hordes makes you paranoid, but just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.



Have you honestly never notice the how in disasters there is always an element trying to capitalize off the weak, and helpless? Katrina was a huge example of this, but it has happened in every major disaster in history.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect what you need to survive from those who might try to take it from you. It's being prepared, not paranoid.



maybe I was too subtle.


when I see discussions about prepping online, it always goes to the guns first. why? why spend money on guns when you have nothing to protect?

stocking guns and ammo first may not make you paranoid (but doesn't mean you aren't) but it sure does mean your priorities are out of whack.
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Rob

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If you sit alone in a room engineering every permutation... ...then no, that's just serious dedication to 4-way.

By the way, it's worth noting that there's a whole gamut of possibilities between "no guns" and "stockpiles that draw attention from LE or Stinger missiles"

One worth considering might be "a couple guns"



Also worth noting is the concept of 'two is one and one is none' - you don't exactly have a way to get things fixed at that point - best to have spares of mechanical items.
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

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obtaining an arsenal of Stinger missiles on the black market in case a black Russian gunship tries to kill you may be a bit into the paranoia side of things.



I preferred White Russians back when I was drinking.

Stingers???
*drool*
:D:P

Oh...does that make me a nutter?
My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

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obtaining an arsenal of Stinger missiles on the black market in case a black Russian gunship tries to kill you may be a bit into the paranoia side of things.


what, is that a special kind of cocktail? take a black russian and toss in some tobasco or something?

"black russian gunship" good name for a drink.
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Rob

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when I see discussions about prepping online, it always goes to the guns first. why?


Please re-read Diablo's post #27 response above.

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why spend money on guns when you have nothing to protect?


If you have nothing to protect, you didn't do a very good job of prepping. I guess you aren't thinking about your life...your loved ones lives.

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stocking guns and ammo first may not make you paranoid (but doesn't mean you aren't) but it sure does mean your priorities are out of whack.


So now you're backtracking and saying "first"?

If you've done nothing by now, you may want to get started before the rush. I suspect weapons will be at or near the top of most lists.
My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

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when I see discussions about prepping online, it always goes to the guns first. why?


Please re-read Diablo's post #27 response above.


re-read. and still stands. people tend to think "well first, I'll get a bunch of guns. then food and water and then self sustaining gear". That's all well and good if you're prepping for total societal breakdown. But if you're prepping for something that is more likely to happen, then the food and water comes in more handy. Unless you intend to be part of the problem... taking what you need by force.

build some food/water preps first, then build defense capability for them. It's more likely you'll need the food & water.

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why spend money on guns when you have nothing to protect?

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If you have nothing to protect, you didn't do a very good job of prepping. I guess you aren't thinking about your life...your loved ones lives.



clearly you didn't understand my point. read my above.

as for taking care of my own. prepare for the most common event first. It will likely help you along your preps for the less common events.
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stocking guns and ammo first may not make you paranoid (but doesn't mean you aren't) but it sure does mean your priorities are out of whack.


So now you're backtracking and saying "first"?


you'll notice the word "first" in the text you quoted from my earlier post. surely you didn't miss it. (the first line of quoted text) No backtracking here. You just misunderstood me.
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If you've done nothing by now, you may want to get started before the rush. I suspect weapons will be at or near the top of most lists.



well, if you intend to be part of the problem, not the solution then get your guns first.

[removed nasty remark that in hindsight wasn't called for]
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Rob

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Let's use your scenario - you get your stockpile of food started, but haven't gotten a weapon yet because you're 'not paranoid'.

*BOOM* - huge earthquake, people evacuating the cities.

How are you going to protect your stockpile? Your family? Yourself?
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

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Let's use your scenario - you get your stockpile of food started, but haven't gotten a weapon yet because you're 'not paranoid'.

*BOOM* - huge earthquake, people evacuating the cities.

How are you going to protect your stockpile? Your family? Yourself?



let's just say that I'd rather have a few hundred bucks in food that I WILL need than a pistol that I might need.

If your community won't band together, get a different community. Yeah, you should get means of defense, but to get that first prepares you for stuff less likely.

Real example. about 4 months ago we had a power outtage. just a couple of days. not a big deal. But the water pumping station was out and being repaired. there wasn't rioting. Nobody went door to door stealing bottled water. But I had plenty because I was prepared. It was only a day without running water. But it was one of the most likely scenarios and thus one of the first to be prepared for.

preparations for the most likely events are most likely on the preps list for the less and least likely events. so not only will they be more likely to be needed, they will help you get to the bottom of your list. Starting with the least likely event or less likely events on your list means the longest time period without good preps for any of the events on the list.

somewhere down the list, past "loss of job" and 24hr power outage, but above 3day power outage and flooding, lies where defense means should be acquired.
--
Rob

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Let's use your scenario - you get your stockpile of food started, but haven't gotten a weapon yet because you're 'not paranoid'.

*BOOM* - huge earthquake, people evacuating the cities.

How are you going to protect your stockpile? Your family? Yourself?



let's just say that I'd rather have a few hundred bucks in food that I WILL need than a pistol that I might need.

If your community won't band together, get a different community. Yeah, you should get means of defense, but to get that first prepares you for stuff less likely.



Less likely? Care to tell that to the Korean shopkeepers during the Rodney King riots?

Just because you don't consider it necessary for YOUR situation doesn't mean it's not necessary for someone else's.

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Real example. about 4 months ago we had a power outtage. just a couple of days. not a big deal. But the water pumping station was out and being repaired. there wasn't rioting. Nobody went door to door stealing bottled water. But I had plenty because I was prepared. It was only a day without running water. But it was one of the most likely scenarios and thus one of the first to be prepared for.

preparations for the most likely events are most likely on the preps list for the less and least likely events. so not only will they be more likely to be needed, they will help you get to the bottom of your list. Starting with the least likely event or less likely events on your list means the longest time period without good preps for any of the events on the list.

somewhere down the list, past "loss of job" and 24hr power outage, but above 3day power outage and flooding, lies where defense means should be acquired.



You're arguing the same viewpoint as kallend's "I work in inner city Chicago and never needed a gun".

If it works for you, that's cool - that doesn't mean that it's right for everyone out there.
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

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re-read. and still stands. people tend to think "well first, I'll get a bunch of guns. then food and water and then self sustaining gear". That's all well and good if you're prepping for total societal breakdown. But if you're prepping for something that is more likely to happen, then the food and water comes in more handy. Unless you intend to be part of the problem... taking what you need by force.



Why not have the option? I am prepared to rule the Richmond district if it goes that badly.

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OK...you do things your way. I'll do things mine.

When those service outages last longer than your meager supply, at least you'll know not to come trying to steal my supplies.

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If your community won't band together, get a different community.


My clairvoyant skills are a little rusty...got one in mind?

You missed that whole Katrina thing, eh?
My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

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I am prepared to rule the Richmond district if it goes that badly.



Can we still be friends?
I'll share my Beenie Weenies with you if you'll share your 30-06 with me, eh?
:D:D
My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

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I am prepared to rule the Richmond district if it goes that badly.



Can we still be friends?
I'll share my Beenie Weenies with you if you'll share your 30-06 with me, eh?
:D:D


I'm all for forming cartels, though I suppose I better get a CB radio for networking. Wonder how that can be hacked to handle TCP/IP.

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Let's use your scenario - you get your stockpile of food started, but haven't gotten a weapon yet because you're 'not paranoid'.

*BOOM* - huge earthquake, people evacuating the cities.

How are you going to protect your stockpile? Your family? Yourself?



People prepare GOOD kits. Get Out Of Dodge kits are many times put together to be easy to move in different configurations. There are "nice to have," "need to have" and "must have" portions of the kit. For instance, you start with the entire kit in the trunk of your car with you and your wife evacuating together in the same vehicle. After your vehicle is abandoned due to circumstances, you take the next level of your kit with you, the one that you can both carry together. Your wife then breaks ankle and has to use crutches, you've now slimmed down to your essential group.
--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

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Less likely? Care to tell that to the Korean shopkeepers during the Rodney King riots?


which is the most likely situation in central TX?
1 - Power outage for less than 48h resulting in lack of water and groceries.
2 - severe storms resulting in extensive flooding and lack of access to city infrastructure as well as a lack of power, water and groceries for 5 or more days
3 - total economic and societal collapse resulting in food riots, lack of all services,

pretty much listed in order of liklyhood. somewhere between 1 and 2 is where defense means should be on the list. note that preps for 1 apply to situation 2 and those for 2 apply to 3. That is my point.
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Just because you don't consider it necessary for YOUR situation doesn't mean it's not necessary for someone else's.


I suppose I could see a situation where defense means might be higher on the list. But in that case, first on my list would be move to a safer community.
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Real example. about 4 months ago we had a power outtage. just a couple of days. not a big deal. But the water pumping station was out and being repaired. there wasn't rioting. Nobody went door to door stealing bottled water. But I had plenty because I was prepared. It was only a day without running water. But it was one of the most likely scenarios and thus one of the first to be prepared for.

preparations for the most likely events are most likely on the preps list for the less and least likely events. so not only will they be more likely to be needed, they will help you get to the bottom of your list. Starting with the least likely event or less likely events on your list means the longest time period without good preps for any of the events on the list.

somewhere down the list, past "loss of job" and 24hr power outage, but above 3day power outage and flooding, lies where defense means should be acquired.



You're arguing the same viewpoint as kallend's "I work in inner city Chicago and never needed a gun".


bullshit... now you're acting like you didn't read my post before you spat out a reply.

if you remember what you've read, I mentioned "get a different community". And "defense means should be acquired". not even close to the professors point of view and comparing me to him is a backhanded personal attack and you know it.
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If it works for you, that's cool - that doesn't mean that it's right for everyone out there.



I still think that if priority 1 is get a gun to defend yourself, then you need to re-evaluate your current situation, and decide if you can change that situation. Disaster preparedness starts with situational awareness.
--
Rob

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OK...you do things your way. I'll do things mine.

When those service outages last longer than your meager supply, at least you'll know not to come trying to steal my supplies.

Quote

If your community won't band together, get a different community.


My clairvoyant skills are a little rusty...got one in mind?


yeah, it's called get to know your neighbors. find like minded people in your community. don't alienate yourself and hole-up away from your community. when shit hits the fan, communities need to band together to survive.

you've made it clear here you're not a team player. Don't worry, I won't come check on you. Don't want you to shoot me in a paranoid fit to take what you need from me.
--
Rob

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I suppose I could see a situation where defense means might be higher on the list. But in that case, first on my list would be move to a safer community.



Not everyone has THAT option, either.

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You're arguing the same viewpoint as kallend's "I work in inner city Chicago and never needed a gun".


bullshit... now you're acting like you didn't read my post before you spat out a reply.



No, I read it - it comes across as "I don't see the need to buy any sort of protection first, so if YOU do, you're paranoid".

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if you remember what you've read, I mentioned "get a different community". And "defense means should be acquired". not even close to the professors point of view and comparing me to him is a backhanded personal attack and you know it.



Really? So, the condescension of 'you should move' and 'you're paranoid if you buy a gun first' isn't similar to the perfesser's implied "If I don't need a gun, why do you"?

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I still think that if priority 1 is get a gun to defend yourself, then you need to re-evaluate your current situation, and decide if you can change that situation. Disaster preparedness starts with situational awareness.



Didn't you say you conceal carry? Hope you're able to find "a different community" soon.
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

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Thoughts from personal experience living way out in the country, three adults no children:

In an extended power outtage, three weeks regionally in our case due to severe ice storm and rerelated damage, a generator is a mighty handy item to have around but only as useful as the amount of the fuel you have on hand to run them. When that stockpile of fuel is gone there won't be anymore available for at least four days and they use five gallons a day for about six hours of useage.

Communications with relatives, neighbors, law enforcement. medical assistance, etc. will likely be non existant for the about the first five days due to no phone service either cell or land. Roads impassable due to fallen trees and limbs.

Food supplies will be what you have on hand for at least the first five days. Water will be where ever you can find it. Toilets take five gallons per flush so that happens once a day.:o Heat will be however you can.

Break ins happening at an alarming rate. Very comforting knowing a loaded weapon is in every room of the house and side side arms strapped at all times. There was always someone awake just in case.

Good experience I guess.:D

The older I get the less I care who I piss off.

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>In an extended power outtage, three weeks regionally in our case due to severe
>ice storm and rerelated damage, a generator is a mighty handy item to have
>around but only as useful as the amount of the fuel you have on hand to run
>them.

A battery based solar power system will give you basic lights, cellphone charging and heat (enough to run the electrical part of a natural gas or propane fueled heater.) Even in winter you'll get enough power for the basics, and it doesn't matter how long the outage lasts.

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>In an extended power outtage, three weeks regionally in our case due to severe
>ice storm and rerelated damage, a generator is a mighty handy item to have
>around but only as useful as the amount of the fuel you have on hand to run
>them.

A battery based solar power system will give you basic lights, cellphone charging and heat (enough to run the electrical part of a natural gas or propane fueled heater.) Even in winter you'll get enough power for the basics, and it doesn't matter how long the outage lasts.



Throw a wind generator on there and you could meet your needs - well 2% of them anywway.:D;)
I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

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