A scary thought

[SeaCat]

Would you, could you survive after a major disaster?

I started thinking about this after watching a movie a while back. I talked with a lot of people I know and was surprised and saddened by what I found. Most people in American Society wouldn't be able to survive other than by preying on others.

Could you?

Do you know how to hunt and fish? Do you know how to clean and cook safely what you killed? Do you know what plants in your area are edible? Do you know how to grow food plants? Can you split logs or build a shelter? Can you treat a cut or a fracture? Can you fix an engine or lay pipe? Do you know how to make water potable? Can you prepare foods for storage? Can you improvise tools? Can you sew or make shoes?

Think about it.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Nope. I'd be fucked.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

*Snort!* I already do, as much as possible. Fed 94 sixth graders on muskox this lunchtime. They loved it!

 

[DesertPirate]

The wife and I would head for the hills and find a cave to start with. We have the skills and could teach the kids and son in laws what they don't have.

 

[jomar]

I don't know the local plants and am rusty on engines, but oh yeah, I can lay some pipe!

C'mon, you know that was too good a setup!

 

[iamincognito45]

No problem here on all accounts. A life time of being an outdoors man, hunter and fisherman along with being a boy scout leader for 10 years now. I know the plants and the animals, how to hunt them and protect myself from them, how to clean them, how to cook them, build fire and shelters, improvise and handle most moderate first aid needs. It also helps that I already have the gear (tents, sleeping bags, stoves, water purification, fishing gear, guns and ammo, etc.)

And you are correct. There are two major problems. One of survival (finding food, water, shelter, etc.) and that of protection from the desperate masses that cannot and are willing to resort to violence to take that which you have and they need.

This is not to say I would be so quick to shoot all those that approach me. I would be happy to share my knowledge and help any and all I can. That is who I am. But those I help must be willing, for the most part, to do their share to contribute to the shared survival. I will defend and protect those around me and that which I have and need to survive, with extreme violence if necessary.

I think I'd be ok. But it would still be some scary shit going down. I live in the suburbs so getting out to the wilderness would be easy. Those in the inner large cities will have far rougher and uglier times. Much more panic and violence against others. Look what happened in New Orleans.

Edited to add: Maybe we could start some weekend training classes? Would be good for everyone I think.

 

[christabelll]

rusty on some of it but over all yes better than most
I keep plant seeds and enough material for a small green house if neccessary and though I hate the thought I can hunt and fish

growing up on a farm and in the mountains prepared me better than most.

Good Luck ya'll


STONE SOUP

 

[Vermilion]

As long as I'm with the fiance, I'll be OK. He's an engineer who loves reading SAS survival books and goes camping whenver possible. There aren't many chances to try out hunting and fishing and what have you in the UK, without tonnes of expensive licenses, but I think we'd cope.

He has a nuclear disaster plan. I'm serious. He's only told me bits of it, but it involves the camper van and a small tin mummified in sellotape (I know it contains a lure, a bone saw and some water purification tablets, but I didn;t see the rest before he made with the tape.

By myself, however, I would be fairly useless, except for the preparation of food.

x
V

 

[Vermilion]

No problem here on all accounts. A life time of being an outdoors man, hunter and fisherman along with being a boy scout leader for 10 years now. I know the plants and the animals, how to hunt them and protect myself from them, how to clean them, how to cook them, build fire and shelters, improvise and handle most moderate first aid needs. It also helps that I already have the gear (tents, sleeping bags, stoves, water purification, fishing gear, guns and ammo, etc.)

And you are correct. There are two major problems. One of survival (finding food, water, shelter, etc.) and that of protection from the desperate masses that cannot and are willing to resort to violence to take that which you have and they need.

This is not to say I would be so quick to shoot all those that approach me. I would be happy to share my knowledge and help any and all I can. That is who I am. But those I help must be willing, for the most part, to do their share to contribute to the shared survival. I will defend and protect those around me and that which I have and need to survive, with extreme violence if necessary.

I think I'd be ok. But it would still be some scary shit going down. I live in the suburbs so getting out to the wilderness would be easy. Those in the inner large cities will have far rougher and uglier times. Much more panic and violence against others. Look what happened in New Orleans.

Edited to add: Maybe we could start some weekend training classes? Would be good for everyone I think.

Ooh - I;d come.
I want lessons on things like how to humanely kill chickens and rabbits and then how to prepare them.
Skins too - leather and suchlike. Useful.

 

[Liar]

Would you, could you survive after a major disaster?

I started thinking about this after watching a movie a while back. I talked with a lot of people I know and was surprised and saddened by what I found. Most people in American Society wouldn't be able to survive other than by preying on others.

Could you?

Do you know how to hunt and fish? Do you know how to clean and cook safely what you killed? Do you know what plants in your area are edible? Do you know how to grow food plants? Can you split logs or build a shelter? Can you treat a cut or a fracture? Can you fix an engine or lay pipe? Do you know how to make water potable? Can you prepare foods for storage? Can you improvise tools? Can you sew or make shoes?

Think about it.

Cat

It's funny that you'd think it's every man for himself in a situation like that. You mention "preying on others", so you must assume you're not the only person left alive.

How about then, instead of preying on others, we seek out others and cooperate with them?

I'm good at fishing, and I can prepare it and cook it without extra tools, make fire with sticks, and so on. That and pretty good knoledge of edible wild plants, mushrooms and so on. Give me some scrap wire, and some string, and I'll give you supper ten times over. Then you can help me out with other stuff. I'm helpless with wounds and fractures (I could probably cleam ny own cuts, but treat a fracture, nah). You have medical training. You take that role.

Man's a tribal animal. If our current tribes fall apart, we'll make new tribes.

 

[JagFarlane]

Hmmmm lets see, I learned wilderness survival from a prior Army Ranger, did the Boy Scout thing, learned to hunt and fish when I was a kid [archery and firearms], taken classes in engine repair [and do what maintenance to my car I can myself], and been in Wilderness Search and Rescue before. On top of that, I already have the jumpstart of fishing poles, firearms, and camping/hiking gear. Yup, I'd be fine, esp iffin I could make it to NY and pair up with a certain female acquaintance

 

[IsabellaKing]

I think I'd do ok - I can catch and cook my own food and for the bits I don't know, I know a man who does.

But I'd really miss the internet and the heated seat in my car.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I would be dead in the first month.

 

[sutherngent985]

I did do some hunting and fishing as a kid but that was many years ago, but I think I could remember enough I could survive long enough to learn what I needed to know. Only problem is I dont own any guns or fishing or camping gear, so I would have to be beholden on others at first. Im pretty good with my hands tho and could earn my keep.

 

[Liar]

I would be dead in the first month.

Here's a song for you.

 

[SweetWitch]

Would you, could you survive after a major disaster?

I started thinking about this after watching a movie a while back. I talked with a lot of people I know and was surprised and saddened by what I found. Most people in American Society wouldn't be able to survive other than by preying on others.

Could you?

Do you know how to hunt and fish? Do you know how to clean and cook safely what you killed? Do you know what plants in your area are edible? Do you know how to grow food plants? Can you split logs or build a shelter? Can you treat a cut or a fracture? Can you fix an engine or lay pipe? Do you know how to make water potable? Can you prepare foods for storage? Can you improvise tools? Can you sew or make shoes?

Think about it.

Cat

I've never made shoes, but I once saw my uncle make a pair of moccasins, so I'm sure I'd figure it out. The rest of it I'm good with, though.

 

[buxxxom]

Yeah, I (and my hubby) have all those bases covered. We can provide for ourselves, if needed. The problem comes in with facilities, not abilities. It would take some time of not thinking about turning on the stove to cook things, or going to the tap for water to clean with for it to become habit. In this case, with houses, newer isn't better. ( assuming we'd still have houses) Older houses, with wood stoves and wells with pump handles would be the most advantageous.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Yeah, I (and my hubby) have all those bases covered. We can provide for ourselves, if needed. The problem comes in with facilities, not abilities. It would take some time of not thinking about turning on the stove to cook things, or going to the tap for water to clean with for it to become habit. In this case, with houses, newer isn't better. ( assuming we'd still have houses) Older houses, with wood stoves and wells with pump handles would be the most advantageous.

In the case of my house, the water can be retrofitted with a hand-pump. Even though we are hooked up to the town water supply, we have a full well (almost an artesian) in our yard, and could easily get water if we had the equipment (we have a pump in our basement).

We could also fashion a fire pit if need be. That would be a little more work, but it could still be done.

 

[epiphany65]

I would be dead in the first month.

Depending on what type of disaster it was and how much society broke down, I might pray for death sooner than that.

 

[SeaCat]

It's funny that you'd think it's every man for himself in a situation like that. You mention "preying on others", so you must assume you're not the only person left alive.

How about then, instead of preying on others, we seek out others and cooperate with them?

I'm good at fishing, and I can prepare it and cook it without extra tools, make fire with sticks, and so on. That and pretty good knoledge of edible wild plants, mushrooms and so on. Give me some scrap wire, and some string, and I'll give you supper ten times over. Then you can help me out with other stuff. I'm helpless with wounds and fractures (I could probably cleam ny own cuts, but treat a fracture, nah). You have medical training. You take that role.

Man's a tribal animal. If our current tribes fall apart, we'll make new tribes.

No Liar,

It isn't funny but it does happen. More often than I would prefer to see. Just look at New Orleans. Look at New York or any other large city when the power goes out.

You are right in your one assumption. Some people are animals. Give them an oportunity and they will take it. Offer them help and they will rip you blind.

Note, I didn't say that all or even most of the people are like this but there are enough to make it problematic.

You have to remember that desperate people will resort to desperate measures and no amount of reasoning will turn them. (Here in West Palm Beach we went through two Hurricanes in a short period of time. We had barely had our power restored when the second hit. There were a large number of people who couldn't or wouldn't resupply after the first Hurricane. When the second hit they had nothing. Many of them went to the shelters or the distribution points and got their basic supplies. Others on the other hand preyed on those who had resupplied. They didn't share or even offer to share, they just took. Often from their neighbors. Their rational? They needed the supplies.)

There is no utopia where everyone is willing to work together. We do have to acknowledge that even as we wish it wasn't so.

Cat

 

[Liar]

You might have misunderstood me a bit.

True. There is no utopia where everyone is willing to work together. And niether did I say there was.

But people do what they need to to survive. Or they die.

In the short term, being an animal who rips people blind might work. In the long run, it doesn't. And they die. Or smarten up.

If I alienate myself from everyone else, I can feed and clothe myself. But if I'm injured, or face a threat bigger and stronger than me, I'm forced to cooperate with other people, or I'm dead. This is how communities are formed. It's human nature to form societies.

This is why we have communities. This is why gnus move in herds. It's the same thing.

 

[fieryjen]

As long as I'm with the fiance, I'll be OK. He's an engineer who loves reading SAS survival books and goes camping whenver possible. There aren't many chances to try out hunting and fishing and what have you in the UK, without tonnes of expensive licenses, but I think we'd cope.

He has a nuclear disaster plan. I'm serious. He's only told me bits of it, but it involves the camper van and a small tin mummified in sellotape (I know it contains a lure, a bone saw and some water purification tablets, but I didn;t see the rest before he made with the tape.

By myself, however, I would be fairly useless, except for the preparation of food.

x
V

Wait a minute...

Don't I recall seeing that one picture of you in a fluffy white dress and all?





On topic: I'm the same way, actually. Along with my boy scout husband, I'll be alright. I used to teach the first aid and emergency preparedness merit badges at camp, I retained quite a bit of information from that. The husband knows about most other important things.

 

[SeaCat]

You misunderstand me a little bit.

True. There is no utopia where everyone is willing to work together. And noether did I say there was.

But people do what they need to to survive. Or die.

In the short term, being an animal who rips people blind might work. In the long run, it doesn't. And they die. Or smarten up.

If I alienate myself from everyone else, I can feed and clothe myself. But if I'm injured, or face a threat bigger and stronger than me, I'm forced to cooperate with other people, or I'm dead. This is how communities are formed. it's human nature to form societies.

This is why we have communities. This is why gnus move in herds. It's the same thing.

Okay,

I think I understand what you are saying.

Yes we all need help at times and many hands does make any job easier.

Cat

 

[TE999]

An excellent novel that details how a small town in central Florida carries on after a nuclear war is "Alas, Babylon" by Pat Frank. I have a paperback from 1976, but there may have been other editions since then.

It's a mini survival manual.

I would survive.

 

[Tanuki]

What is laying pipe? That sounds sexy.