I would really like to hear your opinions about this because it has been really bugging me since yesterday.
A long time friend who we don't see often came out for a visit yesterday, right when we were in the middle of doing some updates and checks on all our emergency supplies and equipment. He pretty much thinks we are over the top and a bit crazy for what we do in case of an emergency, disaster, or other event, and said he was a bit concerned at our approach to it and doesn't believe anything will happen that warrants our amount of prepping. We have briefly discussed prepping with him in the past, but he wasn't that interested. He is a single guy with no young family, partner, or pets to consider.
I didn't want to get into a major discussion about it with him because most people want to continue thinking that the world is all good and nothing will ever happen to them, or that they don't need to be even slightly prepared for unforeseeable life changing events or forced changes to the way we live in the future. After the substantial Earthquake we felt here on Saturday morning, it was a slightly nervous reminder that it can happen anytime without warning. The quake gave us a good shake and prompted us to put into effect our emergency plans and what we have learnt so far.
We have a good supply of food and supplies for ourselves and our animals if things turned bad after a disaster or other event, and we could depend on ourselves instead of relying on others, government, or emergency services to come to our aid. We also keep an eye on things happening around the world including possible economy collapse that would affect everything globally, & a number of other possible events. We aren't obsessed with prepping or focus on it all day long, it's just peace of mind knowing it is there if we need it, and meantime life goes on as normal everyday for us. It's just our "insurance policy".
Well, after some discussion our friend he said that IF anything did turn to s**t he would come here, obviously thinking that we have all the food supplies etc and will share with him, and he won't need to contribute. We have spent over 2 years working on preparing and gathering supplies to get us through, and worked hard at planning things. I said to him that he would be welcome to come here but he would need to contribute as much as possible if that situation arose so we could all survive together for an extended period of time if need be. There was a somewhat awkward silence after that 😳
I feel I have a moral obligation to assist a friend and human being, if they are willing to help themselves and contribute in some way toward it as well. So, am I wrong and selfish to be this way with a staunch "non-prepper" who chooses not to be responsible for themselves, instead only wanting to rely on others who have prepped?
Your "friend" is typical of many in modern society. A sense of entitlement and always making sure their "rights" are met.... but leaving out the most important part... In return for your rights you have also responsibility. I would be having a very frank discussion with your friend as to expectations.What will he be bringing to the table? IF he isn't bringing anything what is he prepared to pay you NOW to cover the cost of what he will use and to allow you to increase what you have on hand. Basically he wants an insurance policy without having to pay any premiums. To answer your question... and it has been discussed here before... offer a measure of charity, send him on his way and wish him luck.
JAB
I heard the same statement from someone not that long ago. My answer was a very firm NO you would not be welcome. It was the attitude that bugged me. There are others that are non-preppers that I would help. Anyone who thinks they can get any rewards without the effort is out of luck around my place and it does not have to be a SHTF case. I don't like free loaders.
Hey. One of the first things we learn as preppers is the "Life boat" analogy. Unfortunatly some people use this reasoning to be.....selfish dicks.
Its a balencing act. I prep for several unprepaired people. They just wont much like eating 2 square meals of pumpkin soup, wormy sour apples and animal grade wheat and corn. More mouths to feed, more hand to work. One of my freinds thats not a prepper...but gets it and is more preppared than most because of experience...made the mistake of giving me the "if the shtf, Im comming....." comment. Poor man. I was prepared. I recently found this blog. First off, I dont agree with the writer, think he is a duche, and I take personal responsibility for those under my care.... But his points are valid and in a nice, neet blog that I can send to anyone that makes the mistake of giving me the " Ill just come to..." speech.
http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/10/welcome_to_the_promised_land_b.html
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
OOPS. My comment were not base on Just a Bear or Old school. They just snuck in wile typing. Its one of the accidental problems with this style of communication. Im not commenting on the comments above. All the best to all the regs
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
LMAO.... no worries... and hey.. whats wrong with pumpkin soup?
That is an excellent link Cernunnos5. It is well worth a read by all preppers and especially all want to be preppers. Contained in the piece is the statement " To survive, you need a balance of skills, resources, preparation and experience". Truer words have never been said. That is one reason why prepping is always ongoing and never reaches a conclusion. I am sure that many of us on this site are well prepared enough to survive a short lived SHTF event in relative comfort. However I do not know how many would be mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared if it was a it turned out to be a major SHTF event that lasted for many months and became really "nasty". Although in the past I did not start out with the beliefs that are stated in the article now I believe that this is the only way to approach the situation.
Thanks. A good friend I sent this to quoted the exact same line. The one that hit me was....debri hut...and 60mph wind. Food storage without pre planning.....a house...is a real problem
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
I'm the only prepper of my 4 siblings, and @55 I'm the youngest. I'm the crazy doomsayer uncle. So what are my obligations to them?
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
You plant the seed of preparedness . If it germinates that's great. If it doesn't but you have the resources to help them that's fine. If you do not have the resources to help them then that will have to be ok because that is reality. In other words you do what you can
This is a common predicament indeed. I don't feel you are wrong in being upset with his conclusions, why shouldn't you be? What are you, the government? It's now your job (as the ant) to take care of the grasshopper while he partied away the summer? No.
However there is that nagging feeling of leaving someone out in the cold while you sit warm by the fire. Of course as a human being you care about their welfare, but are they concerned enough to care about their own welfare? I wonder.
Perhaps you should mention that there is a membership fee to join your hospitality since these things all did not come free, or make sure to save plenty of work for those who arrive with nothing. There certainly will be plenty of that around for the hands willing to work for their keep. If he is not willing to help out as indicated by his silence, then you should mention that he is not welcome. Your home is not the new welfare office and if that's what he wants, he should seek it elsewhere.
If your home library contains more volumes about survival-related topics than your local public library, you might be a prepper.
In the beginning...(love that line)... humans were just another animal. We are pack animals... became tribes, then villages, to regions then countries. We never lost the tribal mentality. If you belong you are one of us, to be cared for, accepted so long as you follow the rules. In rare cases an outsider may be adopted/accepted. Anyone else was chased away or killed. It was the way of survival and managing limited resources. Put simply you looked after your own first and THAT was the moral equation.
In the past 100 years or so the powers that be have been teaching society a different morality. One that simply says that we are all responsible for everyone else... EVEN TO OUR OWN DETRIMENT! TPTB have taken it upon themselves to teach the masses that it is even wrong and morally deficient to have more at the expense of those beneath you. They enforce it through the welfare state. Guilt has been brought into the thought process. You see it everywhere. Of course I "feel" for the oppressed and disadvantaged but is it truly my problem? If you personally want to assume that mantle do so. The reality is that as a society we can only save so many. The effort to save everyone is a large part of what is dragging us down. It can't be done. Reality is that there will ALWAYS be different levels of society with differnt levels of advantages.
As preppers we are our own "society" in that we have a similar mindset. Maybe not on all levels but at base we have and act on the premise that we have a responsibility for OURSELVES and those close to us. If at all possible we will band together at some level if there is an event. I believe we WILL offer charity to a degree we are able. We will not provide or take responsibility for others to the risk of us and ours.
JAB
I have discussed basic 72 hr kits with friends, bringing up Sandy hurricane as an example, they all think it's stupid and someone will help them if they're in need, I sent them helpful hints and links to no avail.
If there is a disaster, I lock my doors and care for only MY OWN FAMILY, that's my moral obligation.
if my “friend” found me and my wife on our acreage and brought with him and his family worthwhile goods and/or a skill and they all are prepared to work I would probably allot an acre or so for them. Otherwise I am afraid I would give him some “milk of human kindness” in the form of some food stuffs and then send him and his on their way.
I am not adverse to sharing land and knowledge but I will not see me and mine starve so that others who had a sense of entitlement could prosper.
Noli Illigitimi Carborundum
(Don’t let the bastards wear you down)
This is a common predicament indeed. I don't feel you are wrong in being upset with his conclusions, why shouldn't you be? What are you, the government? It's now your job (as the ant) to take care of the grasshopper while he partied away the summer? No.
However there is that nagging feeling of leaving someone out in the cold while you sit warm by the fire. Of course as a human being you care about their welfare, but are they concerned enough to care about their own welfare? I wonder.....
Thank you all so much for your valued input everyone, please keep it coming 🙂
Faraday, this is exactly what thoughts have been going through my mind on more than one occasion. At THIS point in time I cannot honestly say with hand on heart that I could turn away a long time friend begging at my door for shelter and food. I wonder how many truly could do so with a clear conscience ? Would the human conscience even be of moral importance in a dire SHTF situation? But then I had dreadful visions of him turning up with one or more other people who we don't even know...that would be a very bad situation because others then would know what we have, where we are, and things could get really nasty. Perhaps that person you thought you knew so well would change completely when denied the basics to survive and turn on you? I realise that it will depend entirely on the circumstances at that time and would have to be assessed quickly and cleanly.
Having read all your posts so far, I think you all make very valid points. This has been very thought provoking and offers valuable mental and emotional prepping as well.