In a previous post I identified four broad groups of preppers; the “new preppers”, the “prepper homesteader, the “prepper survivalist” and the “armchair preppers “. As I stated no two preppers are the same, have the same motives or have the same ideologies but they are all preppers. Anyone who has taken that first step to store more food that is usually in the refrigerator, anyone who has put together a 72 hour emergency kit is a prepper. Some may be offended by these distinctions believing that they should not and cannot be pigeon holed. There is of course a complete spectrum but never the less broad distinctions that can be made. To discuss these differences in an adult manner leads to understanding.

There is however, another group of preppers that we don’t talk about much. I call these the “taker preppers”. Like all of us they realise there may come a time when society falters and cannot provide the necessities of life. Like us they have formulated a plan. However their plan is one that we think as abhorrent. Their plan is to take what they need to survive from others. Regardless of the consequences for the people they prey on they plan to take and keep on taking for as long as it takes. Many of the “taker preppers” have taken all the necessary steps and done all the preparation to enable them to initiate their plan should the need arise. They are out there some even frequent the forums. Don’t expect them to be upfront with their plans. For them you and getting to know you is a bonus. Once the soft targets have been consumed those that thought ahead to store food and other provisions, us preppers, then become the targets. When meeting fellow preppers whether on line or in person OPSEC should be your number one priority.

Talking about our similarities and differences in a respectful adult manner not only increases our understanding it also promotes dialog on the forum.

Expanding on what antsy wrote a few posts ago and venturing into a new thought...
So, if new preppers are drawn to this website to discuss ideas openly, then they need however long it takes them to bounce ideas around until they find the answers they seek. This site is nothing more than a huge database. A collection of ideas on hundreds of subjects. But does the data ever get crunched?
I mean, isn't it possible that at this point there should be an area on this forum or linked from this forum that is the result of all this data?
I'm thinking of a Richard Dawson "top five answers on the board" kind of area. What would be in this area is everything from soup to nuts and where to get such things. Then, when new members join and want to know what's the best bug out bag or knife, we've got an area set up showing such things. At this point, maybe we could have weekly polls of the membership which will assess the popularity of a given set of choices. The most popular choices would make it to the permanent list.
For the site owners, this new area can also provide a revenue stream if they so choose. They could offer advertising space in that area. This is something I actually like. When I'm reading about something cool, I like to jump to a web store that sells it and get more info, reviews, pricing, etc..
So, I guess I'm proposing a few things here. I hope my rambling makes some sense.

I think there are too many categories and sub forums. Just my .02 but the information is too spread out.

It would be a long process, but would provide excellent data.
For instance, poll results could show:
the top 5 bug-out bags,
the top 5 types of water purification systems
etc...
As the polls are done, more can be done.
Then, when new preppers join and have the same old questions, they can be directed to the poll results of hundreds of preppers.

After reading all the posts in this thread, my opinion is closest to Antsy's. Many important topics have been dealt with in fair detail and it's tedious for those knowledgeable folks to keep repeating information.

As for myself, I probably have more knowledge and skills than the average person on the street, but that's not saying much, so I don't have a great lot to contribute on most of the topics. "Better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt".

I might have some fringe stuff though... it's a rehash of what I got clobbered for posting before.

That is exactly why we started the Fringe Board. Here you can post what you like. Some may disagree with you but they will have to do politely. 😉

I think there may be a little more competition for the prepper community post than there was a year ago. I was recently made aware of another prepper space which was set up similarly to this one. I checked it out was was not too surprised to recognize many of the 'handles' of the members posting. Your question might be better phrased, "how do we get the existing activity back on this forum???" The creation of this fringe area was a healthy start. The new forums are doing the same. Then there is that FB looking site for preppers. It took me about five whole seconds to write that one off.

I don't really have an opinion for JAB's proposal regarding homestead oriented members vs. survivalist oriented members. I do think, however, that as this forum space matures and topics are discussed again and again, there is less need to address the same questions. Often a new thread is quietly shut down simply by one member posting a link to a previous thread dealing with the same content. How many times do we really have to define our take on SHTF, or whether to bug in vs. out?

If you really want new activity on the forum, I think it will have to be done with new membership. Further, if we are to provide a welcoming atmosphere for FNGs, the older and more established members are going to have to hold their tongues, and let the discussions happen ad-nausium. Really, most of us who have been here a year or more have had our say. We have had our opportunity to stake out our territory and make our positions known, perhaps that is why those same names are showing up on other forums?

Two bits.

In hind site, it seems to me that I sent a warning about the "nonsense" that Denob is dealing with today. I don't know if it's just the Alberta forum, but it looks like activity is up. Nothing like a little drama to get the tongues wagging.

I think there may be a little more competition for the prepper community post than there was a year ago. I was recently made aware of another prepper space which was set up similarly to this one. I checked it out was was not too surprised to recognize many of the 'handles' of the members posting. Your question might be better phrased, "how do we get the existing activity back on this forum???" The creation of this fringe area was a healthy start. The new forums are doing the same. Then there is that FB looking site for preppers. It took me about five whole seconds to write that one off.

I don't really have an opinion for JAB's proposal regarding homestead oriented members vs. survivalist oriented members. I do think, however, that as this forum space matures and topics are discussed again and again, there is less need to address the same questions. Often a new thread is quietly shut down simply by one member posting a link to a previous thread dealing with the same content. How many times do we really have to define our take on SHTF, or whether to bug in vs. out?

If you really want new activity on the forum, I think it will have to be done with new membership. Further, if we are to provide a welcoming atmosphere for FNGs, the older and more established members are going to have to hold their tongues, and let the discussions happen ad-nausium. Really, most of us who have been here a year or more have had our say. We have had our opportunity to stake out our territory and make our positions known, perhaps that is why those same names are showing up on other forums?

Two bits.

In hind site, it seems to me that I sent a warning about the "nonsense" that Denob is dealing with today. I don't know if it's just the Alberta forum, but it looks like activity is up. Nothing like a little drama to get the tongues wagging.

This did not fall on deaf ears!
As for activity being up, every time there is a major event such as in Alberta, the forum activity goes up as well as the blog activity.
We should take this opportunity to help any new members that come along, as events like this get people thinking and looking!

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Posting as an "old timer" sometimes I feel like I am left out in the cold too when things that inpost to try to start ideas going fail.

Naka I for one am grateful for your posts. Please don't slow down in your reading and answering. This time of year fewer people post - it's that garden thing 🙂

Thanks denob-"we should try to help new preppers"-.As a new member and I write that loosely,I feel that I have to pass an initiation to belong here.From the sounds of it ,most of the long time members have had the opportunity to converse with each other.Why should I have to feel like a kid looking into a candy store at a group of people enjoying the fare? There are no topics where a new member can get acquainted,just a couple of "welcomes" and then dead air.I've begun replying to newcomers because I know how that feels.I don't want to use the word cliquey but....So far,I've been called names,threatened,intimidated,suspended,ignored....I must thank the people who have posted informational material which I have learned a great deal from.I look at topics and see my name as the last poster on many.I ask myself why.Makes me want to stop posting.Isn't the question,Why aren't more people posting? I don't see many newcomers posting past their initial introduction.I don't see any oldtimers answering them either.The odd welcome from moderators.You want new team members,start playing like a team.If you read my introduction you will see that I have a BOL-10 years.I have enough stuff to feed a family for two years.Dozens of bic lighters.Probably 3000 plastic shopping bags and on and on.Yet I feel like a kid starting preschool.By reading the heading of this topic I see that you need newcomers more than we need you.GreenEnergy wrote a fantastic post under"general preparedness" about a town that died because it had no new ideas.Good luck

Naka,
I have looked at the moderator and admin logs back as far as the day you joined and could not find anything that indicated a suspension...Perhaps the board was experiencing issues at that time.
As for being called names, threatened, intimidated, this type of behavior is not tolerated here. Please feel free to report any post you feel is offensive in that way...

No one but the mods will know that you have done that, so please feel free to do it if you feel the need.
Yes, the mods try to welcome every new member that posts an introduction, but everyone should feel free and is encouraged to do so...the name of the game is community!

Hi, I think I can answer the question perhaps about the suspension, I believe? it had to do with the PM system, just to confirm that was nothing that you as a member had done, as to why the PM system had been down for a little while, that was a across the board no pm's for a little while..

I have to get back out and do a bit more on the farm but I do want to sit down and find the time to answer your concerns and comments, I was both interested in read what you have to say and slightly saddened at the same time as I have been reading your posts all over the board with great interest but rarely answered them unless I had something to contribute, by no means did that mean that I didn't find value in your posts, I did!

Back in a bit..

Ok, got a bit of time while the just cleaned out smaller horse trough fills with water to post..

So I touched on this, but will again, I have been enjoying reading your posts, that is the first thing you should know, that just because someone does not answer your posts does not mean that its not read by hundreds of eyes that are seeking knowledge, I know that it can be hard to put the info out there and not get feedback..

On the board there are hundred and hundreds of members that read, and read often but do not post, this could be for lot of reasons, and that is fine that folks choose to do that, but for those of us that do like to post, we tend to post a far amount and so sometime it either seems that we are talking among ourselves as we have been on the board longer (and yes depending on the folks, some of us all across Canada have in fact meet) but its just as often that we just feel like we know that peson a little better.

I assure you that I will tease someone I know more then I would someone who is new, Its a learning curve to be sure, but that does not mean that we don't welcome the new folks. some folks are very new to the net, and boards, and even if they did want to reply are still llearning how, also works are so tricky, we write it, and in our heads we mean it one way and its easily read half a dozen or more ways.

One other thing to keep in mind when writing, as long as that post is there, its possible that something writing six weeks, six months or even two years ago will get a reply from interested new folks and come back to life, I have seen it happen time and time again.

Summer is typically a slower time of the year due to the heavier work load in the gardens, holiday etc, typically we see a increase in posts in winter when folks have more time.. speaking of which, gotta run and check that hose..

FG

Naka,

Great point on welcoming new members. While it is seems like something left to admin/mods, no reason others can't pile on as well with a friendly hello, welcome aboard.

.