What would your perfect survival website contain?

I have noticed that there is a lot of variety out there on the internet regarding survival. The subject ranges from the urban people who want to test themselves to the hardened war vet that is preparing for the fall of society. Most of the info seems to be scattered across youtube and buried in websites like scribd though.

So I was wondering, if you were to look for a survival website, what would you want to see on it? Tutorials, practical info, first hand experiences?

Inquiring minds would like to know....

reply to post by Karlhungis


Tutorials how to do stuff, not only in text but accompanied by detailed videos
so people can follow along easily

as well as detailed photos
the photos are useful for things like identifying useful plants

oh and also offer pages to be downloaded as PDF or something

I like to laminate everything



[edit on 31-7-2009 by warrenb]

reply to post by Karlhungis


Can you elaborate a little more?
As in surviving what?
A walk through Bed Sty?
An Atomic explosion?
An attack by a Lion?


[edit on 31-7-2009 by Donny 4 million]

reply to post by warrenb


Thanks Warren. I agree on the video tutorial section. Good idea on the pdf download area as well. I am curious about the logistics of gathering info though, legally. It would be easy if it were all original content, but there is already a bevy of good info out there.

reply to post by Donny 4 million


I am asking you. If you were looking for information on your own definition of "survival" what would you want a website to contain?

reply to post by Karlhungis


I collect old books on survival topics, most of them have copyrights that have expired as they are mostly pre-1960's some as early as 1830's. Variety of topics metal smithing, trapping/hunting/fishing, skinning game, making clothes, natural remedies, plant identification, shelter building etc...

you can pick them up fairly cheap on ebay or used book shops

I scan the useful stuff, crop/fix it up on the PC then print and laminate. Then it goes into the waterproof readiness box near the front door.

reply to post by warrenb


Stupid question here, but how can you be sure that copyright laws no longer apply to something? Seems like there is always a loophole out there to ensure that everything is off limits for eternity.

Distinguish between different regions.

One main page could begin with the A,B,C's of survival,
the type of information and techniques that are similar no matter where your location.

Example: Medical technique- How to stop blood loss, clean and disinfect cuts and abrasions, dysentry.
Info on all of these will be needed no matter where one is located.

However, info on treating venomous bites, frostbite, etc. would be more regional.

Maybe by climate zone and/or different land biomes.
Desert, Forest, Grassland, and Tundra are the four major classes of land biomes, survival in each will be vastly different.

Where I am, in Wisconsin, finding water is relatively easy.
Not so in certain parts of New Mexico or Nevada.

It could go on and on.
I suspect many people would flock to a website that offered info tailored to their necessities

reply to post by Karlhungis


Since food is essential; I'd like to see something like the Food Channel...

Like, Rachel Ray cooking with just the basics in the forest with a Rocket Stove...

"30 Minute Survival Meals with Rachel Ray"

Kidding but serious too. Some cooking with minimal basic food stuffs; perhaps with fish or game and home made ingredients etc.

Rocket Stove or using maybe two or three to create a great meal for a family.

reply to post by Karlhungis


good question, this might answer it
onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu...


In the United States, the following rules apply:

• Anything copyrighted prior to 1923 is in the public domain. (Practically speaking, this includes anything published prior to 1923, since publication without copyright put the work straight into the public domain. But note this possible exception in some western states for some 1909-1922 foreign works that were not published in the US before 1923.) Due to a 20-year copyright extension enacted in the US in 1998, copyrights from 1923 or later that are still in force will stay in effect through 2018 or longer.
  
• Certain works copyrighted in 1923 or later may already have entered the public domain. In particular, works published in the US before 1989 without proper copyright notice, and works published in the US before 1964 whose copyrights were not renewed, may have entered the public domain. However, works from 1923 or later that were originally published in countries outside the US may still be copyrighted regardless of whether they were printed with proper notice or renewed. To research whether a book's copyright has been renewed, or needed to be renewed, see this article.
  
• Works never published prior to 2003 (and never registered for copyright prior to 1978) are now in the public domain in the US if they are by authors who died more than 70 years before the most recent New Year's day. (For 2009, this means authors who died before 1939.) Although this new rule does not put any previously published material into the public domain, it may allow some long-lost manuscripts and collections of letters to be published online as "new" online books.
  

[edit on 31-7-2009 by warrenb]

Good post.


First, I'd like to see lists of what a person should have in case of an emergency. What should you have in your home, car, etc

Second, Most likely emergency by geographic area. Hurricane, earthquake etc.

Third, once again, perhaps by area code, lists of emergency phone numbers and addresses with maps of how to get there.

Most emergencies are not end of the world issues but rather natural occurrences.

After that, I'd like to see discussions for people who really want to be prepared in case they need to suddenly live a self sufficient lifestyle.

Should you purchase rural property?
How to grow a garden?
How to build an energy efficient house?
How to raise chickens/cattle/other livestock?

In choosing a location for a "retreat" what natural features would be an aid in being self sufficient?

How far do you have to be from a "city" to be far enough away to be safe?

I think that I might have to start a website.

Great post.

I'd like to see reasoned analysis of the various situations X, or at least constantly updated links to sites that specialise in disaster conditions. For example, the bird flu tracker site does a good job of keeping people up to date, but there are very few sites that present intelligence analyses of situations. Heaps of raw data - yes, and heaps of paranoia - absolutely! Alas, there are none that I've found that have smart people providing timely and accurate intelligence distillations on survival matters.

So - if you are about to establish a new survival website - bung in a threat assessment centre with reasoned analysis and no hysteria, and I'll sign up. If the site is really good, I'll even pay up!
Good luck.

Well, I already have the perfect book.

It's right here.

I'm sure it will come in handy pretty soon with this whole vaccination thing .

~Keeper

reply to post by Wildbob77


Thanks for all of the good input guys.

Should you purchase rural property?
How to grow a garden? How to build an energy efficient house?
How to raise chickens/cattle/other livestock?

Do you think this type of thing appeals to most "survivalists"? I was originally thinking about the same thing but then I came to the conclusion that sustainability is almost a separate topic that would necessitate its own website. Seems like a different community would be drawn to that subject, which would cover the subjects you listed as well as solar power / water catchment and all things "off the grid".

If you couldn't tell, I am working on trying to put a site together myself, so don't go stealin' my thunder Bob....

An excellent question, Karl. I want to see a survivalist website that emphasizes minimalism. Practices and ways that a person can improve their lives via saving money, increasing self-sufficiency, tending toward long-term ways of life. Much of the "Sitx" oriented sites, to me, are geared around......... gear -- stuff you'd carry. while I keep two BOBs and think that's a good thing, they're too short-term oriented to sustain a lifechange.

Keep in mind, (or I try to, anyway) whatever we are preparing for, it might "arrive' very gradually, as a culminiation of several socieital and natural variables. Or, it could be tonight. So it seems to me the new paradigm might be to tend toward a phased approach to survivalism, beginning with things you can do NOW. Things like stocking up foods that you eat. No brainer, as I've said too many times. Once you create a system of rotation and use, the worst case is that you save money. Coupla cans a week, bags of rice, it's a good start.

I'd also like the site to sell or at least link to places where items the site dicusses are for sale, such as....... I don't know....... canning supplies........knives are a gimme......... open-pollinated seeds..... heavy-quality hand tools, etc.

Maybe a member's section where people do their own tutorials about how do do various tasks. How many people could go outside with a sharp knife and make a working atlatyl or bow? How cool would that be to have a homemade atlatyl and shaft hanging on your wall?

[edit on 31/7/09 by argentus]

Great thread.

First off i'd like to see tutorials and videos on the basics, shelter building (from quick debris shelters to long term cabin type dwellings), water and food treatment and processing and first aid.

First aid for me is quite a biggy, as if you can't do this, even the most simple of tasks can be impossible. Would be a shame to die from infection after all your planning.

I'd go along with all the other suggestions already said.

For me, preparing meat is a big one. I love meat, and know it would be a great source of protien and a moral booster. It's great being able to kill a deer or whatever, but you need to be able to process it.

So video's on butchery would be cool.

CX.

Would love to see info on how to build various items needed after TSHTF. Also, maybe a section on alternate uses for items. The idea of a downloadable section is a good one. Let us know when you get your site up and running!! Am looking forward to seeing it!!

Here's what I've accumulated (so far) & should be considered as information and purchasing links on a site (IMHO):

1. complete edible plant book with illustrations
2. Water purifier (Berkey system and portable tablets)
3. 2 survival books (SAS by Lofty [pocket-sized] & one military issue)
4. Survival knife
5. Magnesium fire starter (water proof/wind proof/1500 degree + spark)
6. ebooks printed on: How to gut and clean fish (and what generally are edible and what are poisonous) & how to catch, gut, clean, and cook wild game
7. Fishing kit (simple version - fits in the handle of the above knife)
8. Local "Green" maps (local terrain maps including water sources, mountains, trails, etc.)
9. 25 high-energy / high calorie survival bars (to be used only when movement is necessary)
10. 2 solar powered & hand-crank flashlights
11. Emergency solar-powered and hand-crank radio (also runs on batteries)
12. Camping stove and a few pots and pans packed in backpack
13. 4 emergency blankets (each is the size of a credit card)
14. 250 feet of durable rope
15. one tent
16. Heirloom seeds that stay usable for up to 10 years (cost about $50 - includes grain, vegetables, beans)
17. Manual oil press
18. First Aide kit with surgical equipment (scalpels)

It's still a work in progress.

Edit to add: I've been telling my family members to stock-up on prescription meds by refilling their prescriptions one week in advance (this seems to be the shortest time period allowed for early refill). This has allowed us to accumulate more than a 6-month supply so far. Prescription meds are going to be a problem.

[edit on 1-8-2009 by lpowell0627]

[edit on 1-8-2009 by lpowell0627]

[edit on 1-8-2009 by lpowell0627]

Originally posted by Karlhungis
there is already a bevy of good info out there.

You are correct there is a lot of good information out there, but there is also a ton of bad down right dangerous information out there. So My advise to people is to pick a community you can trust not a web site. Humans are in our own way pack animals and we do better in a community. I can think of 4 right off the top of my head that meet that criteria and hold a vast amount of information. They are listed below with my PERSONAL opinions on them.

1: Survival Times
Cowboy and Cowgirl are the proprietors there they have taken a great deal of time to put the site together. I think its a great community. It is a little more on the hard core side when it comes to views such as religion and politics witch the members are not afraid to talk about as long as it relates to Survival

2: Simple Survival
To be fare This is not a independent review because this is my site. So I will tell you what I as the owner like about it take it for what its worth. Simple Survival as a web site host survival related ebooks as well as a few other features for browsers. Ware we really shine In my opinion is our forum. We have a more Family oriented forums with very strict rules to keep it that way. We are a Survival Only discussion board. in other words No Politics No Religion and No conspiracy. We also have a ton of Ebooks hosted in the forums for forum members only. Well there ya go I wont go into more detail because this is not an advertisement.

3: ATS survival forums
That right good old ATS. While they don't host survival ebooks or any thing they do have members who are not afraid to tell you ware to get the best ebooks. ATS survival forums has some of the sharpest and brightest survival minds on the net. Word of warning many trolls will try to derail the discussion with non survival related topics. if you can look past that ATS is a great place to learn.

4: The Survival Podcast
I listen religiously to the Survival podcast. It is hosted by Jack Spirko. The main thing I love about it is Jack is not afraid of some one telling him he is wrong as long as you can back it up. in fact he encourages you to disagree with him. his forums is huge but word of warning. it is so big that it is hard to find your place in it. Once you do thow the members are very supportive and fierecly loyal.

Well there ya go 4 very different places to choose from. if your just looking for survival information with out the community a good place is Simple Survival net No I am not affiliated with them at all, I just enjoy there site.

Well that's my opinion take it or leave it.

The vast majority of people are definitely geared towards short term survival - how to survive max for a month. That's what most survival kits are geared towards.. 3 days to a month..

A great survival website would be better off with guides on what to do once that month is over.. If you can't return to your life, how to you keep on going in your new life. What things would be absolutely crucial for future survival?, eg, tools, seeds.. that kind of thing.. how to use those to build yourself a new life.