Where would you stand with friends and Wonder's if TSHTF

Here is a Story I read a few months back and it made me think if people with prepping mindset have mauled this over??
www.survivalblog.com...

This is a outlook that alot cant seem to face or come up with answers for.

reply to post by Patrioitinsheepclothing


Not insulting you in any way, as I appreciate the link and enjoyed the read.

Personal opinion?

There's a lot of Hollywood style plotting and fear mongering involved in this man's outlook.

He brings up a few valid points though.

Wow this guy just goes on and on doesn't he? I see his point though. I would be defensive if i had a shelter area designed to house my family and a bunch of others turned up.
But, when it comes to the defence of ones family then maybe people with survival areas like this need to be aware that people will come knocking, and not just friends. At least with friends you will have someone else to man the watches and hold a gun to defend the area. Otherwise you are all alone out there.

Anyone om here actually live in one of these places? Another consideration, if the SHTF quickly then how will someone out in the middle of nowhere know about it? The first they may know might be when a crowd of tooled up nutters come racing across the prairie. A dilemma.

An interesting article, and a good post, nice find.

However, when it comes down to reality, over 90% of the population wouldn't be able to survive without some form of assistance. Most people have lost the basic skills needed to be hunters and gatherers, unless there is a WalMart or Safeway close buy (preferably with a few empty parking spaces close to the door - we don't want to get wet if it rains).

Even during a prolonged electricity outage (happens most winters) people die because they're too stupid to go to the shelters provided by the city where there is heat and other necessities, or they simply cannot make it through a few snow clogged streets.

WTSHTF, many people will die in the first few weeks simply because people have lost all the basic survival skills needed in such a situation. Citizens of the Western World have become too complacent with their toys (pretty much all electricity based) and as such, the human race is more vulnerable right now than at any other time in the history of Planet Earth.

I actually had a friend of mine tell me that he wouldn't have a clue what to do if he (or a family member) was involved in even the most simple medical emergency. I suggested that he take St John's First Aid course, and his response was "oh, I'm too busy for a one week course 5 evenings a week to save my families lives". I asked him if he had ever thought that he could just dial 911 in an emergency. His response? Oh! I didn't think of that, what a good idea! I asked if he had a First Aid kit, his response "oh, $20 is way too much to pay for stuff I rarely need".

The sad part is, that he is representative of many people in an emergency situation who simply haven't got the first clue about how to provide help, and in many instances, how to ask for help.

WTSHTF, and emergency services are unavailable, people will NOT be able to help themselves as they won't even take the time to get basic life skills. They'd rather find out who's getting booted from "Dancing with the Stars" this week.

The truth hurts sometimes.
I would venture to say, if this blog was offensive, then you haven't really considered what life would actually be like if TSHTF. I think the opposite of what this man is saying would be the Hollywood version. Where that "one" family the movie focuses on, meets up with some kind philanthropist, who gives them a place to stay. They would of course have to work to earn their keep, which would probably consist of listening to the radio for updates, and keeping watch over the place while the man who took the family in is off "taking care of some official business."
In the end they would all end up just fine, and be one of the many families shown coming out of the rubble tired, but ready to start anew.
I don't wanna be a fear monger, but if something drastic is what you are expecting when and if TSHTF, you need to prepare as if there isn't anyone else alive to help you. Just sayin'.

It's something to think about...and keep in mind.

I always say prepare for the worst, but a situation like he is describing is going to be "more common" in a large city. I live out in the country with lots of land and 3 neighbors. If your coming on my land I'm going to see you coming a good ways off. Each area of the country is different. People in a city of California are going to experience things a bit different than out in the "sticks" of Wyoming. I feel sorry for people who live in a large city if something like this does happen. Think about it; no electricity, most don't own guns, little gas, no food stored up...that's a mess. If a Country wide situation ever happened, I'd have to say 60% (if not more) are going to die. Either through gang violence, mobs of hungry and desperate people, survival of the fittest, etc. Not a particular warm and fuzzy place to be in. That's why it's important to plan, prepare, and have some type of strategy in place. You just never know in the world we live in. Even if nothing ever happens, at least you have some preparation on hand.

There is quite a bit to consider in this persons rant. Understandably they are going to be defensive of their supplies and nest in the woods however there is A LOT of selfishness in this person and I doubt even with the most resources that they will survive. A survival situation calls for a small group of people working in unison. Anything less than that is foolish and very lone wolf'ish. Think about how tribal Indians survived. Sure the band of roving lunatics will show up from time to time but that is why you also have numbers and a perimeter set up. The author does have one thing right though that certain self sustainability will be required and you can't show up thinking you're going to live in the lap of luxury without any effort whatsoever. I beg to differ on the water, food, storage, shelter sharing thing however. I think that if everyone pulls their weight and has specific tasks then it can be a successful survival situation. The fact that the author and his wife are grumpy old codgers would make me NOT want to go there for survivability unless I was expecting them to already have been dead by the time I arrive and I can take over their land etc.

reply to post by 3finjo


Yes Im part of a group that has a place in a small town at semi remote setting, off the grid when needed, as well as a 2nd smaller place some miles away. It makes for one hell of a Man Camp in the mean time
If your a loner, then your going to have one hell of a hard time except if it comes to stealth or gunning & running in my opinion.
Once the looters and gangs show up, hopefully your toys will be bigger and badder as well as your tactics, I dont plan on letting them come and hunt me though even the ones that have the pertty blue uniforms!

I absolutely agree it would be one giant struggle to "go it alone", and having a group of people to share the responsibility would increase survival odds tremendously. However, I believe everyone in the group should be prepared as if they were going it alone. Just in case. One never really knows how it would all pan out. Could be, the guy in charge of ammunition get's the creeps and heads out taking all his stuff with him, then what? If no one else was prepared, and all of a sudden he wasn't there, then what would they do if they had only prepared as if he would never be gone?

reply to post by Patrioitinsheepclothing


i have no friend or family. if tshtf

A theme that keeps popping up in TSHF threads got me and mine a bit worried. I see a lot of city folk claiming they are gonna flee to the country, and if they have to come pillaging. Well we are country folks, when I hear people claiming they would come and raid places, because they feel their survival and families are more important. That will probably make my trigger finger a bit more itchy if TSHF, and I am sure I am not the only one. People will see my garden as a big bullseye, and will probably want all my supplies I have been putting together in my basement.

reply to post by onequestion


YOU ALWAYS HAVE FRIENDS!!!!! Look around you, search out others with like mindsets, for gods sake man, use this keyboard for more then news and porn j/k It took me awhile to find my group of resorces, Ive been into every #hole pawnshop to Military Surplus to find people who like minded. I didnt have much luck when I went looking at groups already formed. They seemed to have a issue with me not being in the modern form of orginized religion.
You never know who you might find to friend up with, it maybe the guy you buy a car from or someone who bags your groceries at the store.
I agree with the poster about the inner city people having the worst of it, once they all come to grips with whats goin on when the two cases of bottle water and case of top roman run out.

Standing against a take over of personal freedoms is only part of our fight if theres social colaps, it will be the lot of us who will restore social value, morals, and standards with those who have taken it upon themselves to rape society at its weakest moment.

Reports show that during a graduation class at 29 Palms a test was given, and one question on the test asked if given the order would they shoot upon AMerican Ciavilians......... if I remember right, 26.2 % said yes. Thats scary in my book, but I know we still have enough Old Dogs in the Forces to not make it a total wash if it came to Gov'mnt take over.

Between myself and my friends we have four wheel drives,motorbikes,jetskis,canoes any piece of camping equipment you can think of and access to respectable weoponry such as chinese sks and ak47-I think we'll muddle through.

Sounds like you guys could use some work on your food supply, or do you have that handled as well??

Travel light,freeze at night.

Light,fast ,quiet and ALONE,or with one other person who can keep pace,is the only way.

If we were meant to live like most of us do today,our species would have been extinct long ago.

Y'all are so dependent.

Friends are supremely dangerous.

They tend to talk too much about their other friends,and prove themselves to be no more than acquaintances.

Be very careful,even in times like these.

Everyone's desperation is beginning to show these days.

I see it here every single day.

Oh yeah,motor vehicles make too much noise.

Try to find old maps of your local National, State & Federal Parks, look for old logging & mining, fire and utility trails.
Your right about trusting friends and "FAMILY", thats why I say you have to be "like" minded, some may turn on you, and trust is a big issue. Hash "Everything" you can think of out, see where you stand and go from there.
Rely on your gut feeling, it will get you far, if you wait to long to bug out then your going to get stopped by a road block unless your cutting through back roads & trails.
If your staying put, then get something quiet to move around with if you got issues with useing the Nike Express, a Mt. Bike may be your newest 4x4.
Make sure you check your routs for river crossings, bridges, flood area's, try and figure out ways around them if they cant be accessed.
If you have a GPS and nothing to do for a night or day, go GEO CACHING and see how those skills of your are.

I believe a small group of like minded people in this situation is better than being alone. If society falls apart and people start looting you cannot safely defend what you will need to survive alone. If for nothing else a few friends taking turns as guard will give you much needed rest. Fatigue of being alone and having to do everything for yourself will catch up to you eventually. Sure it won't be as complicated alone you will be in charge of all decisions but think about this, how hard is it to make rational decisions when you are tired all the time. If you choose to be alone it would be wise to have a good dog with you for security.

It will be essential to have at least one person in the group with some medical training. It will be important to bring some skills and supplies to the group. When I watch the show Survivor it don't take long to remind me it's a game. A mag (mutual aid group) wouldn't allow loafers to remain with them long. Choosing who will be in your mag will have to be big decision because your life will probably depend on it.

For some reason this whole thread reminds me of that film 'Escape from Absalom'. If thats what reality will be like after TSHTF then it doesn't look much fun. I agree that being in a group of like-minded individuals would increase the chances of survival by many times over. Also, training in the use of the good old bow and arrow wouldn't go amiss. Bullets will eventually run out, arrows can be made and recycled. I am talking about hunting animals here folks, not people.

I don't actually think society will go down that road...but I am trained and prepared for it JIC

Why is the blogger telling so many people, (read: anyone) about his preperations? If he gets people showing up at his door he'd better think twice about not letting them in. If all the people he blabbed to decide to band together and just take what they want he may be SOL.