Why should I let you through the checkpoint?

Originally posted by jimekus
I am a banker with shiny black shoes and an elegant white hat. On every market day, your people walked around with chickens, eggs, hams, and ... I can make little rounds of leather so you can trade and bargain with the rounds instead of the unwieldy chickens. I can explain away all your problems as they arise, or I could procure another cowhide and make more currency, ...

I vote you in as the "whipping boy" that everybody can kick round and abuse to relieve tensions and frustration

reply to post by nenothtu

it's a thought experiment, with some rather interesting results. I for one have had to re-evaluate who I think is gonna live and who is gonna die just from the attitudes and knowledge base (or lack thereof) shown here. It has also driven home a few interesting revelations: for example, who knew there'd be so many folks to cook stuff, and so few to grow/hunt the stuff to be cooked? there are going to be a lot of unemployed chefs after the apocalypse, and a lot of skinny "survivors" - if they don't starve to death, that is.

Never underestimate the will to live ... there are a lot of people who may not "be prepared" to satisfaction at this point, but when it comes down to life and death, some are going to improvise, adapt and overcome PDQ. If this thread did nothing else, perhaps it gave some people some indication of what they have and what they lack in current skill-sets as well as what they may be interested in digging into further ... I also think it wise to bear in mind that there are probably some who were just playing along for fun and either didn't give away what they do know, or did write about things they knew were unrealistic, just for the helluva it. Gotta admit, parts of this thread did get really silly (was waiting for it to get moved to the Writing Forum) ... Lol.

Originally posted by yellowbeard

Originally posted by jimekus
I am a banker with shiny black shoes and an elegant white hat. On every market day, your people walked around with chickens, eggs, hams, and ... I can make little rounds of leather so you can trade and bargain with the rounds instead of the unwieldy chickens. I can explain away all your problems as they arise, or I could procure another cowhide and make more currency, ...

I vote you in as the "whipping boy" that everybody can kick round and abuse to relieve tensions and frustration

I wonder if the world needs the banker as a "whipping boy", in the way you describe, or, because it is obvious that lacking a sense of humour prevents one from appreciating my witless sarcasm, should I replace the word banker with jew for a more historical perspective?

ok..I'll probably get flamed for this answer...

but I'm not sure I want to survive in a "if SHTF " scenario.

life is a struggle for many as it is now...and I could only see it getting even crazier, and more violent if and when SHTF .

I for one won't be trying to get into any locked complexes..but I might consider throwing my self in front a bullet meant for one that really did want to..

reply to post by nenothtu


You saw? It's not motion, so that's good, but it's there. I don't know who got that photo, considering there were only 9 or so guys that got it... I thought.

Ok, so yeah... People ARE training. Sometimes at half speed and with semi autos, but consider this: Some folks train the ENTIRE Ranger handbook, even if they were one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children... Because one of their mentors was an INSTRUCTOR at Benning, so d*** if we don't ALL listen to him.

Consider if the targets were meat suits working a field, or coming out to inspect that proverbial van. This is a STANDARD Raid/Ambush doctrine. I only included the "mad minute" for effect, but this is civilian- a group of friends getting together to stay frosty. Semper Fi folks...

reply to post by gabby2011


Can I haz your stuff?

Originally posted by Thestargateisreal
reply to post by nenothtu

 

Sounds like a job for Casey Ryback to me. Any cooks good with knives?

I forgot to mention I'm a heck of a cook- Italian specialty, of course.

That's not what I was trained for, but I still practice cooking (as well)... Solving the whole "cook/guard duty" dilemna (non-issue).

Remember- the men from wars as early as the American Revolution were primarily farmers, and the wives kept house... All the way up to WWII I'd say, perhaps even Korea and Vietnam. Not so much today. It NEEDS to be understood that a man needs to work his turn in the field and on watch or patrol...

Originally posted by Thestargateisreal
reply to post by gabby2011

 

Can I haz your stuff?

Now can you understand why?

nope..sorry..you'll probably have to fight for it..like the rest of the pack..

I'd say you could have it, but I'm sure there will be others saying you can't..sorry

reply to post by 46ACE


In disaster situations, people naturally refer and assume roles that they do on a regular basis.

Those who lead tend to leave, if you have a bad scenario with a lot of sick and wounded, you tend to see the EMT, nurses and doctors jump in.

The mothers and teachers round up children and calm them down.

Now this may be obvious, but people naturally do this without discussion, no one raises a hand and says: I am a doctor, I will help heal people. A waiter usually doest start healing people and security gaurd may end up helping children.

THAT being said:

there are plenty of surprises. No one can predict how a person will function in a shtf or disaster scenario, until you are in one.
There have been soldiers and doctors that have curled up in fetal positions, and there have been waiters who ran in and saved people from a burning building.

It really comes down to genetics. People have certain chemicals that make them operate under stress.

And those people tend to choose the stress filled jobs: aka pilot or surgeon or Navy Seal.

They learn how to command a situation.

So all the desktop commandos here who think they can take a whole compound by themselves, can underestimate the capabilities of others. or have no idea how you truley would handle a life treatening scenario.

Big brave men have been brought to their knees and waiters run into burning buildings.

The only way to truley know the stuff your made of is to have faced it once before and know how you are going to act.

I am sure that later in the SHTF scenario that small trading posts will be set up. Small towns for selling and trading will go on, and everyone will be packin some sort of weapon, Just like in the old western days. Just go to the renasance and get a feel of old. The only difference is that you better know how to defend yourself and i hope your packin something when you go to trade at these places. Killers,thieves,thugs will be waiting at every corner to take what they need and don't stay after dark cause you risk being attacked by gangs. Whether you like it or not, even a survivalist needs things, so be aware and prepare and do not stay long. Watch to see if you followed and be prepared to escape such outbursts. People are pure killers when they are in need of water and food. A person is less apt to kill when they have water and food, because they think twice about the consequences of such actions. You are not alone, and just because you are a survivalist like me, don't think that there are people out there that are stupid. That will be a death sentence if you think that way, because ignorance is a flaw. Be aware and prepare. Never let your guard down, it will always be tested when you least exspect it. Just remember this advice. A good survivalist has the tools essentials to get by on thier own for vast periods of time. Even a survivalist needs tools of the trade. A survivalist will need new tools some time or other because nothing lasts forever. Sure, you can make primative tools, but that will not be sufficient enough. You need to improvise and make the best of what you got and or get new tools or tools to make yourself new tools. Think outside of the box, that way of thinking will get you out of alot of jams in the future and make you less reliable on others. They will rely on you and that is what you want, because that means you are an asset to them and they will defend.
Community living is based on ASSETS. What can you do for us. The more assets of peoples in the community, the better the survival rate, alone with power in numbers. Don't be fooled tho, communities act on the survival of the community. A whole. They take care of assets to the community. In a stable community, they will protect each other, because they all have assets of different skills that each one needs to survive as a whole. Just remember that, when you happen to wonder by a community. Don't think that you smarter than them, that is a flaw and will get you nowhere. Best to watch before you enter or just totally go around and avoid all together. People you do not know, could be the end of you or could be a savior. A watchful eye is best when dealing with people you do not know. If you know a savior kind of attitude person and are comfortable with that person, i would stick together in a pair. Saftey in numbers depending on what you can handle as people around you. I myself, might travel in a group of 10. More organized groups with 10 or more usually stay put and farm the land around them. This usually puts them in a fix when confronted by larger numbers of invaders, but gives them the advantage of home front territory. Knowelege is an asset, use it wisely as situations change on a daily basis and never keep a routine and always be aware of your surroundings.

reply to post by nixie_nox


The place that people learn to face things like that is called combat.

Originally posted by cloaked4u

Originally posted by TechniXcality
you should let me in, because i brush my daughters hair back, as she falls asleep gently to this song

Yeah, let him. Is that you in the pic? Special forces man.

yea, thats me. not special forces/ i was army ranger/infantry. army special forces is green berret, regular army is black and ranger is tan..

reply to post by nenothtu


You guessed correctly! I'm in East Tennessee right on the edge of the Cherokee National forest and I swear just about everything is edible hereOh and grumpas make awesome bait!!!!!

I would be happy to cook and forage for ya'all !!! There isnt much in the woods that scares me any more unless its a 4 inch centipede crawling up the inside of my pant leg. Or anything for that matter crawling up my pant leg..

So thanks for sharing your camp with me so I can take the load off my feet. This cast iron skillet has been getting heavy

Originally posted by JustAnotherSheep
I'm sorry, I almost forgot.....I can hit a 5 inch target at 300 yards with open sights with nothing more than an SKS. I own a .30-06 now with your basic 3x9 scope. Hitting the "F" in a 3 lb Folgers coffee can at 100 yds is too easy..

edit on 8-10-2011 by JustAnotherSheep because: (no reason given)

I think you and I need to be friends!! You kill it, I'll clean and cook it. Ive been looking for someone who can shoot the eye out of a turkey and you sound like the one to possibly get it done. So what do you say.. are you hungry???

Oh by the way.. I taught myself how to tan hides and am looking for a bear skin to curl up in this winter. It looks like its going to be a cold one judging by the size of the acorns this year and all you men are sniffing after the young beauties and the young lady with the jeep. So it looks like I will be sleeping alone and I hate being cold! I'm sure I have something in my BOB bag to trade.

Originally posted by Thestargateisreal
reply to post by nixie_nox

 

The place that people learn to face things like that is called combat.

edit on 9-10-2011 by Thestargateisreal because: (no reason given)

Also in natural disasters from blizzards to hurricanes to earthquakes.
Combat is not the only place that people are taken beyond the limits they thought they had.

reply to post by gabby2011


Not sure why you'd get flamed for it...if people were really honest they'd at least be thinking exactly the same thing...

Survival is one thing - for what is another...


While I may well be very at home in the bush as I am in a Boardroom...while I may well be pretty confident in whatever survival skills I have and the assortment of resources I have to survive with...I am also conscious that I'm a father, a husband, a son, a friend etc...

...IF my loved ones are, heaven forbid, taken...then what?

Will I turn into a survivalist Lone Wolf? Will I devote whatever last moments - however long they may be - in my life to killing and maiming as many of *them* as possible...or will I go say a few prayers for my loved and lost and quietly stick the barrel of my own rifle in my own mouth to go join 'em??


...really don't wanna find out either way to be perfectly honest...

Originally posted by Thestargateisreal
reply to post by undo

 

Oooooold guy alert!

Well THAT one would have to play me, then!

Originally posted by LadySkadi

Never underestimate the will to live ... there are a lot of people who may not "be prepared" to satisfaction at this point, but when it comes down to life and death, some are going to improvise, adapt and overcome PDQ. If this thread did nothing else, perhaps it gave some people some indication of what they have and what they lack in current skill-sets as well as what they may be interested in digging into further ... I also think it wise to bear in mind that there are probably some who were just playing along for fun and either didn't give away what they do know, or did write about things they knew were unrealistic, just for the helluva it. Gotta admit, parts of this thread did get really silly (was waiting for it to get moved to the Writing Forum) ... Lol.

I have doubts that anyone will ever be prepared to satisfaction. There's always one more gadget to get, and when you get that one, some smart ass has come out with another gadget you have to get... wash, rinse, repeat. I make a lot of my own gadgetry, and find that even doing that, I've always got just ONE more thing to make or tinker with. I dunno, maybe it's a guy thing. You know how we are with our gadgetry!

I'm working with atlatls lately. It seemed like a good idea at the time, simpler, easier, and quicker to make than bows, but if you don't get that dart just the right kind of bendy... well, they're easier to make not so much to use. Always something else to tinker with.

I'd say you're right, there are some who have come to the realization that a repertoire extension is in order, but I personally was already of the opinion that it's impossible to learn too much. Probably the more important revelation for some is what they need to expand into.

I'm really hoping that the predatory types were just playing, but have my doubts in some cases. I'm guessing that really IS the "plan" for some, and it's a cryin' shame. They'd have been much more use on the end of a hoe than pushing up daisies where they'll wind up. Can't get full on the daisies, and there's no doubt that's they end they'll eventually get to, most a lot sooner than others. That may be THEIR plan, but it fails to account for what other folks may have up their sleeve to upset those plans in favor of a "Raidin' Rambo, Valhalla here we come!" mindset. There really aren't as many folks as good at killing as they think they are. There ARE a few, but there will ALWAYS be one guy that's better, and one is all it takes to end that career.

That's why I'M not going to be a raider - I don't want to run into that one guy that's better on that day, and he's there... he's ALWAYS there, somewhere... for everyone.

ETA: I just found out the hard way that bananas can blow heartburn right out of the water. We got anyone whose skill set includes banana horticulture in a temperate climate?

Originally posted by jimekus

I wonder if the world needs the banker as a "whipping boy", in the way you describe, or, because it is obvious that lacking a sense of humour prevents one from appreciating my witless sarcasm, should I replace the word banker with jew for a more historical perspective?

Not to mention that the new, gentler, kinder sort of banker mentioned here, who makes coinage out of cow hides, will find that coinage a lot easier to eat than the old-style bankers, who insisted on gold coins!

reply to post by gamesmaster63


Anyone that lets a natural disaster rattle them, is a really weak person, imo. I've been in a few of them, and the only people that ever get killed are the ones that are not thinking. The exceptions being earthquakes and tornadoes, because those come very quickly without warning.