G.E. - Member - The Prepared

Discussions

Reply to: What’s the best prepping advice you have ever received? Posted October 14, 2020

Not an exact quote, more an amalgamtion of different statements on the same idea: “If you’re hoping disaster strikes so you can be the pepper hero, then you’re a jerk.” — One could use a stonger insult, but wanted to keep it classy. Prepping is a paradox, because everyone should hope all the gear acquired, skills practices, plans made, and food stockpiled goes unused. But there are people who, deep down, just a little bit, want to be able to say “I told you so” when the neighbors, who spent their extra money on cars/pools/vacations/clothes/whatever instead of prepparing, are stuggling during a disaster. They want to be the hero, helping neighbors to feed egos, not out of a spirit of charity and community. In the spirit of knowing one’s self, a preparedness-minded person should look out for this toxic, but seductive, mentality, which springs from insecurity and emotional fragility. It gets to the core of why one is preparing, and how one will behave when things get dodgy. It’s the best advice I’ve heard.

Reply to: Are you doing something extra to prepare for this winter, because of Covid or else? Posted September 19, 2020

I decided it was time to get organized about preparing this summer. I had dabbled in it, but with COVID, the economy, political tension, murder hornets, meth gators, seeds in the mail, etc…it was time to go pro. First, I signed up for The Prepared and started reading. Second, I worked the site into a conversation with my next door neighbors; I don’t think they are buying bulk rice yet, but they are unsettled by the near future. I’ve also topped off my rainy day savings account, renewed my CCW, upgraded my get-home bag, and got a flu shot. In the next few weeks I want to: have my car properly serviced, ensure I have 90 days of food, buy a grill as an alternate cooking plan, confirm the funcationality and zero on my firearms, and reconnect with a few people in my area who would be good in a crisis. Finally, I need to get a proper inventory of my preparations, camping gear, etc. There is surely more I will be doing, but that’s my short list.

Reply to: Social media and its place in your plan? Posted September 19, 2020

Consider employing “social media minimalism.” — I don’t know if that phrase is orignal or not, but it came to me this morning after my third coffee. Like living a rationally minimalist lifestyle with your stuff, do the same with your information 1. be deliberate about how you use it; 2. constantly reassess each platform/group/page for its utility and gleefully abandon that which is useless; 3. be vigilant to marketing manipulation For better and worse, government agencies increasingly incorporate (or rely on) social media to disseminate emergency information. In an unfolding emergency, it might provide valuable real-time information, in addition to radio and TV. Prior to the emergency, social media creates access points to information you may not have seen otherwise (I found “The Prepared” that way). Finally, social media might have a role in your communications plan in an emergency…”If I can’t text or call, but have the internet, look for a message from me on Instagram.” Or, consider the moral boost loved ones will get by seeing you post that you are alive and well after a major, unexpected event. Basically, make social media work for you, rather than the otherway around. It feels a little David and Goliath, but done effectively, the benefits outweigh the costs.

Reply to: Favorite Prepper YouTube channels? Posted September 12, 2020

YouTube can be a great resource, but it is awash in preperation noise. The economics of making a living with YouTube also push content creators towards gear sponsorships and/or “survivaltainment” vidoes. So your skepticism is well-founded. I use YouTube for two things. First, for general preparation ideas, always remembering that the content creater is operating in a specific context. For example, a former Navy Seal’s med kid probably has items I am not trained to use, and a rural-based primitive survival expert’s plan to start fire will differ significantly from mine. Second, I use YouTube for demonstrations of specific skills like applying a tourniquet or building a tinder bundle. But, I always look for multiple sources to see if these techniques are legitimate or just YouTuber silliness. Of course, actually practicing the skills is more important than watching 100 video demonstrations. In terms of recommendations, I find the following to be good sources that avoid foil-hatted craziness: the Gray Bearded Green Beret has a number of useful skills vidoes focused on first aid and wilderness survival; Survival Lilly also has interesting vidoes though she borders on the “survivaltainment” realm – I don’t plan to build a bug-out fort in the woods; finally, The Urban Prepper is a welcome balance to the overwhelming dominance of rural-based creators

Reply to: Ready for Our First Bug Out Posted September 9, 2020

Good luck to you and your family. Hope your preparation turns out to be a good practice, and you don’t actually have to run for it. I’d be very interested to hear your lessons learned if you’re so inclined. After the danger passes, of course.

Reply to: Not Sure What to Do Next Posted September 6, 2020

If you have your basline preperations established, consider working with your gear and supplies. Walk with your bags to see how they feel. Or, practice using the gear (ex. apply tournique one-handed). Eat some of your emergency rations to ensure they work with your digestive system. Also, consider refining your plans (ex. scout out different routes from work to home or develop/refine your bug-out criteria). As you work with your gear and planning, you will be able to fine-tune your preparations.

Reply to: What documents to carry in your go bags? Posted September 1, 2020

Good point. I lived north of NYC when Hurricane Sandy hit. When authorities let people return to their neighborhoods to pick through the rubble, they wanted proof of residency to prevent opportunisits looting destroyed homes.

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Reply to: What’s the best prepping advice you have ever received? Posted October 14, 2020

Not an exact quote, more an amalgamtion of different statements on the same idea: “If you’re hoping disaster strikes so you can be the pepper hero, then you’re a jerk.” — One could use a stonger insult, but wanted to keep it classy. Prepping is a paradox, because everyone should hope all the gear acquired, skills practices, plans made, and food stockpiled goes unused. But there are people who, deep down, just a little bit, want to be able to say “I told you so” when the neighbors, who spent their extra money on cars/pools/vacations/clothes/whatever instead of prepparing, are stuggling during a disaster. They want to be the hero, helping neighbors to feed egos, not out of a spirit of charity and community. In the spirit of knowing one’s self, a preparedness-minded person should look out for this toxic, but seductive, mentality, which springs from insecurity and emotional fragility. It gets to the core of why one is preparing, and how one will behave when things get dodgy. It’s the best advice I’ve heard.

Reply to: Are you doing something extra to prepare for this winter, because of Covid or else? Posted September 19, 2020

I decided it was time to get organized about preparing this summer. I had dabbled in it, but with COVID, the economy, political tension, murder hornets, meth gators, seeds in the mail, etc…it was time to go pro. First, I signed up for The Prepared and started reading. Second, I worked the site into a conversation with my next door neighbors; I don’t think they are buying bulk rice yet, but they are unsettled by the near future. I’ve also topped off my rainy day savings account, renewed my CCW, upgraded my get-home bag, and got a flu shot. In the next few weeks I want to: have my car properly serviced, ensure I have 90 days of food, buy a grill as an alternate cooking plan, confirm the funcationality and zero on my firearms, and reconnect with a few people in my area who would be good in a crisis. Finally, I need to get a proper inventory of my preparations, camping gear, etc. There is surely more I will be doing, but that’s my short list.

Reply to: Social media and its place in your plan? Posted September 19, 2020

Consider employing “social media minimalism.” — I don’t know if that phrase is orignal or not, but it came to me this morning after my third coffee. Like living a rationally minimalist lifestyle with your stuff, do the same with your information 1. be deliberate about how you use it; 2. constantly reassess each platform/group/page for its utility and gleefully abandon that which is useless; 3. be vigilant to marketing manipulation For better and worse, government agencies increasingly incorporate (or rely on) social media to disseminate emergency information. In an unfolding emergency, it might provide valuable real-time information, in addition to radio and TV. Prior to the emergency, social media creates access points to information you may not have seen otherwise (I found “The Prepared” that way). Finally, social media might have a role in your communications plan in an emergency…”If I can’t text or call, but have the internet, look for a message from me on Instagram.” Or, consider the moral boost loved ones will get by seeing you post that you are alive and well after a major, unexpected event. Basically, make social media work for you, rather than the otherway around. It feels a little David and Goliath, but done effectively, the benefits outweigh the costs.

Reply to: Favorite Prepper YouTube channels? Posted September 12, 2020

YouTube can be a great resource, but it is awash in preperation noise. The economics of making a living with YouTube also push content creators towards gear sponsorships and/or “survivaltainment” vidoes. So your skepticism is well-founded. I use YouTube for two things. First, for general preparation ideas, always remembering that the content creater is operating in a specific context. For example, a former Navy Seal’s med kid probably has items I am not trained to use, and a rural-based primitive survival expert’s plan to start fire will differ significantly from mine. Second, I use YouTube for demonstrations of specific skills like applying a tourniquet or building a tinder bundle. But, I always look for multiple sources to see if these techniques are legitimate or just YouTuber silliness. Of course, actually practicing the skills is more important than watching 100 video demonstrations. In terms of recommendations, I find the following to be good sources that avoid foil-hatted craziness: the Gray Bearded Green Beret has a number of useful skills vidoes focused on first aid and wilderness survival; Survival Lilly also has interesting vidoes though she borders on the “survivaltainment” realm – I don’t plan to build a bug-out fort in the woods; finally, The Urban Prepper is a welcome balance to the overwhelming dominance of rural-based creators

Reply to: Ready for Our First Bug Out Posted September 9, 2020

Good luck to you and your family. Hope your preparation turns out to be a good practice, and you don’t actually have to run for it. I’d be very interested to hear your lessons learned if you’re so inclined. After the danger passes, of course.

Reply to: Not Sure What to Do Next Posted September 6, 2020

If you have your basline preperations established, consider working with your gear and supplies. Walk with your bags to see how they feel. Or, practice using the gear (ex. apply tournique one-handed). Eat some of your emergency rations to ensure they work with your digestive system. Also, consider refining your plans (ex. scout out different routes from work to home or develop/refine your bug-out criteria). As you work with your gear and planning, you will be able to fine-tune your preparations.

Reply to: What documents to carry in your go bags? Posted September 1, 2020

Good point. I lived north of NYC when Hurricane Sandy hit. When authorities let people return to their neighborhoods to pick through the rubble, they wanted proof of residency to prevent opportunisits looting destroyed homes.