POLL Prepping for Uncertain Times – Are You Ready?

[Frankie]

I think no 2 is sufficient in most cases. Just block all traffic apart from OCT.

Block OCT as well to maximum 15 minutes per week.

Or rather ignore all the negative conspiracy theorists/doomers/preppers and read only people giving actionable advice (Sols and a few others).

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[daniels27]

Or rather ignore all the negative conspiracy theorists/doomers/preppers and read only people giving actionable advice (Sols and a few others).

Who are the few others?

 

[Steve3000]

Block OCT as well to maximum 15 minutes per week.

Or rather ignore all the negative conspiracy theorists/doomers/preppers and read only people giving actionable advice (Sols and a few others).

Picture added for illustration:
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I'm pretty sure that if the smelly stuff ever hits the fan, Dubai won't be so friendly to non-UAE people.

 

[cherry]

Block OCT as well to maximum 15 minutes per week.

Or rather ignore all the negative conspiracy theorists/doomers/preppers and read only people giving actionable advice (Sols and a few others).

Picture added for illustration:
View attachment 8711

Negative? It feels very positive having protective measures in place. Don't you wear a seatbelt? If you do, is that because you think there is a conspiracy to make you crash? Do you have a burglar alarm? Car alarm? What about those nuclear bunkers during the Cold War? Are they just crazy conspiracy theorists?

"You're a conspiracy theorist" is the new "you're racist", and it is just as stupid to let such labels control your behaviour.

Thinking about it practically, it is stupid to NOT have stocked a year's worth of food and supplies. There is nothing to be lost by having this safety feature. Watch the use by dates and dip into them accordingly, replenishing as you go along. No wastage, no loss, just security.

Learning First Aid is also a type of prepping. As is learning basic survival skills. The alternative is to rely on Mummy State to look after you, which apart from being naive, is not a good look for any adult.

 

[ImKing]

I’ve been prepping for years, but mostly because I find it a fun hobby to collect all sorts of things for a possible emergency.

I don’t actually think I’ll ever need it because if everything truly falls apart, you won’t need anything anymore.

 

[koohl]

I'm pretty sure that if the smelly stuff ever hits the fan, Dubai won't be so friendly to non-UAE people.

I'm absolutely sure you're right. If you want a fresh start and Europe is in flames, you’ll probably need to look to other parts of the world.

 

[AlicaFunk]

I have been prepping for months because of interest not fear.

 

[Steve3000]

Negative? It feels very positive having protective measures in place. Don't you wear a seatbelt? If you do, is that because you think there is a conspiracy to make you crash? Do you have a burglar alarm? Car alarm? What about those nuclear bunkers during the Cold War? Are they just crazy conspiracy theorists?

"You're a conspiracy theorist" is the new "you're racist", and it is just as stupid to let such labels control your behaviour.

Thinking about it practically, it is stupid to NOT have stocked a year's worth of food and supplies. There is nothing to be lost by having this safety feature. Watch the use by dates and dip into them accordingly, replenishing as you go along. No wastage, no loss, just security.

Learning First Aid is also a type of prepping. As is learning basic survival skills. The alternative is to rely on Mummy State to look after you, which apart from being naive, is not a good look for any adult.

I do something similar but in my case it started as a result of the chaos at the start of Covid when the TV showed people leaving the supermarkets empty. We keep about 1 month of food in our basement, lots of rice, pasta, lentils etc and cans of stuff with long expiry dates and I keep a list so I can replace as the dates get closer. It's important not to neglect the protein as this is what is usually in short supply, so plenty of tinned tuna, sardines, salmon. I did loads of first aid courses at work and we keep medical kits at home and plenty of aspirin, antibiotics, alcohol etc. Lots of water butts behind the house as well and spare gas tank for bbq. What I may get in the future is some solar panels and batteries, but they're so expensive!

 

[uplana]

A quick look at the statistics shows that most people don’t care and are happily just waiting to see what happens. In other words, many of the doomsday posts are being ignored, as we see here on OCT.

That’s not so bad after all.

 

[EliasIT]

A quick look at the statistics shows that most people don’t care and are happily just waiting to see what happens. In other words, many of the doomsday posts are being ignored, as we see here on OCT.

That’s not so bad after all.

agree, not many war fighters around.

 

[Steve3000]

agree, not many war fighters around.

But the definition of doomsday can vary a lot, as the posts have shown, let's say 0 -100%. At the lower end of the scale, a short war/natural disaster/ virus creates chaos but the authorities get things moving back to normal asap. At the other end, what's the point of stockpiling food, water, ammo etc if the level of radioactive dust will kill everyone in a few months? I'm more inclined to believe it will be the former. Good luck to those in bunkers with food for years, but how are they filtering their air and water?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Instead of prepping for an unlikely future doomsday that anyway carries a near certainty of death for everyone, better to focus on present wellbeing (physical and mental).
Neglecting the present for an uncertain future carries a high opportunity cost, and causes mental strain and paranoia.
True resilience comes from daily strength. You are far more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, brain function decline and lack of financial literacy than from a nuclear apocalypse.

In short: hit the gym, eat and rest well, read. Repeat every day.

 

[MarkusCostigan]

Instead of prepping for an unlikely future doomsday that anyway carries a near certainty of death for everyone, better to focus on present wellbeing (physical and mental).
Neglecting the present for an uncertain future carries a high opportunity cost, and causes mental strain and paranoia.
True resilience comes from daily strength. You are far more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, brain function decline and lack of financial literacy than from a nuclear apocalypse.

In short: hit the gym, eat and rest well, read. Repeat every day.

I think I'll start saving your posts and making a book out of them.

 

[JohnLocke]

In short: hit the gym, eat and rest well, read. Repeat every day.

Worth following, I've been doing it for the last 20 years.

 

[HardRJones]

When I was a younger man I used to have some interest in this kind of preparation. I still do, but my perspective has changed. There is big picture thinking and little picture thinking.

Is the entire world going to fall apart at once? It never has in recorded human history (might be some sample bias here). The closest to that ever happening is a pandemic. Even then, there are places to go that are better than others.

For a short term disruption that isn’t going to cause you to leave? Have what you need to carry you through. Some extra food, water, protection, and, most importantly, the resources to leave if needed. Even so, why ride out a hurricane on your Caribbean island? Go somewhere else and come back when the mess is cleaned up.

For a long term disruption? Why live like one of those African warlords running around in wedding dresses? Go somewhere unaffected and watch the animals kill each other on Sky News.

Big picture: Distribute your resources so that loss of one area doesn’t sink you. Get additional passports and residencies so you have unrestricted access to multiple areas. Understand languages and cultures so you can blend in. Use the functioning parts of civilization to aid you in escaping the nonfunctioning parts. Pay attention so you can accurately predict and avoid problems.

Little picture: Stockpile guns and used wedding dresses for your warlord army.

To echo another post, we will all die of cancer, heart attacks, or old age eventually. Dying of disorder and violence is not guaranteed or even likely in many cases. Maintain your fitness to keep your body healthy. The fitness will pay both in general health and the ability to deal with different situations. Learn languages and read widely to improve your skills and keep your mind sharp. The languages and knowledge will also help you move comfortably around the world and spot opportunities. Practice financial discipline and acumen so that you are not short of resources. Experience the culture of the areas you choose and know the people so you aren’t eventually old and weak in an alien place where everyone hates you. This will be an unpopular one, but work on a family so you have your own trusted people around you.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

work on a family so you have your own trusted people around you.

All good but blood ≠ trust.

 

[HardRJones]

All good but blood ≠ trust.

Choose wisely and “trust but verify” as is true in every aspect of life.