Preppers

[Rebel Pirate]

Given the 20/20 hindsight available through the lens of this pandemic, I’m wondering if any posters who have said incorrect, unkind and judgmental things about preppers in past threads would like to apologize now to those preppers? :shocked:

[davem4616]

Given the 20/20 hindsight available through the lens of this pandemic, I’m wondering if any posters who have said incorrect, unkind and judgmental things about preppers in past threads would like to apologize now to those preppers? :shocked:



what is a prepper? I'm not familiar with that term

[Chatbrat]

People who think the end of the world is coming--they have enough supplies to live independently for a year and the means to protect themselves if their is a total societal breakdown

[Stu from NYC]

And what is a prepper?

[Tennisbum]

My definition of a "prepper" is a person who believes the end of civilization is near and intends to survive no matter what the cost. They horde large amounts of food, water, and any provisions that can be stored for year at a time. They stock up on gas, ammo, guns, and spend time training on how to defend their homes and families against all comers.
They are the exact opposite of a person who will bring in a reasonable amount of food, gas, and necessities needed to get them through a natural disaster such as a hurricane. Normally a little on the paranoid side of the psychological scale!!

[shut the front door]

My definition of a "prepper" is a person who believes the end of civilization is near and intends to survive no matter what the cost. They horde large amounts of food, water, and any provisions that can be stored for year at a time. They stock up on gas, ammo, guns, and spend time training on how to defend their homes and families against all comers.
They are the exact opposite of a person who will bring in a reasonable amount of food, gas, and necessities needed to get them through a natural disaster such as a hurricane. Normally a little on the paranoid side of the psychological scale!!

Bingo. And I owe them nothing. Prepper, hoarder... really no difference.

[JimJohnson]

Given the 20/20 hindsight available through the lens of this pandemic, I’m wondering if any posters who have said incorrect, unkind and judgmental things about preppers in past threads would like to apologize now to those preppers? :shocked:

Not me. Preppers :1rotfl::1rotfl:

[JimJohnson]

And what is a prepper?

They are unfortunate people plagued with severe paranoia.

[Chatbrat]

Almost like people who survived the depression, afraid to spend a dime and saved all the $$ they could, lived frugally to the extreme and died in a house that looked liked they were impoverished but had several million $ stashed in the walls and under the floor boards

[New Englander]

Given the 20/20 hindsight available through the lens of this pandemic, I’m wondering if any posters who have said incorrect, unkind and judgmental things about preppers in past threads would like to apologize now to those preppers? :shocked:

Do you have a bugout car stashed someplace?

[Stu from NYC]

So those are the ones who took all the toilet paper and yeast

[Aces4]

Given the 20/20 hindsight available through the lens of this pandemic, I’m wondering if any posters who have said incorrect, unkind and judgmental things about preppers in past threads would like to apologize now to those preppers? :shocked:

No, but I should thank them for the laugh.

[graciegirl]

So those are the ones who took all the toilet paper and yeast

Must be. I wonder why people care? I have always been able to feed the whole third fleet from my pantry and frig. You never know who is going to drop by and stay to dinner.

[Rebel Pirate]

“A prepper is a person who takes measures in advance to ensure the economic, physical and emotional well-being of their family during times of struggle.”

Wow, that sounds evil…and scary! Where did that definition come from? It came from Jane, the founder of a 5,000-member Reddit group called “PandemicPreps.”

Preppers are like tennis players (or golfers, if you prefer)…their true nature probably lies somewhere on a continuum anchored by extremes of the definition. One extreme would be (1) someone who occasionally plays tennis/golf for fun and socializing with fellow players who become friends. Another extreme would be (2) those who play tennis/golf every day, to the exclusion of all other activities; they have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and may be scary when they go off their meds; they are overly competitive/aggressive; they don’t socialize with non-golfer/tennis players and are unforgiving of anyone who isn’t a compulsive golfer/tennis player.

Some replies to this post at least deal with their lack of knowledge by asking the inoffensive question “what is a prepper?” Some replies to this post (and other posts about preppers) deal with a lack of knowledge by making up their own incorrect and offensive definitions. That would be like me (a non-golfer/tennis player) saying “my definition of a golfer/tennis player is”… #2 above.”

Preppers just want to be prepared for foreseeable disasters, like hurricanes (around here), tornadoes (in the plains), snow storms (up north), disruptions to the economy (anywhere), etc, etc. Scary! It’s only scary if you let your disagreeable and repulsive assumptions run wild.

Preppers are just like most of us…except they did not become unprepared, panic shoppers in the past several months…BECAUSE they were prepared. When the stores were slammed by panic shoppers, preppers were home...and stayed home...because they were prepared. All the other offensive elements of the definitions provided by some of our resident conspiracy theorists are just figments of their overworked imaginations.

[Tennisbum]

I would hazard a guess to say you are probably a pickleball player...….just a guess!

[Rebel Pirate]

I would hazard a guess to say you are probably a pickleball player...….just a guess!

Wrong guess! When I was still physically able (no longer true), I was an avid golfer and occasional tennis player; have never been a pickle ball player.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am not now, nor have I ever been a prepper.

It just strikes me as wrong-headed when someone admits they know nothing about a subject (the subject being a group of people) and then makes up their own definition that describes this group of people that is wrong and offensive. They go on and confidently describe this group's motivations and actions.

Come to think of it...it reminds me of why politics has descended to the endless mud-slinging we see today. "What they want to do is..." "They are motivated by..."

AND I'm really curious...if anyone posts on TOTV, they have at their disposal a wonderful google-machine that can cure their ignorance...yet so many do not take advantage of this capability. It reminds me of an old friend -- who was frequently wrong but NEVER in doubt!

[anothersteve]

Preppers are the ones you won't see hoarding or rushing to the supermarket because they don't have the necessities to survive. They will already have everything they need. I commend them. They will be prepared.
Steve

[BamaBoy451]

Preppers are the ones you won't see hoarding or rushing to the supermarket because they don't have the necessities to survive. They will already have everything they need. I commend them. They will be prepared.
Steve

I've never knocked people with the extreme desire to survive events. Some have made this a career over the years. Well. Excuse me for now. Today is gun cleaning and ammo count day. Have a goid one.

[DDVeteran]

"Preppers" are for the lack of a better word, nuts. No apology necessary.

[VinoGolf]

"Preppers" are for the lack of a better word, nuts. No apology necessary.

Nailed it.

[tvbound]

I can't help but wonder, how many of those protestor's shown recently all gunned up and dressed like they're rejected mercenaries, are also prepper's who are frustrated that they haven't been able to use their armory stockpiles - so are seeing if they can start something?

[Rebel Pirate]

"Preppers" are for the lack of a better word, nuts. No apology necessary.

Just curious...what is it that makes them nuts?

[600th Photo Sq]

“A prepper is a person who takes measures in advance to ensure the economic, physical and emotional well-being of their family during times of struggle.”

Wow, that sounds evil…and scary! Where did that definition come from? It came from Jane, the founder of a 5,000-member Reddit group called “PandemicPreps.”

Preppers are like tennis players (or golfers, if you prefer)…their true nature probably lies somewhere on a continuum anchored by extremes of the definition. One extreme would be (1) someone who occasionally plays tennis/golf for fun and socializing with fellow players who become friends. Another extreme would be (2) those who play tennis/golf every day, to the exclusion of all other activities; they have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and may be scary when they go off their meds; they are overly competitive/aggressive; they don’t socialize with non-golfer/tennis players and are unforgiving of anyone who isn’t a compulsive golfer/tennis player.

Some replies to this post at least deal with their lack of knowledge by asking the inoffensive question “what is a prepper?” Some replies to this post (and other posts about preppers) deal with a lack of knowledge by making up their own incorrect and offensive definitions. That would be like me (a non-golfer/tennis player) saying “my definition of a golfer/tennis player is”… #2 above.”

Preppers just want to be prepared for foreseeable disasters, like hurricanes (around here), tornadoes (in the plains), snow storms (up north), disruptions to the economy (anywhere), etc, etc. Scary! It’s only scary if you let your disagreeable and repulsive assumptions run wild.

Preppers are just like most of us…except they did not become unprepared, panic shoppers in the past several months…BECAUSE they were prepared. When the stores were slammed by panic shoppers, preppers were home...and stayed home...because they were prepared. All the other offensive elements of the definitions provided by some of our resident conspiracy theorists are just figments of their overworked imaginations.

I think it would be nice to know 1 or 2 " Preppers " simply because it would be handy just in case ya need a cup of sugar or a packet of yeast. :)

Hey maybe they are the ones who are stockpiling the yeast. :doggie:

[anothersteve]

I think it would be nice to know 1 or 2 " Preppers " simply because it would be handy just in case ya need a cup of sugar or a packet of yeast. :)

Hey maybe they are the ones who are stockpiling the yeast. :doggie:

To some extent you are right.
Steve

[Aces4]

Being a prepper would be ideal if we had a horrible disaster every 2 years. Unless you’re saving C-rations, the shelf life of most items is short and then it could all be destroyed, stolen or contaminated by the horrible disaster

[Kenswing]

When did being prepared become a bad thing? :shrug:

I'm not paranoid. I've learned from experience. And it has paid off.

We live in Washington State. When the Fukushima nuclear reactors melted down they thought the radiation cloud might reach the west coast. I bought N-95 masks. Thankfully didn't need them.

Fast forward to Covid-19. My wife is a nurse. Her hospital ran low on N-95's early on and was only giving them to personnel who worked with Covid patients their entire shifts. My wife only entered Covid rooms when she had to perform a specific task so only received an uprated surgical mask. I was able to send her to work with an N-95 everyday until the hospital was able to replenish their stock.

We live in an earthquake prone part of the country. We have lots of bridges that go over water. Without bridges to cross that water, trucks can't deliver groceries. So I have enough shelf stable food to last awhile. If any number of those bridges collapse while my wife is at work there will be no way for her to drive home. Luckily we live about a mile from Puget Sound and can actually launch a boat locally and pick her up at the marina a block from the hospital.

Ever think about what would happen if we had another truckers strike? You think the shelves emptied fast for Covid? You ain't seen nothing.
You can call this paranoia all you want but it's simple forethought with a little investment in planning.

A failure to plan is a plan to fail..

[Kenswing]

So those are the ones who took all the toilet paper and yeast

No. They are the ones who already had toilet paper and yeast.. :MOJE_whot:

[Aces4]

When did being prepared become a bad thing? :shrug:

I'm not paranoid. I've learned from experience. And it has paid off.

We live in Washington State. When the Fukushima nuclear reactors melted down they thought the radiation cloud might reach the west coast. I bought N-95 masks. Thankfully didn't need them.

Fast forward to Covid-19. My wife is a nurse. Her hospital ran low on N-95's early on and was only giving them to personnel who worked with Covid patients their entire shifts. My wife only entered Covid rooms when she had to perform a specific task so only received an uprated surgical mask. I was able to send her to work with an N-95 everyday until the hospital was able to replenish their stock.

We live in an earthquake prone part of the country. We have lots of bridges that go over water. Without bridges to cross that water, trucks can't deliver groceries. So I have enough shelf stable food to last awhile. If any number of those bridges collapse while my wife is at work there will be no way for her to drive home. Luckily we live about a mile from Puget Sound and can actually launch a boat locally and pick her up at the marina a block from the hospital.

Ever think about what would happen if we had another truckers strike? You think the shelves emptied fast for Covid? You ain't seen nothing.
You can call this paranoia all you want but it's simple forethought with a little investment in planning.

A failure to plan is a plan to fail..

Have you also planned how to deal with the have-nots who want your things because their families are starving since the horrible disaster hit but they do have loaded guns.

[Kenswing]

"Preppers" are for the lack of a better word, nuts. No apology necessary.

Nuts are the people who get banned from this website but keep creating new accounts. :1rotfl:

[Kenswing]

Have you also planned how to deal with the have-nots who want your things because their families are starving since the horrible disaster hit?
Of course.. :icon_wink:

[Aces4]

Of course.. :icon_wink:

You’re fortunate if you have enough money and storage room to feed the whole neighborhood in a disaster.:coolsmiley:

[anothersteve]

Have you also planned how to deal with the have-nots who want your things because their families are starving since the horrible disaster hit but they do have loaded guns.

There are many facets to prepping.
Steve

[Kenswing]

You’re fortunate if you have enough money and storage room to feed the whole neighborhood in a disaster.:coolsmiley:

You're a funny guy.. :1rotfl:

[Number 10 GI]

You’re fortunate if you have enough money and storage room to feed the whole neighborhood in a disaster.:coolsmiley:

What make you think that the "prepper" has the obligation to feed the whole neighborhood? Have you ever read the parable about the ant and the grasshopper? I guess not.

[600th Photo Sq]

When did being prepared become a bad thing? :shrug:

I'm not paranoid. I've learned from experience. And it has paid off.

We live in Washington State. When the Fukushima nuclear reactors melted down they thought the radiation cloud might reach the west coast. I bought N-95 masks. Thankfully didn't need them.

Fast forward to Covid-19. My wife is a nurse. Her hospital ran low on N-95's early on and was only giving them to personnel who worked with Covid patients their entire shifts. My wife only entered Covid rooms when she had to perform a specific task so only received an uprated surgical mask. I was able to send her to work with an N-95 everyday until the hospital was able to replenish their stock.

We live in an earthquake prone part of the country. We have lots of bridges that go over water. Without bridges to cross that water, trucks can't deliver groceries. So I have enough shelf stable food to last awhile. If any number of those bridges collapse while my wife is at work there will be no way for her to drive home. Luckily we live about a mile from Puget Sound and can actually launch a boat locally and pick her up at the marina a block from the hospital.

Ever think about what would happen if we had another truckers strike? You think the shelves emptied fast for Covid? You ain't seen nothing.
You can call this paranoia all you want but it's simple forethought with a little investment in planning.

A failure to plan is a plan to fail..

Obviously it's a Row Boat you wouldn't want to take a chance of running out of gas.

Not a Sail Boat no wind a no, no so safe bet Rowing. Off ya go to safety.

For me ?

Right now I have a 2 + week supply of Beer Mic Ultra 16 oz. cans, Wine not cheap, and yes the food .

Lean Cuisine, plus 3 bottles pasta sauce ( Bertolli's ) enough pasta hey bring it on ! :)

Oh yes 4 Cans of soup just in case. :icon_wink:

[Aces4]

What make you think that the "prepper" has the obligation to feed the whole neighborhood? Have you ever read the parable about the ant and the grasshopper? I guess not.

I have read the Bible which indicates we need to look out for each other. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We all have to do what our conscience will allow us to do.

[Two Bills]

Boy Scouts were always prepared!

[Hayek1957]

Some of the definitions displayed here blur the lines between a prepper and a survivalist.

These personalities are on a continuum. Both will gather supplies and obtain training to persevere through a society anomaly or complete breakdown. The prepper is more community focused and will extend their supplies and training to aid their community where the survivalist is more inclined to isolate from the community.

I am a prepper. In the past, with storms and power outages, I have offered assistance and supplies to my neighbors. This recent Covid -19 pandemic, I have seen examples of a neighbor that was resentful, even hostile towards preppers because that neighbor feels the prepper’s supplies should be allocated elsewhere.

For this reason, many preppers and survivalists keep a low profile and do not overtly display their supplies and preparations. Your neighbor could be a prepper and you may not know it.

[Hayek1957]

Being a prepper would be ideal if we had a horrible disaster every 2 years. Unless you’re saving C-rations, the shelf life of most items is short and then it could all be destroyed, stolen or contaminated by the horrible disaster

Food, especially canned food, if properly stored in a controlled environment can be edible decades after purchase. Most commercially dehydrated food has an advertised shelf life of 10 to 30 years, assuming it has been properly stored.

[600th Photo Sq]

Boy Scouts were always prepared!

Especially when it came to the annual Boy Scout/Girl Scout Dance always very popular ( Escorted ) of course. :icon_wink:

[600th Photo Sq]

Some of the definitions displayed here blur the lines between a prepper and a survivalist.

These personalities are on a continuum. Both will gather supplies and obtain training to persevere through a society anomaly or complete breakdown. The prepper is more community focused and will extend their supplies and training to aid their community where the survivalist is more inclined to isolate from the community.

I am a prepper. In the past, with storms and power outages, I have offered assistance and supplies to my neighbors. This recent Covid -19 pandemic, I have seen examples of a neighbor that was resentful, even hostile towards preppers because that neighbor feels the prepper’s supplies should be allocated elsewhere.

For this reason, many preppers and survivalists keep a low profile and do not overtly display their supplies and preparations. Your neighbor could be a prepper and you may not know it.

I miss making my own bread can I borrow a packet of yeast. :shocked:

[amexsbow]

As someone who went through Hurricane Katrina in N.O. and lost a home and lifetime of memories at the age of 58 I consider myself a prepper. I agree with “A prepper is a person who takes measures in advance to ensure the economic, physical and emotional well-being of their family during times of struggle.”
So yes, since 2005 we have kept a 3 to 6 month supply of food and basic necessities. We rotate our stock so it is not out of date and we buy when items are on sale. As a retired L.E.O. I also know in times of disaster or civil unrest help may never arrive, and if they do it may be too late. Remember the B.S.O.A. motto "Be prepared." This is predominately a theme in the conservative ranks, progressives wait for help to arrive and someone to feed them.

[Aces4]

As someone who went through Hurricane Katrina in N.O. and lost a home and lifetime of memories at the age of 58 I consider myself a prepper. I agree with “A prepper is a person who takes measures in advance to ensure the economic, physical and emotional well-being of their family during times of struggle.”
So yes, since 2005 we have kept a 3 to 6 month supply of food and basic necessities. We rotate our stock so it is not out of date and we buy when items are on sale. As a retired L.E.O. I also know in times of disaster or civil unrest help may never arrive, and if they do it may be too late. Remember the B.S.O.A. motto "Be prepared." This is predominately a theme in the conservative ranks, progressives wait for help to arrive and someone to feed them.

That makes the point perfectly. All the hoarding can be lost in a heartbeat in a disaster. We’re far better off as a country if we all look out for each other. Did all of the people hoarding TP lately feel better knowing that many people were struggling trying to find some when, in reality, there was enough available for everyone?

[Kenswing]

That makes the point perfectly. All the hoarding can be lost in a heartbeat in a disaster. We’re far better off as a country if we all look out for each other. Did all of the people hoarding TP lately feel better knowing that many people were struggling trying to find some when, in reality, there was enough available for everyone?
If anything preppers lessened the impact of the TP struggle. We bought our TP when supplies were plentiful, well before the need. We didn't have to partake in the recent TP wars. The hoarders are the ones who weren't prepared and displayed the me, me, me mentality by taking more supplies than they needed causing the shortage.
We display personal responsibility in being prepared and all you can do is knock it. Weird..

[Rebel Pirate]

As someone who went through Hurricane Katrina in N.O. and lost a home and lifetime of memories at the age of 58 I consider myself a prepper. I agree with “A prepper is a person who takes measures in advance to ensure the economic, physical and emotional well-being of their family during times of struggle.”
So yes, since 2005 we have kept a 3 to 6 month supply of food and basic necessities. We rotate our stock so it is not out of date and we buy when items are on sale. As a retired L.E.O. I also know in times of disaster or civil unrest help may never arrive, and if they do it may be too late. Remember the B.S.O.A. motto "Be prepared." This is predominately a theme in the conservative ranks, progressives wait for help to arrive and someone to feed them.

This is the crux of the reason I began this thread. True "preppers" are non-threatening, supportive, self-reliant members of society. Yet, there are MANY posters who can't devote the 1-2 minutes required to determine the nature of preppers. It's much easier to fill-in the blanks (in their knowledge) with ridiculous comments that would make preppers the focus of animus by the many squirrels who never put nuts away for the winter.

Boy Scouts, the armed forces, and many government civilian agencies, practice and preach preparedness. Yet, locally there are many "haters" who are more than happy to target others simply because they believe and act somewhat differently than them, albeit in a non-threatening manner. Haters are gonna hate... :boxing2:

[Aces4]

This is the crux of the reason I began this thread. True "preppers" are non-threatening, supportive, self-reliant members of society. Yet, there are MANY posters who can't devote the 1-2 minutes required to determine the nature of preppers. It's much easier to fill-in the blanks (in their knowledge) with ridiculous comments that would make preppers the focus of animus by the many squirrels who never put nuts away for the winter.

Boy Scouts, the armed forces, and many government civilian agencies, practice and preach preparedness. Yet, locally there are many "haters" who are more than happy to target others simply because they believe and act somewhat differently than them, albeit in a non-threatening manner. Haters are gonna hate... :boxing2:

Haters is your terminology. I don’t hate the choice people make. I’m sharing my thoughts on hoarding, from my viewpoint. It’s an exchange of perspectives, if you will. Some of us don’t want houses or rooms packed with disaster “stuff”, live for the next disaster, rotate our supplies for the disaster or worry about my house falling into a sinkhole here with my stuff. We grocery shop for two weeks at a time and that’s it. Let face it, if the disaster is so severe, it’s a moot point. If it’s not a national disaster, hoarding probably won’t be necessary. We all view the world through different lenses.

Take a breath.:ho:

[amexsbow]

Preppers are not hoarders. Preppers have supplies on hand for emergencies. Each one determines the amount of time they want to prepare to be self sufficient (weeks or months). They check their supplies regularly and rotate their stock. Preppers are the ones who do not cause a burden on emergency aid agencies for extended support, thereby protecting those who are unable or too self centered to take care of themselves. Preppers aid those who need assistance, but will not be taken advantage of by those who are capable of taking care of themselves.

[anothersteve]

Haters is your terminology. I don’t hate the choice people make. I’m sharing my thoughts on hoarding, from my viewpoint. It’s an exchange of perspectives, if you will. Some of us don’t want houses or rooms packed with disaster “stuff”, live for the next disaster, rotate our supplies for the disaster or worry about my house falling into a sinkhole here with my stuff. We grocery shop for two weeks at a time and that’s it. Let face it, if the disaster is so severe, it’s a moot point. If it’s not a national disaster, hoarding probably won’t be necessary. We all view the world through different lenses.

Take a breath.:ho:

There's a BIG difference between being a "prepper", which means just being prepared, and a "hoarder".
Steve

[anothersteve]

Preppers are not hoarders. Preppers have supplies on hand for emergencies. Each one determines the amount of time they want to prepare to be self sufficient (weeks or months). They check their supplies regularly and rotate their stock. Preppers are the ones who do not cause a burden on emergency aid agencies for extended support, thereby protecting those who are unable or too self centered to take care of themselves. Preppers aid those who need assistance, but will not be taken advantage of by those who are capable of taking care of themselves.

Well said.
Steve

[Aces4]

There's a BIG difference between being a "prepper", which means just being prepared, and a "hoarder".
Steve

Perform an online search for hoarding food and supplies. Semantics.

Some people enjoy it, some don’t. No big deal.