Truth be told, I’m more than a little fed up.
I’m a blogger. And I blog about survival, preparedness, and gear.
But when I tell people this, I get glazed eyes and blatant disinterest.
I start by saying I’m a blogger, and while there used to be a stigma around that statement alone, I find the negative stigma around blogging for a living has been dissipating in recent years – at least a little bit. When I tell people what I do, some even begin to get a touch excited, curious to learn more about my “odd” job.
I wish things were the same when I then went on to specify which industry I blog in.
It’s depressing: survivalism is cool shit! Anyone who watches Castaway, Unbroken, or even the first few episodes of Dual Survival should plainly see that.
And prepping is something that I feel absolutely everyone with any true concern about their future will naturally do, whether or not they call themselves preppers. It’s not particularly a “cool” thing to be interested in, at least in my opinion; prepping is just a particularly important thing to do.
So it drives me absolutely mad when I get hit with the glazed eye look – where the individual in question is ultimately doing their very best not to obnoxiously glare at you with an almost palpable degree of cynical judgement – and a low pitched, “Oh…,” to signify that the conversation is now over and all intrigue has been killed off because… My god – you’re a prepper?! You must be crazy.
Drives. Me. Nuts.
I’m not the preachy type. I never was and never will be. Way I see it, if someone is completely apathetic to what I have to say on a topic, I’m wasting my breath by trying to make a convert out of them. These people I will never bother to “bring to the light,” so to speak, nor will I ever succeed if I do try. They’ve stuck themselves up on a high horse of “normalcy,” and the way they see it, they’re not coming down into my world of “bat shit crazy” – not for anything.
It’s preposterous, and as I’ve already said, I’m more than a little fed up with it. I’m not ashamed of being into survival and preparedness – rather, I’m enraged that such an absurd stigma has managed to gather around the terms “prepper” and “survivalist” from the “common folk.” It’s frustrating as hell, especially in a modern world that seems to pride itself on accepting the quirky and different.
I know some will think, “Ignore them.” And with that I mostly agree.
Others often feel it is their duty to make converts out of these everyday people who practically scoff at survialists and preppers from the sidelines; and oftentimes, I wish these people didn’t. I feel the more they push, the further these types will get into their thinking that we’re all a bunch of crazies – which is obviously not true, though I doubt I had to clarify if you’re reading this article in the first place.
Those who do not consider themselves into survival and preparedness seem to be pegging us in the worst possible spot with their glazed eyes and glares – as if to say, “Why the hell would you want to be passionate about your skill set and your future?” I mean a musician is allowed to be passionate about his life calling and work, but survival and prepping? You might as well have told these people you dig up corpses for fun – you’d be getting the same awkward remarks and judgmental glares.
But why?
As a dear friend we’ve made through this blog who goes by the username of “dan seven” pointed out in a recent comment he made on this post:
Sometimes I think people get hung up on a word like survivalist or prepper because it is out of normal ‘identity’ parameters for the comfort zone of others. Difficult to picture an experienced and accomplished ‘backpacker’ or ‘trekker’ or ‘wilderness camper’ raising an eyebrow for saying so.
He’s 110% right. Hell let’s make that 120%.
What kind of backpacker, trekker, or wilderness camper do you know who would hesitate to tell people exactly what he or she was? None. Why? Not one person would glare. Not one person would be judgmental. They’d peg you as the “outdoorsy” type and that would be that.
It’s kind of a cool thing to be interested in the outdoors. But oh my no, not in survival or prepping.
I’m not going to lie. I wish people thought it was “cool” to be a prepper/survivalist. I really do.
I feel like so many people would be better prepared – we’d have stronger families, be living in more secure countries – really and truly all the world would be better off if everyone took this prepper/survivalist thing even a little more seriously.
Could you imagine how much easier life would be if even just all your friends and family were at least partially into bushcraft, wilderness survival, urban survival, and prepping? Could you imagine how nice it would be to not get glared at when you “confessed” to your family that you were a prepper? It shouldn’t have to be so hard. It’s not a sin. Hell, it’s not even a bad thing. It’s something they could literally only benefit from. Yes, your family and friends might be a bit annoyed at the fact that you’re cutting back on movies out and using the savings to stockpile long-term expiry date food, but when you get laid off at work and your entire family still has plenty to eat at home – or when the same thing happens to a friend and you still have enough food to give them – they’d better be grateful for all that hard work you put in allocating finances such a good way in the past.
The world really would be a much better place if people thought it was a positive, not negative, thing to be a prepper. It really would.
But we’re not the ones ultimately suffering for the negative stigma existing. Sure, we get ostracized and looked at like we’re freaks every once in a while; we get annoyed by what are quite frankly uneducated and truly misguided impressions of what we do and are like, but that’s not really any big deal, and I’d argue that the vast majority of us are more than used to having to put up with the “prepper shaming.”
Screw that, we can deal with all that.
Ultimately, the ones suffering for us having such a the negative stigma are those who label us that way in the first place. Why? They’re missing out. They really are.
Missing out on securing a better future for themselves and their family, missing out on peace of mind.. there’s a whole list of things they’re missing out on, and they’ll almost certainly never come around to see things from our side because their heads are too far stuck in the sand to realize that they’re the ones suffering for their prepper shaming.
If they’re the ones doing the shaming, they’re the ones who will be too embarrassed to prep, let alone become a prepper, even when they sort of begin to see how we have a point.
It’ll be way too hard for them to get off that high horse they put themselves on to join us.
And it won’t impact us in the slightest.
We’ll have prepared anyway.
In the UK with our Draconian gun and knife laws, plus so little public wilderness we’re viewed as violent nut-jobs on the level of the characters in the video game Far Cry 5!
I try to adhere to the “grey man” philosophy outlined by a previous respondent, only my brother and my childhood best friend know I’m preparing for the worst.
I think films like “Pink Cadillac” showing survivalists as antisocial private militia don’t help either…
Agreed, add shows like “Doomsday Preppers” to the list- thats why i try to show a more adjusted/integrated side of prepping. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, the most important aspect is mindset in my opinion.
I would not consider myself a serious prepper. But I very much consider myself a survivalist. I am pretty minimal with what I actually store in terms of food and supplies, but our family always has what we need for a few weeks.
I carry a knife a screwdriver, and a small first aid kit in my purse. Even this I have to be careful who I tell. Now no one complains when they need to fix something and I have what they need, but they are quick to judge me as strange, or violent for carrying a knife? When I spend a little extra money on backpacking gear for my emergency bags people assume we are rich and have a lot of money to waste.
Anyways, I went on longer than I needed to on that. The point is, people like to judge because they feel unprepared, or simply because they like to shame people. Whether you label yourself a proper, survivalist, or you simply spend a third of the year in the woods.
For those of you who do store long term food and supplies, I totally understand, and keep at it. As for me, I am living on less than $40 a week of grocery money right now due to some unfortunate circumstances, so I am using up my supplies slowly now… I think more people wish they knew how, or had the follow through to prep. Don’t let them get to you. And realize that some of them you won’t have to deal with for long if all goes wrong.
This >> “Now no one complains when they need to fix something and I have what they need, but they are quick to judge me as strange, or violent for carrying a knife” I’ve heard it SO many times and it’s completely on point. Gets old very quick.
It’s pathetic because the camping gear costs little to nothing in comparison to the next new iPhone… if you can afford one of those you can afford a heck of a lot of prepper gear. It just depends where your priorities lie.
Less than $40 a week is great for groceries! Impressive even without being able to stockpile anything at the moment, that’s still great!
Why are you telling everyone what you do and what you have? That’s just asking for people at your door should something actually happen.
The Grey Man
The Grey Man is always invisible in plain sight.
The Grey Man is totally aware of his environs, his own capabilities or lack thereof, his weaponry and his levels of competence with that weaponry. He constantly strives to improve upon both his capabilities and competence. In public, he is always respectful, even to the point of obsequiousness if the situation calls for it. He always appears to be just a little confused by what is happening around him, while in reality he is alertly doing a tactical assessment.
The Grey Man NEVER draws attention to himself by word, dress, action, or mannerism. The Young Grey Man is dismissed as a wimp, the Older as a doddering old fool. The Grey Man derives great inner satisfaction from having this portrayal of himself accepted by all he meets, for it means he is succeeding in his disguise of his actual persona.
The Grey Man is a private man. He practices with his weaponry in private, or only with his fellow Grey Men, always in a secluded location. If he must resort to use of a public facility, he schedules his practice for times when he is likely to be the only one there. At such times he would probably wear bright clothing, to be remembered only as ‘that guy in the red jacket and sunglasses’, a quite different person from his usual persona. If right-handed, he would always occupy the leftmost station on a NRA bullseye pistol range, with his back to an observer, or the rightmost one for riflery or combat pistol practice. He would not have his name emblazoned on clothing or equipment, nor would he have any noteworthy affiliation proclaimed on his cap. “He’s just a guy. Comes every Wednesday morning for his coffeebreak. Always pays cash.”
The Grey Man does not drive a pink Cadillac with steer horns on the hood, NOR does he drive the biggest mutherin’ 4X4-with-all-the-bells-and-whistles BOV in the lot. The older his vehicle is, the rustier, the less likely it is to draw attention (or to be stolen, for that matter). This vehicle is, under its exterior, scrupulously maintained and in excellent running order. If pulled over by authority on the basis of appearance, it can be shown to meet or exceed all requirements under licensing laws, and an obsequious co-operative manner precludes a search under the seats. The Grey Man does not speed on the highway: cruise control is his friend. So is the Highway Patrol: he waves to any he sees. If he travels the same route constantly, at the same times, The Grey Man becomes a ‘fixture’ and can be dismissed from conscious observation.
It helps the Survivor to build up this persona of The Grey Man gradually and over time. The anti-gun sheeple neighbors will quickly rat out the ‘Patriot’ who is always loudly declaiming about his ‘Rights’ and ‘what will happen if they try to take my guns’. The Grey Man goes far out of his way never to offend anyone, imitating the duck which appears calm on the surface of his pond whilst paddling like hell under the surface.
Be seen as conservative in all you do. A Survivor is a Grey Man, and that little old grey man alone over there in the corner is probably a Survivor!
And that young guy next to him? Just another wimp? Or are they both watching each other’s backs?
Making the other guy waste precious time in assessing the situation is a big part of staying alive. Practice being grey now, while there’s time to build your skills.
In theory, I sorta agree John, unfortunately if no one talks about it then we would not have a place to congregate & share information. There is definitely advantages to flying under the radar but Elise and I view survival as an intrinsic part of our lives. We don’t want to hide it from others who might learn or even comment on what we are doing.
Yes, its a risk, but one we made consciously & I love the community we have here and on http://survivalthreads.com so to us it was worth it.
Your mileage may vary, thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.
I tell my friends that I’m a prepper, and the most common response that I get is, “Well if something happens my plan is to head to your house.”
I look them dead in the eye and say “Oh? Ok what are you bringing?
This always stops them short they stammer a bit, they understand how stupid they just made themselves sound, and more often than not it sparks a fairly productive conversation.
The other comment I get s, “Oh your worried about the end of the world!”
Fair enough but I lie in the pacific NW, so I general let the comment slid and point out that we live almost surrounded by volcano’s…gain it sparks up conversations.
Good for you! The whole “I’ll come over” is super frustrating to hear – as if they get why it’s important/a good idea but don’t care enough to do it for themselves. Don’t like that mentality at all.
Hi Elise,
Just read your article.
If you were talking to me about prepping, etc. I wouldn’t glare OR be annoyed. :)
I find the survivalist topic to be fascinating.
I’ve been working on EDCs. Fun!
I need to prep my house with emergency water, etc. Not sure why I’m not right on that one.
Anyway, hope you have a lovely weeik!
Your friend,
Kaye :)
Thanks so much, Kaye! I’m very slow to reply to comments on here, so yup! Sorry this is late, haha. But yeah, always glad there are people like you out there who wouldn’t glare or be annoyed at talk of prepping or being prepared.
Has been awesome getting to know you over Survival Threads, and chat with you more on there! :)
I think another issue/negative is sharing your thoughts with some family and friends to “motivate” them to prepare. They smile, and then state…”we’re coming over to your house”. Then what you say, is important. You explain to them you will already be gone…they are responsible for their own families. You will help people and family, but you cannot at the expense of your family…become a soup kitchen for friends and family. Yes they laughed/rolled their eyes, but when the SHTF they remember “hey they have food”…and here they come. Unfortunately this scenario leads you to some opsec for these folks…but if they have skills that you could use…then that is something to consider.
Exactly! You could also bring up the idea – what happens if you have a house fire or somebody raids YOUR house? Shouldn’t they be prepared enough to take you in? ;)
Hi Elise, thank you BOTH for producing such a great site.
I got into Prepping after watching that English Survivor T.V. Series in mid ’70s. The Blonde was Hot !
Now approaching 60 yrs of age (gosh it goes FAST)
It seems to me that in my short life time, what was NORMAL when I grew up on a beach in New Zealand surrounded by bush/scrub, is now considered weird and fatalistic/paranoid.
In 2x generations we have lost the ability/drive to be independent.
It was just every day stuff to come home from school and do the chores.
Cut firewood, feed the chooks (or cut head off and pluck it ) weed the garden, go catch some fish (raid the peach tree on the way) then come home and help Mum get the veges from the garden, cook them or on a w/e make jam or preserves. It was expected and NORMAL.
Heck, we walked to school in bare feet (jumped in puddles to break the ice) and took our knives to play mumbly peg.. sheez, kids would be arrested/medicated now.
Govt./Media has made us dependant on the system to provide a blanket/trampoline and They will take care of us on their terms.
Heaven help you if you TRY and be independent.
Heck, in lots of cities now, it is against the law to collect rain water from the roof as the water companies invoice Families for the water in so that sewerage rates can be charged for as well. (water in/water out
I now (15 years) live on my Sailboat and off the grid with wind/solar power. Love it! So many options available with technology and getting better/cheaper all the time. Heck a solar panel that would have cost $700 10 years ago is now $120 AND more efficient.
Went into a local supermarket to buy candles in NZ and asked Staff where they were. Was told they didn’t stock them as was no need. Asked them what the did when power was off and got a blank stare. Strange times we live in.
Here in Fiji, (small town) one sees people on street and bus with 4x litre bottles empty/full of kerosene for their lanterns. Power out, no problem..
Mind you, everybody has a cell phone, hmm..
Keep up the great work and spread the word, and that word is, INDEPENDENT.
Bob.
This – “It seems to me that in my short life time, what was NORMAL when I grew up on a beach in New Zealand surrounded by bush/scrub, is now considered weird and fatalistic/paranoid” both true and sad! Really wish that we didn’t lose that ability to be more self-sufficient. That being said, modern technology’s made life really easy, so I can’t be too surprised at the fact that no one really wants to bother with the “old fashioned way” of doing things anymore. I hope technology can bring us into another level of self-sufficiency that wasn’t possible before, though. With the whole natural energy being embraced by so many different types of people I hope, and really do believe it’s possible sometime soon.
Thanks for all the positive comments and hey, hopefully there will be more people taking independence and self-sufficiency seriously in the future. Who knows what TV show, video game, or other form of media may wake people up to the idea of prepping as a good idea in the future (unfortunately, Walking Dead doesn’t seem to have done enough, haha!).
OK… Great post, but you missed the point. The reason “prepper” and “suvivalist” are dangerous words is because walking in the woods sounds like a good hobby while hiding in the woods requires a reason. At some point, that reason is the bat-shat-crazy mob, of which the person you are talking to is a part of. Therefore, these words will never find resonance, precisely because you are, in effect, telling someone you are going to hide from them. This requires them to re-evaluate their own thinking, and that, as we all know, will get them angry.
An even more pronounced reaction comes from the self proclaimed non-violent, who will call the police to enforce governmental (read mob) sanctioned force if you dare show your teeth. I got to talk to a sheriff officer because someone called them on me because I run with an 18 pound black pry bar, looks like it might be a rifle to those who want to live in fear; the sheriff laughed and read the riot act to the caller over a false report of crime.
So, the real reason preppers are hated on is because we dare to question the politically correct notions into which most complainers have devoted themselves.
“Therefore, these words will never find resonance, precisely because you are, in effect, telling someone you are going to hide from them. This requires them to re-evaluate their own thinking, and that, as we all know, will get them angry.”
Good, solid point there.
And yes, definitely agree with this: “So, the real reason preppers are hated on is because we dare to question the politically correct notions into which most complainers have devoted themselves.”
Perhaps “prepper” should be replaced with “sensible person”? Here in the UK, outside of the bushcraft community, there is not much of a prepper scene (if that is even a thing)
But having grown up in the 1980s recesion and having a sensible mother I know that I should have savings, plan ahead, keep food in so if you have to skip the months shopping you can still eat. Throw in some basic air rifle hunting small game and forraging and it is just how people used to live.
With 24hr supermarkets, Credit cards / loans and the amazing infrastructure / utilities it is easy to see why some people think you are odd for storing food or having a savings accout.
Definitely think semantics has a lot to do with it – it would be amazing if everyone considered preppers sensible people – maybe we should just hijack the phrase ;). I suppose if you just ignore the term “prepper” completely and describe what you do instead of using the term, you’d probably get a lot less scoffing.
Consumerist culture has taken over to such an incredible degree that it’s hard not to see what you mean. Yes, definitely, credit cards, loans, the ease of grocery stores, and hell, even the popularity of eating out (especially here in North America!), do make it seem odd to many that we would have food storage and try to pad a savings account beyond the next few months.
I think people get caught up on the label vs the action.
People might understand a person who *prepares* for the unexpected; however, the same folks will scoff at a person who identifies as a *prepper*.
It’s about the label becoming a person’s identity.
If you tell someone “I write a blog about disaster preparedness”, that person will think that disaster preparedness is something you *do*. On the other hand, if you tell someone “I write a blog about being a prepper”, that person will think a prepper is something you *are*.
And the *prepper* label has become loaded with negative connotations (overweight militia types in camo running around the woods of Bum-F@ck-Nowhere).
Yup. Maybe I should just tell people I write a blog that teaches people how to prepare for disasters. ;) Might be a mouthful, but you’re right, might also make people more responsive and less likely to judge without listening first.
I don’t necessarily agree with the point you expressed about non-preppers never getting off their high horse and such. I used to really look down my nose at preppers and anyone who’d even mention a post-apocalyptic scenario.
Now, I have even started prepping, and most ironically I have actually started prepping to do my prepping. I’m finding out what I might need, how much I will need and what skills I might have to polish up or gain, since I don’t think that my judicial studies will help me out very much…
I’m now learning how to make knives and other tools, I’m polishing up my fletchery and archery skills, I’ve started trekking, horse riding and athletics, and I’m saving up to go buy non-perishables. The most extreme thing imo is that I have managed to convince my dad to let me build an underground mancave/shelter in the backyard.
I didn’t change overnight, it took me a good while to find out what I might have to prep for (trump becoming president over in the US…) but I did change, and I did get off my high horse. So in that respect I don’t necessarily agree with what you’ve said in this article.
Btw, I love the blog!
Well I’m glad to hear from someone who did come around, then! Nice to know that there are people like you who give it a shot even though your original instinct was to look down at the practice!
Good on you for taking the time. Change overnight is not as important as change in the long-term :)
& of course, thanks for the compliment on the blog!
Hi, I’m new here and only happened upon this page by some random Google search about wound infections. I wanted to say though, that I would probably rank myself in the normal category, however, I find preparing fascinating and think it is something everyone should know how to do at least some what. We are going to reach a point when one day, we will need to know how to survive for whatever reason. It’s inevitable. Whether it be in my lifetime or 200 years from now, it is going to happen and ignoring that and hiding inside our fancy houses and fast cars and computer screens is not going to prepare us. I really wish this was something that was taught to me as a child. I learned a lot in Girl Scouts, but wish I’d of learned more. No matter who you are, what walk of life you are from, there is nothing wrong with expanding your skill set and being prepared for whatever life brings out way. It is people that gawk at “preppers” who will inevitably end up being the ones out there up sh* creek without a paddle. They will be the ones who don’t make it or are carried along by someone who does have the skillset. So, while I do not have survivalist knowledge, I do have a desire to learn and think that there is nothing wrong with it. I don’t think survivalist are dooms day people and I don’t think they are crazy and it sounds like the media has put a lot of negative attention on it and spun it into be something it isn’t. Kind of like they do with pitbulls. They make them out to be these vicious horrible demons, when in reality, they are quite sweet and loyal and loving. So, I don’t know where I’m going with this, but I wanted to say that not everyone who doesn’t know about prepping assumes you guys are all insane. :)
Thank you very much for this long descriptive comment :). I really appreciate the words. It’s nice to know that not all “non-preppers” so to speak buy into the negative press/stigma. It’s really nice actually! :)
Very glad for your words, so thank you again for sharing!
A lot of the stigma also has to do, in the United States, that the religious cults and right wing extremist groups were the first prepper/survivalist types that so many people were exposed to.
While it is starting to fade, there was a very distinct “type” that was loud and out there and it created a stereotype.
I experience it frequently. New people who hear that I am a prepper think I must be far to the right politically. When I tell them that I am a vegan as well as an ultra left anarchist-socialist, their eyes bug out. Conversely, other preppers who are far to the right expect that I will agree with their extremist religious or political views. It probably does not help much that I live in the middle of the US, but irrespective of that it still exists.
I actually would pay to see that. Must put them on an emotional roller coaster hearing that you’re a prepper and then that you’re an ultra left vegan immediately after. I swear that “eyes bug out” moment has got to be one of the most satisfying sights to see. Breaking stereotypes is nice sometimes :).
I think it’ll be nice once a lot more liberals start jumping on the bandwagon. You’re right, it is almost completely expected of preppers to be conservative/ultra right wing. Will be nice to see that turned on its head as more and more liberals also see the value in prepping.
A Green, hope it is ok to list the sites here as You requested..Tomas and Elise…if it is ok..
Prepperdating.com, DoomsdayDating.com, and with Kwink.com scroll down to Survivalist and they have their own section.
I am a married guy long before these sites were created and have no knowledge of their workings. I hope that You have the best of luck in your search, and Thanks to Elise and Tomas for posting outside links..if it is ok to do that..i do not know the protocol for this.
Yes, certainly okay! Feel free to share other sites + pages whenever you feel it’s relevant :).
It DOES get a bit crazy and depressing. “survivalist” and “prepper” have gotten negative connotations from popular media.
“These people live in a ‘Burt Gummer’ bunker, only eat MRE’s., and waiting for the zombies or the ‘epidemic-on-the-month’ “, vs “If I lose my job or my car breaks down in BFE, I’m not totally-screwed like most would be.” . “Crazy outliers”, not “Doing exactly what Grandpa and Grandma did.”
*shrug* Natural Selection in action, I guess.
Just out of curiosity, is the knife in the pic a Condor Bushcraft? Loving mine, so far :)
Unsolicited suggestions:
knock down the square edges of the spine with a file/emery cloth about an inch ahead of the the hilt, so you don’t hurt yourself using it for cooking / fine work.. leave the rest square for striking sparks on a ferro-rod.
Add a 1-inch or so bike inner tube “Ranger Band” around the sheath. Holds a 2-inch ferro-rod and a P-38 can opener (best piece of kit Uncle Sam ever issued) with no slipping and almost no extra weight/volume.
Don’t let naysayers make you crazy :)
Definitely won’t let the naysayers get to me ;). Too much at stake for that, haha.
Yeah it’s a Condor, but it’s actually the Bushlore, rather than the Bushcraft (which we still need to get!). Glad to hear you’re liking your Bushcraft, makes me want to jump on the bandwagon and get that one as well, especially since I love the Bushlore so much. Such a good knife for so cheap!
Once we get the Bushcraft we’ll try out your mods, they sound like they’d be perfect actually.
LOL – actually, I checked, I DO have a Bushlore – Great piece of gear, especially for the price :)
Lol that’s funny!
& yes it really is! Basically my favourite bushcraft knife we own.
I hesitate to have Thomas mod it considering how much I love it <3. Maybe when we get a second one (and we will get a second, because we both argue over who it really belongs to ;) ).
@Elise;
Just a heads up – before I “disappeared” for weekend and then spent today in business meetings (oh joy..) , emailed a picture to the contact address to show that the mods don’t damage the knife or the (good leather, for a change) sheath :)
Hey! Just checked out that mod. Very nice – you’re right it’s very subtle. Thomas said, “Looks really fucking good actually” when he checked it out.
Dan, would you please list those sites, ’cause I did a google and only got one.
Since my non-prepper set me aside for like-minded gadfly it’s been lonely here in the bunker.
Sure would be nice to meet a person who would be supportive and a help mate.
Prepping and stacking are the way, despite what the naysayers have to say about it.
Indeed they are! Thanks for stopping by, Paul!
You’re most welcome. :-)
i am sorry to hear about your troubles Warren, my heart goes out to You..
The dust will settle and the sun will feel warm again soon…if it does not already.
Hang in there, and as shown by the comments here, you have not missed the plot..
Prompted by a comment here, and forgive me if this is premature, i did a quick search.. on google and was astonished to find 3 survivalist/prepper themed dating sites….
I would imagine that “enjoys camping, long walks and candlelight dinners” may have an alternative meaning there..! : )
You folks are doing a great job , just carry on and don’t worry about idiot’s .
Norm.
Thanks so much, Norman! :)
This is only my opinion but I think part of the prepper stigma is due to the high level of rhetoric and fear mongering within the prepper community itself. Not all preppers are the same and some are on the extreme end of the ignorance scale when it comes to understanding the events they say they prep for.
I am a prepper but I am very turned off by most blogs I read. I’m a pacifist but every other blog tells me I need 10 guns with thousands of rounds of ammo to protect myself from the Golden Horde. I’m an atheist but every blog tells me the most important prep is my faith and bible.
Prepping needs to be eased into (job loss, local storm causing prolonged power outage, contaminated municipal water source, etc.) If you jump right into WW3, newbie preppers will be scared off.
I do agree with that. I feel that the fear mongering rhetoric within the prepper community is what’s often seen by “outsiders,” just like extremist points of views are most often what a specific group is associated with, whether or not that’s the core of what the group agrees with. Kinda sad, but indeed very true.
I do find that many, nowhere near all, of the websites related to prepping that I’ve come across bank a little on the fear mongering for views and such. Ebola.. *sigh. I just don’t understand how that was blown up to such a degree. And yet some blogs literally went from posting about prepping to ONLY posting about Ebola for months! Drove me crazy. I will say therefore that some of the negative stigma is the fault of the community. We should be more down to earth and realistic than we sometimes are – prepping without so much of the fear attached. I think then we’ve got a good chance of beating the stigma.
And you’re right, prepping does need to be eased into if you’re completely new to it. Most aren’t going to see the point to prepping for a SHTF situation before they see the point in prepping for job loss, and I’d argue that those priorities are right. Job loss is so much more probable. That being said, most people don’t even have preparing for that on their radar, which is quite worrying!
Hopefully people will start seeing the light of day, especially with unemployment being so high and likely only to get higher. We need to more seriously plan for our futures as a species – if we all take the good spells for granted and don’t plan for the worst ever, once that stuff happens, it’ll be brutal. So few will be prepared for a devastating economic crisis, which is bound to happen again eventually… Quite a shame.
Prepping IS cool! It’s about neat gadgets. It’s about being efficient with time, money, and space. Its about being ready for anything, any time while continuing every day life. It’s about knowing you’d thrive, while others barely survive. Most importantly it’s about being self sufficient, apocalypse or not. Prep on, pepper, prep on!
“Cool” is a bit of a hard sell to make I feel. What people deem “cool” these days just isn’t useful in any practical way.
I guess I’ll settle for “prepping is about making yourself awesome, and so much of a better person,” however. ;)
100% about being self-sufficient, apocalypse or not. Hell yes! And yes, indeed, it’s about “more than just surviving” !
“I’m not prepping because I have to work 50 hours a week to pay for twice as much house as I need, a new car every 36 months, 140 channels of cable to spoon feed me mindless entertainment, take out dinner 4 nights a week, latte’s every morning on the way to work, expensive vacations to the beach, and a 42″ cut riding mower for my postage stamp lawn!”- Let’s face it, we think they are just as crazy. I think my eyes have glazed over more than once listening to a coworker talk about their vacation to the Bahamas or whatever resort island they have just received a lethal dose of the suns radiation from. You know the places where the resort area is surrounded by a fence to keep them from seeing the poverty stricken natives that would just assume skin them for the change in their pockets? Acapulco anyone? The “new normal” where we run ourselves ragged in the pursuit of material goods helps the masses drown out the sound of the emptiness their lives have become. Living things become expendable in the face of the material. We pick up more work so that we can send our children to daycare instead of working less and spending more time with them. The same goes for our aging parents. We send them off to sketchy institutions driven by profit and staffed by the lowest common denominator. Then we’re all shocked and outraged when little johnny gets abused and grandma has bed sores. To me that’s bat “poop” crazy! I feel your pain when it comes to not quite “fitting” in at the office Christmas.. er I mean holiday party. Just remember, you are not crazy. Keep calm and prep on :)
LOL!! Yes, we do think they’re crazy. Absolutely bonkers for not setting aside even a cash emergency stockpile at minimum sometimes. I don’t know how some people get by with any sort of peace of mind these days! A giant house to maintain? A car that might break down and need maintenance? Enormous bills to pay, and probably not even a 3 month emergency fund? I think I’d actually lose it.
What I’ll understand even less is those who spend literally thousands on a vacation to a place that’s cheap to live in. If you really like the Bahamas that much, why don’t you move there? It’s pretty affordable…. why wouldn’t you rather live there than just vacation there for one week, taking up god knows how much of your income.. it’s just beyond me. But so many people do it. And isn’t it nicer to be in the actual country than at a resort – you know, where you can actually appreciate the culture and not just the good weather (which you can go to California or Florida for, realistically). I just don’t get it, lol.
Your point has certainly not fallen on deaf ears. You’re right I actually do see them as crazy for a lot of what you’ve pointed out.
And certainly will remember I’m not crazy, keep calm and prep on. You do the same ;), though seems like you’ve got things straight to begin with haha!
As one of your faithful Twitter followers, I read this article with great empathy. I am going to respond directly to it soon. Already 4 paragraphs deep, I realized that I was in a much deeper subject than I knew. I hope, in due time, to bring you both hope and encouragement. For now, I only encourage you to keep your passion, never lose your edge and maintain your zeal. For there are many of us who need you badly and more who simply don’t know it yet. Keep your eye on the prize and know that there are more with you than with “them”; and that in Texas, you’ll be hailed a hero sooner than late. Until my official response comes, I say “Peace” be with you and your husband. YOU, are doing what you’ve been called to do. Never let it go.
Such a nice thing to say, Kent! Really do appreciate the support!
That being said, I don’t care if it’s plenty more against than with me – what’s important is that I know what I’m doing is valuable and important to my own future. These people would certainly never stop me from being a prepper – I’m sure that nearly any prepper would agree, once you’ve seen the value in the preparedness lifestyle, doesn’t matter how much crap you get, you’re not going to change what you do because you realize your own well being is dependent on what you do today!
Glad to have awesome people like you following us on Twitter and the blog. It’s very encouraging to say the least when people like you stop by and comment.
Wishing you the very best as well, x
“Trekker” is what you do, an adventure you undertake for fun – and you’re (supposedly) in complete control the whole time.
Prepping means that a disaster (small-scale or large) could happen here, to me, at any given time. Rather than confront that uncomfortable thought, most retreat back to their happy place where danger is far away…
Yes, that’s a very, very good point. Michael wrote in a comment when I posted this on Google+ that “Those that fight it fear the need for it,” and I really felt quite strongly that that statement rings true. I feel you’re striking the same chord here with what you’ve said – and totally agree. There definitely does seem to be a fear element (and denial too) wrapped into this stigma.
There is actually a term that describes where a lot of the denial comes from, its called “Normalcy Bias”.. For example, anyone who believes electricity will always be available, because “this is America, and the electricity has always been available therefor always will be”, suffers from this normalcy bias. Same with those that feel water will always be available, or the govt. will always be there to take care of them, because they’ve always been there in the past. Strange dilemma, how to we break this cycle? Thats why we get all the crazy looks, because somehow our desires to be prepared are “irrational” to those suffering from this bias. No one has ever needed to prepare before, why should they need to now?.. My name is Jerry, and I AM a prepper..
That’s a great way to put it, I think!
Yeah, I’ve heard of the normalcy bias, but it doesn’t seem to have much of an effect on me. I’m sure I’d be labelled either as a pessimist or a paranoid personality, or even way too neurotic because of that!
Yet I still firmly believe you can prepare with little to no overarching anxiety about the future! You don’t have to be constantly anxious about what might happen to acknowledge the possibility of something bad occurring, and thus to prepare for that potential event. Besides, prepping helps anxiety subside the more you prepare – as you become confident in your ability to get through tough times. S’how I feel at least.
Hello Jerry. I’m Susan and I am a Prepper. I try to feel people out to see how they react. Most are more hard core than me, but are men. I find men preppers are into gadgets and women are into keeping the norm as much as possible. I do not understand how anyone can watch the world news and not be storing stuff and food. Even if it isn’t an EMP or something catastrophic, it can be a job loss or an ice storm (I have gone through both). That stockpile was much appreciated by more than just me. We have to do what we know to be right for us and ours. Good Luck!
It’s Flamingo Syndrome – heads buried in the sand. But this blog can show others that preparedness is as normal as buying all of your groceries for the week. Keep up the good work. You’re breaking down the stigmas.
Thanks, Jon :). Quite a huge compliment.
Or the Book of Eli, or The Road…
So…my wife and I were having problems and we were seeing a marriage counselor. During one meeting with the counselor, I happen to mention that I was going to stop on the way home and get a couple of 50 lb. bags of rice because I had just heard a story on the bird flu. I also mention that I happen to like “apocalyptic” fiction. OMG. Think of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. The therapist immediately proclaimed that I had an anxiety disorder and that I needed to be on drugs and that I was the cause of all the problems in the marriage and that I better not think about buying a gun and on and on and on. It was absolutely surreal. The divorce will be final in a few months and I get to keep the rice and all our outdoor gear.
What the hell..?? That is so nuts… I hardly know what to say!
Sounds like one of those horror stories one might make up as a joke to insist “it could happen one day.” Crazy that this actually happened to you – and so damn sad at the same time!
Pretty much in shock over here.
Good job Warren. Stick to your guns, both figuratively and literally. Prepping causes divorce, and if not divorce then a lot of friction. Nothing divides a family quicker than prepping. And this is a good, good thing. Who the hell needs a nonprepper when shft. After shft you’ll be a hero, but it will be too late for those that wouldn’t listen. God bless and good job on keeping the rice, beans, and outdoor gear. God bless!
I guess you should have said nothing. Or explained you really like rice!!!
Who cares what other people think that you want to be a prepper or survivalist really none of their damn business any way. Just saying. Anyway it is good to keep quite about what you are doing . That way when the shtf they wont come to your place and leave you alone. But is also good to stay in a tight nit community in prepping cause you can count on each other where as the outside world could care less . Your are a lot up on the ones that do not prep . You be looking through your binos at them in fema camps . Like i said just keep on what you doing and forget about others that don’t want to listen , that is their problem not yours !! Just my opinion , probably catch crap for it but you can not make everybody happy all the time and last time i checked we still are in the land of the free to a certain extent. So everyone is entitled to their say .
Anti Depressants, anti psychotics and anti biotics seem to be the most over prescribed medication in the world these days right after ADD medication.
Here’s something to consider though. Get the prescription filled. You know you don’t need to take it. Store and use it in the event that you can’t get any but have them on hand.
See? Silverlining right there.
Also…you’re marriage therapist might wanna take a hard look at his medicine cabinet!
That was a really unprofessional therapist. They did not know how to do their job right. You should ditch them and find another therapist if that’s the kind of thing they say.
She’ll be the first one over at your house when shtf. Every Christmas you should send her a can of corn for her stockpile. With a note, one less can I have to worry about.