Any non-deranged survivalists out there?

Jontg

The Bear Skeptic
Jontg
Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
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I've been taking an interest in increasing my own independence for awhile now, and I think I'm going to need more than books, an exercise regime, and the odd nature walk to have a realistic chance of living on my own if [insert apocalypse of choice here]. I need solid information, from experienced sources--and what I have are raving lunatics. Crypto-Libertarians, Neo-Nazis, blood n' granola radicals, Christian death-worshippers, and flat-out Anarchists, all fighting over the women and spam while they wait for the Jewish Masonic Socialist Neocon Space Lizard s*** to hit the fan.
Frankly, I don't want advice on surviving the end of the world from the people most likely to cause it, so I'm turning to what I know from experience is one of the most diverse talent pools on the internet to ask if anyone here knows of a good, relatively sane site for learning about basic survival technique without joining the Righteous Free Brotherhood of Manly Vegan Outlaw Children of Space Jesus, No Girls Allowed.
 
well, just because they are deranged Crypto-Libertarians, Neo-Nazis, blood n' granola radicals, Christian death-worshippers, and flat-out Anarchists, it doesn't mean what they have to offer in terms of survivalist education is wrong or bad. Why not take their survivalist info and leave their ideology behind?

Or, to directly answer your question: no. Everyone I know is crazy in some regard. Some more than others. Same goes for any survivalists I've encountered.
 
The sane survivalists I have met and seen would be very unlikely to be hanging out on the internet. They are usually too busy enjoying their life style, and most I have seen dont even have electricity.

I am not trying to smart, just making an observation.

I do however know a guy up Idaho way who runs a store that outfits a lot of suvivalists, I will drop him a line for you and see if he has any suggestions for you
 
You don't really need an apocalypse or war - a natural disaster, fire or what-have-you could be enough for you to suddenly need an emergency kit. A fireproof safe with spare clothing, cash, things that mean a lot to you, and survival stuff is a good investment, even if you never need it.

As for survival training, just find a survival training group. Skip the CT stuff totally by posting this in the Forum Community, and learn a trick or two.
 
Pick up the SAS Survival Handbook and the SAS Urban Survival Handbook by John “Lofty” Wiseman.

The first is more geared towards wilderness survival while the second, as the title suggests, is more geared towards survival in civilized areas.
 
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Hey Johntg

Survival happens in a place, presumably the place you're at. There are also lots of others around you in that space who have or should have the same concerns. Distant as the concerns may be. You should talk to some of them about these things, in the sense that if [whatever] you all know who to call - your survival network - just down the street, etc. to pool your resources and circle the wagons against the roving pagan motorcycle gangs that will exert control of your area after the great fall.

Talking on the internet won't help as much, except that you might get good advice like this.

ETA: My main point was, there's only so much that's worth doing or wise to prepare, IMO. Food hoarding for fear of shortage is like a run on the bank, if there's really such a problem. I think what I mean is we'll all pull together and figure it out if anything that requires "survialism" to survive should happen. Mostly, just try not to die and you'll do pretty good.
 
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Jontg said:
I've been taking an interest in increasing my own independence for awhile now, and I think I'm going to need more than books, an exercise regime, and the odd nature walk to have a realistic chance of living on my own if [insert apocalypse of choice here]. I need solid information, from experienced sources--and what I have are raving lunatics. Crypto-Libertarians, Neo-Nazis, blood n' granola radicals, Christian death-worshippers, and flat-out Anarchists, all fighting over the women and spam while they wait for the Jewish Masonic Socialist Neocon Space Lizard s*** to hit the fan.
Frankly, I don't want advice on surviving the end of the world from the people most likely to cause it, so I'm turning to what I know from experience is one of the most diverse talent pools on the internet to ask if anyone here knows of a good, relatively sane site for learning about basic survival technique without joining the Righteous Free Brotherhood of Manly Vegan Outlaw Children of Space Jesus, No Girls Allowed.
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That would be because it takes a certain level of insanity to invest the time and money to be a survivalist. The expected pay off is near 0 or even negative - you are much more likely to be hit by a car or struck by lightning then being alive in the world when The Apocalypse (TM) occurs.

So you'd have to get information from people who seriously believe that the end is nigh, otherwise they wouldn't bother wasting such copious amounts of time and money. And those people...are the nut cases you describe. Sane people don't invest time and money on things that are never likely to happen.

Beyond preparing for a basic natural disaster which is likely to hit you depending on where you live (hurricanes along the coast, snow storms if you live up north), there is no reason to prepare for anything unless you are taken to flights of fantasy about a post-Apocalypse world. And really all that comes down to is having enough cash on hand to get out of town if needed and maybe a few blankets in the car, anything more is overdoing it.
 
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Pretending you are preparing for an apocolypse (in my case, a zombie one) makes storm preparations more fun.

Or, if you want my more serious answer, I don't really think there is going to be any civilization-crushing, Fallout-style apocolypse. However, I have lived through several hurricanes and experienced the powerlessness in their wake. So I decided that in the future, I will not be dependent on FEMA and such for my survival or even my comfort. This lead to something of a survivalist mindset.

From there it's a short step from "I don't know when the power will come on" to "what if the power never comes on".
 
Rogue1stclass said:
Pretending you are preparing for an apocolypse (in my case, a zombie one) makes storm preparations more fun.
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Except when you have to explain to your family why you bought more shotgun shells than food rations. :D
 
Non-deranged survivalist here. You'll need the following:

A basic survivalist guide. This guide should tell you what plants are edible, what plantss have medicinal qualities and miscellanious qualities (the oily food of a coconut makes a fairly good sunblock) as well as making certain things like a rain-proof shelter and traps for hunting, or a fire.

You need firearms. Not a tricked out AR-15 though with an AR-15 and conversion kits you can hunt anything in North America except Grizzly and Buffalo).

A med kit, not a full fledged trauma kit, juts stuff to make splints, sow up minor wounds and anti-biotic ointments.

Appropriate clothing. And a lightweight sleeping bag.

Compass, maps, GPS if you can though you'll need to take extra batteries with you.

Fire-making tools.

This is all you need to live in the wilderness for several weeks.



If you are a deranged suvivalist, then you'll have more ammo and firearms than any other supply.

In truth, you don't need that much ammo. A rabbit will feed one person for a day. If you are by yourself and have a .22LR Rifle, 4 'bricks' of ammo and one shot per dead rabbit can last for 2000 days.

My survivalist weapon is a Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Tactical. Shotgun is a do-all weapon; squirrel, pheasant, rabbit, turkey, Deer and boar. With rifled slugs I can kill deer at your average hunting range in the area which is less than 100 yards. Hunting is not staying in a tree stand and killing deer at 400 yards.
 
Egil said:
You need firearms. Not a tricked out AR-15 though with an AR-15 and conversion kits you can hunt anything in North America except Grizzly and Buffalo).

A med kit, not a full fledged trauma kit, juts stuff to make splints, sow up minor wounds and anti-biotic ointments.

Appropriate clothing. And a lightweight sleeping bag.

Compass, maps, GPS if you can though you'll need to take extra batteries with you.

Fire-making tools.

This is all you need to live in the wilderness for several weeks.
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Really? Is that all you need? I've seen all the Ray Mears shows on Discovery, and he never said anything about guns. He does however stress the need for something that is not on your list: a knife. You know, for cutting branches to make a hut, for cutting things before eating them and so on.
 
Earthborn said:
Really? Is that all you need? I've seen all the Ray Mears shows on Discovery, and he never said anything about guns. He does however stress the need for something that is not on your list: a knife. You know, for cutting branches to make a hut, for cutting things before eating them and so on.
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A knife goes without saying. I carry a small knfie at all times. I would carry a bigger knife with me at all times but it would be illegal despite the fact that I also travel legally with a handgun and three magazines on my body.

A Firearm is to make surviving easier and defense. A Shotgun is multipurpose; bird, rabbit, squirrel, turkey, geese, deer, boar. They make fire-starter shells, flare shells, net shells, infact you could probably make a fishing shell that has a sinker, line and baited lure.

Even the Russians sent cosmonauts into space with a survival gun, could fire flare, shot and rifle rounds, ten rounds for each barrel.
 
madurobob said:
well, just because they are deranged Crypto-Libertarians, Neo-Nazis, blood n' granola radicals, Christian death-worshippers, and flat-out Anarchists, it doesn't mean what they have to offer in terms of survivalist education is wrong or bad. Why not take their survivalist info and leave their ideology behind?

Or, to directly answer your question: no. Everyone I know is crazy in some regard. Some more than others. Same goes for any survivalists I've encountered.
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learn the techniques and filter out the motivation my son. Very simple.
 
I've done some extended wilderness camping, without guns or knife. Those are fairly new tools, and unneccesary.
Here's what I found most useful:

Knowledge of and ability to fast, without freaking out. If you can easily manage a week or two without food, it takes a lot of the edge off. Best to practice a few times, prior.

Ability to be silent and still, for hours, if need be.

Willingness to eat insects.
 
Having been involved with emergency management for years (Starting way back when it was known as Civil Defense- or "Silly Defense" by its detractors) and including a stint writing plans for how my state could survive a nuclear war, I'm a strong believer in folks knowing how to manage in all kinds of disasters. But I've always been frustrated by a lot of the survivalist literature out there. You get into what appears to be a good book or site about managing on your own, and there it is: A rant about the lack of religion in the schools, the dangers about the New World Order, the evil plots of the Jews, and on and on.

Mentioned already is to simply separate the survivalist stuff from the ideology. Good advice, although I find it personally hard to wade through practical advice when it's interspersed with right wing outbursts. Others can likely offer suggestions about various web sites. I'll simply mention that many of the books written by Bradford Angier are well worth a look- easy reading and without the extremest survivalist nonsense. I suspect a quick web search will turn up links to his books and articles.
 
You also need to learn to survive where you live.

If you live in the 'burbs, when the Big Whatever comes and you try to run off into the woods to live like a Mountain Man, chances are you'll just get stuck in traffic and run out of gas on the highway.

You need have the ability and tools to hole up in and defend your house until such a time as a route out of town is clear, which it may never be.
 
1337m4n said:
Except when you have to explain to your family why you bought more shotgun shells than food rations. :D
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This was easy.

My rifle is chambered in 5.45mm Soviet. This ammo is hard to find at local gunshops, so buying a case of 1080 rounds was actually kind of sensible.
 
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