Friend or Foe, potential Ally

[Plymtom]

I stand by the groups thing, but into the hat I must throw a quote from my good wife when talking about fellow pagans "just because someone is a pagan, doesn't mean they are OK" there may well have been a little stronger language involved, but she was right, however people meet, whatever their like mindedness, you still need to get to know people.

[Malthouse]

I agree with your missus!

Preppers are easy to spot in WROL, they are the ones thriving

[Devonian]

This was recently discussed on another UK Prepping site that I frequent and it was suggested that a patch ... could be used as a way to "discretely" identify other preppers when out and about.

You have hit the nail on the head though, there are so many Prepper groups out there that it would be hit and miss. I am a member of no less than 4 Prepping sites, 2 of which would not recognise such a patch.

It might be better to recognise a universal Prepper phrase?

The problem with a phrase or secret hand shake is that you already need to be in contact with the person, AND then you are waiting for a response/acknowledgement which may or may not materialise.

Whereas the badge, which wasn't developed by the 'other forum' and is meant to be a universally recognised Preppers Badge for all preppers, just like the fish symbol is for Christians.

So the idea is, if you then see someone with the following badge, you already know that they are likely, but not always as per Tom's missus's statement, to be receptive to you and have a similar mind set.

[Plymtom]

So the idea is, if you then see someone with the following badge, you already know that they are likely, but not always as per Tom's missus's statement, to be receptive to you and have a similar mind set.

I do like the idea, whether I would do it, I don't know, or I could just strike up conversations with those who do, My Missus was being cynical, when you add it all up you just have to interact to survive, so you may as well do it with people you have common ground with. My wife has as have I been let down by friends, family even for her entire life, in the Pagan world for me some had a warped sense of reality as if the inquisition was ongoing or a ghetto like chip on the shoulder if you get what I mean, I take as I find, and all too often there are people who seem to be receptive to you and have a similar mind set, and yet still can be complete prats to the extent that they could make a bad situation worse, for my purposes those with tunnel vision, fixated on one or a few very bad specific scenarios with mass die off - this really is rocking horse manure territory, not impossible I know, but when you think of WW1 and WW2 and the ongoing troubles in far off places where people are or have been trying to ethnic cleanse countries, the numbers do not begin to add up to the level such events as some of feel will occur everywhere all at once.

Sorry for the ramble, I suppose in some ways I'm saying I've engaged folk here for the sake of debate and with an open mind to other points of view, there are a good few I would be more than happy to have as neighbors, I admire their attitude and walking the walk, there have been others I'd be happier to live hundreds of miles away from

[StkprtBginBgout]

I like the idea of being able to recognise a fellow prepper without the need to have met prior. In current situations I think the use of a recognised phrase or symbol would work. However I have my doubts about it in a SHTF situation...a physical object be it token, patch or whatever can always be transferred an may not always end up in the correct hands. Im sure it wouldnt take long for people to start stealing them or even coming accross one by accident. Of course you would use your own initiative whether or not you trust them based on them having a token but in my mind I could see my self being more warey of the token that friendly. I can see a phrase being more useful but getting itnaround to everyone prior to something happening and on top of that the whole chinese whispers thing could mean one person says it different from the next, would that cause you to think they have only heard it elsewhere or guessing or are they a genuine "friend". Of course this is only opinion, as I said im all for the ides but I can see the issues also.

[Devonian]

I suppose in some ways I'm saying I've engaged folk here for the sake of debate and with an open mind to other points of view, there are a good few I would be more than happy to have as neighbors, I admire their attitude and walking the walk, there have been others I'd be happier to live hundreds of miles away from

Yes I can fully appreciate where you are coming from with this and my own location serves me well in this regards

[Malthouse]

I have an idea for a symbol, don't want to post it publicly but it would be for arranging a time and place to meet. Any good?

[tyr1986]

I find this very interesting as it would be useful to know other peppers as people! Have said to form new alliances and pool recourses even form communities.
The only downsides I can see to this is if information about it gets out in the mainstream it could be used by dishonest people not only if something happens but even now there are a lots of people like in the states at the moment who are spinning a tall tail about peppers being nut jobs etc.
Also people may start to associate us with other groups (esp if its secret hand shakes) like the masons.

On a third lighter note I have the image of a cold war type sketch of two people meeting and exchanging phrases like "the snow falls on the rooftops of St Petersburg" and the reply "but it never settles on the streets" lol.

But as I said before this is an idea and one worth bearing in mind esp if setting up a prepped community.

[k.d.w.v.]

I'm new on here and been looking around and I find this part of the forum a bit strange and clicky . I'd happily share what I have and know with anyone and my family cos we are better off together , I have a lot to give and I'm sure know plenty more than many on here and I'd teach and be greatful of the help of others to form a small community . Surely if we as a group of preppers had a link we could pool resources ? Seems strange to me that people think they would be better alone ? Or am I reading this wrong .

[Plymtom]

Or am I reading this wrong .

Perhaps without re reading the whole thing I remember it being more about sticking your neck out and taking chances on new people, yes a group would be better, but on the pooling of resources front most of us would be at an unfair disadvantage with a group that didn't pull their weight, it's not easy, on the forum front we are spread out too much to form a community, and as I said before there was one person here for a while lived within walking distance, i didn't mind talking to, but I couldn't team up with, we would clash.