My mate has just been round and I broached the subject of prepping to him. He was unreceptive stating if anything did happen I was more than likely to get attacked and robbed once people found out I had stuff . Although not totally negative; he said that he can't be worrying about the problem and will just deal with it if it happens. I tried to expand on the fact that I was not preparing for Nuclear/Zombie/meteorite event, but if there was a power failure, diesel strike, I know my limitations. However, I said that I've 70 litres bottled water, 80 gallon water storage and rainwater butts for toilet use. Plus extended food stocks, which amount to tinned beans, potatoes evap milk, chopped pork and dried foods including pasta and rice. One of his arguments was that he was living day to day and he could not afford to buy extra food. I said the beans cost about 8p and the potatoes not much more. I was trying to convince him that all I was doing was avoiding the madness of going to the shops when the shelves will probably empty and that a little fore thought now will prevent that. I think he went on the attack then because he tried to justify his apathy by saying what I was doing was practically pointless and probably just trying to make myself feel better. He came back to the argument that mob rule will prevail and that my stash will be stolen. Or if you have survived a few weeks whilst your neighbours are dying from thirst and hunger; he proposed that I would get lynched if they found out. Now I've got to agree that there is a possibility of people getting pi**ed off if they found out, but I said I was prepared to take that chance. I still persisted and attempted to explain that I was preparing for an event which would only last about a couple of weeks. I gave him an example of the C4 program about the electricity shortage due to a massive power failure, once again it fell on deaf ears. He then told me that I should not have told him about my plans, because if the SHTF; he would be around and gave the emotional blackmail of his two young grand daughters. He asked what would I do in that position and also proposed, what would he do if I refused and gave him nothing. Fair points and a lesson in keeping my mouth shut. I have to be fair because at the end of the conversation he said that we could form a cooperative between ourselves and pool our resources, although If I'm the primary provider of food in the event; I would just be sharing all my resources with the limited contributions from others. He kept proposing that you would have to bug out and I of course answered, where? The conversation would have continued but he was on a late and had to go, but I don't think he has changed his stance. On leaving he said "I've got a box of candles and that's the extent of my prepping" Hence the title of the thread being what it is. Any thoughts?
Phil
Burying your head in the sand???
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
Tough one that, all we can do is try and put our points across like you did, it is up to the individual to decide if they want to live day to day or prep, the hard part i suppose is the blackmail with his granddaughters, could we sit there and let our friends children/grandchildren starve or something?? I don't know, personally i wouldn't tell anyone apart from wife/husband etc the extent of my preps, just in case they blabbed it out and a bunch of nasties turned up at my door during say a food shortage. And yes, basic food preps like beans do cost pennies, as you say jus a few days extra of food can make the difference.
Maybe a small food shortage or say being snowed in with no way to get supplies may just jog him into doing some minor prepping. Unfortunately we do get tarnished with the Zombie nutters and a lot of non preppers also think of us as the Hollywood preppers, underground bunkers with machine guns, and thousands of rounds of ammo to go with them.
Just for the record, Mrs DustyDog, doesn't agree with the amount of food i keep, but understands why i keep it, sometimes that is the best you can do, have your friends undrestand why, even if they do not agree.
Keep nibbling away at him if you feel he will allow it, maybe it will sink in eventually.
Maybe a small food shortage or say being snowed in with no way to get supplies may just jog him into doing some minor prepping. Unfortunately we do get tarnished with the Zombie nutters and a lot of non preppers also think of us as the Hollywood preppers, underground bunkers with machine guns, and thousands of rounds of ammo to go with them.
Just for the record, Mrs DustyDog, doesn't agree with the amount of food i keep, but understands why i keep it, sometimes that is the best you can do, have your friends undrestand why, even if they do not agree.
Keep nibbling away at him if you feel he will allow it, maybe it will sink in eventually.
Up in the wet South Lakeland
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
Personally, I NEVER broach the topic with anyone. In the past I have tried, now I do not bother. Why? Firstly your 'target' will think you are a nutter. Full stop. Secondly, they ALWAYS say that if there is a problem , " we will come to your house".
In my neighbourhood I am the 'Practical Bloke' who has a garden/ animals/ fixes stuff/ chops logs etc. the extent of what I have is known only to my immediate family.
In my neighbourhood I am the 'Practical Bloke' who has a garden/ animals/ fixes stuff/ chops logs etc. the extent of what I have is known only to my immediate family.
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Me.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Me.
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
I've never openly talked about it to anyone. The Brambling knows and that's about it. In the Close, I'm known for my home cooking, preserving and allotmenteering and a few of us swap this and that, but I would never admit to the scale of things 
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain~anon
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
Maybe a lesson there, be very selective about who you tell if anyone. I've got one mate who knows that I've got a stash and one neighbour who has a fair idea even though I've never come out and said it. Even Missus Deeps doesn't really know the extent of our preps, she's still dubious about it all.
Your mate pointed out a valid point (in my view) about being robbed, to that end I'd be inclined to help out neighbours with food etc, it would very much depend on the scenario of course but if its in their interest to keep you and your stores safe it gives you an element of security. You might be bringing more to the gig than them (maybe not by much, not all the non preppers only keep a days worth of food in the house) but your huge stash counts for nothing when you're fending off hordes of neighbours. If you get injured or hurt, who'll keep things going ? There's also the issue of friends and neighbours that you are involved with, could you turn your back on them ? Even if you have the means to stop people breaking in (firearms being an obvious example) would you be prepared to use them when at the back of your mind you know the crisis might be over in a couple of weeks and law and order would be restored. Going with the relatively short term thing, unless you're planning on moving afterwards your neighbours won't be too happy to see you after holding out on them. Its all stuff we need to consider.
Your mate pointed out a valid point (in my view) about being robbed, to that end I'd be inclined to help out neighbours with food etc, it would very much depend on the scenario of course but if its in their interest to keep you and your stores safe it gives you an element of security. You might be bringing more to the gig than them (maybe not by much, not all the non preppers only keep a days worth of food in the house) but your huge stash counts for nothing when you're fending off hordes of neighbours. If you get injured or hurt, who'll keep things going ? There's also the issue of friends and neighbours that you are involved with, could you turn your back on them ? Even if you have the means to stop people breaking in (firearms being an obvious example) would you be prepared to use them when at the back of your mind you know the crisis might be over in a couple of weeks and law and order would be restored. Going with the relatively short term thing, unless you're planning on moving afterwards your neighbours won't be too happy to see you after holding out on them. Its all stuff we need to consider.
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
It was a lesson Deeps, but if you don't approach people now, how would you build up a group. It's a minefield and as many have advised, try and keep it a secret. I've said on another topic that I would keep quiet, but now I'm not sure. I compare it to throwing a pebble in a pond, the ripples just keep on going. When you think of your immediate family and the fact that they've done more or less nothing to prepare; I'm starting to think maybe we would better off being in the same boat and doing nothing, because as you say, how can you turn your back on them. All of my immediate family of seven live less than a mile away. It is a moral dilemma, of which I think I know what I would do, most people would do the same.
Phil
Phil
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
Good luck with it Phil, I don't suppose there's only one right way to do it. There's probably a few on here who aren't as discreet as we think we are. As for your family, it depends on what you're prepping for but if you've got the space, squirrel away more preps on their behalf maybe ?filsgreen wrote:It was a lesson Deeps, but if you don't approach people now, how would you build up a group. It's a minefield and as many have advised, try and keep it a secret. I've said on another topic that I would keep quiet, but now I'm not sure. I compare it to throwing a pebble in a pond, the ripples just keep on going. When you think of your immediate family and the fact that they've done more or less nothing to prepare; I'm starting to think maybe we would better off being in the same boat and doing nothing, because as you say, how can you turn your back on them. All of my immediate family of seven live less than a mile away. It is a moral dilemma, of which I think I know what I would do, most people would do the same.
Phil
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23pioneer
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
you will now have to kill your friend and eat him so word does not get out.
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
It is a tough one, for sure. However, I am of a mind to look after just me and mine, quietly. In my post earlier about shops being shut, I mentioned the stupid woman who had nothing in for the kids breakfast. That is the general attitude now.
Today I spent a load of my cash filling the gaps in the pantry. The shops were full of food. In a crisis, why should I hand it over the neighbours ? My neighbours either side do not hold back on the holidays etc. they have the means to keep a bit of grub in. One of 'em asked to borrow a hammer for Pete's Sake!!! Back in January we had a four hour powercut. Neighbour 'A' came round to see what was happening. Our telly was on as we had the Gennie running, and the woodburner was full bore. The comments came of course and I offered them a radio to keep up with the news. My Wife thought I was harsh. I asked them a week later if they had bought a torch and batteries yet. No. " it doesn't happen that often does it?" I told them now was their chance, don't come to me. " oh, we know that!" Was the answer. GOOD.
An analogy you could use is this. Substitute Money for Food. You are out of work and skint. You knock on the door of an obviously wealthy neighbour demanding cash. You say, "but you have more than you need, hoarding all that cash is wrong when I need it." Ain't gonna happen is it.
Regarding security, well what folks don't know don't bother 'em. In a lawless or crisis situation if someone tries to break into my house or property it willbe dealt with according to the moment. Personally, I do not envisage ( in my lifetime at least) a total breakdown of Society. Obviously you never say never , but it is not on my priority list.
Today I spent a load of my cash filling the gaps in the pantry. The shops were full of food. In a crisis, why should I hand it over the neighbours ? My neighbours either side do not hold back on the holidays etc. they have the means to keep a bit of grub in. One of 'em asked to borrow a hammer for Pete's Sake!!! Back in January we had a four hour powercut. Neighbour 'A' came round to see what was happening. Our telly was on as we had the Gennie running, and the woodburner was full bore. The comments came of course and I offered them a radio to keep up with the news. My Wife thought I was harsh. I asked them a week later if they had bought a torch and batteries yet. No. " it doesn't happen that often does it?" I told them now was their chance, don't come to me. " oh, we know that!" Was the answer. GOOD.
An analogy you could use is this. Substitute Money for Food. You are out of work and skint. You knock on the door of an obviously wealthy neighbour demanding cash. You say, "but you have more than you need, hoarding all that cash is wrong when I need it." Ain't gonna happen is it.
Regarding security, well what folks don't know don't bother 'em. In a lawless or crisis situation if someone tries to break into my house or property it willbe dealt with according to the moment. Personally, I do not envisage ( in my lifetime at least) a total breakdown of Society. Obviously you never say never , but it is not on my priority list.
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Me.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Me.
Re: Burying your head in the sand???
jansman wrote:It is a tough one, for sure. However, I am of a mind to look after just me and mine, quietly. In my post earlier about shops being shut, I mentioned the stupid woman who had nothing in for the kids breakfast. That is the general attitude now.
Today I spent a load of my cash filling the gaps in the pantry. The shops were full of food. In a crisis, why should I hand it over the neighbours ? My neighbours either side do not hold back on the holidays etc. they have the means to keep a bit of grub in. One of 'em asked to borrow a hammer for Pete's Sake!!! Back in January we had a four hour powercut. Neighbour 'A' came round to see what was happening. Our telly was on as we had the Gennie running, and the woodburner was full bore. The comments came of course and I offered them a radio to keep up with the news. My Wife thought I was harsh. I asked them a week later if they had bought a torch and batteries yet. No. " it doesn't happen that often does it?" I told them now was their chance, don't come to me. " oh, we know that!" Was the answer. GOOD.
An analogy you could use is this. Substitute Money for Food. You are out of work and skint. You knock on the door of an obviously wealthy neighbour demanding cash. You say, "but you have more than you need, hoarding all that cash is wrong when I need it." Ain't gonna happen is it.
Regarding security, well what folks don't know don't bother 'em. In a lawless or crisis situation if someone tries to break into my house or property it willbe dealt with according to the moment. Personally, I do not envisage ( in my lifetime at least) a total breakdown of Society. Obviously you never say never , but it is not on my priority list.
I'm not sure its the 'general' attitude, she sounds like a bit of a phuqwit to be fair. Most folk would be able to feed themselves for a few days, there might be some odd mixes, as long as there's power they would be able to cook something, quite a few have camping/festival gear too, again, probably not stocking the levels of fuel most of us will right enough. My point is that its not usually one extreme or the other for a lot of folk, they could probably muddle through for a few days, yes you will always get people who are hopeless cases, same as any aspect of life but if the zombie apocalypse happened the day after the 'big shop' a lot of people would manage for a week or so if they had to.