Would You Consider Joining A Prepper Inspired Community?

[grenfell]

That's all about to change, shortly lots of people currently on furlough will become unemployed and massively overwhelmed by their righteous sense of entitlement. As soon as the employer has to pitch in to the tune of 20% the deadwood will be shed. The honeymoon period is nearly over.

On another forum i visit as a guest someone asked if 25% of working people are furloughed and GDP has dropped by 20.4% does that mean 4.6% of the working population aren't contributing , or are "deadwood" . Probably not as simple maths as that but i agree with you that things will change and unemployment will rise. I can see the argument about which was worse , the effects of the virus or the effects of the counter measures to drag on for some time yet.

[jansman]

Can't help thinking 25% of the population being paid to sit on their arses has taken the edge off this apocalypse.

That is a very sharp observation.We are seeing the economic devastation in the developing countries,who were unable to provide support to their populations. Not that our nation had a few trillion quid tucked away; they have yet to print that,or screw that deficit out of those of us who remain in employment!

Had the U.K.population been forced to live off their own wits and resources,it would have truly been an apocalyptic scene.I was furloughed myself for 6 weeks,and right from the start,I didn't believe the government would deliver on all the promises.So much so,that I made sure I had cash in the bank to cover zero wages.I also lined up potential work.

Many cannot do that though,as a combination of low wages,zero hours and gig economy conditions have reduced folks' abikity to build personal resilience.Which is why the coming months and years are going to be tough.Many of those still furloughed,are victims of the economic downturn that was happening before Covid 19 - the virus merely accelerated the process.It has shown us in quite a stark manner,who is,and who is not valued in our society.In short the Useless Eaters,both at the top and bottom of the employment spectrum.That's the drawback of a service based economy.A Deliveroo rider,or an Estate Agent or Financial Advisor are not,strictly speaking,necessary to the economy. During lockdown though,we saw Health Workers and Food Retail/ Producers in the spotlight.

Which brings us neatly around to the topic we are discussing.Whilst our current society can help,in the short term,to support economically inactive persons,or those without relevant skills ,in a sustained and widescale situation it cannot be viable. An intentional community would see this quite swiftly I think.

[Raven]

Arwen Thebard

Son of Andrew posted in the new members section about a approach to preppeing in a “Viking prepardness” style/way of life.

Is that the kind of network you were thinking of wanting to be a part of?

Lone - check out the post and let me know what you think. The Viking part sounds up your hill

[Lone]

Raven

Funnily enough...I study military history...but venture into the earlier history too.

The studying includes the American Indians and Zulus...when I think of Vikings I tend to imagine Beowulf, plus the berserkers and the story of a single Viking holding a narrow bridge alone against a large enemy group.

They all lived off the land one way or another...warrior societies and so forth.

I found myself drawn to the loyalty of the samurai too...their beliefs, etc., I guess I would likely be termed a Ronin though...a masterless samurai !

I’ve watched numerous documentaries on all...Living History events could be learned a lot from, plus re-enactment groups on how a Viking society operated...seeing people and the dwellings, food, weapons, tactics the Vikings would have used firsthand, allowing you to touch items, see things being made, plus getting some answers to questions.

Historical prepping at its best...for fighting, storing for winters, food preparation, shelters, etc

As I studied the Alamo 1836 too, I gave my house the nickname of ‘The Alamo’...defending my property from anyone else outside the walls !

[Raven]

Funnily enough...I study military history...but venture into the earlier history too.

Historical prepping at its best...for fighting, storing for winters, food preparation, shelters, etc

As I studied the Alamo 1836 too, I gave my house the nickname of ‘The Alamo’...defending my property from anyone else outside the walls !

Lone, I had a feeling...call it instinct...LOL

There is definitely a lot to be learnt from the past I agree. And yes the few reenactment weekends I’ve visited as a tourist were very informative...although I imagine I got different things from it than your average tourist. I always thought it would be fun to do it for a weekend, like a hands-on learning weekend on a glimpse of how stuff had to get done.

The Alamo...that’s quite cool. I bet there are some samurai swords in your fortress too! Decorative of course ( )

Maybe something else for you to look into...or still too many people/risks?

[Lone]

Raven

Instinct ? I like it...human instinct or did your animal guide find you ?

Nope..no samurai swords...might accidentally cut myself !

Got a book on the samurai, plus the wonderful story of the 47 Ronin (ignore the dreadful Reeves film) plus my other (calming idea) a bonsai book. Nice lone samurai mosaic framed on my wall too.

Personally, I feel Survivalism books/videoes, etc., are over-engineered, when much of what we can learn is from history, that is, if you seek the basics of survival, with the benefit of some modern kit.

Just my own opinion though...there are many variations of what others seek from this subject

[Raven]

Oh? Now that does surprise me...that you don't have any samurai swords for decoration....An ex of mine had a fake bat'leth!

I think we all take different things from situations.

It is why we have different strengths and weaknesses.

[grenfell]

I re-enact , not viking , but 15th century and tend to lean more towards the living history side of it . I find many parallels . With the fighting side there's short periods of activity and longer periods of waiting around . We portray the support services of the army , the blacksmiths , carpenters , fletchers , cooks and so on although we do provide bodies for the battles .
On one occasion we had a member of the public asking about who was the "most important" person in the period and he added that he believed it to be the blacksmith as he provided the tools for other trades. We tried to point out that perhaps medieval society shouldn't be viewed quite that way and to a greater degree than now people were more an integral part of the whole society. " without the blacksmith the carpenter has no tools , without the carpenter the farmer has no plough , without the farmer the baker has no flour , and without the baker the blacksmith has no bread" . We could of added the miner and charcoal burner that supplied the blacksmith but the point was made that remove one of those and there would be greater disruption than removing many of the jobs we have nowadays in service industries.
Perhaps that's the sort of parallel that we should have in a community. Each having a part and feeling that part is important and positive. Simple question if there were two communities that one could join , one comprising farmers , builders , engineers , tailors and teachers and the other being human resource managers , hedge fund managers , dog walkers , and beautitians which one would you join?

[Raven]

That’s quite cool Grenfell! I imagine you get to see the traditional methods they used!

I would want to belong to the latter in everyday life! And the former in my prepper network but it would be super hush hush op-sec style!

[Arwen Thebard]

"Perhaps that's the sort of parallel that we should have in a community. Each having a part and feeling that part is important and positive."

Couldn't have put it any better.