Friend or Foe, potential Ally

[ojiu0u4]

Hey,

I am not sure if this should be here or in comms (which is more HAM /signals), in SHTF is there scope for preppers to be able to recongnise each other. I would rather (cautiously) team up with someone of fellow prep and skill level, I hate pet shops as we cant take all the puppies home, I would be more inclined to help a stranger even without supplies if I could believe they have skills that help us both, given the tense circumstance of any meeting post SHTF, would it help us to have a way to communicate that we were on the same game plan that is sufficiently obfuscated, HAM handshaking springs to mind, on whether to take the finger off the providable trigger and sit down..

[Plymtom]

I've seen so many battle with this, if you put yourself outside it all and look in it's plain to see that humans are predisposed to form alliances, so now or only after? You do not have to give away the extent of your preparedness, we all are in the same boat, it's not greed, to work and place your hard earned resources in a sharing position with those who did not bother or ridiculed you for bothering.
I'm pro active, you can learn a great deal about others by just how willing they are to muck in, in a community, you can if you are open to it have your faith in humanity tested more often than restored, but in doing so you'll be better place to know who to trust, who to help, and who would if the tables were turned help you.
Another point we all miss is that the sheeple/unprepared whatever you want to call them are by no means all useless, many have useful skills and would step up in an emergency with such selflessness that would put us all to shame, the only way I feel is wrong (because eventually we all need other people) is total or near total secrecy, and more importantly isolation, preparedness is about survival and nature - survival of the species, needs groups you can't do it all alone or as a singular family, " sometimes you've just got to roll the dice"

[Malthouse]

I vaguely recall a secret greeting was discussed on here a while back?

The problem is that people are unpredictable and when desperate every planned allegiance goes out the window.

When the SHTF then help those you can, but not at the risk to you and yours. That has stood me in good stead so far.

[Hamradioop]

Some groups in the states use 'Coins' or tokens to identify themselves to each other. along with password can be reasonably secure. something like this could be used

[Plymtom]

Some groups in the states use 'Coins' or tokens to identify themselves to each other. along with password can be reasonably secure. something like this could be used

You'd have to do a mass PM and omit all the reporters Don't tell them your name Billy

[Malthouse]

Some groups in the states use 'Coins' or tokens to identify themselves to each other. along with password can be reasonably secure.

Challenge Coins are widely used by a number of professions and work very well indeed. You just casually let someone see it, perhaps wile checking change at a shop, and if they say the right phrase you then ask if they have one too (most don't insist that they do).

[Plymtom]

Sounds a bit Masonic to me In can see it working well, far too public here to give away the secret words.

[Devonian]

I vaguely recall a secret greeting was discussed on here a while back?

The problem is that people are unpredictable and when desperate every planned allegiance goes out the window.

When the SHTF then help those you can, but not at the risk to you and yours. That has stood me in good stead so far.

Some groups in the states use 'Coins' or tokens to identify themselves to each other. along with password can be reasonably secure. something like this could be used

This was recently discussed on another UK Prepping site that I frequent and it was suggested that a patch like the following on your backpack or jacket could be used as a way to "discretely" identify other preppers when out and about:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Pre ... 3a8a8da8ea

[junmist]

I am with Plymtom try to become part of a community doesn't matter what type you join even if it is the local needlepoint club . As being part of a community will help in most (but not all) shtf situations.
I have some words to a song that I was half listening too always in the back of my mind the line went" Believe in God But Keep a Gun by the Door" which I took to mean help people but be prepared to meet the low life's that will be mixed in with them.
I wish I could find the song it went with so that I could listen to it properly

[Malthouse]

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?