Prepping is getting bigger in the UK

[Omega]

Wonder why it is happening. Suspect several things not mentioned in the article:
1. We are getting richer, so more disposable income allows us to make reserves
2. News and fake news are spreading faster causing over-reaction
3. Change in attitudes (though it is mentioned in the article)

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... in-britain

[mcprepper]

Maybe a combo of the above plus it’s being mentioned more in the press and, therefore, becoming more mainstream as a result? Also maybe more people started thinking about it since the government advice came out? It feels like a very uncertain world and this gives people a little control back (speaking personally).

[Snowhunter]

I'd agree the news aspect has a lot to do with it- we're bombarded with news form all sorts of sources these days, and the more sensationalist the better from the point of view of those proffering it.

Remember a time when windy weather just happened, rather than making headlines for several days? We've been having supply chain issues, unseasonal or disruptive weather, power cuts, fuel crises, wars around the globe for decades/centuries/millennia (delete as appropriate) but we hear about happenings which are more widespread, and at at accelerated rate, thanks to the internet.

[Frnc]

Regarding fake news. You can ask ChatGPT or Grok. They aren't infallible, but they are amazing. I just tested GPT on a controversial topic. At first it was churning out the mainstream narrative. After I made a few points and asked a few 'but what about's, it was much more knowledgeable. Obviously it researches and learns more in the process. Soon it was going against the mainstream, saying they had twisted things. It's incredible how much it seemed to learn in a short conversation. For example it quickly understood a point most people don't know about. This was mainstream news, but the news had the wrong end of the stick. GPT understood this straight away, and explained it very clearly in detail.

[GillyBee]

I am seeing more newspaper articles. Either one of the regular journalists is now a prepper or TPTB have decided this is a nice gentle way to start to get the message out that we, the UK population, need to be capable of coping by ourselves when things go south.

[Medusa]

Another non prepping site which I am a member of now has a "prepping " board. Comments vary from useful to the critical comments from nay sayers. It appears to be busiest at times when the news brings up various occurrences such as the recent power outages in Spain. Also my phone has been reporting various feeds which state that we should all be stocking up on 3 days of supplies etc. I think that the Covid pandemic also played a part with some people still remembering the great toilet paper shortage scares.

[pseudonym]

Snip> I think that the Covid pandemic also played a part with some people still remembering the great toilet paper shortage scares.

Remembering, but not stocking. They'll have used it all by now and have a 2 pack in the airing cupboard

[Kiwififer]

Another non prepping site which I am a member of now has a "prepping " board.

Please tell me it’s Mumsnet! I love reading Mumsnet Madness posts, you get some absolute crackers on it!

I used to be fairly active on a Scottish football website named after what everyone has at half time but quit when I had my digital detox a few years back. I pop in to read it every so often and you get the odd article and thread but there hasn’t been anything for a while now.

[GeraldTheBonzai]

I don't make it a secret that I am a prepper - just don't go into great details. Over the last few months, I've had several people come up to me with conversations along the lines of "oh, by the way.... you sort of do that prepping thing, don't you?. So,... how do you find out about it? Like, just for argument sake, what sort of things should you consider?...."

However, that begs a few questions. As a prepper, how much do you share? ( something that has been raised before here). On the one hand, I've got someone asking a genuine question, and you want to help.
On the other, we were talking about the big power cuts in Spain and what would happen here. One of the comments was "well, we'd all come round to your place, ha ha ha..."..

[Bijela]

I think most people at work probably know I think in a prepper way.
Usually, my response to this

One of the comments was "well, we'd all come round to your place, ha ha ha..."..

is you can, but I wont be there.

There is also the point that you can't do everything. If the prepping is more that covering off power cuts, water shortage e.t.c. Then, I think you have to be open to a select group. If, you're maintaining/building stores. You can't always defend it. You would need help. Most people have some sort of value. Unless, lazy. You could have an older person who can fish or can knit. To me, that person has more value than a lot of the youngsters I work with as some can't be bothered to work more than the 20 odd hours contract they have.