Kayleen from Details magazine sent me the following questions in orange for the article she’s writing. Having taken the time to answer them – who then wants to write a blog post? Not me. While I enjoy SHTF chatter, I don’t enjoy it so much that I’d want to write what would equate to a second “post” – soooooooo, this post is an open response to Kayleen’s questions. If you have your own thoughts on the questions, by all means add ‘em in the comments. Word to your mother.
Why do you think younger guys who live in suburban and urban areas have started prepping?
First, let me say I’m happy with your use of the word “prepping”. I consider myself more of a “prepper” than I do a “survivalist”. (Yes, “prepper” is grammatically incorrect, it should be preparer, but “prepper” rolls better off the tongue.) I see a prepper as a more moderate survivalist, someone that’s aware of the need to prepare, but isn’t into government conspiracy theories and such. Hell, even the government advocates a basic level of preparedness beyond what the average citizen maintains.
The “younger guys” you’re speaking of are preparing, because they’ve become aware of the need to do so. This is a generation that witnessed the rage of Y2K. Granted nothing happened, but there was a fear present by average everyday folks, a fear not easily forgotten. While all systems fully functioned, people became aware of how dependent we are on simple things like computers. Then it was 9/11 and the horrid government response to Katrina. For me, it was the latter that really struck home. I don’t think the government is out to get me, but I do think it’ll be inept at delivering help should I and much of the nation need it during a time of disaster. Then there’s SARS, Avian Flu , peak oil , global warming, and increased food and fuel costs. Watch the evening news – why wouldn’t you prepare? Now Iran wants the nuke, we see Soviet-era actions by Russia, and we’re reading congressional reports on EMP threats.
We live in an era of just-in-time delivery where what’s on the grocery store shelves is all that’s in the store. How long before the store shelves are emptied if avian flu hit and truckers stayed home? How long before people freak out? Younger guys such as myself are beginning to think about these things – awareness. When we lift peas into our mouth at the dinner table we’re thinking about our disconnectedness to the source, the fragility of the system we depend on.
Add to this many younger men are now fathers of young children. The desire to prepare for the unexpected is greater when you need to prepare for a family. It’s one thing to imagine going hungry, quite another to imagine your children going hungry.
There are also few signs the reasons to prepare are going away any time soon. Energy prices will correct itself in the short-term, but the long-term direction is only up. There are more and more people in the world, and more want the American lifestyle. The world can only handle so many people sharing our consumptive nature. It’s simple supply and demand, and who is holding out hope that global leaders are really going to address global warming? No one. Perhaps avian flu threats will pass, but we’ve heard again and again that the world is past due for a pandemic, and the world has changed dramatically since our last pandemic. The world is a much smaller place now, and we’re far more reliant on systems than past generations.
People are being rationale about the threats. They’re aware of them, they recognize them, but they’re not anticipating the end-of-the-world tomorrow. People are prepping in urban and suburban areas – because that’s where they live. They’ve found a healthy balance between being prepared and being a survivalist.
Why do you think they’ve joined a movement that was traditionally filled with older conservative men who lived completely off of the grid?
Because these folks are more . . . normal. While they’re aware of the need to prepare, it doesn’t dictate their lifestyle like the old-school “survivalist” types. These folks want a normal life, but they also want to be ready if things suddenly turn abnormal.
And why do you think they’re more likely to stock non-essentials, like chocolate or wine or ipods in waterproof cases, that the guys before were?
Ipods in waterproof cases? I haven’t heard that one before. Chocolate and wine, though – sure! No, they may not be “essentials”, but there’s nothing wrong with storing comfort measures. Wine is good, but wine after shit hits the fan will be really good. Besides, what’s the worst case scenario with stocking chocolate and wine? “Oh dear, we have all these bottles of wine just sitting in the basement – this really sucks.” Ha! Yeah right!
And why do you think these guys are willing to stay around cities instead of moving and living completely off the grid?
Because that’s where they work for the most part. Most preparers don’t think the world will end, but they do think there’s a chance things could turn really shitty at a moment’s notice.
Let me also say that there are increasing numbers of “green preparers”, the eco-conscious. I, for example, am probably a bit more liberal than my average reader, but our end goals are the same. I’m learning how to garden not only for food security, but also because local food doesn’t travel obscene distances and it’s often organic. Gardening saves money, gives you exercise, connects you with nature, and it tastes better.
These “green preparers” may also choose a suburban or urban lifestyle, because living where you work only makes sense from a financial and eco-friendly perspective. There are many reasons to adopt a preparedness lifestyle beyond just shit hitting the fan. If you adopt a more simple, more basic lifestyle that assures your basic needs will be met, you’ll benefit in many ways. It’s a win-win.
- Ranger Man
BTW: Prepping is also FUN! Hell, I can remember as a little kid playing outside during the brisk days of fall, stacking make pretend piles of firewood near the lean-to camp I built. Nowadays bringing out the tools to build a pantry means I can play Bob Villa. Throwing lead down range is a great way to spend an afternoon, and who can’t help but smile when the power goes out from a winter storm and you’re inside feeding the wood stove, brewing hot chocolate?
Lastly, Richard sent this link on WMD training in San Francisco.
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{ 12 comments }
Great Job…Fun Post
People prep because they see the end and doing something is better than sitting there doing nothing.
what does she mean, older conservative men? (although we did invent conservation) there were lots of hippie back to nature types who tried to live the retreater/survivalist lifestyle at the same time, they just spoke a different language. they called their SHTF retreats communes.
Well, I could ask what she means by younger men…some of us are gals. That could be simply because a lot of young people, young men in particular, are attracted to the libertarian mindset of self-reliance. Either way, a lot of us “young persons” have seen what happened after Katrina, or the miriad of other floods, fires, and tornadoes. Above all, we see how the federal government mismanages emergency situations, refusing to allow other aide workers in until they can get their own act together. We don’t want to be the people seen on television, begging for help. We’de rather sit back, drink our wine, eat our chocolate, and play board games with our kids.
1) Men have been deskilled — due to specialization — and prepping is a reaction to that modern trend.
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” — Robert A. Heinlein
(My comments will refer to men, as I am one and that is the magazine’s audience.)
Men have been deskilled compared to our parents generation. The items we use have been dumbed down — hence your car dashboard “idiot lights” in lieu of gauges. Only a few of us who use computers, ipods, cellphones, and automobiles have more than a rudimentary knowledge of how these “miracles” actually work. We can’t repair them either, as they are designed to be disposable and, if repairable, require specialized tools, parts, and skillsets.
Men are tired of feeling helpless in the midst of all of these “things” — our fathers had mastery over “things”.
2) Men have been feminized — due to the creeping nanny state — and prepping is a reaction to that modern trend.
lets take firearms as an example:
Poll your adult male friends and ask them when they got their first rifle. Many of us got cork guns — that fired real projectiles! — at five or six, .22LRs at seven or eight, and were carrying “real” rifles on hunting trips with our fathers shortly thereafter.
Today, we are surrounded by hoplophobes who teach our boys to FEAR guns, as though they are inherently evil — not the tools that our fathers knew. Many states restrict the sale of NON-FIRING toy guns!
Men are inherently interested in war, hunting, and self defense — witness the CURRENT popularity of “shooter” video games.
Prepping reminds men of that very male role of protecting their loved ones and putting meat on the table.
…more on feminization
This is a big issue on which much has been written. See, for instance, Susan Faludi’s “Stiffed: The Betrayal of the American Man” in which she writes that men have lost “a useful role in public life, a way of earning a decent and reliable living, appreciation in the home, respectful treatment in the culture.”
Major news outlets report daily that young boys are lagging behind girls in school and college admission: Many researchers conclude that feminization of the school system (post Title IX) is one of the root causes.
This problem is particularly acute in urban and suburban areas. A good friend who teaches in an urban high school told me. “All I care about is classroom control, teaching anything is secondary.” Boys, who have a fundamentally different development and learning style, are crammed into a system which, conincidentally, favors the female style.
Boys who act up or don’t comply are drugged or disciplined. Did you hear that many schools have banned dodgeball!! [Boys, by nature are more hierarchical and establish "pecking orders", yet the nannys have banned dodgeball as it "hurts some peoples' self esteem"!]
Even dressing “masculine” in hyper-urban areas like NYC will get you sideways looks, as though you are some “redneck” from the back woods…doubt me? Try wearing a Marine Corps T-shirt in SOHO! [The NYT recently had an article in the fashion section, featuring PeeWee Herman-looking man-boys wearing shorts, proclaiming that this was now acceptable in the boardroom ...ah, right.]
“Prepping” is preparation for that time when chaos rules, the nannys are scared, and boys can be men again!
3) Only an ostrich, head in the ground, can be unaware that a “storm” is coming; prepping is a rational response to a world stretched thin and governments which we all know will fall short of saving us …as they always have.
Other posts on this site have brought up the megatrends.
I recently wrote my boomer father a letter about preparing for [his] retirement; I opened by telling him that the world’s population has gone from 2,000,000,000 to 7,000,000,000 — five billion new people — during HIS lifetime. More people everywhere are competing for ever-scarcer resources.
We live in the era of “peak everything”. Oil, water, uranium…
Currently, the conflict for these resources is being fought in the markets — $1000 gold, $140 oil — but many predict the conflict will soon move to the battlefield.
Russia. Georgia. Oil.
China. Africa. Minerals.
Young men are wise to think about these things — prepping is thoughts turned into acts.
Fasten down the hatches.
I’m a young male of 22, and I consider myself in this group. My preps are rather limited, but only in the Mel Tappan sense.
I buy my food items in bulk, and I have about 10 cases of drinking water on hand. I think about “WHY” an awful lot. Some days I can’t really explain why I feel the need to be somewhat prepared. I think the main fact is that starvation sounds like a terrible way to die. I don’t want that, and I damn sure don’t want it for those close to me. I’ve tried to help those around me open their eyes (as we all try, hopelessly) to no avail. So in some respect I feel a little responsible for them as well.
Now, me be a 22 year old male, I still have a lot of fun. I am on a pool team and a softball team. I play video games, and am addicted to poker. Because I enjoy things like this doesn’t alter the way that I feel.
I am responsible for my own well being. period. If something were to happen and I die, it’s MY fault and mine alone. I think a lot of our younger generations (males specifically) are leaning toward libertarian thinkings, even if they refuse to acknowledge it in their voting.
I also think that I got most of my “prepper” kick from Hurricane Katrina. I remember just watching the tv, imagining what I would’ve done. (obviously, I would’ve been the hell outta the way, but thats not the point)
Most people like to believe they are safe, and that they are nicely snuggled into a security blanket. I just can’t seem to stay warm in mine.
Overall, I look at prepping as a hedge bet. If I set back some extra food, some water, and have a decent means to protect myself in the case that there is an aggressor, I can only be better off. Best case is I have extra food, water, etc. Worst case is I have a head start on Average Joe. It seems kind of Win-Win don’t ya think? Besides the fact that there are SO many things that could trigger a bad situation. They are litterally infinite. Things we don’t even know about could cause problems, or I could get fired, or my girlfriends father might, etc. I try to stay away from the conspiracy theory, alien attack, governmental collapse thought, although some make rational sense on occasion.
Bottom line, I like life. I don’t want mine to end, and I damn sure don’t want to die a torturous death.
I’ll answer the questions directly now:
1. We’re smart as humans. People that go through life oblivious to their surroundings aren’t really living life are they? We’re just responding to the times and things we see around us.
2. I think this is a generalization that is unwarranted. +1 to the other poster about communes.
3. Dunno about the ipods (it’d be worthless after your battery died…???) but we all get used to an order and a way of things. Having some comforts is important in disaster sitations. It’s why the first thing people search for after a Tornado, Earthquake etc. is their family photos.
4. We enjoy the amenities the city life offers. Hard core preppers would say this is a fault, but I think that it can be a positive as well. I get to live 10 minutes from work, 6 blocks from a beatiful park, and literally within a stone’s throw of a Wendy’s. lol. Life is good, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be ready if it turns ugly.
PS. sorry about the lengthy post Ranger Man. I enjoy your blog. It’s fun to see your writing style. Can I admit I felt a TWINGE of guilt/sadness upon reading the story of you and your groundhog(or whatever he was)? lol. The writing just made me feel like I knew the freaking animal personally. I think this is where good writing really shows. Kudos.
that was a good post. thanks rm
Good job Rangerman! You hit the nail on the head, and done us proud.
The “Gift of Fear” in the title refers to the intuitive ability of human beings that allows them to detect danger quickly, without conscious, logical thought. There’s some good stuff in the book about how to recognize intuition, and also (in the very last chapter) how to distinguish real fear of real dangers from worry about hypothetical dangers. If you enjoyed reading The “Gift Of Fear” i recomend reading Gavin De Beckers new book ” Just 2 Seconds”. I was intrigued by the title “Just 2 Seconds” and having read DeBecker’s “Gift of Fear” couldn’t wait to read his insights on this fascinating subject. “Just 2 Seconds” did not disappoint. Within a few sentences, I found myself hooked. This book provides numerous insights on protecting public figures. I’ve recommended this book to many friends and each has agreed with my assessment. If you’re in the protection, security, or law enforcement business, this book is a MUST HAVE! Gavin de Becker, Tom Taylor and Jeff Marquart understand the topic and present the material in a way that the reader can easily understand and digest
Im slightly older than young at 38, but not old. Ive been prepping at various times throughout my life. Having wine and chocloate on hand is a novel idea. I would prefer the wine (or whiskey) but not to drink, rather to trade or barter with.
In the event of economic colapse you will have a few things that have and will continue to be used as tender. One is of course alcohol. If you have it or can make it you can get damn near anything when SHTF.
Another is precious metal and gems. They are always in demand th world over, no matter how much of a shit hole country you may happen to be in.
The last is always prostitution, the oldest profession. If you’ve got a hankering for for an old sea hag with whiskey on her breath and 2 gold teeth and you have something worth trading…..we should talk when SHTF. ;-)
Ok Im not going to pimp my Grandma. Its my friends Grandma.
Yes it is tasteless but keep a sense of humor when SHTF too. It will help more than your 12 guage most days.