The Futility of Preparation

[DoomandGloom]

Has it occurred to anyone here that no one can prepare for the unknown and the ultimately we are all victims of chance and random events which are unforeseeable?

I picture one or more of you prepped to the hilt only to find your location or your methods have become totally worthless given the factual circumstances that arise. It's funny, in a dark macabre sort of way.

[thethirstmutilator]

So you expect us all to accept death without a fight, because we can't predict or alter the future.

That's funny, in an emotionally distant sort of way.

[Megadoom]

Prepping is not futile, but most of us will die in what's coming, and I include myself in that morbid portent. However, I'm sure some of us will live through the horror with both components of survival - preparation and "luck."

[pamplemousse]

Yes, D&G, it could all go terribly wrong.  The MZB's or the government could raid my stash.  I could share it all with the starving, unprepared neighbors.  Maybe I have 1 year's worth of food stored for a 10 year famine.  There's earthquakes and storms here.  There's no guarantees.  But I'm going to try anyway.

You know, we saved money for college for our kids, knowing that we wouldn't be able to set enough aside.  But I did it anyway.  And as it turned out, even though college costs so much more than it did 20 years ago, having some was better than having none.

And if enough of us try, that gets us to a more resilient, shock-resistant place.

[DoomandGloom]

Prepping is not futile, but most of us will die in what's coming, and I include myself in that morbid portent. However, I'm sure some of us will live through the horror with both components of survival - preparation and "luck."

It's possible many people will survive with just luck and no preparation - I want to be in that category because preparing for something (whatever it may be) without an inkling of where, what how or when I could be best prepared, is sort of the same thing (in a metaphorical kind of way).

[DoomandGloom]

Yes, D&G, it could all go terribly wrong.  The MZB's or the government could raid my stash.  I could share it all with the starving, unprepared neighbors.  Maybe I have 1 year's worth of food stored for a 10 year famine.  There's earthquakes and storms here.  There's no guarantees.  But I'm going to try anyway.

You know, we saved money for college for our kids, knowing that we wouldn't be able to set enough aside.  But I did it anyway.  And as it turned out, even though college costs so much more than it did 20 years ago, having some was better than having none.

And if enough of us try, that gets us to a more resilient, shock-resistant place.

Explain to me the logic of preparing for something with little or no information - sort of like shooting at a target in the dark. Wouldn't it be better just to get involved in trying to change the world than trying to prepare for it's demise?

[Six Gun Jim]

I figure it just like being on combat patrol. There are always good odds against you coming back but that doesn't mean you leave your pack and your rifle at the insertion point. There is no point preparing physically if you aren't mentally I'll give you that. If the shit goes down your brain will overload before your food runs out if you haven't got it tuned in. Gotta roll with the death and destruction or it will roll you. -James  

[jock]

sort of like shooting at a target in the dark.

Many here have excellent night vision.

[pamplemousse]

How is it that you think we have little or no information?

Are you thinking of how people discuss preparing for inflation or deflation?

It seems to me that we have sufficient clarity to make the basic moves -- get out of debt, store food, grow food, be able to live at a different standard of living, develop your communities.

Are you thinking more of fine-tuning it, picking exactly a certain scenario that will happen?

[DoomandGloom]

I figure it just like being on combat patrol. There are always good odds against you coming back but that doesn't mean you leave your pack and your rifle at the insertion point. There is no point preparing physically if you aren't mentally I'll give you that. If the shit goes down your brain will overload before your food runs out if you haven't got it tuned in. Gotta roll with the death and destruction or it will roll you. -James  

Not really the same thing - if you are on patrol you have information that there is an area that needs to be patrolled and a need to patrol that area - so you should prepare for things that may occur in that area.

On your other point, we agree. The people best apt to survive any situation are the one's who are mentally tough and who can adapt to the situation with a calm and cool head.

[pamplemousse]

D&G, are you justifying being only mentally prepared?

[Chesyre]

no one gives a shit if you prep for 25 years or take a swan dive into the pavement after the ice cream is all gone DnG. Have a fun armageddon

[spacecase0]

Has it occurred to anyone here that no one can prepare for the unknown and the ultimately we are all victims of chance and random events which are unforeseeable?

I picture one or more of you prepped to the hilt only to find your location or your methods have become totally worthless given the factual circumstances that arise. It's funny, in a dark macabre sort of way.

this world is not new, and we know what has happened in the past, I am ready for everything that happens in the repeating cycles of history.
and I am ready for things that are possible in the future,
and at least I will not be starving in 3 days if the stores stop selling food...

it sounds like you are so pessimistic that you are paralyzed,
I have been ready for many things that have happened in the past and it has helped.
if you are ready for nothing, anything will hurt you.
if you are ready for almost everything, then almost nothing will hurt you.
is is all about how likely you are to make it, not about absolutes or extreme pessimism.

[DoomandGloom]

How is it that you think we have little or no information?

Are you thinking of how people discuss preparing for inflation or deflation?

It seems to me that we have sufficient clarity to make the basic moves -- get out of debt, store food, grow food, be able to live at a different standard of living, develop your communities.

Are you thinking more of fine-tuning it, picking exactly a certain scenario that will happen?

I think you have no information -the possibilities are endless. Since you are not in control of any of the powers that may influence future events, there is no information you have which could lead to the right preparation. Let me give you an example - during Katrina all the guns and ammo were confiscated. So if you had ten weapons when faced with insurmountable force that preparation may be worthless.

The government has enacted all sorts of legislation that says they can take whatever you own. So storing food may be futile. Growing food may be futile (your land is subject to confiscation). Your choice of a doomstead may be the worst place and your storage of food, your garden, your self-sufficiency may have to be abandoned. These are just some examples of the myriad of things that can negate your preparations.

The other things you speak of are common sense things. We should get ourselves off of debt (because right now we're debt slaves - I have bankruptcy clients who are getting credit card applications the day after they get a discharge because this is how our economy works best - by making debt slaves).

Clearly the better choice is to try and see the changes implemented in the world which would make it the ideal most of us here would seek.

[pamplemousse]

Well, if you change your mind, come to Portland and I'll teach you how to can applesauce and dry pears for your pantry.