Will I be a drooling slack-jawed zombie when TSHTF?

[esther]

I'm a little worried.  I've been rather proud of my ability to wallow in doom and still manage to function day to day.  However, I was shocked at a very minor incident where my brain ... rejected reality.

Early one morning I was driving to work when I  passed a bus with strange advertising flashing on the back.  *Call 911* was the only thing that registered.   That's strange I thought.  Why are they advertising the 911 system?  A few minutes later I was stopped behind the same bus parked on the side of the road by a convenience store - lights flashing - empty, no driver.  This time I was able to see the 'advertising' flash through a few screens:  Call 911.  Call police.  Call 911.  Call police.  (
I finally realized this was not advertising - rather it must have been a call for help.  My brain did not register the meaning of the sign the first time I read it; do we only see what we expect to see?  When rioting begins in the streets will my brain reject reality and take me to my * happy place*?
It was an unsettling experience. My drinking water does contain flouride.  I really should order the Berkey.

[Six Gun Jim]

Unplug yourself from TV, radio and advertising for six months and read. Un-train yourself to go along. Practice specifically noticing what every single person you meet wears, smells like, their face, rings, tattoos.....details.........it makes you become aware of what is around you. Awareness and interpretation are critical skills and most people have zero awareness. We have been taught that our security is not our responsibility, this is a great lie. Undo it, start now, practice daily. Good luck.  -James 

[esther]

Unplug yourself from TV, radio and advertising for six months and read. Un-train yourself to go along. Practice specifically noticing what every single person you meet wears, smells like, their face, rings, tattoos.....details.........it makes you become aware of what is around you. Awareness and interpretation are critical skills and most people have zero awareness. We have been taught that our security is not our responsibility, this is a great lie. Undo it, start now, practice daily. Good luck.  -James 

James, you are right - I do have very little awareness of my surroundings.  I live in my own thoughts a lot ( I wonder how many Latocers do the same?)  But in the future, awareness might be the difference between survival and not.  Thanks for the advice.  I think it is time to focus outward; this city is getting pretty crazy.

esther

[haggismudpie]

Last summer, I was walking my dog through our little wooded area in the middle of town.  I encountered a man sitting on a bench, backpack at his feet, small knife stuck into the wood of the bench.  We said howdey and exchanged a few pleasantries.  He had the look of a "gentleman of the road".  As the conversation continued, some of his stories began to take on a fanciful tone.  Okay, I think, time to move on, so we agree that it's been a beautiful evening and I walk on out of the woods.  As I come out, I am met by an entire S.W.A.T. team, an ambulance and a couple of sheriff's cars.  They inquire if I've seen a man with a gun in the woods.  I saw a man but no gun I tell them.  Maam, don't go back home that way.  I don't know the ending of this story, but I do know that I was not at all alarmed or on guard when I saw this man.  Naive?  Just plain stupid? I will admit to having very few street smarts.  I have started locking my door more frequently. though.

[tobyjones]

I am having the same kind of thoughts.  My car got broken into last Friday.  It the closest thing to an act of violence that I have ever had committed against me.  Last night I took care of a guy who needed surgery after getting pistol whipped.  He and a buddy had gotten into an "altercation" with another gentleman.  His buddy got shot in the face.  He got his shoulder seriously messed up and will never have full range of motion again.  I am getting my panties in a wad because someone stole my Ipod.  It is kind of a reminder that I may just be playing mall ninja more than anything.  I'm a tough guy of course I have my shotgun and my pistol that may or may not be able to hit the broad side of a barn with should a true need arise for such a thing.   I have lived such a sheltered life I think if the first time I was confronted with a real life or death situation and I had three seconds to respond I don't think I would make it.

My failure is more than just a lack of situational awareness.  I can read most people from across the room.  I can tell if you are in pain, ill, anxious, agitated or high pretty well.  I know what kind of people are about ready to explode and how to deescalate them (or just avoid them) I just worry that if our world stops acting in a rational way I may not adjust fast enough to make the cut.

[haggismudpie]

Yea, had my car window busted while at the beach this spring.  Besides the expense and irritation, I felt really dumb to feel so safe.  I thought I could read people pretty well too -- after 25 years as a nurse.  Still pretty much lose it during a real trauma.  Try to go for the obvious stuff like the ambu bag or compressions.

[Broil]

Unplug yourself from TV, radio and advertising for six months and read. Un-train yourself to go along. Practice specifically noticing what every single person you meet wears, smells like, their face, rings, tattoos.....details.........it makes you become aware of what is around you. Awareness and interpretation are critical skills and most people have zero awareness. We have been taught that our security is not our responsibility, this is a great lie. Undo it, start now, practice daily. Good luck.  -James 

Great advice, I only wish you had told me this 5 years ago.

[9anda1f]

Unplug yourself from TV, radio and advertising for six months and read.

This is crucial.  Those things manipulate your view of life.  The constant assault is numbing.  Giving up these mass media is like coming out of a fog.  Sit for a minute and ponder how much of your life is tied up in tv and radio.  How many of your conversations with friends and co-workers revolves around programming or advertising.  The memes from tv fare, talk radio (ugh), and advertising are being poured into your head.  Every day.  Whatever is being fed you is a big part of your life!  Is this what you want???

Put it down.   Think for yourself.  With a little thought, you'll be surprised at how many of your "truths" are a direct result of "injection by tv".

Read Harlan Ellison's "The Glass Teat".  It's from the '70s.  Ellison worked with Gene Roddenberry on some of the original Star Trek episodes.  The title says it all   

/end rant

+1 on SGJ's post!   

[boiler_92]

Oh man, I thought this was going to be like one of those Facebook quizzes where you answer a few questions and it tells you your likelihood of becoming a drooling, slack-jawed zombie.

Bummer.

[Mr. Bones]

Unplug yourself from TV, radio and advertising for six months and read. Un-train yourself to go along. Practice specifically noticing what every single person you meet wears, smells like, their face, rings, tattoos.....details.........it makes you become aware of what is around you. Awareness and interpretation are critical skills and most people have zero awareness. We have been taught that our security is not our responsibility, this is a great lie. Undo it, start now, practice daily. Good luck.  -James 

I'm sure most who unplug suddenly realize how trite and meaningless their lives have become.  No more vicariousness to distract them from their hollow existences.

[nicekitty]

This is crucial.  Those things manipulate your view of life.  The constant assault is numbing.  Giving up these mass media is like coming out of a fog. 

Interestingly, giving up TV, radio, and magazine advertising made me less afraid to go introduce myself to the neighbors.  I lock my door less (very small town).  I'm probably **less** doomy when I'm unplugged, since I am not bombarded with everyone else's misery, but rather only know what I see in my local area...

[Six Gun Jim]

Unplug yourself from TV, radio and advertising for six months and read. Un-train yourself to go along. Practice specifically noticing what every single person you meet wears, smells like, their face, rings, tattoos.....details.........it makes you become aware of what is around you. Awareness and interpretation are critical skills and most people have zero awareness. We have been taught that our security is not our responsibility, this is a great lie. Undo it, start now, practice daily. Good luck.  -James 

I'm sure most who unplug suddenly realize how trite and meaningless their lives have become.  No more vicariousness to distract them from their hollow existences.

Possible, or they can find a whole new way forward. If I were a betting man I would say more than half could not unplug without serious consequences. They simply would not know what to do. Death by confusion and depression. As if unplugging from the marketing and bullshit was losing a dear friend. Oh, and hi bones! -James

[ArmaGoof]

I don't entirely unplug, because I think it's worth knowing what most people's minds are being filled with.  Know thy enemy and all that.

[Six Gun Jim]

I don't entirely unplug, because I think it's worth knowing what most people's minds are being filled with.  Know thy enemy and all that.

I agree, I view from the outside and choose what I see. After you figure out that marketing is driving everything you analyze it more than you ingest it. Paying attention to what everybody is saying is just another example of awareness after all. You see and hear it all you just don't believe in much of it. -James   

[Mr. Bones]

Unplug yourself from TV, radio and advertising for six months and read. Un-train yourself to go along. Practice specifically noticing what every single person you meet wears, smells like, their face, rings, tattoos.....details.........it makes you become aware of what is around you. Awareness and interpretation are critical skills and most people have zero awareness. We have been taught that our security is not our responsibility, this is a great lie. Undo it, start now, practice daily. Good luck.  -James 

I'm sure most who unplug suddenly realize how trite and meaningless their lives have become.  No more vicariousness to distract them from their hollow existences.

Possible, or they can find a whole new way forward. If I were a betting man I would say more than half could not unplug without serious consequences. They simply would not know what to do. Death by confusion and depression. As if unplugging from the marketing and bullshit was losing a dear friend. Oh, and hi bones! -James

You have to appreciate the irony of this conversation.  Both of us feverishly typing over a hot computer screen.  

I consider myself half-plugged.  I still watch movies and listen to internet radio stations, but as far as television is concerned, I only watch it to laugh (and cry) at how horribly ridiculous it is.  How people can passively accept the constant bombardment of marketing being shoved down their throats is beyond me.  Though when I think about it, advertising and marketing is all the plugged in crowd really knows about.  Bigger, better gadgets just a few dollars away!  Success and happiness is just right around the corner.  Buy, buy, BUY YOU FOOL!  If you don't purchase a better car/television/house/jacuzzi than your neighbor, you're a fucking loser!

...and so on and so forth.

It'd behoove those considering unplugging themselves to see the bright side to getting the fuck away from that soulsucking horseshit.  Or at least mentally distancing themselves if they cannot escape its ubiquitous stranglehold.  Hopefully more can do or at least attempt the same.

P.S.-Howdy Jimbo.  We need to finish that chess game.