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

[Six Gun Jim]

Yes we do, I hate starting anything and not finishing it. Besides, I HAD YOUR BISHOP IN TWO MOVES.  -James

[motherearth]

This is a funny and pretty embarassing story about my youth and not paying attention:

Whilst hiking around in the inner jungles of Venezuela, my group and I happened upon a town, probably a gold mining town. Anyhoo, we were all happy to hit the stores, get cold drinks and maybe a snack , look around at humanity as we had been in the jungle for awhile.

Well, I got to meandering in the store and realized that everyone else was done shopping and was across the plaza in the center of town sitting on stonewalls eating, as I recall.

So, off I go across the street, saying excuse me in espanol to all of these guys who were suddenly walking all together in pairs in a line through town...in bright orange jumpsuits.

Yup, pretty blond girl walked right through a whole passel of jungle prisoners 

When that was pointed out, I did get a bit weak kneed.

So, like Six Gun says, I pay attention and am always on the lookout for guys in orange jumpsuits 

motherearth

[TheDignityofStruggle]

Some of these stories are down right frightening, but at the same time, completely understandable. 

I was robbed this summer by a young man I let stay in our spare bed room.  I didnt know him well, but I made a snap judgement which, a week later, revealed itself as a bad one.  He stole two laptops, which I had to buy back from his coke dealer.  This guy wasnt a starving MZB, but a struggling addict (I didnt know he was an addict) who was trying to get back on his feet.  I guess its better to get this lesson now than after TSHTF when everyone will be struggling and looking for a hand.

On another note, a few nights back, my dog started growling in the middle of the night, and I heard a strange sound outside my window.  In a flash, I grabbed the shotgun out of the closet, cocked the action as loudly as I could, and then threw back the shades.  It was my neighbor rolling his trash can down the driveway at 3 a.m.  I felt a bit silly, but hey, better safe than sorry I guess.

(I don't think my neighbor saw me, which is probably a good thing.  )

[fredd58]

Some of these stories are down right frightening, but at the same time, completely understandable. 

I was robbed this summer by a young man I let stay in our spare bed room.  I didnt know him well, but I made a snap judgement which, a week later, revealed itself as a bad one.  He stole two laptops, which I had to buy back from his coke dealer.  This guy wasnt a starving MZB, but a struggling addict (I didnt know he was an addict) who was trying to get back on his feet.  I guess its better to get this lesson now than after TSHTF when everyone will be struggling and looking for a hand.

On another note, a few nights back, my dog started growling in the middle of the night, and I heard a strange sound outside my window.  In a flash, I grabbed the shotgun out of the closet, cocked the action as loudly as I could, and then threw back the shades.  It was my neighbor rolling his trash can down the driveway at 3 a.m.  I felt a bit silly, but hey, better safe than sorry I guess.

(I don't think my neighbor saw me, which is probably a good thing.  )

ROFL!!

Reminds me of the night I was nearly dropped by my SO for coming home early! Yikes!

Or the time I told my dog to 'shaddup' cause she wouldn't stop growling while I was in the shed - I go to the door to tell her to 'shaddup' again, and a skunk walks out the door between my legs (cocked, locked and ready to squirt, but THANKFULLY did not - probably cause I was in full 'statue' mode)!

[quietnite]

Gandalf-thanks- a reference to Harlan Ellison (crusty old bastard of my favorite author) always brightens my day! I think this is the first one I ever saw on this forum.

[residualheat]

Good stories.

We haven't had a tv since 1992 and I don't miss it one bit. Stay in touch by reading and talking and people watching, but sometimes we go into town and people seem really weird - the way they dress and behave. Where do they get it from? I suppose we are desocialised to a certain extent.

[comrade simba]

I simply decided that all people are shit. I can get through a transaction at the bank or grocery regardless of how I feel about you. Neutral in appearance, saying as little as possible, and just being generally forgettable has never caused me a problem. It's engaging in conversation and trying to establish new contacts and build community that has caused me stress and grief.

I'm done with humanity in the general sense. Barter for real goods may be a good indicator of who is worth dealing with... I think our money economy skews us into less than honorable behavior.

[Six Gun Jim]

I simply decided that all people are shit. I can get through a transaction at the bank or grocery regardless of how I feel about you. Neutral in appearance, saying as little as possible, and just being generally forgettable has never caused me a problem. It's engaging in conversation and trying to establish new contacts and build community that has caused me stress and grief.

I'm done with humanity in the general sense. Barter for real goods may be a good indicator of who is worth dealing with... I think our money economy skews us into less than honorable behavior.

And forces us to tolerate people we might normally either walk away from on sight or beat senseless.

[sc]

I simply decided that all people are shit. I can get through a transaction at the bank or grocery regardless of how I feel about you. Neutral in appearance, saying as little as possible, and just being generally forgettable has never caused me a problem. It's engaging in conversation and trying to establish new contacts and build community that has caused me stress and grief.

I'm done with humanity in the general sense. Barter for real goods may be a good indicator of who is worth dealing with... I think our money economy skews us into less than honorable behavior.

full on agreement here man.....you are bang the f... on!!!

[hillwalker]

I simply decided that all people are shit. I can get through a transaction at the bank or grocery regardless of how I feel about you. Neutral in appearance, saying as little as possible, and just being generally forgettable has never caused me a problem. It's engaging in conversation and trying to establish new contacts and build community that has caused me stress and grief.

I'm done with humanity in the general sense. Barter for real goods may be a good indicator of who is worth dealing with... I think our money economy skews us into less than honorable behavior.

Well CS,
I hear ya, but I dunno where you live, but whereever it is, MOVE!
get tf out of there.

[Chesyre]

i want to be da judge post crash .

sample murder trial

why did you kill him ?

he said when things got back to normal he was going to sue me

ok

case dismissed

next 

[hillwalker]

case dismissed

Well,

You've got one vote.

[TLR1138]

I simply decided that all people are shit. I can get through a transaction at the bank or grocery regardless of how I feel about you. Neutral in appearance, saying as little as possible, and just being generally forgettable has never caused me a problem. It's engaging in conversation and trying to establish new contacts and build community that has caused me stress and grief.

I'm sorry to say I agree. Whenever I get involved with other people, their personalities, problems, agendas, etc., I just end up regretting it. I wish it wasn't that way, but it is.

[DoomandGloom]

I simply decided that all people are shit. I can get through a transaction at the bank or grocery regardless of how I feel about you. Neutral in appearance, saying as little as possible, and just being generally forgettable has never caused me a problem. It's engaging in conversation and trying to establish new contacts and build community that has caused me stress and grief.

I'm sorry to say I agree. Whenever I get involved with other people, their personalities, problems, agendas, etc., I just end up regretting it. I wish it wasn't that way, but it is.

Every thing in life is a trade off. You can be alone, but you trade off human contact. You can make human contact and be annoyed, distressed and burdened (at times).

Some people never have kids because of the problems and responsibilites they create - of course then they never had kids (got it?).