What if "WE" are ALL 100% WRONG in our preperations...????

[oldsoldier]

There is something that haunts me about this entire "Survivalist" Mentality.

Problem: Encouraging people to buy stuff so as to be prepared is good, but not even 10% good enough.

Solutions: Don't eat anything for 3 days, nothing. Or, choose a three day weekend and throw the main Electric breaker on the house, and deal with no electric, the kids also have to deal with it, no going to Bobby's house for the weekend. Or any of the many practice drills we can come up with. Practice being uncomfortable, and maybe even miserable.

hopeak....it's fine to have "all the conviences of home" in your survival gear. unfortioatlly( sorry about spelling) it doesn't do a bit of good it you can't use it. Would you buy a new $ 100,000 superduper, macdaddy,tractor and not learn how to start it or put it in gear? i doubt it but some people do that with survival gear. How amny have fancy "new gear" still in the box/package?

[oldsoldier]

OOPS!!!! Hit the wrong key ( continue rant now) i know a couple of guys that spent several thousand dollars after the winter ice storm on 'survival gear" in case of another one.( BTW we had no power for 10 days got a good change to practice winter skills then) Anyway their "gear" is still boxed gen set not assembled or test ran, high dollar camp stoves, heaters, etc. not even looked at to see if all the parts are there. not to mention even reading ops manuals. I've offered to help them set up or/and test the gear but they say they don't want to open the gear until they need it! OOOKKAAAYYY!!! i test run my gensets monthly. Stoves etc at least quarterly.

[Sarge47]

Nice religious quotes by the way.

Glad you liked 'em, amazing what's on Google isn't it.

[Sarge47]

Can't you tell it was a ridiculous "yo mama" joke ? ("your mommy is so fat, that she is really fat" !?!?!?)

Can't you see it was in response to Ken's regression "it's not that I read poorly, it's that you write poorly." !?!?!?

What's wrong with you.(rhetorical) One thing is for sure, if it is not Ken...it's you. The predictability is astonishing.

Why do you assume I was talking to you?

[Rick]

(Head slap) Throws computer monitor across the room!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oldsoldier]

Rick.... yeah i agree what say we just go grab a beer?

[wareagle69]

i think we all like our comfort, why is it we prepare? we store food and supplies so that our lives are not interupted to much in tough times. as far as bush comfort.....i have many times trained hard to lower my idea of comfort spending nights on the side of the trail, no fire,food or shelter, just sleep a bit where i lay,wether it be spring summer fall or winter, i am not fond of going 3 days w/o food, which is why i study wild edibles so prolifically. i have found that if it is cold ,wet damp snowy, and you are tired from fatigue of exertsion and lack of sleep and hunger hits it is far more diffucult to accomplish you tasks and your emotions can get the best of you , which can be very dangerous, so i put myself into those positions so when for real i encounter these opportunities, i can step back for a minute and breahte and tell myself,"been here before old son, you are the pro act like it and get er done" then i know what sand i am made of and that it won't kill me only make me stronger, this is how i choose to live and train, it is not for everyone, most here will never even try, and nothing wrong with that, i am just cut from a different mold as is hopeak and jason montana and eugene and some others, some are harder than me some are softer, i am what i am, but if you don't live it, you won't survive it.
good thread pops

[Ken]

Rick.... yeah i agree what say we just go grab a beer?

Make mine a Heineken. Ice cold. Tall frosted mug. And maybe a side of Nachos. And some pot-stickers. And some oysters, little necks, and peel 'n eat shrimp. And maybe some calamari with hot pepper rings, and maybe.......

[Ken]

Wareagle, a serious question: Have you ever gone out on a particularly miserable foray and asked yourself, "Why the Hell am I doing this?"

I have. And my surroundings were probably 50 degres warmer than yours generally are.

[wareagle69]

sure, asked myself that when i joined the army same as when i got married same as when i sleep in the mosquito infested swamp with the moose, but the answer is always the same, cuz i like to want to and the end result is knowing i can mentally and physically make it thru, and i am sure i will be pshyco analyzed for my desire to do this, but i am not your typical person i thrive on adversity what most compalin about i draw strenght from, did this answer what you were looking for counsel?

[Ken]

Yep! Thanks, that answered my question. I'm chuckling. Folks thought I was nuts for doing the things I've done. Now I'm gonna' have to tell them about you.

[Pal334]

In fact, we are talking about stress.
More accurately one needs self confidence (obviously this does work as a stress reducer). A state of mind that in this type of scenario is derived from life experiences , including but not limited to practicing tasks, when ever possible scenarios (even in practice they would go off script). When a person is as comfortable as possible with the various tasks, they in general will react more confidently when the SHTF

[Pal334]

Or...when a person has changed his state of mind, they will react more confidently, more coherently, more appropriately...to anything.

True confidence on a mental level allows one to engage in social intercourse, discussions, and other interactions without allowing the interaction to wander, be judgemental or digress to an inappropriate level. On the physical level , tasks are simplier and are more easily "chained"to complete necessary tasks.

[Ken]

True confidence allows interactions to wander...... Digression a means.

I was gonna' go out for a pizza later. But I'm gettin' mighty hungry now. Maybe I'll toss a frozen pizza in the oven. Spread some onions, sardines, and anchovies on top. That's a great combination. Anyone here ever try one of them?

[Sourdough]

Or...when a person has changed his state of mind, they will react more confidently, more coherently, more appropriately...to anything.
If you want to talk about working at doing...about exposure to what makes you uncomfortable...then all aspects of life must be submitted.

Perhaps even one's own experience of death.......See signature below...

[Pal334]

To the contrary...anything is allowed !
Lack of confidence is what will lead to lack of tolerance...rules appear, boundaries, limits, ideas, opinions...aren't we talking about pushing those ?

True confidence allows interactions to wander, to take other forms, to digress to any level necessary, and to understand that being judgmental is an inherent part of the functioning of our information gathering and treating minds, without letting this mind govern our intentions.

"Inappropriate" becomes an idea.
Judgment a tool.
Digression a means.
Wandering a must.
Allowing a corner stone.

Being judgemental is a human characteristic under all circumstances. When a person is confident, they need not be judgemental in an aggressive manner, doing so leads to the stiffling of others thoughts and quests for information. Being judgmental in an aggressive way is a display of Arrogance in its grossest form. As a life long team member, leader and facilitator I have always seen that those who are judgmental in a non aggressive manner and confident in thier own abilities make the best team members

[oldsoldier]

Ken are you psychic?? Took a break to see whats up here. I've got the smoker going now putting on a couple dozen oysters shortly, and have got 4 medium lobsters and potatoes ready to join some corn on the cob in about an hour. wife's getting the shrimp scampi ready for grill side burner..... come on over the amberbock's on ice.

[Ken]

Ken are you psychic?? Took a break to see whats up here. I've got the smoker going now putting on a couple dozen oysters shortly, and have got 4 medium lobsters and potatoes ready to join some corn on the cob in about an hour. wife's getting the shrimp scampi ready for grill side burner..... come on over the amberbock's on ice.

*opening up a new tab to check flight schedules out of PVD*

Hold a couple of them oysters from the smoker. I do mine raw with lemon juice, coctail sauce, horseradish, and TABASCO! Them lobsters? Real ones, right? Not them sissy ones without claws. The kind from New England that come with claws? The real ones, right?

[oldsoldier]

Do you mean there are other kinds of lobsters????? where have I been. oh!!! that's what the other 2 dozen oysters are for them and a ouple of fresh lemons

[Ken]

As a life long team member, leader and facilitator I have always seen that those who are judgmental in a non aggressive manner and confident in thier own abilities make the best team members

And the best team leaders as well.

In fact, people who are "judgmental in an aggressive way" often distract the team and hamper its mission. They usually contribute nothing more than discord, and rarely offer anything of value to the team. They're better off going it alone - for everyone's benefit.