Who Will Do Well If TSHTF?

**RBB** · 01-13-2008, 11:37 PM

I've always enjoyed being in the woods. I know how to hunt, fish, set traps and snares, build shelters, find clean water etc, etc.

In the cold light of day - would I do well in a global catastrophy - perhaps short term.

Who do I think will do well? People like my father and my brother. They are both tinkerers of the first order. They are the type of people who've done so much with so little for so long - they are now qualified to do anything with nothing. They are also workaholics - something I am not.

They would soon have power up, vehicles working, machines making things, dwellings built, while I'd be living in my tent - running a trot line.

They are pioneer stock - the type of people who see no point in sleeping on the ground if you can build a bed, no use for roughing it if you can make things easier. And if TSHTF, I hope they're around.

**Elkchsr** · 01-14-2008, 12:03 AM

The strong
The knowledgeable
The well supplied
The top dogs in the hierarchy (because they are always thinking of themselves first)

**carcajou garou** · 01-14-2008, 12:06 AM

The ones would can mentally adapt fast enough and have the skills to back that attitude up.

**Nativedude** · 01-14-2008, 12:18 AM

The "doers"! The "talkers" are just that. They talk a good game, but when it comes time to do. . .well they don't do so well.

I see it with groups I take out. I get the people that tell the others (in the group) "I can do this or that. . .np", but when it comes down to the nut cuttin'. . .well, I see them fall short. Then comes the plethora of excuses. . ."well this or that wasn't right" or "this or that is different than when I did it before!" It happens A LOT with fire starting. When they can't get it started they're ALWAYS ready with the excuses! Next, they get mad and then they're embarrassed and don't want to learn the right way to do, because they spouted off that they already could. . .np!

If you're gonna survive when the SHTF or in the wilds, you better be a "doer"!

**Elkchsr** · 01-14-2008, 12:21 AM

Pride is a dangerous trait when it gets in the way of lifes lessons and learning from those willing to teach

**Rick** · 01-14-2008, 07:24 AM

Those who know how to adapt.
Those who know how to take advantage of what is available.
The very very lucky.

**Jay** · 01-14-2008, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by carcajou garou

The ones would can mentally adapt fast enough and have the skills to back that attitude up.

I'll second that!

**FVR** · 01-14-2008, 05:21 PM

Starting fires and pride. Few years back, arrived at the rendezvous site late, set up my little camp. Dug a little pit, and tried to start a fire. Man, I could not start a fire to save my butt. Now, I've been starting fires with flint and steel for over ten years.

Most times, get my wood set up, get my tinder ready, check the char, and spark it. Not today.LOL. Finally, I got up, walked up to the gent about 30 yards away, "hello, the camp" we talked, I bummed a light. Old man just laughed, "sometimes, it's a royal pain" been there done that.

We laughed. I took my coal and started the fire and cooked my chicken.

Moral of the story, no matter how salty ya are, sometimes yer just green.

**trax** · 01-14-2008, 06:18 PM

Who will do well if TSHTF? Why those who have acquired their survival education here of course....and utlize it.

**Beo** · 01-22-2008, 10:58 AM

The smart one's.

**canid** · 01-22-2008, 11:55 AM

don't forget the sarcastic ones. we're all smart a@#s around here, and i have a feeling we'd all do relatively well.

**Kemperor** · 01-24-2008, 05:29 AM

This is a case of you'd just have to wait to see. It all depends on how attached you are to living comfortably, and most importantly how wise you either are or can become.

**dilligaf2u2** · 01-24-2008, 09:03 AM

I think it would be those with the ability to survive till they are able to adapt.

I see it all the time. My son can not start a fire these days unless he has matches. He used to be able too but has not in a very long time and he does not even want to try. He can not drive a stick shift truck and he does not want to learn how. If he can not carry it with him he will gripe that it is not there. He is not going to survive but will sit there and die waiting on someone to do it for him. Like they did after Katrina.

The lame and lazy will try to make you think you have to help them. They are of the idea someone will come and bail them out of what will be. All the annalists say a world wide depression is emanate. That there will be 2 kinds of people. Those that will not survive and those that prepare. Nature has a way to cleans itself.

I myself am old and TDW has medical issues. We would survive longer then the lame and lazy. As for Bugging out to the wilds and trying to survive. Not on your life. It will be a mad house out there with the hoards of people trying to live off limited resources and taking what they want from the weaker. That and I can live fine right here for months and months with what I have.

Once the few that remain are living like animals and once the resources here have dried up. I will think about going out there and taking what they have from them. Think 1830's old west USA and Australia. You had 2 types of people before common sense and population grew to the point where laws were enforced. The takers and the taken. God made all men and Mr Colt made them equal.

Think the movie Water world! Takers and the taken.

The idea is to be around to be a taker.

Once things stabilize and I hope I am still here at home when that happens. You will be able to adapt to the new way of doing things under a world with some law and order. Till that time you best be ready for what ever life throws at you.

Don

**Rick** · 01-24-2008, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by dillagaf2u2

All the annalists say a world wide depression is emanate.

Don - I'd be interested in reading your source on this. I'm not aware of any reputable analyst predicting a depression.

But I'm with you on the rest of the post!

By the way, if we prepare to expect the unexpected then isn't the unexpected expected? Hmm.

**Beo** · 01-24-2008, 10:19 AM

So true Rick, but how much wood would a woodchuck chuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

So Don, your of the mind of the strong survive and weak fall by the wasteside... in a sense. I agree with your post, the depression i'm not to sure on.

**Beo** · 01-24-2008, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by remy

You cannot anticipate your actions, or the actions of others based on this approach, because this view is purely void of reason...

Remy loved the post Doc, (my new nickname for you, no offense intended I think your pretty intelligent, sort of our own Doc Sigmon Frued

)

But I do believe you can anticipate your own actions, I know without a doubt I would not hesitate to kill anyone to protect my wife and child and mother and father (yeah in-laws too) from any threat I deem needs to be handled in that manner, and in the military and martial arts training we learned to anticipate peoples next moves, and people watching shows one to some extint why and how people act to certain things. Now on a large scale it is hard to predict how people will act but looking at what people do now helps to see how others will react. People are people no matter where you go, most people act basically the same.
"The lame and lazy" is quiet offensive. But its reality, if your weak in a SHTF scenario and I need what you got (seriously doubt it though) I'm gonna take it, but thats part of the strong survive and weak fall by the waste side.
And I also take offense at the idea that after Katrina people just "sat there."
Again reality, some did not heed the warning to leave before the storm, and they suffered because of it, terrible as it is and I feel for them it is a true fact, some decided not to go and then had to wait to be rescued, but there were others that stayed and lived through it protecting what was theirs and did okay through it.
As for the rest I agree with you.

**Rick** · 01-24-2008, 04:53 PM

I'm with Beo on this one. On the Katrina issue, if you live in a city that's below sea level how much common sense does it take to understand you might have to leave at some point? Especially when a cat 4 or 5 hurricane is boring down on you?

And how much common sense does it take to understand that you might have to leave your home, regardless of where you live, for some reason be it power outage, chemical spill, etc. ?

I do agree with you about being prepared. The squirrel works all during the fall to hide nuts and he's fully prepared for winter. Then a hawk grabs him. The same is true for us. We build the perfect survival kit only to have our house (and our kits) blown away in a tornado. But being prepared does mitigate some risk so the preparation does improve ones chances of being a survivor.

I fully appreciate your comments on living from paycheck to paycheck. We probably have fewer people saving and higher credit card debt than at any time in our history. But whose fault is that?

I actually think we (humans) are elitists. Animals may not have a moral or ethical code to live by but I think we do. That does elevate us. Not saying we're better but I am saying we have a higher obligation and reasoning.

**corndog-44** · 01-24-2008, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Elkchsr

The strong
The knowledgeable
The well supplied
The top dogs in the hierarchy (because they are always thinking of themselves first)

Before I retired a couple of young fellas told me seriously that if they were the top dog of the government that they would make all old people walk into the gas chamber because the old people are a burden to society. So if the TSHTF, is this what the older generation have to look forward to? If this comes to past, why should I care if TSHTF?

**Sourdough** · 01-24-2008, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by corndog-44

Before I retired a couple of young fellas told me seriously that if they were the top dog of the government that they would make all old people walk into the gas chamber because the old people are a burden to society. So if the TSHTF, is this what the older generation have to look forward to? If this comes to past, why should I care if TSHTF?

Corndog-44, that was not my take on what Elkchsr posted.........but, maybe you are correct. But this is my question to you why get upset about what people say or think......? Why not just smile like you know something that they don't....and let them worry that there daydream might backfire. Remember there is way more of us (old geezers) then there are young whipper'snappers. I want to embody what "Elkchsr" say, I want to be STRONG, Be Knowledgeable, and be well supplied. And be damn proud to do it as a, "OLD PEOPLE"........