Burn The Land And Boil The Sea You Can't Take The Sky From Me...Are We Dinosaurs??

[Hutch]

I try to be prepared for adversity. I don't expect it. I'm actually a bit resigned to the fact that I'll always be a bit... odd. It does, however, serve nicely as one of the organizing principles for my life. Soaks up some spare time and spare cash, and it doesn't harm me or my family. I mean, some folks play golf, right? I worry.

 

[BryanP]

I hate to say it Chris, but yeah.

I stopped to help someone the other day. Adult man & wife in their 20's. Flat tire. Flat tire. He had a spare but no jack and didn't know how to change a tire. I'm not a mechanical guy. I can't fix broken cars, but knowing how to change a tire?

I got my jack out and had him do it while I told him what to do and told him to go buy himself a jack.

And yeah, I keep all that stuff in my car too. Right now there's no fire extinguisher but that's because I gave it to someone and haven't bought a replacement. Which reminds me, my youngest brother and his wife just bought a house. I have to go out and pick up my standard housewarming gift - fire extinguishers.

 

[pax]

I'm too young to be a dinosaur.

pax

I believe in loyalty. When a woman reaches an age she likes, she should stick with it. -- Eva Gabor

 

[mrmeval]

TV is dying, thank what ever deity you want, bloggers replace talking heads, hollywood is lame, indie films rock and radio is ball less, get some indie tunes or videos on the internet. I sing the body electric, I sing the independance dance. Not one to tell me who to vote for, I now have more than three. Not one to tell me who to listen to, I have a dozen you see. No one to tell me who to read I read a dozen at once. Serial consumption of video, text and whine. I am the new generation. This is my time.

I've come to the realization in the last couple weeks that, I don't know if obsolete is the right word, but passed by.
The war is over, we lost. America, the land of the free is gone, replaced by something that no one would recognize even from 1920, heck, even 1960.
People want their little TV (TV is the scourge of it), their "things", etc and someone that will take care of them. "it's for the children"
We have become a nation of subjects and they like it.
me?

Moulon Labe.

 

[mbs357]

I'm too young to be a dinosaur.

pax

Best reply yet.

So far this is a great thread, I'll be keeping an eye on it.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Unpopular, perhaps, but it never was a popularity contest.

Obsolete?

Never. The world will always have a place for people who can make their own way, even though we be surrounded by fools and outnumbered thousands to one.

 

[Sindawe]

They've been trained to want a SIXTY INCH PLASMA!!!

I don't want a 60" plasma. Would'nt fit in my home. 32" LCD for gaming though would be nice, resolution on my CRT TV sucks for gaming. But its not in the budget.

The world will always have a place for people who can make their own way, even though we be surrounded by fools and outnumbered thousands to one.

Too true. I keep the emergency bag in the car as well. FA kit, food, water, some simple tools, jumper cables, a thermal blanket and a couple of mylar space blankets. I've advised my family to do the same since moving here, but nope. :banghead:

 

[geekWithA.45]

One of the harder parts, I think, is to remember that the fools we are surrounded by are people too.

Actually, that's not that hard.

Sorting out the appropriate level of contempt and derision to hold them in, if any, and to whom to apply that to is hard.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

If prepared is a dinosaur, it's one of those ones that survived past most.

Interesting post, no, you're not a dinosaur and it only takes a little thing like a hurricane to prove it to you.

Just recently on the radio news, it was announced that due to katrina, the gas pipline from New Orleans to Atlanta was going to be cut back severly. I called my wife and told her to go immediately to gas up and I did the same. I then called my son in college and had him do the same. After that, I called my buddy who's an Eagle Scout and his response was "I'm already on it and I've called my son (His son is another Eagle Scout.) who responded: "I've already done it Dad.""

Later that night, he and I got into a discussion. Both of us own means of cooking food without electric stoves, such as both propane and kerosene camp stoves of various types. Both own kerosene heaters and have a fireplace with a couple cords of wood in the backyard. We both own canned foods and MRE's. We both own lots of guns with way more ammo than the government or current politically correct thinking would be comfortable with us having. We both have trucks, emergency gear and spare parts, oil, etc. I could go on and on. We suprised each other and during this discussion, we discussed what we would have done had we been the ones living in New Orleans. The concensus was, the first thing either would of done was to gather the family and call the other, as we knew the other was prepared, armed and could help the other insure the survival of our families--to the point of rebuilding society, if necessary.

If that's being a dinosaur, then we must have scales. BTW, both our sons own firearms.

My son recently started a gun club inside the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. He's not politically correct, but he's prepared, well informed, active politically and he's armed. If he's a dinosaur, then by God, may all dinosaurs be as prepared as he. He's 20, owns a scoped 30-06, a 12 gauge shotgun, a Mosin-Nagant 91/30, a .22 bolt action and soon will get a 1911 pistol for his 21st birthday. He's got an American bulldog puppy as a pet, drives a 4 wheel drive SUV (Inherited from Mom.), but wants a truck. He's also very active in the college republicans there on campus.

I'm glad to see there are other dinosaurs that are prepared. Let's me know I'll have help if society needs to be put back together.

Regards,

Dave

 

[The Freeholder]

cslinger, you're just a throwback, like most of the rest of the folks around here. A dinosaur, however? I don't think so.

If the future holds what I'm afraid it holds, it's the people without the jumper cables (and food, water, weapons, etc.) that will be dinosaurs. Dead dinosaurs.

I liked the Firefly quote. I have to wonder if more of us were like the crew of the Serenity, would we all be better off?

 

[benEzra]

The thread title reminds me of a Far Side cartoon:

Some of the more environmentally aware dinosaurs were worried about the consequences of an accident with the new iridium-enriched fusion reactor. "If it goes off, only the cockroaches and mammals will survive."

I have to say, though that the people who don't take the future for granted, and who are adaptable enough (through foresight or whatever) to weather crises, aren't the dinosaurs; they're the mammals.

 

[NMshooter]

Dinosaurs?

Ha!

We are the descendants of people who ate their way through every continent on the planet, crossing the oceans to do so in some cases, wiping out numerous competitor species and food animals in the process.

I bet dinosaurs taste like chicken.

As for the disparity between the folks on this site and the majority of people we all deal with every day, we all have our specialities, and each is useful according to the current situation we each find ourselves in.

Not that an extreme situation might not favor a few at the expense of many, but you might be suprised how many folks can rise to the occasion, especially if they have someone to follow.

People are scary critters, we are.

 

[Hardware]

No, no, no, you got it all wrong. We're not the dinosaurs. We're the sneaky little mammals that will survive when nature decides to de-dinosaur the planet. I can't take credit for the term. I believe the first citation I can place for it is Robert Heinlein.

Evolution is a bitch. At any time you can be de-selected for evolution. Being prepared helps, but sometimes it's just bad luck and when your number's up, your number's up. I'd say the biggest threat the prepared citizen faces is the "have nots" who realize when the SHTF you are a "have".

 

[M-Rex]

No, no, no, you got it all wrong. We're not the dinosaurs. We're the sneaky little mammals that will survive when nature decides to de-dinosaur the planet. I can't take credit for the term. I believe the first citation I can place for it is Robert Heinlein.

Evolution is a bitch. At any time you can be de-selected for evolution. Being prepared helps, but sometimes it's just bad luck and when your number's up, your number's up. I'd say the biggest threat the prepared citizen faces is the "have nots" who realize when the SHTF you are a "have".

Much wisdom in that statement. +10

 

[Twycross]

Unpopular, perhaps, but it never was a popularity contest.

Obsolete?

Never. The world will always have a place for people who can make their own way, even though we be surrounded by fools and outnumbered thousands to one.

+1. I may get funny looks for carrying everything imaginable around in the back of my rig, but someday, the jumper cables or crowbar or gallon of oil or MREs will come in handy. Contrast that with what I see in the Average Joe's car. My folks venture out equipped with... a box of Kleenex. Thats it.

No, were not dinosaurs. We're just the endangered species that will never go extinct.

 

[TallPine]

That's one reason that we drive full size pickups and Suburbans - need the big rig to haul all of the emergency gear around and still have a little bit of room left

That, and they are old, simple, paid for, rarely break down, and when they do they are cheap to fix. There are still things more expensive than gas.

 

[thatguy]

Look what happened with Katrina. Most people ignored warnings and sat on their asses waiting to die in a hurricane. The survivors then sat on their asses waiting to be resuced. The rescuees then complained long and loud about how the authorities didn't do enough to protect them before the disaster or help them afterwards. Now they demand piles of money from everyone else to rebuild their homes and support them while waiting to move back in.

Meanwhile, those didn't want help were forcibly disarmed by police or military and removed against their will from their homes.

Have we become a dependent, socialist state? Yes. Is self-reliance discouraged and even punished by the government? Yes. Have we, as a nation, become subservient peasants? Yes. Do people in general look out for their own well-being? No.

America has become a welfare state. The central authority wields ever increasing power over every aspect of our lives and Maoist... er, I mean most... people want it this way. Very depressing.

 

[Manedwolf]

No, no, no, you got it all wrong. We're not the dinosaurs. We're the sneaky little mammals that will survive when nature decides to de-dinosaur the planet. I can't take credit for the term. I believe the first citation I can place for it is Robert Heinlein.

Evolution is a bitch. At any time you can be de-selected for evolution. Being prepared helps, but sometimes it's just bad luck and when your number's up, your number's up. I'd say the biggest threat the prepared citizen faces is the "have nots" who realize when the SHTF you are a "have".

The whole point of evolution and natural selection is that nature is constantly TRYING to kill you. From natural diasters to diseases...

And while you can't do much about the genetic side of things, evolution DOES strongly favor those who possess the intelligence and common sense to figure out their own means of survival when nature takes a swing at them.

 

[Manedwolf]

That's one reason that we drive full size pickups and Suburbans - need the big rig to haul all of the emergency gear around and still have a little bit of room left

That, and they are old, simple, paid for, rarely break down, and when they do they are cheap to fix. There are still things more expensive than gas.

Or you could spring for something new like a Honda Ridgeline. That, in ten years, will likely need...oil changes, and that's about it. See how long all their other cars last.

 

[Manedwolf]

He's got an American bulldog puppy as a pet, drives a 4 wheel drive SUV (Inherited from Mom.), but wants a truck. He's also very active in the college republicans there on campus.

I agree with all but those two statements. One, because most SUVs are topheavy middle-eastern-oil-guzzlers that would crack an axle if they ever went offroad, just glorified mom-mallmobiles, and if you wanted something REALLY indestructible for a SHTF situation, you'd go for a vintage Land Rover, I think.

And two, I saw an interview with a bunch of College Republicans who were busy figuring out ways to "increase military recruitment". When asked why they didn't enlist, themselves, there were a flurry of excuses, and one actually got angry and bellowed that he had just gotten into the best business school in the country and wasn't about to miss that.

 

[Atticus]

Are we dinosaurs?

I think just the opposite is true. Dinosaurs were the Kings of their time and life was fairly easy for them. They couldn't adapt to change and were wiped out when the world changed around them. I think that better describes everyone else. We're more like cockroaches.
I don't think we are typical, but I think there are more people like us than you would think. There wouldn't be a multi-billion dollar market for guns, ammo generators, MRE's, emergency medical kits, wood stoves, etc., etc., etc., if there wasn't. I'm pretty prepared, but I know many people who are far more prepared than I. I just finally bought a stainless steel coffee pot for the next power outage - and the world is a much safer place because of that. I will not endure the apocolypse without a cup of French roast.

 

[TallPine]

if you wanted something REALLY indestructible for a SHTF situation, you'd go for a vintage Land Rover, I think

Until you need parts for it ... But nothing beats a Land Rover for stopping a charging rhinoceros

FYI, the MT DNRC is buying up 1973-1987 vintage Chevy & GMC 4wd pickups, rebuilding them from the frame up, and using them for wildland fire attack trucks. If that isn't rough duty with heavy loads, I don't know what is

Or you could spring for something new like a Honda Ridgeline.

Um, why .... What are they, about $30K or $40K....?

What I have costs me nothing but gas, oil, and insurance.

I wouldn't give $0.02 for the new pickups and suburbans with the independent front suspensions.

 

[Chrontius]

We've stored enough anti-biotics, pain killers, etc. for an army. All a doc will do is hit you for an office visit and give you an RX.

Take Care

Painkillers are fine, but antibiotics are more tricky than most'd think. Not all antibiotics are suitable for all germs, and none of 'em will do you any good if you've got a viral infection. Basic microbiology (lol, there's a contradiction) is a real eye-opener. Add to that the expiration dates on medications which are usually understated, and things get trickier.

TV is dying, thank what ever deity you want, bloggers replace talking heads, hollywood is lame, indie films rock and radio is ball less, get some indie tunes or videos on the internet. I sing the body electric, I sing the independance dance. Not one to tell me who to vote for, I now have more than three. Not one to tell me who to listen to, I have a dozen you see. No one to tell me who to read I read a dozen at once. Serial consumption of video, text and whine. I am the new generation. This is my time.

<voice="Billy Idol">Welcome to the future, Cyberpunk.</voice>

 

[Old Dog]

While we're all patting ourselves on the back here for being such self-reliant, independent thinking rugged individualists ... I think it's important to keep in mind just how this country got to this point.

It's not due solely to the shift in political thinking, the growth of the welfare state or anything like that ... I see only a couple big reasons for why so many people are the way they are these days ... For one, some people can go their entire lives and the worst disaster that might ever befall them is having their car not start up one morning when they're trying to get off for work ... so they call the auto club, have it towed and take a taxi to work ... or their toilet overflows and they have no idea how to use a plunger ... so they call a 24-hour plumber ...

Let's put things into perspective here. The stuff we use now, for the most part, works wonderfully. Cars don't typically break down often the way they used to ... Boys don't grow up having to know how to fix things, such as cars, appliances, or even have to do basic carpentry around the house anymore ... Our society is primarily urban, which means there's a huge safety net in most areas. What's the worst thing that can happen to most of us now? We can lose power for a few hours? People don't have to know how to do anything for themselves now.

Another thing ... lots of single-parent households now or dual-working couples ... Americans work longer hours with less free time ... parents typically don't spend anywhere near as much time with their children as in years past. Fathers (if the family has one in the home) don't spent the countless hours teaching their sons how to use tools, replace an alternator, hell, even change a tire ...

Is self-reliance discouraged and even punished by the government? Yes.

I don't buy that. Self-reliance has simply become irrelevant to most people, that's all, because they don't need to be self-reliant. Our technology has evolved to the point where we are merely consumers, not doers.

Have we, as a nation, become subservient peasants? Yes.

No, we haven't, although there are those pockets (see New Orleans, circa Sep. 2005, or most any big city now).

Do people in general look out for their own well-being? No.

Yes they, do, but only insofar as income and pursuing their materialistic desires.

 

[Cosmoline]

I'll be the contrarian here and point out that folks like us have been frowned upon a long time now. The forces pushing to "civilize" the nation and bring all free men under the yolk have been at it for well over 150 years. You can find the same old battle in the range wars of the 1880's or the Prohibition movement of the early 20th cnt. Remember these fights go back a long, long ways. The CCW movement is really just the counterpunch to the anti-CCW movement started under Jim Crow in the south and continued by blue hairs in the north and west. I've read tracts advocating anti-concealed carry laws from Texas that discuss how the state must move away from its wild west image, leave its free days behind and become civilized and pacified. Millions of natives--entire language groups--were slaughtered over the years in the name of stamping out the wild man.

Those same iron boots are still in power, and still would love to stamp what's left of liberty out. The battle will never be over. It's the fight between the forces that want to bring men to heel and the men who want to be free.