How horrific will it be for the non prepper?

[Gonzo]

..., Thoughts?

Yup. Me too.
Certain very difficult choices may have to be made in an instant - and then made again in a few hours... ? Weeks?

[Grand58742]

As for the original question. First thing will be denial, second falsely placed faith with the government, more denial, false hope the government is sending more help, denial, anxiety, fear, dread, grasping at straws, irrational behavior, hopelessness, desperation and those that make it that far will learn to adapt.

Horrific is a state of mind with many levels.

[Grand58742]

My son's one of them. He's 19 and just started learning how to do some BASIC cooking. He can boil pasta at least now. He's more interested in 'hanging' with his friends and listening to his Ipod than anything else. I've tried to teach him some basic woodworking, mechanics, etc...but to no avail. Hope he wakes up before it's too late.

As I've said before, we all were the same way at 19 lol. But these days (still well shy of 40 myself even when some folks consider me "old" as I was informed by sharpshooter a couple of weeks ago lol) I find myself asking a whole lot more questions of my parents I know I should have asked a long time ago. Even yesterday I asked some gardening advice from my mother. Give it time, he'll figure out the old man isn't as dumb as he thinks he is. And hunger eventually drives the ability to learn to cook for one's self. Man cannot live by PB&J and Ramen alone lol

Give the rest time and be patient. It'll work out in the end.

[WiseOwl]

"so you're telling me no more twinkies and no more diet coke? Oh that's it I am taking this chair leg and going door to door til I gets mines"

[jimmycthemd]

My son's one of them. He's 19 and just started learning how to do some BASIC cooking. He can boil pasta at least now. He's more interested in 'hanging' with his friends and listening to his Ipod than anything else. I've tried to teach him some basic woodworking, mechanics, etc...but to no avail. Hope he wakes up before it's too late.

[monkeybird]

I hesitate to generalize, but there are millions and millions of young people who have absolutely no idea how to even boil water. If it can't be prepared with a microwave - they can't cook it. I was somewhat surprised to discover this recently when interacting with a group of 20 somethings. Their knowledge base is so scanty, it's frightening. These are our future leaders!

It amazes me a just how dependent on technology our young people are. Granted, I LOVE technology, but I can if necessary, survive without it. The problem is the folks who can't, will turn to you and me for salvation.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I don't understand how prepping could be so foreign to the masses!

It's not foreign it's just not "accepted" therefore the jones' won't
that combined with the socialistic the government will help me attitudes.......

[hayseed]

i've never practised wilderness survival in order to get good at STUFF. i practice in order to know myself when i'm not myself.
3 or 4 days of being wet and cold while scrounging food out of season and trying to make a camp exhausted and you burn your hands due to fatigue. then go another 4.
what i learned is that without a companion i begin to fade from fatigue. too much to do for just one person but even a gimpy friend makes it all different.

[thedreamers]

When or if anything ever comes in our life times, it will be dog eat dog world no matter if you prepped or not. Its just how things go, you always hope moral/religious faith will win out but when it comes to survival just about any body will do what it takes to make it happen. Its just human nature. Most of us have never killed a human before, hopefully never will. I've done my fair share of hunting and farm kills. But if you have trained and prepared for it, will you have the courage to go through with it???? If its my family or my friends that are at stake I probally would and deal with my actions as best as I can. We all will have demons if TSHTF.

[1Admin]

Don't count out those "non preppers" right off the bat.

UNLIKE most actual preppers, some of those folks will do whatever is necessary to survive.

Teach a couple classes on fighting/combatives/knife/firearms usage to a few groups of people preparing. It doesn't take long to figure out that maybe 10% have the will to actually use the skills.

In a way, this speaks highly of us- good, moral type people. On the flip side, it could slow down our ability to act, hamper our judgement. Will we wait and try to see how things play out versus taking pre-emptive action to nip something in the bud? Think about it. Hopefully I conveyed what I was trying to convey here.

I think MANY a non preppers would think nothing of bashing you in the skull with a brick to get what they want. However reverse the situation and I think their are a lot of preppers that would hesitate. Again, not saying this is wrong, morally it's the high ground and all that jazz. Thoughts?

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

Jimmy,

I aggree with that to me its the Faith, Family and Friends that gives me the strength, desire, and will to acheive/live (ie the mindest/will). I did not mention Faith or the 3-Fs because I am not sure the rest of society using the same things as their "Fuel".

[jimmycthemd]

Being a newbie, I usually stay out of these discussions. Here's my take:

I agree on the mindset and preparing to a point. As a young man (and not seing past today), I went through some horrific things. (I took the details out as they're not important) Well, I had to dig deep to my faith and know that there was someone above 'taking care of business'. I firmly believe that it's not just 'mindset' or having 'stuff and skills'. It's more about what you believe and how deep your faith is that will pull you through the long haul. You have to KNOW that, if it is HIS will that you pull through then you will. It is up to you to do your share of heavy lifting to get there, but you have to KNOW that He's with you every step of the way. Otherwise, what's the point?

I'll get off my soap box now and go back to work :-)

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

I know some non preppers that are more prepared than their prepper counter parts, mostly because of the matter between their ears.

I believe Protus is right... Stuff is not nearly as import as the knowledge but more important than knowledge is the mindset to make it and will to force your-self to follow through.

To me the order of importance is as follows:
1. Mindset/Will
2. Knowledge/Ingenuity
3. Strength/Conditioning
4. Finally Stuff

Prepers talk a lot about stuff and some about P.T. and knowledge, but very little about mindset and will, which I believe is the most important part of living.

No matter your preps, no mater your training, no matter knowledge if you don

[Rmplstlskn]

I think we will all only survive a TRUE event by the grace of God alone, prepper or non-prepper alike... It is just a matter of how fast the SUCK will manifest and how strong and lucky you are to push through it without Murphy finding you along the way...

[rice paddy daddy]

We see mini versions of this whenever a major hurricane hits the mainland US. I don't mean an Irene, but a major storm like Andrew or Katrina.
If the people have become so conditioned that they believe the government will save them from any and all situations, then there are going to be some who are going to die. No, that does not amuse me, it makes me sad. But, as my wife says, life is full of choices and choices have consequences.