What is the difference?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

What is the difference?
What is the difference between a sheeple, prepper/survivalist or say a typical redneck or homesteader?
My neighbor homesteader has a great setup with goats, chickens, fruit trees, wood stove etc and has a member of the military in the family with 11B combat experience. Are they a prepper/survivalist?
The typical rednecks I know have guns, hunts, fishes, cans, gardens, changes their own oil and maybe even the transmission are they a prepper/survivalist?
The Physician

[xdpatriot]

Definatley mindset. Living in an 'orange' state of mind. Being aware of our surroundings and what could potentially happen. Also attempting to not put ourselves in those situations. We've trained and continue to train. We are attempting to fill the gaps that are our weaknesses like homesteading. We have rabbits, cattle and a garden. I hunt and we process our own venison instead of relying on beef at the store. We also keep an open mind. We know that we do not have all the answers and are costantly trying to learn from others. We're not perfect, but we're probly better prepared than 95% of the sheeple in south Texas. I just hope we never have to find out.

[protus]

What do you think separates you from everyone else?

lifestyle. aka living it. It is not a fad or insurance policy , it isnt a hobby like golf or scrapbooking. Day to day being prepared for events as mundane as a broken hose bib to breaking down on the freeway to week long power outages due to weather.
Mindset is key, but living it is what make a person why they are.
IMHO, preppers do not "live " it. They are the gadget buying insurance policy types. Do some of them evolve and take on the lifestyle? sure. I think that is the main degree of separation. When the person decides to take it to the next level. Just like in sports do you stay in JV or try and go varisty,,then college ..where do you find your "happy medium" to stay at.
I think that this new movement is just getting to its toddler stages...homesteaders or off grid survivalist per say who are near 100% self reliant would be the end of the line.

i did a write up about this topic few years back when prepper was a new word....i should go find it and cross post it..LOL

[protus]

this is a few years old MIO,,but did spawn some good replies to my questions...



Prepper or survivalist?


Over the last 5 years there has been this influx of people that are becoming more prepared. They come from all walks of life, ages,gender and locations.Each one different in its own way, but still the same. There has in my view been a rift though. With this new surge of people that are becoming prepared is a cross section that wished to not be labeled what they are, A survivalist. Thus, a few years later we have the "prepper". If you ask someone what one is you may get a few different twist on what a prepper is. In general they prepare. But the thing that separates them for a survivalist, at least in their eyes is that the prepper is a "normal" person. This "normal" person stocks food,medical supplies, weapons,ammo, and other gear and supplies needed to "survive" any event that happens. To them these stockpiles ,along with their mindset, will be used to survive bad weather, job loss, work injury,economic hard times and if it ever goes down a real "shtf" event. Of course since they are "normal" everyday types, they of course do not dwell on world ending events, and doom and gloom end all fantasy's that would rival mad max's world. According to the "prepper" that part of preparedness is left to the "survivalist".Most preppers view, the "survivalist" as some crazy person waiting,wishing,hoping the world will come crashing to an apocalyptic end. Now, some "prepper" somewhere is getting a little annoyed by what i wrote so far. Good.

If you ask a "survivalist" what he or she is you may get the same answer. That they are everyday people preparing for what ever may happen and making key lifestyle changes to help be prepared better. Odd is it not? That two different groups say the same stuff except for one key thing? This
is why i never fully understood the reasoning behind why the "prepper" movement started. At the same time I can see what has driven it. From the mid 1980's and on, the media has done all it could to vilify the term "survivalist". Those that remember the 1990's , it seems that every time
something bad happened the bad guy was a " skin head,druggie,survivalist with kiddie ****". For a few years nothing happened,until 9/11. Then a surge of folks who, by fear started to prep. This was short lived though. With in that to the first year after 9/11 those that "prep'd" sold their supplies or went back to "normal" life, when a second attack did not happen.Some stayed the course and reaped the benefits of it ( I scored 14 NBC filters and 3 NIW m40 mask(s,m,L, perfect family kit), with spare lenses,second skins,decon kits and bags for 100$ )from someone who panic buyed.Fast forward to Katrina, and then the past election. These last two events are the ones that were the "gas" to the prepper fire in my opinion.

So why the split. Well these new comers to "survival" feel , at least from i can tell from personal face to face talks and news articles, that a new term was needed. They felt that they are "not" what the media has labeled a "survivalist". I can clearly say that now, after meeting so many the last 2 years. That they are ,in fact NOT what the survivalist of old was nor what the media has labeled it. In fact they are doing the medias dirty work for them by continuing to spread the negative stigmatism surrounding the word "survivalist". They are the high tide right now, and riding the wave. In 2-5 years like 9/11, Y2K etc many will go back to "normal" life. This will be easy for them from what i have seen. Of course like those events in the past , many will continue to prepare . That is what separates a "survivalist" from a "prepper" in my opinion. Why would it be easy for them to go back to what they deem "normal". Many i have seen refuse to invest much time or effort in to long term supplies or lifestyle changes . They cling to how life is now. That means more means of electronics, gen sets, and can goods. Many do not have more than , nor wish to prepare past the " 2 week" mark. They claim though that "mindset" not lifestyle change will help them pull through an event. Maybe, a short term event. What if it is a long
term event? Say an economic collapse that last 3-5 years? What will that "2 weeks" worth do? With such a drive to not be that "survivalist" they are short selling themselves because they feel that such events "cant" happen and thus do not prepare for it. Lifestyle change is a long term prep. Many
do not want to make that EFFORT. It is much easier to buy,list and talk about it. The influx of liberals into preparedness since the last election i think spurrs that mindset right along. That "everything" will be alright in 1 week to 2 months and someone will be along shortly to save us. Along with this is the idea to be something different. So many have this view that they can sit around the water cooler at work, or in line at starbucks sucking down a faggotchino, and strike up a conversation...

" So,,Klye, how are those freeze dried veal cutlets you order last week taste? try any yet"
"Well Bob, they arent like the ones over at Sabino's off 5th and taylor, but Alice thinks they are pretty good.."
up walks Tom
" Hey Bob,kyle, i over heard you, freeze dried veal? Why would you have that...your not one of those tea party survivalist types are you??."

and suddenly Kyle and Bob can explain that they are "preppers" and not to worry,becuase those are Kyles "hurricane preps" hence the term prepper and can show Tom, Bobs fancy solar back pack that charges his I-phone while he is walking his retriever in the AM and now Tom is all about being
prepared.But not after 10 minutes of complaining how they wasted their vote on obama.
Happens every day at your work place right? No? why not, it seems to be the main reason for the term "prepper" , you know be more "user" friendly and all. I guess if you kick someone in the nuts at half speed it makes it better than a lets put the boys through the uprights from the 45 yard line
kick! If your dumb enough to tell tom

" oh yeah that is part of my survival stash...yeah i am one..so what, screw you Tom....you sheep.. dont come to my place asking for a hand out....Ive

got guns and ammo to outfit a small African army and know how to use them you poser....."

Then you my friend have some serious issues you need work on!

So how many of you "preppers" are reeling in your chair right now. Yelling yet? Saying to your self that i am wrong?Prove me wrong, tell me what is the difference between a survivalist and a prepper then?
I will explain what i see as the main differences. So get ready to get even more upset.

There are many similarities between the two, and maybe like a butterfly they are the same, but in different stages of evolution..are preppers the missing link maybe? That would be the nice way of saying it, but then typing all of this wouldn't be that fun!
I think that the similarities stop at lifestyle and long term planning. Many "preppers" that i have met refuse to think past 2 months. That's fine. They are way ahead of the curve if an event happens. But like the show the colony,it seems effort is wasted more of projects to maintain their "old" life
verse the life they would have during an event. For example. Why, backpack for 3 days to test your kit when you know your truck is still going to work. Anyone miss that point? Why try, you have the pack,what some list off the web said to have, it is a good pack(least you think) and short of
emp your truck is a 2010 model , it will go for a few years as long as you have gas right? Oh you wont bug out. Why? I bet a tornado heading straight for you house will make your bug out,or a fire at 3am! Why get in shape, you have truck after all, why go off grid with solar or a grid tie . You cant have your 50 inch lcd TV on for 4 hours watching dual survival reruns. Why hunt, or harvest your own animals, and veggies, after all you can just buy freeze dried or keep it in your deep freezer ,you do have a genset after all and gas..but for how long.....

Preppers seem to over look those small details. They get so focused on the "small" picture of things vs the big picture. So how many of you are screaming " well i dont do that.." . Good. You may one day come out of your cocoon and be a butterfly and 5-10 years from now be typing like i am ,complaining how "PMI's"( preparedness minded individuals) are tearing apart the prepper movement all becuase after the 2012 election they got a bad name when a group of preppers got raided by the homeland secuirty forces. Mean while those dirty survivalist are still blogging about their solar systems and gardens over at PMIluvshtf.com or such...
prep,learn and grow. Dont let a title decide how or what you will prepare for, and dont let it ruin your outlook of others that are already "out of their cocoon" ;p

While this is a semi rant about some points that annoy me and not a comparison . for debate reasons tell me, tell us all,what separates the two? Are they 2 different things, or one in the same, is it like old and young....tad pole and frog...butterfly and cocoon..

[WiseOwl]

Good write up guys.

I am going to copy and save these to send to my friends/family.


I label myself as an outdoorsman/ backpacker that was true self sufficient. Now I am a dad, a husband, a teacher of my sons and I want to provide and protect. I now have no label. I dont like em.
As I always state, I am just a man trying to progress in this ever changing world. I just happen to be better off then 90% of the herd.

[EX121]

I think it fits in the mindset catagory, not being afraid of trying to develop new skills. And to keep old ones updated.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I remember your write up Protus and it is good for sure. I have more and more folks telling me they are preppers and all fall into those categories I wrote about but none seem to get it. I dont have everything either by any means and am wayyy behind in many areas but there is a difference. I even watch NatGeo and go "they aren't real" more often than not.
I really thought there would be more responses in telling me why those on here ARE a prepper/survivalist. We claim to be above sheeple so what separates you? XD and some others are honestly evaluated and on target.
What would make someone chose you over the people I listed with their bios in the write up?

[Chief]

I think it fits in the mindset catagory, not being afraid of trying to develop new skills. And to keep old ones updated.

Tags are a hard thing to prove. More like generalities I believe. Also I think some of the groups may come better prepared in the mental debt then others. So I guess it all boils down to what ya made of. I am sure that we would also see people that prep fall apart also.

I got to say what makes me different than the rest, it’s in me and that is my number one asset. The things that I do with knowledge and supplies are just icing on the cake.

[protus]

What would make someone chose you over the people I listed with their bios in the write up?

i look dang good in camo ;)

[Matt In Oklahoma]

i look dang good in camo ;)

multicam? :)

[xdpatriot]

multicam? :)

We standardized with the pink urban camo. That's what sets us apart. It looks so cool when I hold my 1911 sideways with my boots not laced up yo.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

We standardized with the pink urban camo. That's what sets us apart. It looks so cool when I hold my 1911 sideways with my boots not laced up yo.

and it brings out your eyes, always important during the z day staredown

[rockriver]

i've met a couple of the guys that i met on the internet. i'm very sure that they are
buying the .22, getting the skills, living the lifestyle, installing the solar, got the mindset etc... and are serious preppers

however,

matts, redneck buddies, the homesteader, etc.. have got more "going on" than
a great number of the posters that i see on the internet survivalist board.
i stopped by 2 houses this p.m.
one guy gave me a qt. of figs they'd put up, saying, "don't forget to bring the jar back." he's a jack of all trades. shoots, hunts, gardens, knows most folks in the area.
at the other house, i was returning some tools. i've been in his workshop.
he's got mindset. and got the tools and training. i have only known him for a year.
but there have been several times when my trust of him have
been tested. top grades.
he doesn't hang around the internet.
he's a homesteading, rednecking, all those things matt mentioned.
but he wouldn't call himself a survivlist. or a prepper.

i wrote a long story about 2 old (80's) gents i know on another forum. neither would call themselves preppers or survivalists.
both are depression era folks. their wives can, and sew, and are tight with money.
all 4 know about chickens, and cows, horses and fishing and "getting by"
if you saw any of them at kmart, you would think, "well look at the old folks living on their social sec. checks." both would have driven up in vehicles that were 10 years old. both have several million dollars, but you'd never know it, to watch those old men, get out and wrestle with their 20 year old garden tillers.
both were ww2 active. both stood tall. neither wanted to talk about it.
both had service related ailments. neither filed any kind of disability claim with the v.a.
you could trust both these men and their wives.
both respected in their church and in their communities.
both raised barefoot on very poor farms.
--
if the chips were to be down, you would be wise to choose a couple of folks like these two couples, over the random internet poster. just my humble opinion.
rr

[survivealone]

In my opinion the maind difference is in Why they do it. I know people in eastern KY that would not even notice a depression or economic collapse. Because that is how they have lived for generations and they know nothing else. When we talk about not being able to obtain food etc They just smile and say Thats Silly....

They have lived dirt poor and off the land for many many generations and they have no plans or desire to change. We often think of these people as low class or ignorant and to a I guess by definition they are ignorant because most cannot even read. But in the end they will survive and they will still be there when we are all dead and gone....

[Matt In Oklahoma]

if the chips were to be down, you would be wise to choose a couple of folks like these two couples, over the random internet poster. just my humble opinion. rr

if there isnt time to train then yes i agree. I'm sure there some hurt feelings out there right now but this is the truth. you either is or ya aint i dont care how much you type
as i evaluate things in life from time to time i came up with many of the same conclusions you did RR in who is of value and might really "be"
I see it constantly here with several who jump in stir the pot with claims and stories then jump back out and for reasons that are beyond my comprehension, even with people I know, many flock to the bandwagon, hop on and sound off with patriotic cries and then all is silenced again until then next rable rouser with zero work being done in between. This is in fact so prevalent that the percentages of real and yipping dogs has become lopsided and many have sighed and gone
My redneck buddies, homesteaders and regular folks mentioned at the start are doing more than the 'preppers'. Even without the forum i see this in life too