Article - Huge Prepper Mistake: “I hate (____), they can starve for all I care!"

[TWP]

The author makes his point and I totally agree with him, to paraphrase:

If other people around you are prepared, they represent less danger to you and yours in a post-SHTF world.

http://beansbulletsbandagesandyou.com/bullets/index.php/2017/09/15/huge-prepper-mistake-i-hate-______________-they-can-starve-for-all-i-care/

Please read the article, it is short and NOT an attack on non-preppers, or any other group.

This is why proselytizing about prepping can be (might, maybe) a good thing.  The end result is fewer people who must become scavengers and looters to survive, post-event.

That being said, I hate (My Opinion) proselytizers.  Too much exposure to street corner harangues and door-knocking zealots.  Don't be one of them.  Use some common sense and introduce people to prepping in a slow and non-threatening manner.  Preferably AFTER they have made the first overture about being prepped.

I ask you, and you should ask yourself, how much credence do you give to someone who pushes their lifestyle on you?
I'll bet the answer is: "not much".  So avoid being a rabid prepper fanatic. 
Save that for some other time. 

[ken_]

"This is why proselytizing about prepping can be (might, maybe) a good thing."

I respectfully disagree. It's good to talk to people, but until you get a good idea that they'd be open to the concept of prepping (aka taking responsibility for their own lives) then talking about prepping is probably a bad idea.

My ex sister is a good example. Prepping is stupid because the government will take care of everything. In fact, prepping is selfish because preppers are keeping things for themselves that could be better used for the good of the community. According to her and her ilk at least... There is no doubt in my mind that if she thought I was keeping something of my own that in her mind should be "shared," she'd out me in an instant.

Hence, I don't talk to her about my preps. If I try to "convert" her, it will just tip her off. If she wants to live ignorant, that's her choice. I see no reason to let her ignorance harm me if SHTF. If she starves, I won't care. My obligation is to my wife, sons, mom, and friends.

[TWP]

Ken;

I hope you noted my bolded and highlighted caveat about exactly when this approach might be used...

For me, I've seldom been approached by anyone I know about prepping (present company excepted).  I'm not someone who engages in small talk or discussions about the climate, politics, etc. so it doesn't come up.

I'm certainly not recommending that any prepper should approach friends and acquaintances with the line: "Hey, let's you and I have a talk about prepping"...  That's just creepy.

That being said, I believe there are importunities to be invited to open a dialog.  The end result might be fewer people who will be willing to take my preps when the situation gets bad.  That is the whole point.

"Heal! Ye Non-Prepper!  Become Prepped Because The Great Reckoning Is Approaching!"  Nah, that just doesn't work...

Hey, wanna buy some canned goods?  I can connect you to a 1 year supply, really cheap...  Nope, that sounds all to questionable... 

Wait until the other person initiates this conversation and then play it softly: "Yes, I can see where having some supplies as insurance would make sense..."

[230gr]

If you present the crop failures and yield decreases worldwide, especially in the US, with more expected is the coming years, storing food when it is still at reasonable prices may be another angle to approach them from.

[TWP]

230gr
I like that idea.  Perhaps a buying group could be formed.  I know these have had problems in the past, but if food becomes more expensive (almost guaranteed) then the incentive also increases.

I belonged to one back in the 80's and the prices were better than any grocery chain, plus they would deliver to a location where the group did the distribution to members.

[ken_]

Some things grow well here, might be worth checking out. Redroot pigweed and purslane for sure, dandelions maybe but a little harder to find/grow, cattails also pretty common in wet areas around where I live. Cheaper than buying and no need tip off your prepping activities.

[TWP]

While not on topic (introducing prepping to newbies), it might be a way to show people how to find alternate food sources.

I've looked a purslane and dandelion.  I see lots of it, here inside the city of Reno,  but I have a concern about contamination based on the places it grows.

Purslane is usually right next to the roadways where it can pickup lead from auto exhaust.

Dandelion is usually in parks and shrub areas where the land owners use sprays to control them.

I would like to grow my own, indoors.  purslane from starts which I can dig and dandelion from the seed.  That solves the contamination problems.

I do see some cattail on the Truckee river banks and in the ditches next to roads.  Same concern on contamination.

I can't grow cattail in an apartment, but I know some of our members have suitable areas to make a marsh/pool for this purpose.

[230gr]

with just a little encouragement, most edible "weeds" go gang busters and happily reseed themselves. 

[230gr]

Tribalism. We want to protect our own tribe, defined as we see it.

As I see it, there will be few ways groups of people are going to survive without cooperation in food production and defence. Families will support their members and families will support the other families with whom they are cooperating. They will become a tribe. 

[TWP]

With respect to our current situation, while we are NOT (yet) in the hypothetical PAW, we have many opportunities to work on increasing our prepper supply /stockpile.

Group buying is only one option.  My town, Reno, NV has community gardens (two that I know of now) and also commercial garden spaces inside the city limits.  These are worth investigating as food source right now.  They also are places which will be easier to begin gardens After an 'event'.

I've also looked into some of our more 'trendy' food stores but was not impressed.  They tended to be high priced and oriented toward non-prepper customers.  There is a group of people in town who want to "think green", 'buy healthy' and other such mindsets.  I'll give them credit for moving away from the commercialized food system, but I don't subscribe to their life philosophy.