I read ST’s post from last week and started thinking about how to convert people to our preparedness mindset.
To be frank, I think it is almost impossible to change people’s ideas on just about any subject. Their opinions have been formed over countless hours of careful conditioning. In our case, in our time, in this country, we are conditioned by stable, normal times bothered by only periodic power outages lasting mere seconds. This stability has breed a generation of complacent citizens. And yet, there are us few who recognize that stability is the aberation and historical normalcy is marked by uncertainty. How do we wake everyone up from this stability slumber?
To me, being an evangelical never is the answer. People don’t like a preacher speaking of hell and damnation. Their minds resist the preparation mindset to the point of ridiculing those of us who have it. I was on a recent vacation and carried my EDC+ backpack with me everywhere and especially when we were hiking in the mountains. I faced several instances of comments about how much stuff I was carrying. In fact, my sister even said, “I don’t have to carry any stuff because I am with you.” I was thinking, “Well, what if the SHTF and we have to spend the night in the woods or walk 30 miles back to town?” I have 12 snack bars and a 72 hour bar back in the car along with about a day’s supply of water for one person. How could I possibly supply five people for a period longer than 12 hours?
Regardless, I took their abuse and cheerfully answered their “what’s in the back pack?” questions. At the same time, hurricane Irene was threatening the east coast. I said, “how many people in New Jersey and New York are prepared for a hurricane? What if it was a Cat 3 or Cat 4 instead of the minor Cat 1 hurricane? Do you see why I am prepared wherever I go?” Maybe, just maybe I got through to my young nephews and made an impression on my sister. My wife thinks I am nuts, but at least does not ridicule me. She know that I am looking out for her as well as myself. I hate to say it, but one day I would love to say to her, “I told you so” as she eats spiced beans and rice from the solar oven. 😉
At the end of the day, the best we can do is act as an example and pick our opportunities to influence people into adopting a preparedness mindset. Then, let people do what they will. You cannot change them. Period.
I agree that preaching and hearing about doom and gloom isn’t going to help the cause. When I was a teen, I didn’t understand why my grandparents always had a packed deep freezeand plenty of canned goods. They also had a closet full of cleaning supplies and health items(shampoo etc). My dad had to go into the attic one time and low and behold there is a hoard of paper towels and toilet paper up there. We all thought it a little goofy. Now I am thinking they were smart. My grandparents were young parents in the Depression and I’m sure have bad memories. My dad is the 3rd of 5 children and he was born in 1934. They moved several times because of granddaddy looking for work, which is how they ended up in Virginia. They started out in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.
My hope is to get our children on board but so far not so much.My parents however are starting to at least think about it and are wondering about getting a hand pump for their well.
I think we just have to point out reasons to prep whenever storms come along.
It’s the fact that major disasters are usually one time or 1‑off events.
Katrina
Irene
An earthquake
A widde ranging wild fire
9/11
As massive and terrible as these things have been they were singular events and more or less localized (at least the immediate affects).
There has not been any event since WW2 that has changed the life style of pretty much the entire country. Until them people won’t change. And by then it will be too late for preparation.
One thing about “Black Swan” events is that the past is no predictor of the future. That is, the impact of the next bad event will be of no relation to the previous event. 9/11 had no comparable previous event and neither did Katrina nor WWI or WWII. The next depression will look nothing like the Great Depression nor the current Great Recession.
So, when the next regional, national or international event that disrupts the lives of ordinary people, don’t be surprised if it indeed unquie.
What was it that made you a prepper? For most people, it’s that something changes your vision and then your attitudes and behaviours naturally fell in line with your vision. In most cases, it’s probably better to seek friends that are already of like mind than to try and change the vision of the friends that you already have. The one thing that we can all do is to live the type of life that other people will want to emulate. Teach by example. And surround yourself with friends that you would like to be like, because you WILL become like your friends. It’s kind of corney, but someone once told me that if you want to fly with eagles, you can’t flock with turkeys. I don’t know why, but that silly saying stuck with me.
I can very late to the prepper mindset. Mostly, it was living on the Texas Gulf Coast and living through Katrina, Rita and Ike. Then I read _The Black Swan_ by Nassim Taleb which solidified the understanding of “Black Swan” events and how they shape life. It was further understanding how simplification, redundancy and resiliency that solidified my views as a Prepper.