Please can someone genuinely explain what a Prepper is?

[BumWad]

Is this a joke corner of MN I never knew existed?

Keep seeing it pop up on Active but I can't work out what it quite is?

Major on my behalf

[TheSecondOfHerName]

It's someone who prepares for when the shit hits the fan.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

This can vary from one end of the scale (keeping torch handy in case of power cut) to the other (fully stocked bunker in case of zombie apocalypse).

[Zetetic]

For me it is just a useful site to find out and share tips for various events eg -

• power cuts / food & water for power cuts
  
• fire safety
  
• natural world events eg Storm Abigail is being discussed atm.
  
• logburners / solar / wind / wells /
  
• self sufficiency / free food
  
• winter car preparations
  
• travel preparedness
  
• financial planning
  
• books & films on these subjects
  

It is under Other Subjects

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Someone who is prepared for a power cut at one end of the scale, to a global or national catastrophe at the other end of the scale. And all kinds of situations in between.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

And it's not a joke.

[Stratter5]

We are not Preppers in the Americam sense of the word, at least not the far right, gun toting red neck idiots. We are simply people who think it's prudent to be aware of what is going on in the world, and to make sure that we are prepared for things such as long power cuts, bad weather, things like possible flu outbreaks, financial crises - either personal, or general. All very mundane really. We are just dull old grown up Boy Scouts I guess.

[howtorebuild]

There are preppers from all over the world.

[winchester1]

Could you not search one of the other 155 million threads on this already!

Prepper - prepare
Prepare for things that might happen and survive them better still survive comfortably.

[Stratter5]

I'm allowed to diss American uberPreppers because my Dad is Minnesotan :)

[BeverlyGoldberg]

I keep a bottle of water, air compressor, ski jacket and first aid kit in my car even though it's a ball ache to fit in boot with buggy. Am I a prepper?

[Zetetic]

Come on over to see.

[mrsmilktray]

Could you not search one of the other 155 million threads on this already!

I thought exactly the same as the op when I saw the topic on MN. Are there 155 million threads on here about this?

[Stratter5]

In that case, it would only take you a few minutes to zip through the threads that are here.

Do you plan to contribute, or are you just here because you think it's big and clever to mock people with a different view to yours?

[winchester1]

Its been discussed a fair few times a lot of which have been people being rude.

But yh pp have covered it really.
We think what might happen and prepare.

It may seem like nothing to discuss but take a look through the board and you'll see there's can be more to it than candles for some of use.

[mrsmilktray]

No I'm here because I saw the prepper threads in active convos this week and wondered what they were about. I clicked on a couple but didn't quite get it. When I saw this thread I clicked on it to get more info.

Is that okay with you stratter5 or is this an exclusive club?

[Zetetic]

No it isn't. Honestly it is really interesting stuff. You are very welcome.

Have a look under the Other section.

[mrsmilktray]

Thanks Zetetic.

I think I probably am a bit of a prepper, although I didn't know it before this thread.

[Zetetic]

I think it is one of those closet activities that loads of people think about but don't always advertise.

[Stratter5]

Sorry, just getting pissed with all the arsey comments about this board

[BeverlyGoldberg]

I'm honestly not taking the piss. I think everyone preps to an extent, whether it's as far as buying a stand alone generator or having an emergency £20 note in the car.

[hebihebi]

BeverlyGoldberg Fri 13-Nov-15 08:25:44
I think everyone preps to an extent, whether it's as far as buying a stand alone generator or having an emergency £20 note in the car.

The sad thing is no, they really don't. Some people do but the vast majority of people don't even consider it. Don't even have band aids in the house, don't keep spare change, don't even own a torch.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Beverley, I don't think everyone preps to some extent either, by a long way.

But to me that's not the point anyway. We want a topic where we can just discuss it in any form we like without people taking the piss and questioning why we should be allowed the board. Would you go onto Style and Beauty and say "surely everyone has a dress, don't they?"

[mrsmilktray]

I like the idea of a prepping board now I know what it is about. It will spur me to be a much better prepper.

[ArmchairTraveller]

'the vast majority of people don't even consider it. Don't even have band aids in the house, don't keep spare change, don't even own a torch.'

That's true of a lot of the friends I have. Very few of my close relatives though, we are all given to planning ahead.
That would be an interesting thread on the main board...How many of these items do you always have in your house?

[ISpidersmanYouMeanPirate]

I've seen several threads on MN over the years where people have less than 2 days food in their house...

I've seen people write that they decide what they want to eat that evening and pop into the supermarket on the way home from work...no meal plans, no prepping in case of illness/financial problem/weather/whatever.

I've always liked to stock food but until I started really thinking about prepping I didn't have an evacuation bag in case of fire. I didn't have candles (other than birthday cake ones) or a torch. I didn't stock water. I didn't have a list of phone numbers on paper rather than just on my phone. Etc.

A couple of years ago our water was cut off with no warning for 48 hours. Not the council, someone in our building had a flood so the plumber cut off the supply for everyone. At 8pm. All shops were shut and the next two days we were working. Fortunately this was after we'd had DC so we had baby wipes (to clean with) and bottled water. If it'd been before we'd have been stuck, at least for the first 12 hours, and then one of us would have had to juggle work and going to the shops...