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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think 'prepping' is just shopping to ease anxiety

163 replies

JeffsanArsehole · 29/10/2015 12:44

The likelihood of something 'happening' that prepping would have helped is pretty small isn't it?

Isis/alien invasion/zombie apocalypse - all pretty unlikely.

Apart from the pack of candles, a torch, and a 4 pint of milk in the freezer I'm not 'prepped' for anything.

So maybe people just buy 400 tins and a generator to ease anxiety?

OP posts:

Stratter5 · 29/10/2015 16:30

Nope, the only people coming through my front door are family. Anyone else can fuck off and take care of themselves. Don't care what you have, I have all we need, and you might not leave when I want you to.

steff13 · 29/10/2015 16:30

This is how the American Red Cross tells us to be prepared:

www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family

It's not about zombies or aliens, it's about floods, tornados, etc.

Enjolrass · 29/10/2015 16:33

the only people coming through my front door are family.

Got to be honest. There a few members of mine that I wouldn't let in. Even if they bring rum.

I'll hide behind the sofa til they stop knocking

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/10/2015 16:33

if their children were ever starving to death, you can bet they would remember that conversation and decide to come and take their "share" of what isn't theirs by force.

Goodness.

Well if it gets to the stage where UK people are starving to death you can bet your bottom dollar that every house will be targeted. Prior intel or not.

G1veMeStrength · 29/10/2015 16:33

You'll be sorry Stratter when you've played Scrabble AGAIN and got bored of pasta. But if you change your mind it's the more the merrier at the roller disco.

DontHaveAUsername · 29/10/2015 16:40

"Well if it gets to the stage where UK people are starving to death you can bet your bottom dollar that every house will be targeted. Prior intel or not."

I wasn't actually meaning the UK as a whole just a localized issue. Say if an area is cut off by horrendous weather for weeks, and no food can get in, a bit like New Orleans in Katrina. People inside that area who haven't eaten in days are going to be a big threat to preppers because they will think that they have a right to a share of our food supplies if they have none and are starving. It's why I don't often talk about it to people. Can you imagine if two parents with a toddler who was starving to death realized that the only hope of their kid (and themselves) surviving much longer is to take food from the neighbhour they spoke to a few months ago who mentioned he has a large supply? Nothing you say would change their minds, they couldn't be reasoned with. Best for them just not to know about the large food supply across the street, then they won't endanger me and my family if it comes down to it.

LurkingHusband · 29/10/2015 16:40

I wonder how many preppers can make the bullets for the guns they hoard ? Starting with the gunpowder ?

All preppers do is underscore how very few people are able to live without assistance. A few weeks while your supplies last. But unless the society to replenish those supplies returns, you are probably unlikely to survive.

Need wood for fuel. How do you chop a tree down without a (metal) axe ? Any flintknappers in ?

Watch the first episode of James Burkes (amazingly prescient, for a 40 year old programme) for an idea of what society is.

Stratter5 · 29/10/2015 16:45

I wasn't brought up here; I'm pretty self sufficient, I can hunt, fish, forage, etc. I have no intention of helping anyone else, including any of my side of my family, bar my DDs and their extended 'families'. Between us we have an excellent skill set and knowledge, plus access to meds and weapons.

I'm not sharing.

DontHaveAUsername · 29/10/2015 16:46

I'd assume most preppers do have an axe. And LurkingHusband surviving a few weeks on your supplies may be all that's needed. I'm not prepping for an end of the world apocalypse, I'm just preparing for short term emergencies where I may need to rely on those supplies to get me through it until the situation calms down and we get back to normal. Again New Orleans is a good example, there's no food, no water, no electricity, and if that was permanent I couldn't survive long term, but I don't need to - I just need to survive until the emergency is over and things return to normal. That might be a few days, or a few weeks.

Stratter5 · 29/10/2015 16:51

Yep, Dont has it. This is about getting through a few days/weeks/possibly months, not the End of the World. It's about plausible, and likely things that could happen. I don't get the negative mindset, all over the world people accept that it's a bloody good idea to be prepared, governments encourage it, and provide information, heck our government, forces, emergency services, and the NHS are prepped for eventualities. It's simply about taking responsibility for yourself. Or do you honestly think this government is going to ride up on a white horse? Because I think they'll skip out at the first sign of trouble, they're not exactly civic minded.

swisscheesetony · 29/10/2015 16:54

There's no need to sneer about zombies.

The uk gov was just twelve hours from calling in the army during the fuel strikes last decade. The shelves were bare.

That's happened in our lifetime. Your ocado delivery won't help you then.

Stratter5 · 29/10/2015 16:55

I'd forgotten the fuel crisis, you're right.

swisscheesetony · 29/10/2015 16:57

Most of you are already "preppers" to some degree. How many of you will allow yourselves to be on the last sheet of Andrew before you go to the shops? You've likely got an unopened packet in the bathroom waiting to go.

swisscheesetony · 29/10/2015 16:58

Poor Andrew, I did mean andrex of course.

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/10/2015 16:58

Poor Andrew. What a life.

WimpyArseWanks · 29/10/2015 17:05

@ Andrew

Pipbin · 29/10/2015 17:08

The uk gov was just twelve hours from calling in the army during the fuel strikes last decade. The shelves were bare.

I remember it well, the shelves were not bare, there just wasn't any bread. I bought flour and yeast and made my own.

Quite frankly if Ocado can't deliver then civilisation as we know it has ended and I shall lie down in the road to die anyway.

PurpleHairAndPearls · 29/10/2015 17:13

The first rule of prepping, is that you don't disclose you're a prepper

Seriously though, our society is so reliant on technology, I actually think this is the most likely "worst case" scenario, rather than zombies or plague. Banking systems down - no way to get cash/pay for things. Utilities all off - no gas/electric or water. No fuel - no deliveries to restock shops. No petrol at the pumps so cars unusable. How long would people be able to cope?

A couple of years ago I had my bag with car and house keys and phone nicked when I was out. I didn't even know my DHs mobile number and had no way to pick up my DC from school - I should have been there in 20 minutes. That was a small thing but my god it was stressful and brought home to me how reliant we are on technology. And I'm of an age of pre widespread mobile and Internet use. I seriously can't imagine what would happen in the event of a serious cyber attack but I know it wouldn't be good.

memyselfandaye · 29/10/2015 17:17

I haven't rtft, but I work for a 'prepper'

The things I could tell you! They have it down to a fine art, they even have a mahoosive catapult, because there is no point having a gun because you will eventually run out of ammunition if you use a gun, but you never will if you have a catapult, and thats just the tip of the iceberg!

G1veMeStrength · 29/10/2015 17:22

Bloody hell it's dog eat dog in prepperland isn't it. I reckon having a few spare loo rolls in is just NORMAL and what most people hope to do, pay packet allowing. I'm sure I'd survive a short problem. If it is something that breaks Ocado and leaves the die hard preppers in silos who won't share nicely I think I'll join Pipbin in the road. Mind you with no fuel supplies it could be a while before we get run over.

Anaffaquine · 29/10/2015 17:24

I prep for winter getting winter tyres, ensuring we have grit, suitable clothing and a snow shovel. If I didn't and the snow came, we wouldn't get out to get any of that!
The only other thing I do is keep all important files and passports in one place. If there is an emergency I know where they are and can just lift it out in one.
I wonder where people who buy 400 cans and 100 batteries keep it all. I struggle to find space if I bulk buy toilet roll from Costco!

Scoobydoo8 · 29/10/2015 17:24

I'm not hoarding anything - once things really get tough and you actually need the stuff there will be marauding armed hordes happy to take it from you - and they won't be saying please ......AhAhAhhaaahaaaahaaaaaaa

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/10/2015 17:28

I'll be lying in the road too I think. I'll bring some snacks though so we're not too hungry while waiting to be put out of our un-prepped misery.

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/10/2015 17:29

they even have a mahoosive catapult

Probably to fling buckets of boiling oil at the would be thieves!

RoosterCogburn · 29/10/2015 17:29

We're rural and it makes sense to have supplies in the house during the Winter. Even if we're not snowed in it can mean not having to make unnecessary journeys when the weather conditions are dire and therefore driving is more dangerous.
During the winter months I always make sure we have at least half a tank of oil, lots of wood, a couple of weeks worth of pet food and plenty of food for us.

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