Only on mumsnet do people prep.

[Notlong20]

There is not one person I know in real life that is prepping for a coronavirus outbreak. In fact, no one I speak to even mentions the threat of the virus.

Of course we know of it as the hysteria surrounding it is all over the news / social media, but aibu to think preppers only exist on mumsnet?

Have you checked reddit?

The first rule is that you don't talk about your prep. I've done it slowly over a while. A little bit here and there adds up. I have also shopped for my younger sisters.

Your friendly next door neighbour won't be so friendly if they haven't eaten in three days, because they wanted to just hope for the best and continue to believe that nothing would ever happen.

Lots of people recently in Canada recently had to queue for hours after a snow storm. I'd rather avoid that:

globalnews.ca/news/6440590/state-of-emergency-in-st-johns-n-l-reaches-day-5-after-massive-blizzard/

The thing is yes some people are right - if 6 weeks go by and shops are bare it will be carnage but I don’t think it will get to that (I’m not a proper preppier!) but in the event of something similar to north Italy happening I’d rather know I’ve got a few weeks of food and supplies for us to sit at home until either life goes back to normal or the government implements a rationing plan similar to China.
You can’t prep for an extended period of chaos (unless you go the whole hog live on a farm in the middle of nowhere and be completely self sustaining) but you can make sure you are ok for a bit which is the most likely senario - a couple weeks illness or quarantine.

@GoodDogBellaBoo what have I made my mind up about?

The first rule of prepping is pretty horrific huh? So you don't tell anyone because you don't want to share your food and supplies with friends and neighbours who are sick/injured/hungry, is that right? Jesus.

I am not a prepped generally but I have been getting extras things in for this. Extra paracetamol etc and some extra food. I can’t understand why you wouldn’t tbh! We have watched the virus spread and we know that the nhs can’t cope with a heavy flu season let alone anything heavier.

I am preparing for the fact we may need to avoid too many trips out for a few weeks and the fact we may be ill - so ready made food paracetamol. That doesn’t seem crazy to me !

Google '4chan Coronavirus 31st January 2020' and report back OP.
Always do your research. Take care of the people who are important to you. Live your best life.

I’m not a prepper but I do have enough in that I can survive for at least a week. After a week, we can probably still survive but it’ll be on plain pasta and rice. I’m going to put a couple of packets of Lemsip and some tinned tomatoes in the food shop at weekend, maybe a bag of lentils. It’s not really prepping to the extent you see on MN, I can’t be bother going down the long life milk route (is just do without) but I think a lot of people actually have enough staples in to survive (even if meals are not the most nutritious, are boring and repetitive).

I have encountered a few on Facebook that are hysterical about it. Our local school had a handful of students in Italy over half term, they are self isolating but they are demanding the school be shut to everyone for at least two weeks. There’s someone hysterical at work, putting posters up and sending emails about the spread but their job is business contingency and I’m sure this is the most exciting thing to happen for a while. The other hysterical person I’m encountering is the twat in my office, he’s giving the office a blow by blow account of how it’s developing but he’s grossly exaggerating. Example, he said the village I live in (he doesn’t) is on lock down because the whole school went skiing The village isn’t on lockdown, a handful of students are self isolating, which is the case up and down the country. He’s not got vulnerable people at home by the way and panicking as a result, he’s just relishing in the drama because he’s a twat. So, yeh, there are hysterical people in real life but thankfully they’re few and far between.

I had been meaning to get a chest freezer for a while but due to the virus Ive now got one and am well stocked in case I don't want to go out.

YANBU

Out for a meal tonight with my running group. Nobody mentioned the virus. Come to mention it, nobody has talked about it at work either.

I suppose those that prepped for Brexit are one step ahead.

Seriously where do you put all this food.

I do 2 shops per week because otherwise I have no where to put all this food.

Freezer gets full, fridge gets full. If I stock it any further the stuff goes off.
Cupboards get full and I end up with stuff on the work surface.

I spend about £35-40 and can hardly fit it in the cupboards

Sofonisba Wed 26-Feb-20 23:06:14
The first rule of prepping is pretty horrific huh? So you don't tell anyone because you don't want to share your food and supplies with friends and neighbours who are sick/injured/hungry, is that right? Jesus

I think the first rule comment was supposed to be lighthearted - thats how I took it, chill out.

Sorry 8% not 18%

I do have a smallish kitchen. But my fridge freezer is not huge but equally not small

@Sofonisba

Even in first aid you're taught to consider your own safety first before you help anyone else. Why does it suddenly become your duty to feed anyone and everyone who couldn't be bothered to do something for themselves when they had the time to do so? (unless they're genuinely ill)

I think the first rule comment was supposed to be lighthearted - thats how I took it, chill out.

I'm perfectly chilled. It's been repeated by 4 or 5 different posters so it seems to be a genuine thing preppers say.

I have bought extra things because as a lone parent with no family nearby I feel like I have to be prepared for a situation where I might not be able to/might not want to go out much.

We've had storm after storm here so I'm just repurposing my storm stash for Corona stash. Apparently Tesco is getting rid of the multipack plastic wrapping on the cans, hence why it's going out of stock. I bought 4 tins of baked beans for 83p today.

I work with colleagues in Suzhou, and Milan.
I know what's happening there, and I'm ready for SHTF scenarios.
The WHO have a vested interest in keeping quiet. Delay the panic, for the common good.
Regardless of viral risk, it's going to hit us all relatively soon, and I'm determined to keep my family comfortable if possible.
The current economic risk is just as harmful as the possible health risk. What's the harm in buying some rice and bog roll?

I haven't been able to stockpile but I plan to asap as half of my household have been really ill with other stuff and we have had a mega shit time.

However, I am blessing my leftover Brexit stocks, not a lot left as I have not been home to prep, living in hospital. But I will be smashing the prep in the next fortnight as I estimate we have 3-4 weeks max before the shit hits the fan.
HCP

@Pretendingtobeapsychokiller what are you on about? What do you want me to report back on?

Unless that search tells me if mumsnet users come across preppers in real life, then it’s really not relevant to this thread.

It's the second laugh this thread has given me. Only on Mumsnet do people take the piss out of prepping and then more complain if you won't share.

Brilliant stuff, cheers

Stock up yourself if you want to feed people outside your own family. Nobody can't say there hasnt been advice in advance.

No prepping going on here. Unless you count the 5 packets of mug shot I got for my lunches at work!
The way I see it.... we're not going to stop the spread now, it's gone too far but normal life must continue otherwise the economy will be a disaster. All this "prepping" just creates further panic, further prepping and empty shelves.......ok....I might go buy some pot noodles to go with my mug shots......and wine. Wine is important

Sorry OP, I deduced an interesting in the reality of the situation that was non-existent.
Shitloads of people are prepping due to the unprecedented evidence on this occasion. I'm on MN, and I'm ready to lock the doors for a few weeks, if it prevents unnecessary risks to the general population.
The name calling on here is illogical. If there is no risk, who are we harming?
I've been talking to colleagues in China about this since Christmas (yes - Christmas), and I'm not willling to contemplate an unprepared response. We have options that they didn't.

First rule of Prep Club: Do not mention Prep Club

Second rule of Prep Club: Do not mention Prep Club

If we told everyone and they all also prepped we wouldn’t be in Prep Club - there would be no Prep Club.

We’re subtle, covert, no bulk buying anything in one go, just soft, unhurried and careful thinking ahead. How much loo roll will your family use in say 4 weeks? Pet food?

I honestly think it’s unstoppable now and judging by the fuckwittery shopping behaviour before a high day or holiday, I, my dears, do not intend to be scrabbling around in the dirty supermarkets fighting over the crappity last items, or the no painkillers etc with the germ breathing masses. I’m not buying anything we won’t use and have a proper walk in pantry, 2 freezers and our own chickens!

Until these 2 sudden outbreaks in Iran and Italy I was firmly in the ‘it’s nothing’ camp but since the weekend it’s a changed picture. I think the next 3 weeks are going to be interesting.

I’m just going to go to The Winchester and wait for all this to blow over.