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25K views 135 replies 122 participants last post by  Camelfilter 
#1 ·
(First, hopefully this hasn't been covered, but I didn't see it in my searches.)

I don't mean "what made you become a survivialist?" or "how did you become a survivalist?" -- but why are you trying to survive?- a bit of a philosophical question.

Sure, I believe nearly all of us have a natural desire to survive, and probably those of us here are just more awake to the potential threats in our lives. However, are there more specific reasons for you? Do you just want to keep a pulse no matter what? Do you want to live only under certain conditions? Most people seem to want to protect their family as well - but how far does that extend for you and why? You might risk your life to protect your kids, but what about a niece/nephew? What about a parent or cousin? - just some things to consider when looking at the big picture of survivalism, and I'm very interested to see what people say.

As for me, I want to live the life I've been given to the best of my ability. I believe my Creator put me here for a reason, and survivalism is a way for me to exercise prudence in protecting my life so that I can fulfill my purpose, and it's also a way for me to learn how to protect others.

However, if I have the opportunity to lay my life down for a greater purpose, I hope that I would.
 
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#2 ·
For me, mere survival isn't the most important thing. After all, none of us get out of this world alive. But survival is only part of the problem...the real question is the quality of that survival. I really don't want to eat grass so I can sleep without hunger pangs every night, even knowing that the grass will probably not keep me alive for long. Starvation isn't a very comfortable way to die.

I also think I can help others by being alive. I can help the community start planting seeds and take measures to survive, planning for defense, and helping preserve some human values. I can teach my neighbors how to find wild plant foods and how to prepare them and help them start gardens in the meantime. It's the preservation of hope, and I can help with that.

I have some skills of my own to share and more ideas that I've just read about that could possibly be a solution to a problem. We're going to have to be real think tanks after SHTF, thinking outside of all boxes we've confined ourselves to previously, so untried ideas can also help. I've read that knowledge from books doesn't help unless you actually do it, but that's not completely true. We simply don't have the time to do everything we read about, but the idea is there for when we need it. We may have between us a vast amount of book knowledge we can share for one situation or another, and others with more specialized skills could take it and run with it. That may be my best contribution.

As part of a community with others, we should have both some skills and some more general knowledge to share, but the greatest benefit is the creativity to put those together into a workable solution.

What I'm saying is that survival for myself alone wouldn't be as important as offering what I can to community survival, because without a small community to share life with, it would be awfully bleak just to be alive. The contribution to others would help give that life more meaning.
 
#4 ·
As for me, I want to live the life I've been given to the best of my ability. I believe my Creator put me here for a reason, and survivalism is a way for me to exercise prudence in protecting my life so that I can fulfill my purpose, and it's also a way for me to learn how to protect others.
You answered your own question in almost the same words I would have used. I want to continue to fulfill my purpose in life. I hope to have a chance at building a better world, since we've sure screwed the current one up.

Also, there's an angry little voice inside me that says "think of how nice it'll be to live in a world without all the stupid, selfish, uncaring and spoiled people that make it so miserable right now." But I'm logical enough to know that while I won't miss those types one bit, the new world will be anything but "nice". At least not in my lifetime.
 
#61 ·
I think most of us just want to be left alone. To succeed or fail - that's kinda on us. Leave me alone to fall on my face - or walk erect - ON MY OWN!!!
I don't need another mommy. Got one. Hands off my freedom - or get them cut off.
Thomas Jefferson once said "If a man neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg, what care have I?"
That is the penultimate Libertarian attitude. Keep your stuff off my stuff & when you don't- prepare for the pistol doule or worse.
 
#7 ·
I believe in the resiliency of the human race and the abilty to cope and adapt. But I also believe that for the most part Americans are a spoiled rotten lot and will have a difficult time at first. I don't want to be one of those having a "difficult time". If anything, I would like to think that I could assist in the recovery or the adaptation.
 
#50 ·
That is how I think and feel BnB. But I do not think it is just spoiled Americans but most countries, especially countries where people have been given about everything they need and have never gone hungry or without much.

Which is just one more reason I camp and Live on my remote mtn retreat since I am living like the SHTF already, for the most part. I mean how many in today's modern world go days without a bath or hot shower, live on canned food or worse, get water from a spring, use a primitive outhouse, etc. etc???
But would rather live like that and work hard building instead of living / existing in a big polluted, crowded unfree city.

I got kids and I want them to live.
That is good hopefully most parents would know how to keep their kids alive no matter what!

I do not have children but hope to help others especially those who wish to learn, Live and survive and Thrive! and whose parents would and could not teach their own children since they believe the government will surely save them.
 
#9 ·
I have kids as well and they are the most important. My parents prep and have many skills as does my husband. My brother and his wife are also on board and trying to prepare. My in-laws however are not interested and think we are all nuts. They do have more food than most people because they are thrifty and buy up sale items in bulk. They grow gardens and do lots of canning which would help. My sister-n-law however doesn't have food for today much less next week or next month. I have tried and tried to talk to her but she just does not get it and she has three grown kids. She has the means to prepare or I would have a little more sympathy. Oh well, I do this for my children.

I just dont want them to survive but I want them to be comfortable and not be hungry. This could be difficult so I just keep that in mind and it makes me work harder.
 
#10 ·
If it were just me I wouldn't be even interested in learning about prepping or survivalism. I do believe God led me to prepare in April 2009. It could be that nothing more than an act of faith, maybe to help others I don't know or care.

On a personal level, I never want to be in a situation where my family would tell me they were hungry or afraid and I was unable to respond. I do believe I am a survivalist at heart. I grew up with no running water and took baths in a creek. I was homeless for 2 years of my life and lived in a car while paying taxes. I took showers for .25 cents at a campgrounds, put myself through school and never missed a day of work or school and I have never collected 10 cents of government help on any level. I believe you either have the desire to "survive" or you don't.

I don't care how prepped you are, or how many books you have, or camp-outs you've gone on, survival gizmo's you own, how many guns and piles of ammo at your disposal, if you don't have the desire to survive and the abilty to think and solve problems on your feet quickly you won't survive.
 
#14 ·
I do it for my children and wife

but also I believe that God put me here for PUROSE, and that i might be able to alleviate the suffering of some others or prevent some evil.
 
#15 ·
I'm a survivalist because I enjoy life. Sure bad things happen, and life isn't always fun, but there are always good things worth living for, no matter how bad things seem. All you have to do is look.

Also, I have no idea what comes after death. I would like to think there is a God, and heaven. But no one really knows for sure, so if this is all there is, I want every damn minute I can claw out of the universe.

I think you are asking what the meaning of life is. That I can't answer for you sir, thats one you decide for yourself. For me, its simple: I am here to live my life as best I can, and pass on what I am, what I know, and who I wish to become to my children. The purpose of my life has changed many times over the years. My purpose used to be to live it up, and experience as much this world has to offer as possible.

Now my purpose is to give my daughter the tools she needs to be whatever it is she desires out of her life. To protect and teach. To love unconditionally, and support her in her journey as she becomes an adult.
 
#19 ·
Because life is short and the world is large. i want to experience everything or as close to everything this world has to offer. I want to give something back either to the human population or the earth instead of just being a locust like most people.

Do you just want to keep a pulse no matter what?
Staying alive is most important priority for all of us. This by extension means being able to help keep others in your family or party alive.
Do you want to live only under certain conditions?
No, I will maintain a will to live until my last breath, no matter the circumstances.
Most people seem to want to protect their family as well - but how far does that extend for you and why? You might risk your life to protect your kids, but what about a niece/nephew? What about a parent or cousin? - just some things to consider when looking at the big picture of survivalism, and I'm very interested to see what people say.
This extends to aunts and uncles only, not their children. They are responsible for their children, but they had a hand in my upbringing (no matter how little) so I am indebted to them.
 
#20 ·
Some people keep candles for blackouts. Its prudent.

With todays populations, I see food in the same way.

Why do I do this. Maybe my food will keep people alive at some point. Maybe it'll be long enough for them to survive whatever passes. Maybe its just long enough for them to turn to God and be saved.

Its my seatbelt. I probably wont crash, but if I do..It'll save everyone in the car (hopefully)
 
#22 ·
i was brought up being ready for a disaster. weather that disaster was me falling in a fountian and mom had a spare change of cloths for me, or we had an eather quake, and the bridge was taken out but my folks had weeks of supplies for us and the neighbors to get by on. i stayed prepared like that but until the birth of my first son i didnt realize that i had a long way to go. these days my focus is on the kids, keeping them fed and safe. the fact that i need to keep myself fed and safe comes secondary now only because i need to be there for them first and formost.

in response to MIKEK's comment
"Also, there's an angry little voice inside me that says "think of how nice it'll be to live in a world without all the stupid, selfish, uncaring and spoiled people that make it so miserable right now." But I'm logical enough to know that while I won't miss those types one bit, the new world will be anything but "nice". At least not in my lifetime."

if you think that all the "bad/stupid" people will be gone. think again. they are like cockroachs- they just keep surviving and feeding off the rest of us... no matter what happens. heck they can survive a nuclear blast!
 
#27 ·
Unfortunately, a large number of them will make it through. Probably by victimizing others. Hopefully they will undergo some positive changes and emerge a little wiser. At least their numbers will be trimmed somewhat. Maybe we won't be such a minority anymore.
 
#23 ·
On a personal level, I never want to be in a situation where my family would tell me they were hungry or afraid and I was unable to respond.
Ditto. I have 2 young children and if a bad situation occurred and they were hungry or scared and I couldn't fix that as their father it would tear my heart out. I do this for them. Right now I am the hero to both of them and I don't EVER want to lose that position.

On a secondary note, after reading the book "Patriots" by Wesley Rawles I decided I liked how his book ended where because they were prepared they were able to help overthrow the nasty socialists and dictators that were trying to regain their power. I want to help put America back into the land of the free column where we are slowly slipping away from year after year now. If that situation ever arose and I could play a part in making a truly free nation again, I want in on that action.

To me personally, prepping gives me a sense of security, independence, and freedom I can't get anywhere else. I feel like I can better take care of myself and my family and not have to go beg for food or money at the door step of our "benevolent" government.
 
#24 ·
On a personal level, I never want to be in a situation where my family would tell me they were hungry or afraid and I was unable to respond.
Ditto. I have 2 young children and if a bad situation occurred and they were hungry or scared and I couldn't fix that as their father it would tear my heart out. I do this for them. Right now I am the hero to both of them and I don't EVER want to lose that position.

On a secondary note, after reading the book "Patriots" by Wesley Rawles I decided I liked how his book ended where because they were prepared they were able to help overthrow the nasty socialists and dictators that were trying to regain their power. I want to help put America back into the land of the free column where we are slowly slipping away from year after year now. If that situation ever arose and I could play a part in making a truly free nation again, I want in on that action.

To me personally, prepping gives me a sense of security, independence, and freedom I can't get anywhere else. I feel like I can better take care of myself and my family and not have to go beg for food or money at the door step of our "benevolent" government.
 
#25 ·
When I was 5 years old,I remember my mother was terribly frightened. I remember my mother trying to get us to a place where there were a lot of people. I asked her what was wrong,I could hardly keep up with her, and she was near frantic. My mother said a man was after us. He was a rapist.I asked her what that was ,and she said it was a man who wanted to hurt women. I saw the man, he was following us. I distinctly remember feeling terribly angry,not scared, and I kept looking for a sharp stick to stab him with. Looking back, no one had ever taught me a sharp stick was a weapon,nor had I been taught any sort of "protective" skills. Where did those come from? I have come to believe it was something from deep in our genetic past. I believe some people are more "protective",by nature than others. Human history would bear this out. Even in paleolithic tribes, there was "specialization" of duties. Not everyone was a hunter, or a warrior, or a gatherer, or a basket weaver. I do think ALL humans, have a protective instinct. Some may have had it bred out of them through selective breeding, or generations of liberal education. I just think many of us, particularly survivalist/preppers, may have a genetic predilection in this area. Having said all that,I want to make clear that this applies to my immediate family. I have an entire EXTENDED "family", cousins, aunts, uncles and such that I have absolutely nothing to do with. I would NEVER trust any of those people with my wallet. I don't approve of their lifestyles and morality...or lack thereof. They have no idea I am prepared and I intend to keep it that way. TP
 
#28 ·
I have seen to many people (on the news coverage and in personal experiences) that have not been able to even get along if they ran short on hours worked from week to week. My great grandparents and grandparents always had full pantries and stocks (not that I knew what is was for back then). I want to be able to provide for my family no matter what happens, come hell or high water... why survive..?... why not...
 
#29 ·
I have a pile of reasons that I prep.

I am actually kind of fond of my life right now. I would like to maintain that to some degree regardless of what is going on around me. Disasters happen all the time. They vary in size and duration. I am trying to prepare myself and my wife to survive them all with some degree of comfort.

If I can do so without causing harm or strife to myself, I would like to be able to help others (yeah, the group of people that I would help would be rather select, but hey...).

And last but not least. I am a very sick (in the head) human being. I want to be around to know what is going to happen to these people...





:(
I am a very, very sick man...
 
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