Uhm...I really don't see the point you are trying to make here.

How is he a hypocrite? Sounds to me like he is opinionated, has a quick temper, and does not like to lose arguments. Heck, that describes plenty of people I know.

Are you saying he is a hypocrite for supporting Obama while wanting to prep? Why?

Oh, and BTW, I would LOVE to be in a state of financial security where I could blow around $20,000 in six months...let alone have the wife not leave him for it. Must be nice.

 

Uhm...I really don't see the point you are trying to make here.

If he did not have the guns in his house would it be okay?

 

Outside of the left of center types within my family and in-laws, I simply refuse to pollute my daily life with people who hold to those values. As to the hypocrite issue, I'd say it can work the other way too. I've introduced the prepper mentality to my conservative family, but I've yet to see much reaction to it. I made the case that if you are conservative and beat the "personal responsibility" drum, then you are obliged to prep once you have been made aware of the dangers of being unprepared.

 

After Sarah65black's post I started thinking of a friend I had for over 25 years. Me: Conservative values, apolitical, served my country Him: Liberal, staunch democrat, two college degrees he never used

This friend always loves a debate, but his debates are filled with rage and anger at anything that doesn't encompass what he feels is politically correct or morally ambiguous.

Two years ago he bought a beautiful gun safe on Craigslist. I actually offered him $200 more than what he paid and said I'd move it. He declined saying he wasn't sure where society was going. I lol'd and said, "Hey you voted for Obama, not I." This of course makes him angry and he spews his rhetoric as to why he made the better choice but he still had the right as a parent to feel fear for what he saw was a bleak future. A month later he pulls me aside with the "promsie you won't tell Heather" (his wife is more liberal than he is) speech as pulls out an old Remington 12 gauge. He now wants me to show him "what size bullets" this thing uses, and how to load it. Later that afternoon his wife catches him with his case of shells and goes nuts. Yelling mostly at me for what she sees as my definite influence over him. She pulls me aside and asks me to please get him to throw it all out.

Well life goes on, and within the next six months he has a storage room built, safe sitting within. 12 gauge, AR15, 9mm, ammo, $16k in silver bullion, shelves stocked with dried/canned goods. He's proud of it all. Ready as he says for a "collapse of society". As we are driving to Costco with another friend he starts a conversation concerning current politics, moral issues, religion etc. I sit calmly in the back answering any questions brought up, or views I'm asked to express. It ends with him red faced, screaming and yelling that Obama is the only choice, the right choice, and how I follow a false path in believing there is a God. I calmly ask him to drop me back off at his place. I haven't spoken to him since. It so many ways it's a relief. Which brought me to asked the question in the title.

Of course I do know that SHTF isn't always collapse of a government or society but so many make the choice in disabling this country yet want to be part of the community when it's all done. Thus the Disaster Preparedness Hypocrites.

A hypocrite isn't going to understand the question... hence the first response. I personally am unable to have friends like yours as I would have crippled him a long time ago. You simply cannot fix stupid, nor can you polish a turd. Your friend is AS responsible for the decline of this country as the politicians are. I wouldn't lift a finger to help him survive. I would just keep him in my prayers.

 

Here's Webster's definition: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

For years he has stated his "beliefs" and "feelings". He actually had a fit when I built my custom AR. All I heard from him was there was no reason to own such a weapon of destruction and how it would endanger my kids' lives. When I speak of society's slow decline I'm called a "doomsayer", a "nut job". When I present him with the "contradictions" he just argues. Maybe he just fears the reality and his mind won't allow him to process it logically but he does one thing while preaching another. I guarantee you if he walked into a room or preppers he'd unleash a tirade of name calling, then run home and count his ammo stock.

 

Sounds like you put him in a box and want to keep him there. It also sounds like you don't want to be his buddy anymore because you cant feel superior to him (preppers superiority complex is a BIG problem).

Hes a grown man, he's allowed to change his mind. He isn't a hypocrite and Obama voters are not going to end the world. Sorry to tell ya, we are going down this path no matter who's at the helm.

 

It actually sounds like your friend is coming along just fine. He's just having a hard time admitting to himself that his long held belefs were a pile of hooey, and lashes out when it's pointed out to him. He's moving in the right direction - many never do. Be patient. He has to admit it to himself before he can admit it to you.

 

bump

instead of ripping on your friend and calling him a hypocrit, you should be proud of him for opening his mind.

 

He sounds like he's in denial. He doesn't want to accept the direction events are headed toward; but is also observant enough to realize others are seeing the writing on the wall. Add in his own personal measure of self doubt; and he seems to have arrived at the prudent decision to prep "just in case". Sounds like so many prepper beginnings... He's seems panicky and worried; and ripe for educating. If only he had a concerned friend with patience to steer him in the right direction...

 

It is called "cognitive dissonance", the act of holding 2 or more dissimilar and contradictory ideas. It is more common than not, usually the 'ideas' are rooted in how one was brought up and formed since young, thus the erratic and contradictory statements. Since he is your friend and you say quite argumentative, it can be amusing to have a debate with him, or at least tease him about it.

 

Good call on the cognitive dissonance. Everyone suffers from it. Hypocrisy takes many forms, but to me, Schweizer's friend is hedging his bets. He may firmly believe Obama and/or liberalism is the way to go, but not taking any chances. After all poo poo happens. I mean, a lot of Germans became Nazi party members and a lot more Germans did not, yet supported Hitler in various ways. Poo poo happened and they all suffered.

To me, a hypocritical prepper is one that agrees with you up and down about prepping and does nothing to help himself. I know one.

 

You know what I find interesting. He's raging because he does NOT want to admit that he was/is a part of causing the problems we now face. It's sort of like these child molesters who get caught. Most of them will never blame themselves. Instead they always tell you how the 3 year old child "came on to them." Same thing here.

I think that I would stay away from this guy. He's the type who will eventually become another liberal with a gun and start shooting defenseless people when nobody expects it. When liberals lose their beliefs in their politicians, their causes or their way of life then they often, not always, become a rogue with a gun. I'd give him a year, maybe two, before he does something that he shouldn't.

 

Do you know any liberals? They are not homicidal maniacs waiting to happen. No more than anyone else, anyway. They also are not comparable to child molesters. Let me just repeat that: Voting Obama /= raping kids.

 

the only hypocrite i see is you.

last time i checked republicans were good at massive increases to the budget, not just the democrats.

being a democrat is in no way shape or form incompatible with prepping.

you say so many want to make the choice of disabling the country, but i dont hear any democrats calling for the abolismnet of fema, the fda, epa and so on..... Yiu ARE right in that SHTF is not always the collapse of government, and thats why we NEED those agencies.

 

Hey, another post by Bob stating we need big gov't to protect us and regulate our lives while claiming he believes in "self reliance". If big brother is there to take care of you Bob, why do you need to rely on yourself? And YOU call the OP a hypocrite?

 

Well, I must be one, then. A hypocrite, I mean. I do prep, and anyone who's read many of my posts knows I take that seriously.

I think these debates are framed incorrectly; it's always "either-or" instead of what I consider to be a much more reasonable attempt at understanding that neither side has a lock on wisdom. In fact, IMO, the wisdom is to be found between the extremes. And that's why we're heading down the tubes--the middle is gone, and that's where the wisdom is to be found.

Frankly, the hypocrites are more likely to be found with a Bible in their hands than as preppers who don't believe politically what you, the OP, believe. I surely don't, and your reference to God tells me a great deal about you. It's not a discussion for this thread, but save me from those who use God as an excuse for what they do.

Further, it doesn't really matter which party we elect--we get the same crap. Look at Bush--got us into a war that when done will have cost trillions. And to whose benefit? Yours? Mine? No. What could we have bought with those borrowed trillions? Renewable energy? Better infrastructure? I'm sure almost no one, when asked, would have come up with "let's go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Republicans--the group so many here seem to lionize--are just as guilty of self-centered stupidity as are the Democrats. They don't want to raise taxes on the wealthy, nor anyone else for that matter, but what they do not do is offer an alternative to the path we're taking into the swirling cesspool. It's fine if you want to cut taxes, but you also have to cut spending for that to work, and they don't. They're just as big in spending as the Democrats. After all, who put through the current Medicare entitlement? Republicans, who did so to curry the favor of the elderly population so they could win an election, short-term. And look what we have now? Another of those pesky entitlements.

The only reason the Republicans aligned with the religious right was that they knew that they could distract the populace from the realities of their economic "platform"--lower taxes but don't stop spending--by focusing on things like gay marriage and ********. Because, of course, stripped of all that religious junk, what's left? Not much. Look at job trends. Look at wages. How are they going to deal with any of it? Oh, that's right--lower taxes on the wealthy.

Oh, the Republicans talk a good game. They just don't walk the talk.

And the Democrats? Idiots in their own way. Gun control? I used to be anti-gun, but I thought for myself and realized that most of the arguments used in favor of gun control are silly. And now look at me--I reload for handgun, rifle, and shotgun. Crazy me--thinking for himself. Who knew?

The Democratic plan, if you want to call it that, is just as silly as the Republican one. Entitlements forever? Yeah, that's sustainable. Giving people incentives to not work? Yeah, that's sustainable. Spending like madmen in hopes that what hasn't worked for the last four years will somehow work now? Yeah, nice.


So. Let's be careful who we're labeling hypocrites. Most everyone is, in one fashion or another.

 

Thus the Disaster Preparedness Hypocrites.

Meaning...preppers who don't accept YOUR political view.

 

No, more like preppers who advocate gun control, gun bans, vote for it, then on the side purchase used guns hoping "they can't be traced". Or those who do prep, then call those who do idiots, and extremists.

 

How hard off can he possibly be with 16k in silver, guns and food preps for months and all bought in 6 months????

Ya, he REALLY has it rough

 

I think the clue to answer your question was "Don't tell Heather".

 

...

This friend always loves a debate, but his debates are filled with rage and anger at anything that doesn't encompass what he feels is politically correct or morally ambiguous. ...

Kind of like the reaction of many on here when someone's viewpoint does not line up with theirs or the perceived majority.

Are there trolls on here, sure. Are there people who actually lack the knowledge to make good choices, sure. Will there viewpoint change if you attack them, no. I don't understand the refusal of people to help one another, that whole community thing...Sarah65black's thread is a prime example of what I am referring to.

You never really know if someone is a troll and for that reason people should just enlighten them with legitimate debate. Not jump on the attack, which is what the trolls wants to begin with.

 

Oh and before I go to bed...I didn't vote for the Republican either ;-)

 

You mean hipocrate like a president telling everyone to tighten their belts because times are tough, then he himself takes an over $4million vacation to Hawaii ON OUR DIME. Is that the type of hipocrate you were referring to? Yeah, i know 1.

 

Do you know any liberals?

One and I avoid him like the plague. In fact, I was glad when he moved out of state.

They are not homicidal maniacs waiting to happen.

You're right but I can't get past the ones who are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Lee_Loughner

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/26/colorado-gop-calls-apology-democratic-office-vandalism/

http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_13199902

http://michellemalkin.com/2010/08/2.../08/25/not-again-another-act-of-democrat-vandalism-falsely-blamed-on-tea-party/

 

I find it amusing that few seem to grasp the hypocrisy of voting for a party who seeks to expand programs making people dependent on the government for their very sustenance and disarming the general populace...yet buying extra food and those evil black rifles. Remember, you voted for the guy who said "weapons that were designed for soldiers in war theaters don't belong on our streets. And so what I'm trying to do is to get a broader conversation about how do we reduce the violence generally. Part of it is seeing if we can get an assault weapons ban reintroduced." Why wait? Destroy yours now like a good citizen, be an example to us retards that voted for the Mormon. God knows we need enlightened folks to lead us out of the backward 3rd world cesspool that America is. It's the same deal as so many liberals decrying the lack of funding for this program or that, yet few seem to take advantage of the VOLUNTARY donations you can make to the US government. Seems it's my money they want as well. For all you interested:

Gifts to the United States
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Credit Accounting Branch
3700 East-West Highway, Room 622D
Hyattsville, MD 20782

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/gift/gift.htm

 

 

It sound like your friend is putting on a show.

 

When I identify a hypocrite, I dont engage them in conversation. Because I`m a busy man, and I dont have time for bull ****.

 

............ Him: Liberal, staunch democrat, two college degrees he never used

This friend always loves a debate, but his debates are filled with rage and anger at anything that doesn't encompass what he feels is politically correct or morally ambiguous. .

Well, friend..........your problem with this guy can be surmised in a nutshell : He's a lib and you will never be able to reason with him. Liberalism is a mental disorder. No matter how sensible your argument, you will never convince him that he's an idiot.

He will deny that the sun shines bright at noonday in clear skies.

 

"The Hypocrites...do you know one?"

Know one, heck, I am one!

What are your questions?

 

Yeah, gotta go with some of the others.

Less a hypocrite and more someone who, in the process of changing his beliefs, remains uncomfortable with letting go of those beliefs.

 

I'm neither liberal nor conservative...I make up my own opinion without conforming to the beliefs of an entire group.

Many liberals are shocked to find out that, in reference to specific issues, their views can skew conservative on occassion, and the same goes for conservatives.

Why is it not possible to be against gun control and for stem cell research? How about for the death penalty and against religion being forced upon children in school?

I like to formulate my own opinions without confining myself to an ideological box.

 

That's a lovely PC way of being identified as reasonable. A truly utopian ideal. Everyone has a few things that cross over or are undefined. You even say "I make up my own mind" as though others do not and therefore you're superior to those who identify where they stand. It sounds as though you can be swayed to any side of any issue.

I take a side on my core beliefs and I don't shy from them or equivocate. On most issues I side with our Founding Fathers. Fiscal responsibly, personal responsibly, small government, individual rights, not granted by government. I believe in honor, duty and all that other stuff that made America exceptional and the most prosperous nation in history.

I believe in the Bill of Rights and original principals of the entire Constitution. I subscribe to no formal religion but believe the 10 Commandments was a really good basis for our legal system and morality in general. I believe Adam Smith, John Locke, Montesque, Cicero and Aristotle were wise men we could learn from.

I believe government is among the greatest of threats to mankind that ever has existed on the planet. I believe as Thomas Paine did that "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil, in its worst state, an intolerable one".

Lastly, I believe that those who don't know where they stand or who stand for nothing will fall for anything. Those people are not those I want near me in a time of conflict. You never know where they stand of if they'll stand...or run. I make up my own mind as well. I don't just talk in platitudes about it, I stand BY what I stand FOR and voice it proudly. I even defend it.