WHERE HAVE ALL THE PREPPERS GONE?
Host: Katzcradul “The Homestead Honey Hour“
Remember the days when you’d hear the term ‘Prepper’ as often as you heard ‘gluten Intolerance’? Remember the days when Preppers, although a bit reluctant to reveal their passion for self-reliance, would do so with a sense of enthusiasm and pride? What happened to those days, and more importantly, where have all the preppers gone?
Join Katzcradul as she discusses the apparent rise and fall of the Prepper phenomenon. She thinks there’s some important questions we should be asking ourselves. Do we now believe that our national power grid is in better shape than it was two years ago? Do we now believe that reliance on government agencies to take care of us in times of disaster is a good plan? Do we think that the food in supermarkets is safer to eat and a dependable source for our dinner table? Do we think public schools under Common Core are now paragons of education? Do we believe that our legislators are competent and work tirelessly to ensure our freedoms are maintained? Maybe you’re one who feels your world is now a safer place with scanners at airports, cameras on every street corner, surveillance through all our electronic devices, and drones patrolling overhead. No? Then join Katz as she discusses what she believes the new face of preparedness will look like in 2014.
Katz will also be talking with special guest, Joseph Phillips of Heirloom Seed Banks. Heirloom Seed Banks is a sponser of APN Radio and is eager to discuss his product with Homestead Honey Hour listeners. He will tell you why he thinks he offers a superior product, and you’re invited to call-in with your questions for him.
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This could be an easy question to answer. I, for one, have stopped telling anyone that I am prepping. You could say that I have taken my prepping underground. I haven’t stopped, I have just got better at it.
Exactly. Not that I ever broadcast my preparedness to others. However, the few times I did start a conversation with people in hopes that they too would do something to cover their own a$$ all I got out of it was “Well, if things go wrong I’m just coming to your house”. Not the response I was hoping for on several levels.
Operational security, low profile, whatever you want to call it. Let the wannabe’s flame out, I’ll just do what I’ve always done to ensure the safety and security of my family. At least the reality shows are doing all of the talking for us, if those shows don’t make people think about their own well-being there’s nothing I’m going to say that will either.
GO
Same here, it is foolish to advertise your intentions, especially with the dictatorship we are falling under in this country.
I think you’re right on target. I believe there are even more preparedness-minded people today than ever, but with the well-executed “Prepper Marginalization” by certain media outlets and revelations of all the personal information data mining people have wised up, shut up, and gone “dark”; which is probably a very wise move on their part.
I agree. I am underground so to speak. I would rather others not know that I am prepared for disaster. I will provide aid as I desire, not have people showing up at my door demanding it if the shumer hits the fan.
I completely agree with you Michael. I’m more committed now than ever to prepping, but I’m unwilling to tell anyone that I prep. I think there are a lot more people who fall in that category than before – we’ve taken it underground.
I don’t talk to anyone about it. The bad thing is, when I place an order, the same guy delivers it most of the time and he is VERY curious about what is in my heavy boxes.
++
Just tell the delivery person they are heavy duty tampons and you’re having a heavy month. Bet he won’t be as curious
You betcha! I don’t want anyone to know what I’m doing. If I could disappear in plain site, I would. I am even reluctant to use internet purchasing anymore.
I think the lowercase-p preppers are still here, right where we’ve always been, but that the uppercase-P Preppers have faded like any other media phenomenon. It’s like any other reality show-type phenomenon. Whether it’s custom motorcycles or eating strange foods or doing dirty jobs or preparing for doomsday, the reality shows get their 15 minutes of fame and then audience attention moves on to the next thing. The people who were doing those things before are all still doing them, but the audience has gotten bored and moved on. No different for preppers.
Have to admit, some of the people on doomsday peppers were pretty far out there with their bazillion dollar underground condominiums that may end up being no more than an expensive multifamily burial plot. When the show first started, it was more educational, then it turned into who has more toys and then who has more expensive toys or the dude that has his sister-in-law with him so in case his wife dies he can still have a woman to meet his other needs-geeeze jerk! Maybe doomsday peppers was the best thing to happen to the rest of us who don’t need to be on TV
I agree, Ray.
I believe there are many more now than ever. I think most preppers have realized it’s better to fly under the radar than to shout out here Iam.
We haven’t ‘gone’ anywhere, just cutting a low profile because of excessive government and public interest in our ‘business’. You know the fedz will tell you that you should have a 72 hour emergency kit, but if you put away enough to actually survive, well, then, now you’re on a terrorist watch list as some kind of ‘right wing anti-government fanatic’. Then there’s the Nat Geo farce which paints (deliberately) preppers as obsessive nutbags that are mostly loony.
Operation Security is the word. I think preppers have been ridiculed on tv because they won’t be dependent upon the government. I think the government looks on preppers as loons so its best we stay out of sight and continue what we have been doing. There are more than ever in varying degrees and abilities.
Keeping a low profile here.
We are still following. All set-up here . I fine tune update my supplies and gear whenever I can. Just sitting back chilling and spreading prepper news to close friends and family. I still enjoy all your updates news etc.
I personally don’t want to be compared to some of those idiots on TV who look and act like looney toons. I also don’t think it necessary to advertise what you have, who you are and what you are doing. I think real serious preppers have enough common sense to do so on the down low.
I agree with every comment above. The preppers haven’t gone anywhere. I think prepping has become a way of life for a lot of people now, and it’s not talked about as much, but I also think that ridiculous ‘reality’ show had a lot to do with op-sec…especially after the episode with the thugs whose definition of prepping was “taking your stuff”. I never saw one episode of that show, but word got out.
Within the last few weeks, including just today, I’ve had people requesting assistance/advice with their prepping.
God Bless and keep everyone in these times. Read your Bible and Keep the Faith.
I agree with the above comments, I’m finding that there’s more people than ever who are doing some form of prepping, but it’s not something that’s too smart to advertise, and also no one wants to be compared to the TV preppers, who are generally crazy. What makes you guys think preppers have gone anywhere in the first place?
All great and true comments. The name has been muddied by media. Fortunately many have ventured further into the prepper community because of bad media only to find that it is a reality of good people having a good plan. It has opened the eyes of many that may have remained blind.
Prepping? Who is prepping? Just a bunch of nuts gathering cans of soup and building underground bunkers then calling Nat Geo to come do a 30-minute show on everything they have. 🙂 When the word terrorist was associated with the word prepper I think a lot of get-readiers went underground. Who can blame them— not me. I also think there are a lot of government workers who are get-readiers themselves who can’t risk being out there in the spot light. Perhaps the word “homesteading” has taken the place of the word prepping for those that were/are seriously getting ready for whatever disaster is looming in the dark corners.
I think everyone has wrapped up the reasons why:
1. When the anti-gun people know you own more than 100 rounds of ammo or 2+ guns, you’re a terrorist looking to overthrow the government, if you are group of like minded preppers you’re some sort of Waco TX cult ready to go out in a hail of bullets when the FBI storms your doors.
2. If people associate you to these “doomsday prepper” people they see on TV, then you look like as much of a lunatic as they often do.
3. If you tell others what you have, and a major disaster does occur, your are target #1 for the mass mob that is hungry and knows you have it. Secrecy is your #1 security.
TWO things , the smart ones are trying to keep a low profile . Then there is the expense , while starting up a basic inventory can be done relatively inexpensively , the more dedicated equipment and supplies needed as you grow can be prohibitively expensive .
Bets wishes to all.
2014 is here and my preparation will increase substancially.
After reading the previous comments one can easily see that
people who plan ahead and enjoy their rights and freedoms are a
highly intelligent group whom, I personally am proud to be associated.
However as mentioned before the battle has been brought to our door step with the negative labels and big brother’s increased and overt actions against law abiding citizens.
I read where a lady in California was visited and told she could no longer live below the radar or continue her a life style of being self-sufficient. This intrusion is totally unacceptable and concerns me that this action is allowed or how anyone could considered this action legal enforcement.
Nope like all of you, I am still here and following the path of generations of family before me who stored up and planned.
God Bless You all.
rc
US Army Vet.
In many states, the government can legally seize your supplies during a officially declared state of emergency. Since I prep for something between SHTF and TEOTWAWKI, the last thing I want is to have my stuff seized when I need it most. It’s best to keep a very low profile, so as to avoid unwanted visitors.
I have no problem in telling anyone that I keep 2 weeks worth of food, water, medical supplies, alternate method(s) of cooking & heating for emergencies at home. Telling people I have 2 weeks worth lets them know that there would be no point in showing up at my door.
Many people see the wisdom in it after a well publicized disaster like Hurricane Sandy, tornado outbreaks and most recently the chemical spill which caused a ban on using public water for over 300,000 residents of West Virginia. The state provided some, but didn’t have containers for it. I naturally do not tell them about BOLs in different areas of the state, except for the other preppers I’m networked with who have vetted me and I them.
I’ve found that most people pay no attention to the ready.gov radio advertisements, but when given a brochure (free from FEMA) entitled “Why Prepare?” their interest usually perks up. In their book, “Are you Ready?” FEMA states that every adult U.S. citizen, family and community is EXPECTED to be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 3 days (which has no been revised to 2 weeks) as part of the National Disaster Response Framework. I haven’t seen anybody’s eyes who’ve read that NOT get big with surprise. “I had no idea! Why don’t they tell people?” They do, but only to those who actually listen to their radio advertisements and follow up on the information provided.
The town I work for sponsored a “Disaster Preparedness Seminar” a few months after the tornado outbreak in April 2011. It was pretty well attended considering it was held on a Thursday evening and only advertised in the local newspaper. There are 4 other organized county prepper groups that I know in Alabama of as well as some groups of preppers who get together on a regular or semi-regular basis.
In closing, I believe that the other posters on here are right, that there are a lot more preppers who choose to remain below the radar taking Op Sec to the extreme IMHO. History has shown that it is extremely difficult for a single individual or small family to survive an extended time without the rule of law. Will this nation experience such a time? I’m not prepared to trust my family’s safety and security to ignore the possibility. The DHS has certainly been preparing for “something big” according to many employed by various agencies that fall under their umbrella.
Aside from the obvious reason like not advertising my intentions, there are other things at play too….
Some of these other reasons are personal; I have moved to a rural area in another state. The move took time, getting settled before winter hit took time, getting my new web site up and running took time. My new grandchild being born, have a hard drive crash, losing a job and finding a new one. These are perfect examples of personal reasons not to be advertising my preparedness where the media can pick on it.
Where I have moved to has very few ‘gun shows’ as we are rural and even the local grocery store (not supermarket) sells common ammo. People in my new rural town are more prepared, as it is a necessity of life, than in the urban environment I lived in previously.
I also think that shows like “Doomsday Preppers” spotlighted the extreme side to preparedness instead of highlighting the “everyday” side to preparedness. You know the everyday, rather local emergencies that occur; the artic deep freeze that ran across the country earlier this month (with its power failures, etc), the West Virginia chemical spill, getting the snow/ice dam off my roof and keeping the driveway clear are good examples of the everyday preparedness issues.
In answer to some of the other questions the APN post asked:
Do we now believe that our national power grid is in better shape than it was two years ago? NO; the physical components of the grid are way past their expected life span and NO software program on this planet can fix a hardware issue!
Do we now believe that reliance on government agencies to take care of us in times of disaster is a good plan? NO; these ‘government agencies’ are not really ‘taking care’ of us during disasters, unless you count a Band-Aid as taking care of. Hurricane Sandy should be a good reminder of just how these agencies take care of us. Do they offer some ‘useful assistance’, yes, however even these ‘government agencies’ tell us we need to be prepared to take of ourselves for 3-5 days.
Do we think that the food in supermarkets is safer to eat and a dependable source for our dinner table? NO! I am a long time ‘health food’ or ‘organic’ consumer, mostly because of some really intense allergies. Then there is the fact that when you look at historical statistics (that have at least some quantifiers like ‘per 100,000’) we can see that ADD, ADHD, cancer, birth defects, various food intolerances (gluten and lactose especially) are on the rise in the overall population. And that is top of the fact that the U.S. no longer carries the title of ‘healthiest’ and ‘longest life span’.
I would also add that our medications are questionable since our government is under the influence of corporations that donate millions of dollars to political campaigns and hence ‘own’ said candidates if they get elected (federal corporatism).
Do we think public schools under Common Core are now paragons of education? NO, Common Core is an offshoot of the ‘No Child Left Behind’ program that was started back in the 1980’s and according to the federal department of education, ‘shown no significant increase in literacy’. This is on top of the fact that one can go out to the US Patent web site and see that the number of patent filings have reduced drastically since the 1960’s and are continuing to fall. This means that our ingenuity and inventiveness skills are decreasing, not increasing.
Do we believe that our legislators are competent and work tirelessly to ensure our freedoms are maintained? NO, since the mid 1800’s the legislative branch (along with the executive and judicial branches) of our government has been taken over by lawyers that are ‘career politicians’ and not the everyday day person, Statesman, acting as a representative guardian of their constituents wellbeing and interests. We now have a federal government ‘of the Democrats & Republicans, for the Democrats & Republicans, by the Democrats & Republicans’. Our tax dollars now pay for; political parties internal functions such as determining who is their top candidate (primaries) and national conventions; lobby organizations and special interest groups and unions. That’s right these entities receive millions of tax dollars per year. I don’t know about you but I can think of quite a few other programs that deserve that money!
Do we feel our world is now a safer place with scanners at airports, cameras on every street corner, surveillance through all our electronic devices, and drones patrolling overhead? NO not with all of this under the leadership of the first ever government entity that can bypass the Executive, Legislative and Judicial ‘check and balance’ branches of our government under the guise of a ‘perceived immediate threat to U.S. National Security’ – IE: The Patriot Act and Homeland Security.
Although the fact remains that the most likely crisis, disaster, emergency or hazard that any of us are likely to face in our lifetimes fall under the usual natural and the more personal (illness, injury, crime, financial), disasters, these all require an acceptance of personal responsibility for ourselves, our families and yes, our communities.
This responsibility has historically been the ‘norm’ for U.S. Citizens until the advent of our Federal Dictatorship. The US would have never beaten the most powerful army in the world to become its own nation, would never have expanded west and would not have half the ‘inventions’ or conveniences that we take for granted today if the average citizen did not take on responsibility for themselves before looking elsewhere.
Bottom line: All of us Preppers are still here, doing our thing – quietly, under the radar and behind the scenes. Oh you might here about some of us here and there when we help a community in crisis (like A.N.T.S. Americans Networking to Survive, Baptist Relief, Red Cross). Other than that we do not need ’15 minutes of fame’ or a ‘pat on the back’ to feel good about ourselves or prove our worth to our community and country.
“Today is the Tomorrow that you worried about Yesterday”
Prep On
TNT
Preppers are a lot like ants. Just because you only see two or three running around on top of the mound doesn’t mean there aren’t ten thousand just under the surface and staying out of sight.