Rules of engagement in a post SHTF world?

[Silent Earth]

Christ Almighty we are a paranoid bunch...............................................Thank God.

 

[Maverick]

Yep...and that is the challenge, isn't it? I mean, if you let someone in, how can you be sure they won't just murder you and yours in your sleep? Or maybe they are a scout of a gang, etc.? I mean, you want to let in new skills, and increase your defensive number, but at the same time, the person is a complete stranger. Would be some MAJOR trust issues in a post SHTF world.

My thinking (and I've posted this before somewhere here), is that you'd have to offer the person a choice to join you, or go on their way (if they choose the latter, blindfold, drive erratically a bit, far away (so they can't find you again), leave them with some supplies (at night, so no sun to easily mark direction), and so be it...returning in a way not to be followed).

If they join, they agree to a trial period...where they contribute, benefit, but they are constantly watched, judged, and during sleep time are effectively imprisoned to limit their movement during this vulnerable time, and somewhat guarded...until trust is earned.

The other challenge is the initial meeting. Protocols, to ensure your group's safety, etc. Especially in a trading scenario, which is something we would eventually want to do...be traders, and provide goods and services for a fee or trade. It's some tricky logistics, and really depend on the SHTF scenario.

I'm still struggling with the trust issue. I always been asking myself how long before trust can set in? 6 month a year 2 years? After 6 month of trial and decide not to allow the person to stay, that person will have a pretty good layout of your situation, that's hell of a chance with the new guy. I have some pretty good dogs, it would be pretty hard to keep the new person away from your first line of defense beyond a couple of weeks before the dog gets accustom to the new fella being around.

OPSEC has to be the priority! After the new person been the property for a decent amount of time and you need to ask him to leave, what is your plan? Are you really going to allow him/her to walk away in a TEOTWAWKI with the knowledge this person has ascertained about each family member and the layout with the animals accustom to seeing this person around? So what is the plan? It truly is a double edge blade and a bit not comfortable to contemplate but has to be answered before things go south!

 

[Silent Earth]

My intention is to only interact with people / preppers / family I already have a trusting relationship with, thats why i keep encouraging preppers to get to know each other now well in advance so you can build up trust BEFORE TSHTF.

 

[SheilaT.]

My intention is to only interact with people / preppers / family I already have a trusting relationship with, thats why i keep encouraging preppers to get to know each other now well in advance so you can build up trust BEFORE TSHTF.

I couldn't agree more, finding a group that fits is key. However there's just one problem with that. I am having trouble finding people here who haven't either been shown to be an utter liar or so far off the reservation I wonder how the heck they manage in the real world. For the time being we are an army of two.

 

[user 6493]

My intention is to only interact with people / preppers / family I already have a trusting relationship with, thats why i keep encouraging preppers to get to know each other now well in advance so you can build up trust BEFORE TSHTF.

my neighbors within 2.5 miles I know them all well but I don't know if any will survive fallout,but I believe I can trust them all,,,,these are the people I would try to work with,,,we are near the edge of the blast radius of the closest nuclear target,wind and luck will dictate who survives without a shelter

 

[user 6493]

I couldn't agree more, finding a group that fits is key. However there's just one problem with that. I am having trouble finding people here who haven't either been shown to be an utter liar or so far off the reservation I wonder how the heck they manage in the real world. For the time being we are an army of two.

Sally we all are a little loony or we would not be here................

 

[SheilaT.]

Sally we all are a little loony or we would not be here................

LOL, I know that according to society I am not normal, and maybe those people I met thought the same of me, who knows? But seriously, on paper, they seemed worth meeting, In person was a whole 'nother ball game, to the point I left early as I felt really uncomfortable with the turn of conversation.

 

[jontte]

better to be a little loony and paranoid now...than then
that issue called trust is a hard one,where I live,could I trust someone with my life,most likely not,none of my neighbors show that kind of traits.
sad to admit that my brother is not in the shape of some serious crap,unless he fixes that little problem with his heart,so my narrow shoulders bear the load and therefore in my mind;no rules,show some threat I respond with a 7,62.

 

[lonewolf]

i'm not classed as "normal "either, in that I don't much like other people and prefer to be on my own, that in ordinary society is seen as "odd" or even "weird", I mean we're supposed to be "social animals" aren't we? I hope when TSHTF I never see another human being ever again, I trust no one now and that will go tenfold Post SHTF.

 

[Silent Earth]

I couldn't agree more, finding a group that fits is key. However there's just one problem with that. I am having trouble finding people here who haven't either been shown to be an utter liar or so far off the reservation I wonder how the heck they manage in the real world. For the time being we are an army of two.

Sal generally I find that the more level headed UK preppers will often state openly they are going to attend stuff like the Bushcraft Moot or the Wilderrness Gathering or places running useful courses like Hydroponics, Composting, Off Gridding, Keeping Chooks and Rabbits for food, Guerilla Gardening groups, Transition towners etc and will say they are going to said events on relevent forums. You can often arrange to meet folks at these places in safety and without obligation. In the US they have HUGE Prepper RVs, Expos, Meets where they can meet up and seek out like minded folk in safety.

Your choice but if you want to PM me with the ROUGH GENERAL area where you live NOT YOUR ADDRESS I'll let you know if I hear of any events happening in your area. ABSOLUTELY NO OBLIGATION to you to do so.

 

[SheilaT.]

That's the thing, Jonte, TRUST. Where I lived before I had excellent neighbours in our little part of town we all looked after each other, kept an eye on the kids playing outside and helped when needed but we weren't in each other's faces, I just knew we could all rely and help each other when it was needed.

I'm still working out the people local to me here in the Potteries.

 

[Silent Earth]

LOL, I know that according to society I am not normal, and maybe those people I met thought the same of me, who knows? But seriously, on paper, they seemed worth meeting, In person was a whole 'nother ball game, to the point I left early as I felt really uncomfortable with the turn of conversation.

Know what you mean Sal, I hate turning up at those places where they hug you as you first arrive or invite you to leave your clothes in the lobby Three times I've just managed to avoid being converted to a Jehovahs witness, Vacuum Cleaner selling, Commune Dwelling Tupperware rep .

 

[Silent Earth]

I'm still working out the people local to me here in the Potteries.

I thought you said you had moved up NORTH a while back? the Potteries is on the equator not up north

 

[Silent Earth]

Anyone who met me knows I am mill pond calm and utterly rational and level headed, the epitome of a sensible prepper

 

[SheilaT.]

I thought you said you had moved up NORTH a while back? the Potteries is on the equator not up north

It's north of where I was.

 

[Silent Earth]

Sal have you checked out some of the UK based prepper forums?

 

[SheilaT.]

Sal have you checked out some of the UK based prepper forums?

Yep, that's where the meets came from. These days I'm more likely to meet like-minded folk in everyday life. Honest, one meet I went to was a more a Walking Dead convention and the another was OK but the person wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe I'm the one that doesn't fit.
Community spirit is what I'm interested in. I think that will come once I've settled.

 

[lonewolf]

Sal check this one out: www.preppersforum.uk
there are other UK prepping forums.

 

[SheilaT.]

I think the biggest hurdle is my idea of prepping may not be the standard. I don't believe there will be a societal beakdown to the extent the some preppers seem to be praying for, I'm not into buying shedloads of preps and I have good insurance instead of weapons.
I'm more a self reliance type. I prefer to grow and preserve food and I happily share my surplus, I like to find alternative and sustainable methods of living. I love learning to do things the old way, but I am happy to embrace new technology. In a couple of years I want to eventually be as off grid as I can without becoming a hermit. My personal circumstances are such that I really can't live in the middle of nowhere and even though I love camping I don't enjoy bushcraft much. So I'm no survialist. Just someone trying to do the best for me and offspring whilst sticking up two fingers to the men in suits.

 

[lonewolf]

I think the biggest hurdle is my idea of prepping may not be the standard. I don't believe there will be a societal beakdown to the extent the some preppers seem to be praying for, I'm not into buying shedloads of preps and I have good insurance instead of weapons.
I'm more a self reliance type. I prefer to grow and preserve food and I happily share my surplus, I like to find alternative and sustainable methods of living. I love learning to do things the old way, but I am happy to embrace new technology. In a couple of years I want to eventually be as off grid as I can without becoming a hermit. My personal circumstances are such that I really can't live in the middle of nowhere and even though I love camping I don't enjoy bushcraft much. So I'm no survialist. Just someone trying to do the best for me and offspring whilst sticking up two fingers to the men in suits.

nothing wrong with that, so do 99% of people who call themselves preppers in the UK, prep for the most obvious events first.

 

[Silent Earth]

I think the biggest hurdle is my idea of prepping may not be the standard. I don't believe there will be a societal beakdown to the extent the some preppers seem to be praying for, I'm not into buying shedloads of preps and I have good insurance instead of weapons.
I'm more a self reliance type. I prefer to grow and preserve food and I happily share my surplus, I like to find alternative and sustainable methods of living. I love learning to do things the old way, but I am happy to embrace new technology. In a couple of years I want to eventually be as off grid as I can without becoming a hermit. My personal circumstances are such that I really can't live in the middle of nowhere and even though I love camping I don't enjoy bushcraft much. So I'm no survialist. Just someone trying to do the best for me and offspring whilst sticking up two fingers to the men in suits.

There is no Standard in preping and long may it stay that way, Yes I noticed an OFF GRIDDER type approach in many of your posts its something getting more and more popular in the UK as more people ewant to Grow their own grub, generate their own power, catch and filter their own water and become ever less reliant on the " System"

Most of my associates fit your vision of things rather than the post Apoc scenarios others choose.

I highly reccomend this book, BUT before you get it I'm sure Nick Rosen now runs a website for Off Griddrr type preppers, I'll try and find it for you.
How to live Off –Grid Nick Rosen 978-0-385-61127-5

 

[Silent Earth]

Look at these two site Mon ami
http://www.reuk.co.uk/How-to-Live-Off-Grid-by-Nick-Rosen.htm

http://www.off-grid.net/

 

[SheilaT.]

There is no Standard in preping and long may it stay that way, Yes I noticed an OFF GRIDDER type approach in many of your posts its something getting more and more popular in the UK as more people ewant to Grow their own grub, generate their own power, catch and filter their own water and become ever less reliant on the " System"

Most of my associates fit your vision of things rather than the post Apoc scenarios others choose.

I highly reccomend this book, BUT before you get it I'm sure Nick Rosen now runs a website for Off Griddrr type preppers, I'll try and find it for you.
How to live Off –Grid Nick Rosen 978-0-385-61127-5

Got it

Look at these two site Mon ami
http://www.reuk.co.uk/How-to-Live-Off-Grid-by-Nick-Rosen.htm

http://www.off-grid.net/

Already in my bookmarks

I have in my mind and on the computer exactly what I want to do. It's finding the right property. I missed the perfect place just last week!!!

 

[SheilaT.]

Sal check this one out: www.preppersforum.uk
there are other UK prepping forums.

Linkee no workee.

I've looked at the current ones and one is, well, nope the description won't come to mind. Another is a bit limp-wristed and liberal, and the other two are way too far advanced for the likes of me. Anyhoo, I like it here. This has to be the only place where so many different people with vastly differing ideas all rub along together.

 

[lonewolf]

Linkee no workee.

I've looked at the current ones and one is, well, nope the description won't come to mind. Another is a bit limp-wristed and liberal, and the other two are way too far advanced for the likes of me. Anyhoo, I like it here. This has to be the only place where so many different people with vastly differing ideas all rub along together.

well its there is you ever want to have a looksee. like I said other forums are available.

 

[Gazrok]

I'm still struggling with the trust issue. I always been asking myself how long before trust can set in? 6 month a year 2 years? After 6 month of trial and decide not to allow the person to stay, that person will have a pretty good layout of your situation, that's hell of a chance with the new guy. I have some pretty good dogs, it would be pretty hard to keep the new person away from your first line of defense beyond a couple of weeks before the dog gets accustom to the new fella being around.

OPSEC has to be the priority! After the new person been the property for a decent amount of time and you need to ask him to leave, what is your plan? Are you really going to allow him/her to walk away in a TEOTWAWKI with the knowledge this person has ascertained about each family member and the layout with the animals accustom to seeing this person around? So what is the plan? It truly is a double edge blade and a bit not comfortable to contemplate but has to be answered before things go south!

The chance to leave, is before learning all of that. Once the trial period begins...they'll think (and be told) this is still an option...but really, it isn't. If they don't work out and I can't trust them after that..., there's really only one other alternative....(becoming dog food) I would think that would be a rare case though. However, as you said, you really can't risk this person being out there with that information.

There are some details of this whole protocol that aren't included here, but the basic jist of it is that really, there is a lot of complexity to it, and even to how they would be "taken out" with an eye to safety of the ranch, etc.

 

[Maverick]

The chance to leave, is before learning all of that. Once the trial period begins...they'll think (and be told) this is still an option...but really, it isn't. If they don't work out and I can't trust them after that..., there's really only one other alternative....(becoming dog food) I would think that would be a rare case though. However, as you said, you really can't risk this person being out there with that information.

There are some details of this whole protocol that aren't included here, but the basic jist of it is that really, there is a lot of complexity to it, and even to how they would be "taken out" with an eye to safety of the ranch, etc.

Hopefully that be the case "The chance to leave, is before learning all of that" It really isn't a comfortable topic but it really has to be thought through before it comes to the point of a TEOTWAWKI. I guess it's easier to ask, how far is one willing to go to protect the family?

 

[jontte]

with all the available means,let it be overkill if necessary!

 

[Undertaker]

with all the available means,let it be overkill if necessary!

Yeah..You can never prepare to much, only to little.

 

[lonewolf]

TRUST is my major issue, I've always said "stranger= danger!" and post SHTF is not the time to start trusting someone you have never known before the collapse, that's why I am very much against groups, groups in the UK will be predominately family "units", you wont be able to go up to a group and shout "cooee I want to join you", you 'll probably be sent off with a flea in your ear at best or shot (and maybe killed)at worst.