Doomsday Preppers [TV show]

[HardKnocker]

Anybody watch this?

I just watched a few episodes for the first time. While being prepared is a good thing, most of these folks have a few screws loose.

It's fascinating.

Some of the interesting commonalities among the people:

1) Only a few of the people are open to taking advice. Most are very closed minded and believe they are right.
2) Most also seem to want a disaster to happen so they can put their plan into action.
3) They also currently live as though the disaster has already happened.

My favorite nut is the one who believes he can hear the universe telling him what wild berries are edible. He also drinks his own urine (his girlfriend passed on the offer).

[jridger2011]

I watched a few episodes myself but grew tired of it quickly. A lot of those folks featured have great intentions and would love to share, but there's a whole other set armed and ready for disaster.

[hicabob]

When the poles shift and armaggedon happens perhaps we will all wish we had spent our nesteggs on underground shelters and supplies!

[davebarnes]

All I have to say.

[SSSS]

Vacuum decay. I'd like to know what sort of plans they have for that.

[Easy Rhino]

I like how each person has their own personal version of doomsday, which perhaps tells us a lot about the person. I liked the woman who's defense against pandemic was mainly lots of hand sanitizer.

I also wonder who the "experts" are who evaluate their plans.

[DonM17]

If armaggedon hits, I don't want to be the last man standing....I'd rather with the masses taking an extended dirt nap.

[wingnutty]

If armaggedon hits, these people with all the supplies will be the first one's raided and killed by the armed gangs.

[mike143]

The people on the show are mostly illogical. I expect a dooms day scenario to require constant movement and barbaric actions, to survive the long haul.

[Valuethinker]

There is a well researched psychology of doomsdayers. Famous papers.

I'd have to look up the cite (it's in the recent Chris Mooney book). But the psychologists joined one group, when Doomsday didn't happen as planned, it did not shake their faith.

Whilst the assumption that history is cyclical and we go through periods of things getting better and worse (ask anyone alive 1929-1949 about that!) is valid, the assumption that we are living in the last days of the Roman Empire is usually not. And, even then, with the exception of some cataclysmic events (volcanic eruption and tsunami, plague, civil war, barbarian invasion) most of the time the decline would have been less perceptible, just a gentle wearing out of things-- roads and bridges not being repaired, people moving to the city for more protection, fortifications being built around towns and farms, etc.

Think of modern Detroit you get the picture. The place has been dying for a long time, it's only in the last 10-20 years or so, perhaps,that it's demise has become obvious.

[livesoft]

Is this a US-only phenomenom? I can see more practical aspects for folks living in places like Syria, Libya, Egypt, maybe Greece, etc.

Now there would a great reality show: Drop these preppers into Aleppo and see how long they last.

[norookie]

I'd suggest, like the USA's .gov's many underground shelters for those deemed fit, it not be shrugged off as a black swan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8jNzgcl30 (Due diligence and all that)

[HardKnocker]

I'd suggest, like the USA's .gov's many underground shelters for those deemed fit, it not be shrugged off as a black swan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8jNzgcl30 (Due diligence and all that)

A comment posted by one of the viewers on youtube:

"Okay, one of these photos was taken from the construction of the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, and another photo was taken from the sci-fi show Star Gate: SG-1. One thumbs up to the paranoia propagandist."

[telemark]

We have things pretty good now, probably better than at any other time in history. You might say that the civilization index has hit a new high. Does that mean a crash is inevitable? Maybe a correction?

[TimDex]

The people featured are carefully selected to look foolish and irrational, which is in line with the media/Hollywood view of anyone who doesn't agree with them.

[LadyGeek]

This thread has run its course (no longer discussing the TV show) and is locked: Forum Policy

Note that this subforum has a much lower threshold for locking or removing posts than the financial and investing subforums. ...

Locked Topics

Moderators or site admins may lock a topic (set it so no more replies may be added) when a violation of posting policy has occurred. Occasionally, even if there are no overt violations of posting policy, a topic (or thread) will reach a point where the information content of the discussion has been essentially exhausted and further replies are much more likely to cause distress to the community than add anything of value.