Hypothetical Doomsday Scenario

[newbury]

Twenty four hours without TBN.

NOW THAT'S GOING TOO FAR!!

Seriously, a technology free existence once a year or month is easy if you plan for it, and very easy if you know it's coming. Natural disasters, hurricanes, floods etc. are good training tools but (thankfully) generally of limited geographic scope and duration. What is needed is someone to "push the button" once and a while such that we had a fire drill so EVERYBODY could and would prepare for it. Lock the world down, no vehicle traffic, no electricity you don't generate yourself, no high technology communications.

Of course someone would have to tell the Amish.

 

[creekbend]

Perhaps I (the OP) can help to settle this little debate.

When the Chess v/s Checkers comment was originally made, I interpreted it to mean that I was somehow inferior since Chess is generally more difficult to play than Checkers. I knew that this was not true so I responded in kind, as seen below.





If there is a lesson to be learned here, it's that one must choose their words carefully because you never know just how they might be interpreted.

I can understand to a degree in regards to your response. But, I wish to ask you a question. Since you clearly stated in the previous post - "Perhaps I (the OP) can help to settle this little debate". I stated in two of my previous posts that you were the OP. Since I am aware that you are and were the OP, am I to reason and interpret that you regard me as somehow inferior, because you chose to indicate to me that you were the OP? Am I to assume that you thought that I possessed inferior knowledge, since you directed this clarification toward me in your post? My answer is most certainly not. I didn't for once even consider that your reply was indicative that you considered me to be "somehow inferior". Those thoughts didn't even enter the arena in any Form or Fashion in regards to my Thought patterns. Just a thought. In response to the comment "One must choose their words carefully because you never know just how they might be interpreted". It is most certainly a good thing that I didn't mention "Mauve" in any of my posts. Since Mauve is an unique color in the Purple catergory and is similar to Lavender and Lilac, there's no telling how much confusion, this would have created. In retrospect, as I mentioned in an earlier post, that I regard you are a fairly decent individual, my opinion has not wavered and I firmly believe that you mean well.

 

[MasseyWV]

I can understand to a degree in regards to your response. But, I wish to ask you a question. Since you clearly stated in the previous post - "Perhaps I (the OP) can help to settle this little debate". I stated in two of my previous posts that you were the OP. Since I am aware that you are and were the OP, am I to reason and interpret that you regard me as somehow inferior, because you chose to indicate to me that you were the OP? Am I to assume that you thought that I possessed inferior knowledge, since you directed this clarification toward me in your post? My answer is most certainly not. I didn't for once even consider that your reply was indicative that you considered me to be "somehow inferior". Those thoughts didn't even enter the arena in any Form or Fashion in regards to my Thought patterns. Just a thought.

I knew you would realize that I was the OP and only indicated such because other people may not have realized it.

In response to the comment "One must choose their words carefully because you never know just how they might be interpreted". It is most certainly a good thing that I didn't mention "Mauve" in any of my posts. Since Mauve is an unique color in the Purple catergory and is similar to Lavender and Lilac, there's no telling how much confusion, this would have created. In retrospect, as I mentioned in an earlier post, that I regard you are a fairly decent individual, my opinion has not wavered and I firmly believe that you mean well.

My message or intent may not always be immediately apparent, but I do mean well.

 

[The kid]

Thank you, I think I'll leave it... And, as you seem to be in the minority on most of your opinions, and they generally tend to be on the extreme side, I think I'll bow out of this thread before it gets too ugly.

I think I'll go talk about tractors...

Wise decision. Trying to debate with another's headstrong opinion is like what was mentioned before. Peeing into the wrong end of a fan. This whole thread was created to provoke thought as to what could happen. "what if" or "why"". Tractors are a science worth talking about. Either working, or broken. Fixing them is a known science where remedies are known facts. -robert

 

[BobRip]

NOW THAT'S GOING TOO FAR!!

Seriously, a technology free existence once a year or month is easy if you plan for it, and very easy if you know it's coming. Natural disasters, hurricanes, floods etc. are good training tools but (thankfully) generally of limited geographic scope and duration. What is needed is someone to "push the button" once and a while such that we had a fire drill so EVERYBODY could and would prepare for it. Lock the world down, no vehicle traffic, no electricity you don't generate yourself, no high technology communications.

Of course someone would have to tell the Amish.

Somebody suggested in another thread that everybody from age say 14 to 55 live three days a year on their own. I think this has some merit. Especially since I am outside that range.

I was originally thinking once a year for the day, but once a month sounds like a good thing. How do we get this started?

 

[MasseyWV]

We should have a "Do without technology day". Just try to minimize your technology uses. I am not saying you should turn off your pacemaker, just your cell phone, regular phone, computers, and tv set. Go out and talk to your neighbors and friends. Somebody should start a nation wide campaign on this. How many here could do this? Twenty four hours without TBN.

I'd go with that idea Bob. I think Sunday would be the most logical day to close up everything that isn't critical, turn off the phones, etc.
We need to get off the senseless treadmill life has devolved into. Everybody is always busy but not much worthwhile gets done it seems.

Germany used to use Sundays as a "quiet day" up until the late 1980's. No grass mowing or other noisy activities, just gas stations, entertainment venues and restaurants open for the most part. Then as more families had both spouses going to work, they complained they had no time to get to the stores, which closed at 6pm generally. So, they adopted a more American life style over the objections of the retail business employees' unions. I doubt it has improved their over-all quality of life.

At the very least, it gave families time together since very few people were going to work.

At some point during the course of this thread, I had intended to post something along these lines. One could say it was intended to be my "punch line", for lack of a better description. While I've given some thought to what I was going to say, I never really tried to put it into words so here goes...

Technology is a wonderful thing, it makes our lives more convenient, it helps us to communicate and share our knowledge, it even helps us to survive, but at what price?

Perhaps a better use of technology, at least once in a while, would be to get in your vehicle and drive to the grocery store to buy some nice juicy steaks with all the trimmings and some ice cold beer to wash it down with. When you get home, use your cell phone, land line, computer, or whatever to invite your friends and family over to your home for a nice cookout where you could swap fish stories (or tractor stories), but more importantly you could simply spend time together.

 

[k0ua]

Perhaps a better use of technology, at least once in a while, would be to get in your vehicle and drive to the grocery store to buy some nice juicy steaks with all the trimmings and some ice cold beer to wash it down with. When you get home, use your cell phone, land line, computer, or whatever to invite your friends and family over to your home for a nice cookout where you could swap fish stories (or tractor stories), but more importantly you could simply spend time together.

I was wondering if I am still invited, and what I need to bring to round out the party.. thanks.

James K0UA

 

[MasseyWV]

I was wondering if I am still invited, and what I need to bring to round out the party.. thanks.

Yes, and bring more beer.

 

[dex3361]

I was wondering if I am still invited, and what I need to bring to round out the party.. thanks.

James K0UA

Whatever you do don't bring "THE BUTTON".

 

[brin]

Whatever you do don't bring "THE BUTTON".

LOL :laughing: Someone would stumble into it, push it and we would have to start all over...

 

[creekbend]

Yes, and bring more beer.

Why stop with beer? I was raised in the mountains of East Tennessee adjacent to NC. West Virginia used to be renowned for "Quality Shine". Perhaps there is still an available source nearby?

 

[MasseyWV]

Why stop with beer? I was raised in the mountains of East Tennessee adjacent to NC. West Virginia used to be renowned for "Quality Shine". Perhaps there is still an available source nearby?

Well... I used to know a few good sources for white lightning (moonshine), but it's been many a year since I've touched the stuff. Those were the days, what little I can remember of them. :confused2:

 

[creekbend]

Well... I used to know a few good sources for white lightning (moonshine), but it's been many a year since I've touched the stuff. Those were the days, what little I can remember of them. :confused2:

It has been many a year since I have drank any also. I use to keep a Mason Jar in the freezer when I was younger.

 

[toppop52]

My mother's family left Northeastern Alabama in the 30's to move to northeastern NC to make whiskey, her family and two others from Alabama set up their operation , some opening stores to get the sugar and corn meal, others actually making the whiskey and they were in cahoots with a pair of brothers that owned a bus line in order to transport the product to the Norfolk, VA area for distribution.

 

[forgeblast]

Making whiskey was how my family made it through the depression. They made more money doing that then delivering milk.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My mother's family left Northeastern Alabama in the 30's to move to northeastern NC to make whiskey, her family and two others from Alabama set up their operation , some opening stores to get the sugar and corn meal, others actually making the whiskey and they were in cahoots with a pair of brothers that owned a bus line in order to transport the product to the Norfolk, VA area for distribution.

That explains a lot, Randy you old Rebel you! I do think that one the underlying motivations of the tone of this thread is the distinct possibility that for various reasons, society as we know it could break down with the resultant failure, or partial failure, of the technological base that keeps the economy going, and more importantly, provides the basic necessities to the majority of the people in this country. The possibilities are limitless, and the answers complex, depending on the extent of the failure and the length of time it exists. If you haven't thought about the means of survival in the case of such an event, at least in the short run, perhaps it's time to do some thinking in that regard.

 

[RoyJackson]

Making whiskey was how my family made it through the depression. They made more money doing that then delivering milk.

Whiskey would be a good trade item...

 

[toppop52]

Dennis, I believe a worldwide or nation event lasting a week to a month is survivable, beyond that a total breakdown of society would occur and any given individual's survival is doubtful. Some, of course would, but mostly a few young and strong, healthy people. The rest of us would be toast pretty quickly.

 

[forgeblast]

My gram was one of 14, they lost 3 kids in two days when cholera brook out. My gram was the first child to survive (live to be 92). The farm held was a small, in town farm, but they supplied milk to the surrounding areas by pulling it on horse drawn wagon. (Gram was born in 1912). She said they would always have one milk container filled with whiskey and that they would make more money selling whiskey then milk. The still was large pot still that they had on the coal stove. The town people would let the family know when revenuers where in town so they could hide the still. Even though they had all those kids they still had people staying with them as boarders. As the town grew they moved to the country. My great grandfather was bringing milk to town when he stopped his team to fix some chains that where hanging off the back. When he threw them in it spooked the horses and a milk can came down and crush his chest. He died 3 days later. The boys stayed on the farm until WW2 and then they sold the farm after my great grand mother died. We went back up once but it was all subdivided.
Anthracite Museum Home Page
and the coal mine tour that go with it are great and the one gallery in the museum has a still that was just like my great grandmothers.

 

[dave1949]

Most of you have probably seen the "Preppers" show on TV, people who are preparing for some sort of disaster, upheaval, or "button" event.

To be honest, some of those folks have, or at least they are portrayed as if they have one foot in the Twilight Zone, others appear relatively rational. What they have in common is they believe (want to believe, wish for?) that something seriously bad is inevitable. They spend untold time and dollars preparing for the worst.

If preppers reach the end of their lives and none of the events they spent 20-30 years preparing for occur, is their life wasted any more or less than a non-prepper whose life was cut short by 20 or 30 years due to a "button event?"