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Survivalism should be a stealthy business. “If people do not know you have something,” thesurvivalistblog.net points out, “then they cannot make plans to take it from you.” Or, as a non-prepper would say, “Why should I prepare for myself when I can just take it from you?” Mr. E. Evans’ article highlights the dangers of Max Max misegos raining down on loose-lipped survivalists. His piece is a genuine hoot—in a scary-ass they’re not going to mention that on tonight’s NatGeo Doomsday Preppers episode and why doesn’t he bring up the obvious (guns!) kinda way. We pick up the story about a month after an ice storm has left Mr. Evans’ neighborhood without power . . .
But the merriment dissipates. A few weeks after, the only phone calls were cries of help. “Could I borrow your generator? The one you told me about?” “My pantry is bare, and I can’t get to the store. Will you lend me some of your food?” “You have drinking water, right? I need enough for a family of six. I’m coming over to your place now. Have it ready.”
The problem was those who had supplies needed them too. The well-prepared folks stocked up in the first place to feed their own families, not to feed the neighborhood. Ice storms tend to last. Their supplies were running low, so they had no choice but to refuse aid to others. The result? Grudges were created as some neighbors refused to help. Others felt slighted. Some had the entitlement mentality: “If you have it, then you owe it to me! How dare you refuse!” Threats were made, and feelings of animosity were nurtured. These feelings were not forgotten when the storm passed, and those who made no effort to keep their preparations secret became the biggest targets for handouts.
There is a saying that goes, “If the bomb doesn’t get you, your neighbors will.” This is why.
Oh sure, we can laugh about E. Evans’ paranoia. But it stops being funny when it starts being your Internet that’s wiped out by an EMP. And you run out of 5.56. In fact, how can you have a discussion about neighbors desperately seeking sustenance without bringing up firearms’ role in any such scenario?
Meanwhile, let’s face it: NatGeo’s Doomsday Preppers’ OpSec sucks. If you know what that means you know what I mean. If you don’t, you might want to start finding out. Or not.