Doomsday Preppers on NatGeo TV [merged topics]

[cheryl1]

Yeah, I've been trying to convince the wife to let me get one of them foreign mail-order brides.  Just think of all the chores they could share.


Ain't working, though.

The Professor

Ha! I've been trying to convince my husband! Half the chores and twice the free time? It's a no brainer;)

[Adam B.]

While clipping coupons from last weekend's Sunday paper, in order to get more food for my STOCKPILE (aka... "pantry") in the basement of my BUNKER (aka... "house") — I saw it...

A GIANT RADIOACTIVE SYMBOL AND PERSON WEARING A GAS MASK with some sort of headline "DOOMSDAY PREPPERS BLAH BLAH BLAH"

It was a big long article making fun of the people on the "Doomsday Preppers" show — because someone from my city is being featured on one of the episodes, etc. The whole article is about how ridiculous and stupid "preppers" are, how nothing is ever going to happen and it is OK to make fun of these idiots...

The ironic thing is this stupid article is in the SAME NEWSPAPER as SEVERAL articles talking about the people suffering from Hurricane Sandy, starving, no place to sleep, no food to eat because they were NOT PREPARED FOR A DISASTER.

IN THE SAME NEWSPAPER...

I cannot even walk from point A to point B anymore, go outside, look at Facebook, or read / watch the news anymore without wanting to just strangle these COMPLETE IDIOTS in our society anymore.

I am dating a girl who spent a few years living in Chile and has been absolutely miserable since she moved back to the states (she had valid reasons for coming back though). Things have began to get serious with her though, and even though this is a very long way off — we are both in agreement that we both want to move somewhere else (South America keeps coming up) and renounce our citizenships and never return to this dump.

I have another friend who lived with her husband in Mexico for a very long time and swore she would never come back to the U.S. to live. However, for family reasons she recently did — and I can tell she is miserable as well.

Living in a fear-based society is one of the main reasons everyone who moves away from this wretched place hates coming back. And most people who I know who come from / go to these "3rd world dictatorships" are always telling me how much more freedom they have THERE. It is a CONSTANT observation from people. The only places people tell me they have been where they feel more oppressed than they do in America are China and Middle Eastern countries.

I am by no means saying I think any other country on earth is some sort of "utopian paradise" — but we are both sick and tired of watching the complete idiots around us on a daily basis.

I also know that if I lived in the country and not a city full of dependent sheep I would not be quite as angry about what I see and hear every day!

[ttubravesrock]

http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?blog-entry-Attention+doomsday+preppers%20&id=20839114&instance=blogs_editors_desk

our local newspaper is seeking out preppers in the area, using the show as bait.  I think I will read through some of the comments and possibly introduce them to TSP.

[snickers]

I just found out that my ex sister in law is going to be on the show in January! I haven't seen her in about three years, but last time I talked to her she was very anti-gun so I'm not really sure why she is going to be on the show.

[Oil Lady]

http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?blog-entry-Attention+doomsday+preppers%20&id=20839114&instance=blogs_editors_desk

our local newspaper is seeking out preppers in the area, using the show as bait.  I think I will read through some of the comments and possibly introduce them to TSP.

I just read through the comments. Here's a really good comment in favor of being a prepper:

"We don't worry about our own supplies as much as we do about the neighbors who have put nothing aside. You can't scare a hungry man, especially one with a family." 

 

[milkmood]

Surely there's a forum setup for discussion of this ridiculous show, no?

[fritz_monroe]

Nope.  And believe it or not, it's rarely ever mentioned.

[milkmood]

I am surprised and I'm not. It's a sad exposé of the most extreme of us.  I don't appreciate being painted with that broad brush.  My friends base their views of me on what they see on that show and its hard to break out of that.  Keep plugging away mainstream preppers.

[cmxterra]

My friends base their views of me on what they see on that show and its hard to break out of that.  Keep plugging away mainstream preppers.

Ask your friends if they have health, auto or home insurance. Then ask if they have it because something bad might actually happen and are being smart by having a way to recover. Lead the sheep to the obvious conclusion that prepping for a disaster of any magnitude is no different. It is insurance that if something bad happens you will be better off for having prepared for it.

Then ask them how the poor people affected by Sandy would have fared better had they done even some of the most basic prepping.

You get the idea.

[The Professor]

Ask your friends if they have health, auto or home insurance. Then ask if they have it because something bad might actually happen and are being smart by having a way to recover.

I don't know if that's a valid question, anymore.

Health insurance : Mandated by Obama
Auto Insurance : Mandated by every state if you want to drive the vehicle on "public" roads.
Home Insurance: Mandated by most of the banks who carry your home loan.

Not trying to be a wet blanket, I read your response and it just sorta struck me outta the blue that Insurance is no longer an option, but a requirement.

The Professor

[cmxterra]

I don't know if that's a valid question, anymore.

Health insurance : Mandated by Obama
Auto Insurance : Mandated by every state if you want to drive the vehicle on "public" roads.
Home Insurance: Mandated by most of the banks who carry your home loan.

Not trying to be a wet blanket, I read your response and it just sorta struck me outta the blue that Insurance is no longer an option, but a requirement.

The Professor

Good point.

And I would say you could ask why they keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen or garage but I don't think most people do that anymore either. Sad state of human affairs we have these days. Where is that reset button?

[otowner98]

Three of my sales reps (all of whom I assume know I'm at least a little different - chickens, guns, libertarian views, etc.) have asked me about this show in the past 10 days.  They are reminded that I'm even weirder when I point out to them that I don't get cable, but I have seen some episodes on Youtube. 
A few points I make are: 1.) the show producers force each of these folks to pick ONE "thing" they are preparing for vs. general preparedness, 2.) a couple of them (NW seed bank dude, germ lady, etc.) may actually be crazy (sorry, just how I see it), and 3.) some (dude who invented the Crovel and shot off his thumb) are self-promoters who could be on any reality show.
From there I usually point out some of the cooler ideas/preps from each of the people.  I'm dealing with a wide range on the spectrum here from Left/socialist, to Goldman wanna be country clubber, to potential tin-foil hatter with these three, so I have to take delicate baby steps......
BTW, Goldman boy would probably be the most likely to succeed if he could get past an unbelievable sense of normalcy bias.

It ought to be fun when the lady reps broach the subject 

[flippydidit]

Well according to the recent history it's just a matter of time before prepping becomes a Federal mandate.  Whew!  I thought it was going to be tough to convert others!

 

[cep89]

The 11/27/12 show was the worst one yet.  Tom has some friends in local LEOs, but making and exploding IEDs will earn you a visit from the feds.  Tom is wearing his ear protection wrong and loses his hearing temporarily, so he cries, vomits and kicks his partner out.  The scene of having your kid kill a goat by cutting it's throat and listening to it gurgle as it slowly dies  just adds to the idea that preppers are nuts.

[16onRockandRoll]

yeah, I was complaining about that guy the whole time.  Some of his basics were great, but there were some HUGE holes in his plans, let alone his buddies plans

[Alpha Mike]

Darn, when I saw the title of this thread, I thought Doomsday preppers had started their own forum I could go troll. 

[bartsdad]

http://www.doomsdayprepperforums.com/index.php

Doesn't look to be tied directly to the show, but I'm sure is trying to get traffic because of their name.

[rikkrack]

I don't know if that's a valid question, anymore.

Health insurance : Mandated by Obama
Auto Insurance : Mandated by every state if you want to drive the vehicle on "public" roads.
Home Insurance: Mandated by most of the banks who carry your home loan.

Not trying to be a wet blanket, I read your response and it just sorta struck me outta the blue that Insurance is no longer an option, but a requirement.

The Professor

What a valid point. It may just be a matter of time before prepping is a mandate. Car accidents caused the need for vehicle insurance, damage to homes required banks to protect property, health insurance due to costs and cover Dr.'s. How much are disasters costing FEMA and homeland security responding and taking care of the grasshoppers (really all of us in taxes) before they make a prepper insurance necessary?

I have heard daily on the radio with the kids (I refuse to listen to the radio normally and prefer podcasts) that FEMA and homeland security have had several different ads. They are now stating to have 7 days of preps vs the 72 hrs. Then direct people to their respective websites.

[The Sage of Monticello]

Last night's show convinced me these people must be paid actors. This can't be real.

I thought I was watching a SNL skit. Seriously, I was laughing so hard it just seemed beyond absurdity.

The guy takes his daughter to the range and she clearly shows she wants no part of shooting and the father appears to be in a different world claiming he can count on her to defend herself.

The fact the 700 acres retreat is less than 20 yards from a major highway, was ignored, exposing the validity of the NATGEO experts.

Having the young child cut the throat of the goat brings up questions on parental ethics. I support mentoring your young child in hunting, but this was questionable for a child that appeared under 8 years old.

The reckless decision to use actual firearms in a surprise scenario with local law enforcement with possible live weapons held by the children (since we don't know) is beyond a good idea. A simulated scenario would have been safer and not filled with the risks of a tragic accident.

The blind scene shooting accident was ridiculous.  The alleged police swat CQC training was flawed as the guy failed cutting the pie in entering the door, the weapon was not close to the guys body, and it looked straight out of an 80's fake police show with his weapon held out susceptible to be grabbed.

I am convinced if these guys aren't paid actors they are probably being raided by Homeland Security,or having CPS come in and try taking their kids from them.

We don't live in a free society, if you publicize what last night's show did, it will get you in hot water. OPSEC, OPSEC, OPSEC.

[Mountain State Prepper]

Last night's show convinced me these people must be paid actors. This can't be real.

The guy Steve reminded me of Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) from the "Vacation" movies. 

[Cedar]

I just found out that my ex sister in law is going to be on the show in January! I haven't seen her in about three years, but last time I talked to her she was very anti-gun so I'm not really sure why she is going to be on the show.

OMGosh...

And after what I am reading here... OMGosh...
I lack television anymore and it sounds like I am not missing anything. Too bad NatGeo took something which could have been useful and awesome and turned it into the Gong Show reject series.

Cedar

[Cedar]

Home Insurance: Mandated by most of the banks who carry your home loan..... and it just sorta struck me outta the blue that Insurance is no longer an option, but a requirement.

I own my home, bought it cash.... so no bank requires me to have insurance due to a loan. I choose to have insurance in case something happens to it.

Cedar

[The Professor]

I own my home, bought it cash.... so no bank requires me to have insurance due to a loan. I choose to have insurance in case something happens to it.

Cedar

You're very lucky. . .and one of the very few.  I'd be interested to see exactly how many people in this country actually own their homes, outright (barring the argument that you're truly not allowed to own your home free-and-clear, vis-a-vis property taxes).

The Professor

[Cedar]

You're very lucky. . .

Depending on how one looks at it. Sometimes someone loses something dear to gain something else for the better. But yes, very lucky as well.

Cedar

[The Sage of Monticello]

The guy Steve reminded me of Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) from the "Vacation" movies.

LOL!

I really think it's intentional the way they are framing preppers. Last night's episode had to remove all doubt.

[Cedar]

I really think it's intentional the way they are framing preppers. Last night's episode had to remove all doubt.

I normally would write or call and give my 2 cents on the show to the public relations people there at NatGeo, but I won't even bother on this one. I have written it off.

Cedar

[The Professor]

Yeah, remember that they tried to get the pole-dancing, booty-short wearing party chick in the first season to kill her cat, on camera, too.

I really don't know who's sadder, the producers of this show or the people in it?

<Rant Mode Active>

I've posted before that I blame the "preppers" who signed on to this show more than the producers.  Now, even more so, after the first season.  If your so <expletive deleted> stupid as to think that you're going to be shown in a positive light, then you already are pretty much behind the power curve and your judgement obviously poor.

In each and every episode, anything good is beaten down and the stupidity of the preppers is highlighted and sensationalized.  However, who is giving them fodder?  THE PREPPERS.

The guy from Texas who blames  his partner for shooting the rifle inside the hide. . .it was fault of HIM, not his inexperienced friend for not ensuring the muzzle was outside the window.  MOREOVER, Mr. <expletive deleted> Know-It-All obviously didn't know how to wear his ear protection.  Want proof?  Why wasn't the shooter also deafened by the same blast?

Then, he allowed the cameramen to film as he allowed his son to kill a goat.  While others may complain, I guess I have a different upbringing in that I was raised on a farm.  I was wringing chicken heads, killing sheep and goats and even cows at 9 years old, with my own hands.  That was once what life was like.  BUT, I guess Mr. <expletive deleted> Alamo wanted to show how big and tough he was. . .perhaps he was even offered extra money as Pole-Dancer Chick claimed she was to kill her cat.

I mean, really. . .what's next?  Honey-Boo-Boo's Chinese Invasion Preps (with daddy saying "You're gonna stay here and defend this trailer!")?

The really odd thing is. . .if I'm not mistaken (and I don't think I am) the people who are producing this is actually a company owned by "Practical Preppers,"  the alleged "experts" who rate the preps.  Furthermore, I'm 99% certain this is one of the groups that was in the first episode of Season One.  I guess they don't realize that this reflects directly upon them, as well.

I have no doubt they're already recruiting for Season Three.   Furthermore, I have no doubt, they'll find enough idiots to fill each episode with glamorous stupidity, further denigrating the concept of preparedness.

And <expletive deleted> me if I can't stop watching.  THAT's what's so frustrating.

The Professor
(the shame. . .THE SHAME)

[Cedar]

The really odd thing is. . .if I'm not mistaken (and I don't think I am) the people who are producing this is actually a company owned by "Practical Preppers,"  the alleged "experts" who rate the preps.  Furthermore, I'm 99% certain this is one of the groups that was in the first episode of Season One.  I guess they don't realize that this reflects directly upon them, as well.

It seems Practical Preppers sold out one way or another being connected with this show. They were indeed on the first episode of season one. They are now the 'experts' that rate the other people on episodes after that one. I say they sold out as they seemed to have their stuff mostly together when they were the subject in episode one. Now in my opinion, it looks like they are just promoting the perceived stereotypical weirdness of preppers, all in the name of money to be part of this farce of a show on prepping. And yes.. I would kindly say that to their face/s and I think they would be able to see my sadness on having to say that.

Alan Madison was the producer in the first season. I don't know if he bailed or has continued with it or if Practical Preppers have taken over as producers.

Cedar

[Mountain State Prepper]

And <expletive deleted> me if I can't stop watching.  THAT's what's so frustrating.

The Professor
(the shame. . .THE SHAME)

And this IS the point.  NatGeo (or any other channel, and trust me more are coming) knows we watch.   They don't care about perception, or helping, it is ultimately ad sales they worry about.   They got a formula, they are honing it, and the sponsors are lining up.   

So, why DO we watch?   Personally, not only do I watch, I DVR it so I can watch it when I want.  And I actually do see things that help me.   I'm about 6+ months  into this prepping mindset.   Forums and podcasts like this help me weed out the nonsense from the actual good information.  I'm very happy I found this forum and Jack's show.   I also have a few friends that have started with me on this endeavor, keeping each other in check.

So, I'm sure I'll keep watching if for no other reason than to figure out what NOT to do.   If they aren't paid actor's, which I'm with The Sage on this, they are using some awfully poor judgement......and that is almost sad.    It's only a matter of time before we have our own Prepper Snooki, half drunk, shooting rounds down range, taking it to a whole new low.

[hanzel]

The guy Steve reminded me of Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) from the "Vacation" movies.

I noticed that