Is joining a survival group a good idea or bad idea

[Guest meadowmb]

My definition of survival group is 4 to 8 people preparing a rural retreat for hard times.

Any pro's and con's would be greatly appreciated.

[Magiccarpetrides]

Bad, I always get along better with myself then I do other people for extended periods of time.

[Guest clsutton21]

Good, if you run out of food...you can eat the fatties.

[TnShooter83]

It can't hurt as long as the others aren't crazy.

Some of these survival people are borderline paranoid in my opinion.

Just be cautious.....

[Motasyco]

Trust nobody

[pitt2magic]

i cant seem to find anyone that I can stand to be around for that long.

[Guest SUNTZU]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find four to eight like minded people who would contribute and agree on principles. Also, opsec would be a mother in that situation. I prepare for someone breaking into my house, I would be thinking twice before I put everything for survival way out in no man's land unprotected.

[setsdw]

I've got a few really close friends that I've know for many years and if SHTF we would all band together with are families. This is not a survival group but a close knit bunch of guys that I would trust my or my wife's life with. That's the only way I could do it. I could never trust strangers even if they were a "survival group". The fact is that you never know how people will act under extreme duress.

[GLOCKMEISTER]

our group is already closed, so sorry... ;-)

[Guest Caveman]

Bad, I always get along better with myself then I do other people for extended periods of time.

That's not what you told me last night

[G27]

4-8 people would have a tough time defending yourselves if push comes to shove. Not sure what the answer is, but it wouldn't take a lot of folks to over-run all but the very best trained 4-8 soldiers in the world, much less civilians who aren't constantly training with each other.

[Guest jimdigriz]

Some of these survival people are borderline paranoid in my opinion.

I should fit right in!

[MacGyver]

Just like the poster on Fox Mulder's wall - "Trust No One"

[Guest ScottD]

My first rule is to kill my friends. They know where I keep my stash and have a rough idea of what I have.

My next rule is to kill anyone who gets in my way.

So who wants to be my friend and be in my group?

[Guest jackdm3]

I'd be wary of how many alpha males show up. That's the sort of thing bad movies are made of.

[Guest SUNTZU]

My supplies consist of a case of Woodford Reserve (Damn you, Mark@Sea ) and a La-Z-Boy recliner. Oh, and a .45.

[1gewehr]

Realistically, if the event is of a long duration, you are best off as part of a community. Food production without machinery is very labor-intensive. 5-10 people working on a farm can easily grow surplus food, while a single person will have much more limited choices and be more vulnerable to losing a significant portion of his crop to disease, insects, weather, etc.

Besides, you've got to sleep sometime. Having extra eyes to watch your back will be critical. An additional factor is skill-sets. The more people, the greater the chance that someone will have the needed skills to deal with problems that arise.

As far as joining a group, my advice would be to avoid it unless you know them VERY well. These groups tend to be obsessive and run by the same types that run home-owner's associations. IF the group has a pediatrician or emergency-room surgeon, suck it up and play nice!!!

Edited January 22, 2010 by 1gewehr

[Guest m&pc9]

Good, if you run out of food...you can eat the fatties.

Im not joining your group.

[Guest Rando]

just about my whole family live on one small mountain, thats a ready made group right there. We just get the guns from my safe, get the ammo from my brothers, round up the clips from my Dads, and then go to my Grandmothers for orders. HEY somebody has to be the boss and she has had lots of practice!!! Then you throw in the friends I grew up with that still live close by and we have got this mountain covered and you know how them country boys love their guns and shootin stuff. You might want to call before you come. That is the kind of group to belong to because it takes a while to get too really know people and what their values are, and I wouldnt want to have the test to be when they were behind me with a gun........

[poak]

One of the major problems I see with this is the more members you have, the more of a chance they'll bring tagalongs (not the cookies) with them IF something DID happen.

[tntnixon]

This thread is proof of the fact that in a SHTF situation (the whole point of the post), we're all screwed. You can bet that a government that turns against it's people, will be united in its willingness to crush a citizens revolt. An un-united citizenry, will be helpless to defend itself against a tyranical or ineffective government. Just a thought.

[Chief07]

If you have a group keep it quiet. Some sites are good to get ideas or information but that is all. Don't officially join nothing. The government monitors the nutty ones.Everyone has thier own family plan.That's my opinion.

[pitt2magic]

^^^^^^^yeah, what he said

[Raoul]

No.

[Climber]

Not a good idea unless you are already tight with the members. Regardless, if it goes down in a good ole total SHTF/ TEOTWAWKI / zombies are everywhere scenario, how long will any of us last? It's a crapshoot. Prep as best you can and don't sweat the other stuff.

Going it alone will not buy you a lot of time but signing up with a bad lot will end about the same.