Site Suggestions/ Questions/ Comments/Debugging > Help a brother prepper out

Is Prepping on the Decline?

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Searchboss:
I have been following a couple of Prepper forums/sites for the last few years, including this one. I have found them to be quite informative with coverage of various topics by knowledgeable people that are useful to most preppers. The discussions between members are always insightful. I have learned a lot and am grateful that I found these forums, and to the people who post on them regularly. While I don?t post that often, I try to follow the forums regularly.

I have noticed that over a longer time period many of the active members of the forums, me included, have gravitated toward what I call a homesteader mentality. It makes sense given our outlook on life and what it takes to obtain and maintain an independent lifestyle, not to mention that some of us are getting to retirement age. Regardless of this, I have also enjoyed the posts about various prepping topics such as bug out bags, bug out vehicles, communications, weapons, food storage, solar, etc. The list is long.

The real reason for this post is to present my perception that over the past few years the number of people interested in prepping, specifically as members of a forum such as this one, is on the decline. I write this because there seems to be far fewer new members each year than the last, and the number of active posters also seems to be on the decline. It appears that most of the posting is being done by the same few people. There is nothing wrong with this, but it does seem to be a trend. I am wondering if you are noticing this as well and if so, how you think it will affect us in general. I have noted over the years that when active membership in any organization starts to decline over a period of time it points to a change in the perception of the organization or movement. I could go on, but I am interested in what you think. Is this a concern?

grizz:
The times, they are a changing and not for the better. I think many people are keeping a low profile

Jackalope:
    I don't think forums are a useful barometric to judge whether prepping is on the decline.  Folks are using other social media sites to keep in touch, or other alternative means.

     In my particular AO, I'd say prepping is on the increase.  I'm involved with a couple of Mutual Assistance Groups, and the membership is increasing in those at an almost exponential rate.  Both groups have forum websites, and neither of those have much participation.  I'm guessing that folks are concerned about who is reading their postings, so they don't post at all.

     IMHO, the homesteading mentality is the only way to go, as being self-reliant provides the most independence.  I've had this discussion a number of times with folks that believe that they are prepared, because they have lots of food and other items stored.  I look at those particular "preppers" as consumers, not producers.  These consumer preppers will be screwed when their food runs out.

JohnyMac:
Great question Searchboss and comments from Grizz and Jackalope.

First, about this site. This site ebbs and flows like the tide. As things heat up in the world more people participate. As things settle down less folks participate. With that written UP does average ~7,000 hits a day so someone is coming by. The hits are mostly in our archives section.

Second, I belong to three MAG's. One is in NJ and I act more as a consultant then a member. That group of late has started to break up as people are moving out of NJ for better homesteading area's. One we just lost to SE Alaska as an example.

One group, I will call my home group, is made up of ~10 members. We meet religiously once a month to discuss prepping, politics, and mutual assistance. All members are very active and to be quite honest well squared away. They tend to not monitor prepping sites like they use to. They come to UP almost everyday as a visitor and do not post as they prefer to keep a low profile.

The third MAG has ~30 members, 14 of which are active while the others just hang about for the fellowship. The 14 try to meet once a month for educational purposes and fellowship. We are having another meeting at the end of the month and the agenda is,

> Bee Keeping,
> Solar 101, and
> Hard cider making.

Most of the members are ham radio operators so there will be discussion on that subject naturally.

Last, I would say that before Trump was elected UP was more active. There was members from around the world and 20-30 posts a day was not uncommon. We had close to 1,000 members. Well Trump was elected and many folks stopped stopping by. Many folks I know stopped prepping as they though everything was going to be ice cream and lollipops.

Well I am starting to see those people returning. Not necessarily participating but swinging by to read the posts from the week.   

So there you go. Probably not the answer you were looking for.  :cheers:

zanedclark:
An interesting question.  By analogy I am a General licensed Ham KK6GTA and have been for a decade plus.  I have made one contact.  I like radio and I like to listen to radio.  I'm not particularly interested in talking on radio having had to do professionally for 31 years in LE.  So low profile or just preference?

Homesteading or prepping?  A natural progression.

When President Trump was elected a lot of people thought he would set the world aright and they needed to do nothing else.  Reminded me of the news clips of people saying about Obama, "If I take care of him, he will take care of me!"

The American Man Association began somewhere back in the 1980 by a group of Survivalists who at some point realized that the ultimate "survivalists" were the fur trappers of the 1800's and so migrated to AMA.  A natural progression.

Remember that the only constant is change. 

zane

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