It seems like this community has turned into a fucking hobby for most people. Our blogtv sessions for example, we'll get 16 core members and not really even feel like we're accomplishing anything. I'm just as guilty of this as anyone else, so nobody take me wrong. I'd be willing to bet my multi-tool that if 505th and TG for example; organized a meet and greet with a range session or something; all expense payed trip...that the only people that would show would be that 16ish core member list. It's fucking absurd. I'm starting to feel like not only is 97% of this country asleep...but most of the "preppers" are in reality basement commandos who do it as a goddamn fantasy hobby.
I feel the same way, ASPJ. I've wondered why others don't comment on a regular basis. I try to post regularly if only to interact with everyone here, because outside of this online community there are only two other people I can talk to about prepping, and I rarely see them at all. Everyone else may listen politely, but they roll their eyes, laugh, etc. I expect that, but personally I need the interaction with other like-minded people. One major way I get motivation is by calling (and meeting!) other preppers now, preppers who I met here or on L&L, and we talk on the phone. It may just be about the same shit as on the forum or on BlogTV, but it's different when you're speaking to someone directly. Without the forums here, and the great topics that allow us to communicate and get to know one another, we wouldn't have this opportunity.
I don't consider myself much of a prepper, since all I really manage to do is talk either on here or BlogTV about moral, historical or political aspects of current or theoretical situations. I don't have the hands-on experience regarding outdoors activities, farming/gardening, or shooting to contribute anything meaningful that other members don't already know. I also cannot make vids or take pics showing what I'm accumulating and giving/getting feedback because, as of the past 3 years, I've been a full-time student/stay-at-home father without an income. Hopefully that will change very soon, but right now I don't have the ability to prep even basic foodstuffs and we're living paycheck to paycheck.
I wonder how many other members are like me, and would love to contribute, but cannot because regarding skills or experiences involved in prepping we lack the ability to convey useful knowledge or express a desire to learn in order to revise what we're doing. I'll explain the latter: personally, there is a lot of good info here already that I cannot process just because I can only process so much information before I need to go out and do it myself. After doing it, I've increased my experience and knowledge base, and can come back refreshed and ready for more. Outside of struggling with getting into proper physical shape, and maybe some inside drills, there really isn't a lot I can do that would contribute to our forum. I think, no, I know from speaking with a few of these guys that others are in similar situations. Your contributions, and those of other members, are always appreciated by me. I bookmark the ones I think will benefit me at a future time, so that I can come back when I have more money/time/experience and use the information to help me. In doing so, I can provide feedback to your thread about the pros/cons of the info, or just more questions.
