This is an international forum with people of widely diverse perspective and background contributing their information politely for all to be better informed. I think that the most common characeristic I have witnessed on this forum is politeness (which is very refreshing considering the flame wars that consume other forums I visit!) There are some TEOTWAKI folks who contribute good stuff here on issues ranging from sheltering-in-place to how to plan evacuation routes. There are some here who wouldn't carry a gun and don't think that anyone should and yet have very good information on First Aid and risk avoidance. There are some here who consider the only reasonable use of an edged tool in an urban environment is for self defense and train accordingly I have learned much from them on edge geometry, knife care, carry, and deployment. I hate being labeled and find that most folks I know don't fit them well and resent having them applied.

I think tht this forum is truely a discussion forum and not a cultural gathering place. Folks from very different cultural perspectives gather here to discuss the issues of short-term survival until rescue in the face of unforseen extremes in circumstance of all kinds.

Yea, We are gear freaks too <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

'Course this is JMHO, YMMV. Another, more formal answer, may be had here and here