I know that ETS is focused on short-term emergency situations rather than long-term "survivalism", but I also have an interest in the latter. Unfortunately, whenever I have looked around for communities that focus on long-term survival planning, I only ever seem to find groups which have a marked tendency to display ultra PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. ideologies and I have to wade through mountains of posts blaming one group or another (usually the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER., or illegal immigrants, or terrorists, what have you) for all the problems of the modern age. Of course, the old left/right distinctions have lost quite a bit of their original value, but the close-minded extremists on either side of the aisle are driving the S/N ratio down so low it's become extremely difficult to talk about anything worthwhile on such sites, misc.survivalism being, of course, the worst offender.

Judging from many of the posts I've read here, I'm not the only person interested in long-term survival, but as I'd like not to pollute ETS with these topics, can anyone suggest a good online community that deals with these issues in as close to an objective, non-partisan format as possible? I think ETS is a good model for the sort of community I'm looking for. While we do occasionally have partisan posts here, I've rarely, if ever, seen it get out of hand here.

What time frame are you looking to for “long term” survival?

I would think, considering there have been a number of “moderate” (weeks to several months) of post natural disaster living situations, that several forum members have had to deal with and have shared their valuable insights and experiences, could serve to act as models for longer term survival.

Also, as an international forum, a number of our members are from culturally diverse environments and what would be “survival” situation for our life style may be the norm for their area of the world. Learning how they deal with daily living could provide valuable insights as to how to manage and perform life skills that we normally do not encounter.

By asking how these individuals have dealt with these situations and using their experiences and insights, you could readily adapt them for longer periods of “survival”, without getting to the “survivalist” realm of discussion or mentality.

Pete

I would not be adverse to setting up a "long term survival' section in the forum, IF (a big if):

1. There are sufficient numbers of like minded folks out there who are tired of the flames and tirades in most of those forums elsewhere.

2. If we do this it would follow exactly the same rules as here, which means discussion would be limited to survival issues only, no politics, no personal attacks, etc. See: http://www.equipped.org/rules.htm Chris will admin it with an iron hand, so to speak. Probably would want to set it up so that each person participating has to sign an explicit, legally binding pledge in this regard. (which I'd need to figure out how to do)

3. If interested, please ask like minded folks to check in here and leave a message in this thread. If we get enough response, I'll open up another section.

4. If the new section cannot maintain civility, I would not hesitate to shut it down.

5. Starting up such a section would have to wait until we sort out the current server issues.

I would be interested in participating in such a forum.

Count me in. Once again I would reading not writing, but there is gonna be some really interesting tips goin on. If anyone knows plant medicine or GOOD books on it, please pass it on. As Mr Mears said if we don't keep using these natural remedies, we will forget what took long times of trial n error to find out

I'd be interested in this too.

Actually, I think you should ask potential users to list their favorite movies; if Rambo or Red Dawn are on the list, ban 'em immediately. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

One other idea, you could set up the forum so that users must have some minimum number of posts elsewhere on the board to participate in it.

I like the idea.

Count me in.

ya way cool like man. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

So long as people don't kick me in the shins too hard if I get philosophical, I'm game.