Quote from OP article:
"For the most part, survivalists – or disaster-prepared “preppers,” as they like to call themselves – are interested mostly in indulging useful fantasies about “bug-out” packs and other necessary items to have and know how to use if there is a major societal disturbance that leads to uncontrolled unrest."

Readership increases as media writers present the world in brightly limned dichotomies. The writer in this case sacrifices some clarity in using the fascinating phrase "useful fantasies" juxtaposed with "societal disturbance that lead to uncontrolled unrest". "Fantasies" of this sort are occurring daily and occupy most of the daily news, but have escaped this writers notice entirely. But this writers job is to sell newspapers, or the digital equivalent, and that end is not served by exploring the wide world of prepping: that will be left to NatGeo's doomsday preppers.

It is easier to understand a world composed of heavily armed and fortified preppers and the presumed readers-folks who live un-prepped lives. Reality is much more nuanced, and preppers range from those with pockets empty except for grand dad's barlow knife to those with the 5 pound survival key chain.

Perhaps prepping is called fantasy because most of us will die from cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems, issues that a PSK does not address; but we all make existential decisions; when I start thinking that my decisions are better than those made by others, I read Ecclesiastes...while hunkered in my bunker...

"A major societal disturbance that leads to uncontrolled unrest" -- I, too, have visited survivalist sites. I think this is a code phrase for stuff like "race wars." Or maybe some sort of internal enemy ("jack-booted thugs"). For some reason, situations that could result in fighting seem to have their attention.

It's hard to imagine characterizing the more realistic emergencies (hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc.) in the same manner. "Societal disturbance"? No, these are natural disasters. "Uncontrolled unrest"? Katrina, as terrible as it was, didn't look like the LA Riot in the aftermath. Yes, the media often skips over the more reasonable forms of emergency preparation, but boring reality just doesn't make sensational news.

many of the fads ... like "Zombies" and "Prepping" are unfortunately tied to commercialism. Same thing for Y2K - used as a vehicle to stir up hype and then sell products. a shame.

Chaosmagnet ... I you look closely at my earlier discussion ... I only mentioned "freedom". I did not say anything about political parties or views, and indeed I didn't even mention specific countries or types of government. That is NOT because I am hiding a subliminal message that favors one American party over another. It IS because I have noticed the same concerns across a broad variety of nations in the world today - with a wide variety of different political systems.

If you truly want to be "free" ... perhaps the solution is to become a goat herder in the Caucasus Mountains, or a hillbilly in Arkansas. The only problem - then you ARE a goat herder or a hillbilly :-)

dT

Thanks for the rec, Ecclesiastes is available for Kindle -- mine has a great library for the bunker: Greek classics, Shakespeare, Ayn Rand...classics, good reading, nothing particularly light, good food for thought.

Well Today I bought 24 450gm 1lb cans of Jam (Strawberry, Apricot etc. with Free Delivery) They had run out of Marmalade. (I will get some more when available) That is equivalent to 2 years worth of British WW2 Jam Ration. Canned Jam is hard to actually source in the UK rather than Jam in Glass Jars. But I found a South African Jam supplier in the UK.

What does this indicate about me?

a) Someone who likes Jam.
b) A happy camper
c) A Bushcrafter
d) A Prepper.
e) A Doomsday Prepper
f) A Survivalist.
g) A Survivalist Terrorist.

A high risk of type 2 diabetes?

+1

I know it sounds like a lot of Jam/Marmalade but I am currently expanding the pantry stocks out to a year+ from the current 3-4 months supply.

From the Nutritional Analysis of New Zealand's Antarctic Field Rations.

http://www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/documents/GCAS%20electronic%20projects/Sam%20Taylor%20Project.pdf

And just because it illustrates our point in this thread:

Volcano Erupts in Japan, many Hikers on the Mountain

Be prepared, because you just don't know what can happen. A simple day hike can turn deadly.

I personally think that the folks who are extending their pantry stocks - are doing a very wise thing. I'm really not sure how you could lose on that proposition ... even if you never have an emergency, you have still stockpiled food at cheaper prices. It is really unlikely that food prices will drop a lot in the future.

Pete