I suspect historical situations probably give a more realistic idea of what a societal collapse might look like. After studying a few, I started thinking that perhaps how some survivalists imagine disaster to be has more to do with the fears in contemporary cultural undercurrents and with their view of the land/country. For example, very few are concerned with an invading army (or a domestic army that has "turned on" the people) -- common occurrences in the rest of the world that will be a real challenge to you and your self-reliant farm in the middle of nowhere.

Acropolis, I'm glad you got a chance to meet some members of the Bielskis. Those were some tough guys and gals.