Dave in the life of: A Survivalist

[newcroft]

Late notice, but on TV tonight;

http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/cgi-bin/TV ... me=9.00+pm

TV Show Name: DAVE IN THE LIFE: OF A SURVIVALIST
Broadcast Date: Thursday 17 September 2009
Channel: Free to Air / SBS
Broadcast Time: 9.00 pm
Classifications: Other, M (A) (CC) WS
Timeslot Duration: 30 mins

Some people are taking precautions and preparing for the ultimate worst-case scenario. But is the end of the world really just around the corner or are the survivalists just paranoid? Dave leaves the city to join those who believe the end is nigh. He seeks out food in the wilderness, has nightmares about eating a childhood pet and hankers for the wonders of modern medicine. (Commissioned by SBS in English) (Documentary Series)

[geoff]

Caught this quite by accident (too lazy after watching Costa's Garden Oddessy to change the channel), was quite interesting at least from the perspective of showing what others are up to behind closed doors. Obviously didn't delve too deeply into the issues and reasoning behind the decisions people had made.

[newcroft]

I enjoyed it a lot. It's obviously not meant to be a documentary, or be too concerned with being accurate with all the information. But, it did take the 'survivalist' theme seriously (peak oil being one), and showed people getting prepared. Loved the humor too.

But, if your back is against the wall - are YOU going to eat that guinea pig? Well are you?

[geoff]

Anything that was once alive and isn't poisonous is fair game at the "back against the wall" stage

I found the contrast between the approach of the city family and the Fekonia's to be just amazing, one group prepared to move elsewhere with an amazing stash of stuff prepped for nearly any eventuality, the other already living the life they will continue to live the day after TEOTWAWKI.

[Sololeum]

already living the life they will continue to live the day after TEOTWAWKI.

After all its the only logical way to really prepare.....

[newcroft]

There was a great line from Dave, and I hope I remember properly. He's out in the bush trying to find food, and he's not doing well. He's hot, getting lost, and not finding much food. He then managed to find some ants to eat and is obviously disappointed at how hard it all is. He just looks at the camera and says: "I think anarchy would be a lot easier"

[Bootstrapper]

There was a great line from Dave, and I hope I remember properly. He's out in the bush trying to find food, and he's not doing well. He's hot, getting lost, and not finding much food. He then managed to find some ants to eat and is obviously disappointed at how hard it all is. He just looks at the camera and says: "I think anarchy would be a lot easier"

That depends, newcroft, on what definition of "anarchy", Dave is using.
...And my apologies for "thread necromancy".

[newcroft]

??? I don't get the link.

[Bootstrapper]

My apologies for being obtuse. "Anarchy" is generally understood to mean "chaos-and-disorder". I lean to the dictionary definition - "no ruler", in the same way that Monarchy means "one ruler". By my definition, "Anarchy" is a lack of rulers, not a lack of rules.

What Stefan Molyneux says is that the countries of the world are just giant farms and we're the livestock. In addition to the use of force, the state fences us in with debt, and by controlling as many means of subsistence as possible, thereby rendering itself into our life-support system. The smart livestock can see that the LSS is failing and survivalism is in essence, the process of reducing your dependence on 'the system' and creating / connecting to an alternative. Of course, the state percieves this as a threat just like the pastoralist would view a mob of recalcitrant runaway sheep. Everyone who disconnects themselves from (or signifigantly reduces their dependence on) the system reduces the base it can exploit. This is reflected in the way the mainstream media report on people like the guy in that article. First, the state ridicules those who try to disconnect. (Ridicule is a powerful disincentive) If that doesn't discourage the livestock, they conficsate property. (Our culture holds property and the associated rights, more sacred than life). If that still won't stop the livestock wandering, they turn to violence and make an example of recalcitrants.

[Sololeum]

Anarchy is the natural behaviour of human populations, as opposed to the artificial laws and rules of industrial culture.