[ONASIS]

I recently saw a tv documentary on people who had survived accidents and disasters like being shipwrecked, plane crashes, etc.

All these people had a PMA - Positive Mental Attitude - and believed that they would survive the crisis. They adapted. Even the more physically strong (but mentally weak) people soon perrished as they 'gave up'.

Do you think PO advocates are mentally tough or would they too succum to the mental torment of not having cheap airflights, cars, supermarkets, etc ?

[rostov]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ONASIS', '
')All these people had a PMA - Positive Mental Attitude - and believed that they would survive the crisis. They adapted. Even the more physically strong (but mentally weak) people soon perrished as they 'gave up'.

[ONASIS]

Rostov

A nice post on SAS mentality -

Like you said most people (average Joe's) won't know until the're put to the test - a lot of folks have been conscripted into US + European armies so may have some fieldcraft skills.

Trouble is what would a PO collapse look like ? Would central government remain in control of the economy + law and order - I think they could but I never lived through the 1929 Crash so don't know how a Global collapse would play out in 2005 - 2010 bearing in mind that our economy is now built on credit + consumerism ?

Additionally, we don't know if nations like China (Iran, Venezuela) / US will fight over oil + energy resources with resultant WMD war scenario's ?

[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')ll these people had a PMA - Positive Mental Attitude - and believed that they would survive the crisis.

[katkinkate]

Well, I know I can do without cars, planes, TV and fancy restaurants, because I live without them now. I can even live on low subsistance income for a few years at a time, because I have made it successfully through 3 periods of unemployment and 5 years as a mature age tertiary student. But I've always had enough to pay rent and get enough food and second hand clothing to keep me going. I'm not sure how I'd face no income whatsoever. I know I'm not that flexible. I'm pretty sure I'd be "too proud to beg and too dumb to steal" (Sting: Probably Me).

[Jack]

The gentleman I refer to in my signature had another saying "Your mind is your most important weapon."

I think there are several levels of toughness, all of which may be required. One level - perhaps the most difficult - is to continue living and functioning in a harsh and maybe hopeless environment. Examples would be the Bataan death march during WWII, or various concentration camps. It's one thing to endure life without cars and so forth - but it would be a challenge to believe that life is worth living on a slow-starvation diet, coupled with a harsh environment and unending work, and with no hope of a positive change. The temptation to end it all might be great.

Another level is to function in a harsh environment where plenty of hope still exists. The willingness to walk that extra mile (or ten, or hundred), continue to function without sleep, or whatever is required to accomplish short term survival. Going ten miles on a broken ankle, in a hostile area, and in a short period of time might be an example - there was a fellow I knew who did that. Of course, he had an ample supply of popcorn.

The third level is the ability and willingness to be ruthless in surviving. This could range from unsportsmanlike hunting to cold-blooded murder. It might well involve stealing the bread from another person's mouth. Or, it could simply require withholding aid to those who desperately need it.

Peak Oil will probably require elements of all three. Whether any of us have it is debatable; it's common to claim toughness, but such attributes are not at all common in the real world. I suppose the forge of circumstances will reveal the truth.

[linlithgowoil]

i hear this positive mental attitude thing all the time - and that its the only thing that works for survival. i dispute this. if i drop 2 people, one a pessimist and one an optimist, in the middle of the desert 150 miles from anywhere in any direction, both will die.

im sure plenty people have a 'will to live' - it doesnt help if someone shoots you in the face though does it? essentially, i think survival is down to luck, coincidence and a tiny bit of skill/intelligence.

[katkinkate]

I've heard that a prepared person can make their own luck.

[ONASIS]

Some interesting points -

Jack:
e.g. would it be worth going that extra mile - I guess it all depends what you 'see' at the end of the Rainbow or if loved ones can make it, etc ??

Also, linlithgowoil, if the environment cannot support life then a PMA will at least make you feel like a 'survivor' for those extra minutes !

katkinkate I guess we can all make our own luck but only if we start the journey - in the UK there was a booklet called 'Protect + Survive' which was issued at the high of the cold war - it advise whitewashing all the windows in the house to reflect heat of blast ! This is an extreme PMA - best solution would be to monitor the geopolitical environment + move to S.America or New Zealand at the first signs of political tension !

All in all I believe that some sections of humanity will survive whatever like climate change, PO, nuclear winters, etc - they would be the ones who have the gold, protection, food, bunkers, private islands, etc -

[bobaloo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')I've heard that a prepared person can make their own luck."