Beware the "Experts".

[J]

One of the mixed blessings we have in the Internet is the abundance of information on virtually any subject we can think of. Be it weather, news, sports or the latest price of Commemorative Princess Diana Beanie Babies on the Island of Yap, given the right keywords for a search and some time, you can probably find it.

Unfortunately, this has also given rise to the internet “Expert”

I do acknowledge that there is a a lot of good information out there on many topics, prepping being one of them. A number of good people work hard to compile some of this information on sites like this (thanks PJ!) and filter through a swamp of BS articles in the process. On the other end of the spectrum is the self proclaimed Expert that seems to be the be all and end all authority that knows how you should respond to any situation and how to Be Prepared for Anything!

A lot of them will also offer you an informational DVD at a low, low price.

I have noticed a few new digital faces around here and wanted to say welcome. I also wanted to offer a few words of advice to people new to prepping. First and foremost, your greatest asset in any situation, be it a disaster or anything else is common sense.

Another point I will bring out is that a lot of what people do in the way of prepping is theoretical, there is a vast majority of people, in my experience, that prep but do not test what they have is right for their circumstance. One thing I like about this forum is that there is a lot of discussion on what has been tested to work and what doesn’t. The Maj did an actual bugout last summer and wrote extensively about it here.

I find myself digressing; my main point is to take so called experts with a grain of salt. There is no cookie cutter, one size fits all prep, no Ultimate Bugout Bag to be prepared for anything and everything.

Have you ever even changed a tire exactly the same way twice?

[NRP]

Great point J

All-in-all I believe the “net” is a fairly good tool to use, but as with any tool, knowing how and when to use its contents is very important. After all do I really care what hair color The Queen of England is using? As with any information or tool we must filter out all the crapo and retain what is useful to us at that particular time and place, don’t use a hammer to change a light bulb.

FYI if anyone really wants to “buy” information they are tossing the money out the door in most cases. Products change, situations change, ideas and locations change, probably before a book or CDs are even produced. I have some swamp land in FL for sale if ya want to toss money out the window.

Being one of the newbies around here, and very shy about stating my opinion (LOLOL) thank you for the “welcome” again 99.9% of doing anything is common sense; even more so when the net experts tell you something. Case ion point; I just love the show Doomsday Preppers and the “expert” analyses at the end of each show HAHAHA Some good ideas, a LOT of bad ones IMO. It does have a good entertainment value though.

I’m about ½ way through The Maj’s vacation trip, fairly interesting. One thing I’m sure of, he probably would have to carry my fat azz after the first day of hiking…

And dang it J, I was hoping that the Wally-World BOB I bought would save me and the neighborhood from the Zombie Attack. Thanks Buddy  HAHAHAHA

And as far as that tire, yes I change it the exact same way every time. 1. Get that stupid look on my face when the truck starts going sideways driving down the dirt road at 60, 2. Find the deepest mud puddle to stop in, 3. Jump out trying to get run over by a semi or a bus, 4. Cuss like a drunken sailor for about 10 minutes, 5. Actually change the tire (the easy part), 6. Go home and have a Gin or two/3. Oh yes and try not to forget to get the flat tire fixed BEFORE I get the next flat…. HAHAHA

Have a great one J; keep it clean and well used…

NRP

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