Surviving the Apocalyse?

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Realistically, I see myself an early casualty. Torn apart over the Alice thing.

Why would I want to survive and continue living in a world ravaged by a pandemic, climate change, overpopulation, world war, asteroid collision, the so very tiresome cliche zombies, or robots that have turned against their creators, or whatever nonsense they throw at us? Only the young and strong survive. I'm not emotionally, nor am I physically strong, I'm not young, I'm not a doctor, farmer, or politician so I'll be considered useless. There will be people with no moral conscience who will try to kill me so they can steal whatever I may still have, or maybe cannibalize me, and there won't be any law enforcements holding them back. I won't be able to tell a friend from a psychopath because I'll miss subtle social cues. I find people thinking we'll just go back to the pioneer days where we'll have to grow our own crops and raise livestock highly amusing - how do we know plants and animals will survive or not become very toxic or horrifically mutated? The soil could be full of radiation and other chemicals and turn the whole world into a wasteland. I won't have any emotional crutches like my parents, I'll no longer be able to enjoy my special interests without the resources, and I'm lucky I can survive in the world the way it is now. Better go order some cyanide.

More seriously, I read a scientific paper recently that related to this in a way, if you see the PA society going back to a fairly primitive subsistence level.

What they wondered was how autistics might have faired in early societies, or even if they could have at all. Their conclusion was that they could, if part of a larger NT group, because some autistic tendencies would actually be advantageous and benefit the group/increase the groups survival chances. Just from memory, some possible strengths were (due to heightened anxiety) greater vigilance and earlier warning and ability to do certain lonely focused tasks better (spear fishing and collecting food). Specialization in primitive societies is associated with increased efficiency.

I tend to agree with that supposition and so think a group with a sprinkling of autistics (much as it now occurs naturally) would have the best chance, as opposed to a group exclusively one or the other.

But as far as 'Who gets to sleep next to Alice', I suggest you

Go ask Alice
I think she'll know

Added -

As far as why bother and would it be worth it after losing so much, I think it would depend. If I could get in with a good non-cannibal group I think I'd give it a go. Why not? There are still sunrises, sunsets, meals, animals, scenery and in a few years who knows, we might even have a Mariachi Band. And of course their is always the lovely Alice. But wandering around by myself indefinitely doesn't sound so good.

I probably wouldn't be able to survive on my own, though fortunately I have a number of friends and relatives who are well versed in outdoorsmen skills. I'm actually kind of an anomaly in my area, in that I'm better versed in working with technology than I am with things like hunting, fishing, or working with vehicles.

I have just enough social skills that I could probably forge new friendships with fellow survivors, though I would have a hard time dealing with people who would try to "use" me for various things. I would probably also have a hard time avoiding doing things that would piss certain other people off.

It would be hard to set aside some of my sensory issues though, as well as some of my qualms with sanitation and cleanliness. It wasn't such a big deal for me when I was younger, but as I've gotten older I've definitely regressed.

I used to be into preparedness. I would be fine, and would probably actually thrive in such a situation and wouldn't by any means attempt to handle it alone. Not only would I have my family with me, I would have a cadre of people who had other skills that would benefit the whole group. Anything else would be idiotic. It's not like the movies.

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Well said, Olive Oil.

I would likely survive. Outside 'living' is kind of one of my milder obsessions, and I already have an idea of how to build a fire and from what (hint, frayed non-used tampons make VERY good starting tinder.)

Plus in an apocalypse, many people won't be...still around, so there would be a lot of resources freed up. The key though is replenishing those resources as they are used up, which is gardening, knowing how to store extra food, and how to keep it preserved.

You can cure food with salt, smoke it, and make spring houses to store cold things in. Also is storing enough food for the winter, ensuring you've cut enough firewood to last a while, and knowing how to tan animal hides and weave fabrics.

There is a bunch of other things, but those are the first ones that come to mind.

I think alone I would do rather quite well. Or with one other individual no more. I know how to hunt, garden, I am technically adept and can work on mechanics, electrical, electronics so I could survive well enough. I am handy enough with firearms and well enough equipped that unless I had a small army after me, I'd have plenty of ammo for the rest of my life. Actually I am hoping to eventually become somewhat of a hermit. I prefer remoteness and being away from the vast majority of people. And I am NOT romanticizing it at all.

How many of you could actually come up with refrigeration under these circumstances? Ever wonder how the pioneers made ice cream in the middle of summer? I bet most won't know...

Wouldn't it be nice to survive like they did on "Gilligan's Island?"

If there was a true Apocalpyse, that is the complete breakdown of society I think only about 10% of the population would survive 1 year, and after a few decades it would bottom out at about .25% - .5% surviving. But (in the USA as an example) that still is 1-2 million and roughly the estimated population of North America prior to Columbus's arrival.

At first people would gather in groups and try to live off stocks and rebuild. But stocks would run short without resupply and conversion to sustenance farming and cattle raising would take a few years to get going unless you already were doing it. Meanwhile others would form into ravaging groups that continually move and live off of the first type of groups. In the short term the ravagers would recruit easily and with numbers overwhealm all but the most hardened installations. In the chaos any not killed would starve and it is only when the population has been reduced to minimal numbers that actual sustenance farming could begin.

Skills, plans and stocks would ultimately be of little avail. It would come down to luck and how much you are willing to do to stay alive.