Topic: How important to you are the Demographics of the people you'd BO with?

[Spiff]

I started this because I found the postings at the end of Hawkiyes BO property thread interesting. Of course we all need to be around people that we feel comfortable with and can get along with. But I'd like to know what everyone thinks about the demographic makeup of those they would choose to bug out with.

For my part, I'm not very religious. But I have no issues with it. Nor would I necessarily have an issue with bugging out with a Democrat, per se (not all Democrats are bleeding heart liberals). For me it would depend on who these people were and how I got along with them. Or thought I could get along with them in a stressful situation. And just as important, how reliable they were.

It would be nice if we could discuss this without coming to blows with each other.

[crj]

I'd have to know them. There are guys I work with that arent anything like me as far as beliefs go.
 But we all trust each other and don't stab each other in the back etc... It takes years to know who you can really trust especially when stuff starts to go bad (ie SHTF, Layoffs etc)  So to me, belief systems, of course change peoples behaviors, but there are rational, respectful, honest, reliable people in all walks of life (and the opposite is true).

Humility is key.

[TAZZ500]

I would think that politics, religion, and personality aside, the most important things to consider would be what they were able and willing to contribute to the tribe, clan, group or whatever you would call it. People who took without giving anything back would never be welcome in any group I was with.

There would have to be a skill inventory at the gate in order to get in. Useless persons who wished to live well off the hard work of others would be directed to the back entrance, otherwise known as the fertilizer processing area. 

[9Shooter]

I agree with a lot of what has been said already.  Trust is a key.  It makes it easier when everyone has common interests, but without trust everyone would be fending for themselves and the concept of a community that looks after one another goes out the window.  When you can trust that everyone will do their part, that they have your back, that you can count on them and they upon you, I imagine that the chances of success are much greater.

[NGO]

Demographics, I'm a minority in a mixed marriage and I'm getting old ....I know that's not what you meant...


How your group comes together would partial dependent on your Bug out situation.

I would think living in the city, In town like Boise in a house in an older subdivision vs. a subdivision of MacMansion out of the town core vs. ten acres south of Meridian vs. 15 miles outside of Boise in the desert on 40 acres, vs. in the mountains on 2000 acres with the nearest town 20 miles away and it is only 2000 people on a good day will make a big difference of what your group is going to look like.

How your group is interacting with it's surrounding area is going to make a difference in how your group is assembled and what skills are needed what equipment your going to need and skills needed. Even weapon choice is going to be effected.

You all have seen my list of concerns on the other thread, while nothing is set in stone, every item would need to be addressed and compromises might be made.

As far as religion...That will also come into play, maybe not so much if your group is a group of houses in town and you have a separate homes and gardens and just have security details where you interact on a daily bases.  
But if you are living in a remote location and your not going into town every week or every month even ,you better think hard about who you are living with. While their maybe a main house it might be a collection of RVs, 5th wheels and converted barns that people are going to be living in.  This would be similar to a large family collection. Respect, trust and high moral code would be needed. ( Think teenage boys and girls....).  

This is where we looked at and approach this issue. Cohesiveness and common goal and approaches to problem solving would be vital to the contined success of that kind of group.  Their would be no city services, or places to retreat to. Work loads would have to be accomplished and trust that everyone is delivering on their portion of what is needed to survive. Problem solving, as much as people say we all are the same the reality is that we aren't even atheist and agnostics disagree with each other. So for our group we have decided ahead of time what our core beliefs that we base our decisions are to come from. Not one persons ideas or even one religion but the Bible. That will help us decide how a problem is to be decided.  kind of like how our founding fathers did to form certain aspects of our country. Read the notes and augments that happend in developing out Constitution and you'll find numerous references made to the Bible read and debated to decide how we were to be organized. I figure if it was good enough for them it should serve me well also.

As you forms groups keep that in mind if the decision rest upon one man or a couple of people to make all the decision the group will likely not last long. Choose something that everyone agrees on to use a guide or reference manual that will be the bases of your decision making. Whether it be the Bible, Humanist Manifesto, a book of Mao but something outside of who ever can yell the loudest and longest would be my suggestion.

This country is no longer a melting pot we have been divided into hyphenated groups and trained to think that individual rights trump all rights and everyone should get their own defined meaning of happiness. I think if we end up living in a Mad Max world those selfish thoughts are what is going to be the thing that causes more division in family, and groups.  Until we come back to a culture that can get over the PC way of thinking we will continue to be divided.  It will be interesting to see how that aspect will play out over the next ten years. Some resolution will have to occur.

Good luck, I think we are going to need it.

[WTF]

Had a feeling a topic like this would pop up sooner or later.

As long as everyone worked together for one common goal that meant our survival as a group thru shared work and responsibility, I could care less what their views are, Democrat, Liberal, Mormon or Christian, if you're religious, that's great! but don't push your views on me, and I won't push my views on you. Mutual respect.

Most, if not all my Family are Christians themselves, and we have learned thru trail and error not to push each others views onto the other. and because of this mutual understanding, we get along Great and have some great times together.

[crj]

Had a feeling a topic like this would pop up sooner or later.

As long as everyone worked together for one common goal that meant our survival as a group thru shared work and responsibility, I could care less what their views are, Democrat, Liberal, Mormon or Christian, if you're religious, that's great! but don't push your views on me, and I won't push my views on you. Mutual respect.

Most, if not all my Family are Christians themselves, and we have learned thru trail and error not to push each others views onto the other. and because of this mutual understanding, we get along Great and have some great times together.

Im the only Christian in my family (by that I mean my brothers, mom and dad) If we all had to live together I have no doubt that we would die for each other. That is the bond needed.

[e11charlie]

For me it would have nothing to do with liking or agreeing with beliefs. Or liking or agreeing with thier personality.  It would have to do with giving someone my word that I would.  When I was in the military I told every new trooper I got in that he didnt have to like the man standing next to him.  Because liking him or not, that man standing next to him would put his life on the line for him whether the new soldier wanted him to or not.  I tried to teach them about loyalty before personal feelings.  My first and formost loyalty lies not in the country but the constitution.  Followed closely by my comrades.  Then my family.  If you ask why my family is last its because I can only protect my family to a point.  At some point everyman needs help and if the man standing next to you knows that you would be willing to die for him and his, then he will do the same for you.  Those are the type that I would allign myself with.  Although since I have been out of the military over the last 3 years I have not met but 3 people like that.  2 of them were ex military.  You guys I do not know that well even if I have met you.  I am sure that most of you have have been in and know what level of trust that is, and what it takes to get there.   If you can understand my ramblings you must be just as crazy as I am. 

[hawkiye]

Great thread!

I am not religious either. It's always easier if people have similar demographics but not required IMO. I think it depends on the situation also.  Like the situation NGO described on the other thread, sounds like those folks would be living in the same house in which case it would be more important.

As for a neighborhood where everyone had their own house I think it would be less important. I take a pretty libertarian approach live and let live so it wouldn't matter to me if someone was religious or not etc..

Obviously anything that could pose a threat to the group would not be acceptable. However I think if people could agree on some basic tenets like honesty, live and let live, mutual respect and everyone pulls their own weight, coordinated efforts are generally voluntary etc., the chances for success are much greater.

The trust issue is always important and ideally of course it would be best to have folks you know and have trusted for a long time. However unfortunately that is not the case for many of us, or at least not everyone we might potentially throw in with.  So as just a circumstance of the times we have to take some chances to be more prepared. We have to ask ourselves; is it better to just stay put and ride it out in the city perhaps alone or better to have a bug out location prepared with like minded folks we would have liked to have known longer and better but at least we know something about them?

 Also you really never know until your in the situation how people will react. Someone you've known and trusted all your life could freak out and become a liability in a way you or even they themselves never expected.

The other thing is many people don't even know their next door neighbor but will end up riding the storm out right where they are. By forming a community of like minded individuals we at least know something about our neighbors going in. There is never any guarantees, however take this board for example, we are getting to know something of each other right here, and at pizza nights. Eventually if some if us decide to go into together on some property we can sit down face to face and get to know one another more.

One thing people can do is make a list of things they feel they could absolutely not tolerate in their neighbors in a survival situation (we might be more tolerant for survival then for normal times) and use that as a criteria for choosing whether to throw in or not. Then make a secondary list of things you might not care for but would not be a deal breaker. Just remember nothing is perfect.

[Idaho Corsair]

Are they a plus or a liability overall? (skills and/or preps related)
Will they be trouble down the road? (mentally, mindset etc... can only be known so much though) This also deals somewhat with common vision/purpose.
Can I TRUST them?

[e11charlie]

Great thread!


 Also you really never know until your in the situation how people will react. Someone you've known and trusted all your life could freak out and become a liability in a way you or even they themselves never expected.

That is exactely true.  I have only had one soldier that just locked up and never came out of it when the first bullet flew.  You can never really tell, life is a gamble so are people sometimes.

[Nomad]

 Many good points, trust and respect..........There is a saying that I am from Missouri, show me...
 People that do are what would work for the best of others....

[NGO]

That is exactely true.  I have only had one soldier that just locked up and never came out of it when the first bullet flew.  You can never really tell, life is a gamble so are people sometimes.

So, true...didn't see an solders around me lock up, they were old hats at escorting...

But I did see several civilians lose it when things went south.  First rocket or mortar attack or even a good round of celebratory fire and bullets falling all around and the next morning they were on a plane out of country. And some of these were guys you wouldn't think of being the type that would freak.

Then again we had this one liberal female Captain that in a gun fight was most excellent to be around. She was a paradox in so many was...

[hawkiye]

 Also what we don't like to think about but is very likely is there is going to be at least one trusted member who becomes a liability. What do you do? Especially if it is a close friend or family member?

I am just bringing it up because it is probably best to have an idea at least,  for now beforehand instead of having to decide in the heat of the moment or under the stress of being in survival mode so to speak.