10 replies to this topic

[caliban]

This is not inspired by current doomsday fads, but instead something that has been mentioned for many years.

We are thinking about setting up a 'prepping' subforum to complement the life extension discussions at LongeCity from another practical angle in 2013.

Expressions of interest and suggestions, specifically for guest authors or interviewees, would be very welcome.

[PWAIN]

I currently spend a lot of time in a local survivalism forum so this would suit me nicely. Not into the current panic, more just a comprehensive strategy to stay alive come what may.

[niner]

I don't think this would be good for Longecity. Survivalism is associated in most peoples' minds with the lunatic fringe, which we have enough trouble with already. If we want to raise our profile as a serious site, I'd stay away from this one. Maybe we could have a survivalism thread in the Global Risks forum. That way we could have it for all who are interested without giving it too high of a profile.

[PWAIN]

I personally find little problem discussing preps etc with most people but immortality/real life extension seems to get people pretty upset. Really if you are concerned about credibility, nootropics and supps are probably a bigger issue since these are normally associated with scams in a lot of professionals minds.

I think if security doesn't dominate the forum, then it could actually be useful. Discussion about preps is not far off from disaster recovery which many businesses need to do. Putting a sub forum under the global risks forum seems like it would fit in very nicely but I think a single thread would be nightmarish with so many topics to cover.

[mikeinnaples]

I am already all set for the pending zombie apocalypse.

[npcomplete]

I don't think this would be good for Longecity. Survivalism is associated in most peoples' minds with the lunatic fringe, which we have enough trouble with already. If we want to raise our profile as a serious site, I'd stay away from this one. Maybe we could have a survivalism thread in the Global Risks forum. That way we could have it for all who are interested without giving it too high of a profile.

Overall I agree with niner on this.

The major cons are:

1.) Tends to take away from main focus of the site.

2.) Diversion of resources.

3.) Reputation and the lunatic fringe cited by niner.


On the pro side:

1.) Attract new readers.

2.) Treat survivalism with a "Longecity" focus, for example pointing out that "maybe that bucket of beans and rice needs a more balanced nutritional focus".

3.) Possible new revenue from ads and sales.

At least that is the view from this noob...

[Mind]

We could us different terminology to avoid possible negative associations. Preparing for life-threatening disasters, natural and man-made, is certainly within the purview of Longecity.

[Shepard]

Considering the topics that we discuss here on a regular basis, I don't see this as being negative, at all. Being able to survive in an unexpected situation seems to be precisely in line with other therapies one might implement to avoid death in the short-term.

[niner]

Considering the topics that we discuss here on a regular basis, I don't see this as being negative, at all. Being able to survive in an unexpected situation seems to be precisely in line with other therapies one might implement to avoid death in the short-term.

Yeah, it is, at least if there's some sense of proportionality between the preparations and the likelihood of the thing you're prepping for actually happening. My only worry is that survivalism seems to have had a lot of negative press coverage, mostly because some survivalists do seem kind of nutty and people find that entertaining, so the media gives them what amuses them. This may have been the cause of what I perceive as a negative public attitude toward survivalism, or maybe it has to do with a (real or imagined) sense that there is a lot of overlap between survivalists and political extremists or people who have an excessive interest in weapons.

So, sensible survivalism would fit in with our mission, but I think there's a danger associated with public perceptions and possibly with attracting the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

[Shepard]

There is certainly the perceived overlap of survivalism and weapon-hoarding, but I'd think having it as a subforum to Global Risks would keep the crazies to a minimum.

[niner]

The Simpsons episode that aired tonight was about preppers. They were depicted as anti-social nuts.