Here is my premise: People need to base their preps on correct information that is grounded in truth. The Truth is Out There, Somewhere!
Everyone that I know who does any “preparing for the future” has a specific future problem or set of problems in mind. Their plans are determined by their perception of what the threats are, how likely they are to occur, and what they might do to their world.
Our perceptions are based on the world as we see it. We see the world through information – filtered by the lens of what and how information and facts are presented to us. This lens also affects how we interpret the information presented.
What do you believe to be true? Why? What do you believe the threats are? Why? What are your most likely threats where you live? How accurate is your perception of the problem you are prepping for, versus what you will actually find once it begins? How well does your plan provide an actual solution to the actual problems you will face?
What if you have been basing your actions on fabricated “facts” or inaccurate information? What if you have been ingesting lies? What if you are prepping for the wrong things that are not even a real threat to you? We have all seen the shows where someone is prepping for a volcano, or a tsunami, or an alien invasion….
Real threats may be underplayed or underreported on if they are inconvenient to the people who run, among other things, the media. What if you are persuaded to fear something that is not really even a threat? Or, what if you are persuaded to believe some action or plan is safe and it is not?
Most people have limited resources to use for prepping, so they need to get the correct information to marshal their resources appropriately.
It is important to tie your action plans to what will most likely happen. In my opinion, a zombie apocalypse is less likely than an economic meltdown or a government breakdown. And I am beyond caring about Covid. But my perspective is based on what I have personally experienced and learned. Your experience may be different.
Avoid perception bias
Care must be taken to prudently evaluate what you hear and see to have accurate beliefs. It appears a person can rationalize anything to make it agree with their preconceived notions, wherever those notions and beliefs have come from. When people really feel strongly about something or are frightened they are prone to selectively sort what they encounter and pull/use only the supporting information that supports their thinking and the way they want things to be. This is called perception bias, which occurs when we subconsciously make assumptions and act based on the world as we have come to, or want to, see it. This can happen regardless of whether we see it correctly. It will affect your actions.
A person can sort through the articles in any printed or on-line media and find information that supports their beliefs. If you go to CNN or MSNBC, or Fox or Newsmax, you get someone’s viewpoint. It almost seems that sometimes the reporters start with an idea they want to push and then find things that build on that premise, instead of accurately reporting on what actually and fully happened. When I see a story that may affect me, I go to multiple sites to see if the topic is being presented with the same facts. The variety of information presented by SurvivalBlog is a good compilation of information and is a great place to find the issues. By looking at a variety of sources on these topics, I find that often the basic facts are the same, but then the various authors tells me the “why” of the article that has a definite slant. And on some sites the initial premise is a straight up falsehood. It almost seems that they have been ordered what to say…..
And, what is left out is as important as what was left in the story.
Censorship
There is now “Mal-”, “Mis-”, and “Dis-” information. This is interesting terminology and you should investigate these concepts, as the information identified as malinformation (and other items that the “powers that be” don’t like) could soon be banned from social media. The real question is – who decides how each type of information is defined? The definitions below are based on the comments of the online “experts”, who know inaccurate information the best. But the definitions are inconsistent, depending on where you read them…
- Misinformation is a mistaken statement when a person doesn’t mean to be putting out problematic information.
- Disinformation is incorrect information disseminated on purpose.
- Malinformation is correct but perhaps manipulated information presented to hurt someone, something, or some other position.
Primarily, each of these is the term used to describe something someone disagrees with, whether it is correct or not…..
Be very wary of what you read! A review of some well-known news story topics may show how to tell if a source is perhaps not fully honest in presenting facts. It doesn’t matter what you actually believe, the point is that you need to be able to evaluate all information to form or confirm the correct beliefs, for yourself.
Covid Origins
Where did it come from? I remember some basic statements about its origins that received very nasty replies:
I once called Covid the “China Virus”. (Thanks, President Trump.) I quickly had my head handed to me by one of the sheep in our church. The sheep told me, yelled, actually: “No one knows where it came from!!! You are racist for saying China!” I said I was sorry if she was offended. (I did not say I was sorry for saying it.)
But, where did it come from and who paid for it? As time goes on the consensus of information still says China was the source, but that some Americans may have played a role in causing it. Who can you trust in this situation?
One lesson learned was to carefully pick my audiences. And to be a “gray man” when it comes to commenting on controversial topics. And to be prepared with facts for the things I do say.
Claims: Follow the science! Masks work!
Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask. Even our most highly educated people flipped and flopped. Learning the reason for the flip-flops could tell you a lot about what actions you actually should take. A former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director once stated that “Masks work at the margins-maybe 10 percent.” This person also said to “wear a mask”. He also was seen at a game with no mask. Would you trust this person’s words or actions? Might it be wise to check other sources?
If you base your prepping stores on what the mainstream media tells you about Covid, you may think that masks are the most important thing to store away. Are you willing to risk your life and money on this point?
Gowns, surgical caps, and masks are worn in surgery. My understanding is that this is done to prevent contaminating the patient via liquid droplets. I don’t remember ever hearing that the masks prevent viruses from being exchanged.
I worked the election polls during Covid and masks were impossible to find in the stores. One of my co-workers had knitted her own masks. It looked like she had an afghan on her face, and you could see her lips through the mask, but it met the election mask health rules!
If you base your mask storage decision on what the mainstream media says about needing particulate masks for volcanic eruptions or wildfires, you may store some away for that and cover several other emergency needs including Covid.
I personally would store some specific quality masks for smoke and particulates.
Claim: Vaccines work!
The vaccine debate shows how people manage their own biases and experiences. Many well-intentioned people said, “I trust the government. They wouldn’t put out something that isn’t safe.” Note that the pharmaceutical companies are exempt from liability for the Covid vaccines. That could tell you something.
There are basically two groups of Covid-vaccinated people. I don’t judge those who received the vaccine. That is for them to do themselves, and rationalize their decisions as they see fit. One group says, “I am vaccinated but I got the Covid. I barely knew I had it, thanks to the shot. I would have been much sicker if I hadn’t been vaccinated.” The other group is very quiet; as they perhaps are concerned they made a mistake.
I have had Covid. Th first time was bad, second time not so bad. I guess the first time gave me some immunity. But unfortunately that fact may not get me on an airplane in the future without my papers…. Which I do not have.
Claim: Ivermectin is Just for Horses!
Even the vaunted CDC discouraged the use of Ivermectin. I have read articles showing their take on it back then. Africa uses drugs like Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine for other diseases such as malaria and some African countries did OK using them during the Covid pandemic. Who knows? The point is that one position helps the people who like freedom of choice, and the other helps people who like to tell others what to do and make money from other treatments.
I watched the price of Ivermectin go quickly from about $9 per tube to $20 to “unavailable” at our local farm store.
A person can believe whatever they want. Just don’t argue to “follow the science” as defined by people tied to the companies getting rich selling the pharmaceuticals to combat the problem.
(To be concluded tomorrow, in Part 2.)