Random encounters

[bigpaul]

it all depends on the survival/mortality rate, in a large catastrophe we as humans would have to retreat to an earlier style of living, pre industrialisation, any survivors may be in small groups but those groups will be miles apart further than one can walk in a day, maybe even a week, the situation would have to calm down-the dust to settle and then the population start to increase, such an increase would depend on the harvest, good harvest the population increases, bad harvest it decreases, so it would take many years before we could think of the larger picture, certainly a decade probably several decades.
I myself would never rejoin society, I will be the hermit who shuns other people, I have no children myself so what happens to me is immaterial.

 

[tmttactical]

I think it will b 10 or more years after the big SHTF event. Not for the older folks but for the younger folks. The hormones will kick and they will have to venture forth in search of suitable mates.

 

[Kevin L]

It is important to be wary of strangers, but I try to distinguish between "careful" and "paranoid".

Certianly I don't want to let a sociopath into my inner circle, but--at the same time--I wouldn't want to turn away a doctor, dentist, or nurse. The Inuit dealt with sociopaths by throwing them a party, taking them hunting, and then pushing them off the ice and into the frigid water when the sociopath's back was turned.

I plan to live a mostly low-key, grey man, covert existence, while extending a minimal hospitality to figure out who to befriend and who to turn away.

I will be open-minded, but not so open-minded that my brains fall out.

I don't see much meaning to an existence spent cowering in the shadows.

 

[bigpaul]

my attitude has always been to be wary of strangers, post SHTF that will increase to strangers=danger.
I have always worked with the prepper motto in mind=" if you don't know them, haven't worked or spent time with them, then don't trust them".
expecting some doctor, nurse or dentist to just turn up at one's door post SHTF is a hilarious thought!!!

 

[Kevin L]

my attitude has always been to be wary of strangers, post SHTF that will increase to strangers=danger.
I have always worked with the prepper motto in mind=" if you don't know them, haven't worked or spent time with them, then don't trust them".
expecting some doctor, nurse or dentist to just turn up at one's door post SHTF is a hilarious thought!!!

It's happened.

Nurses, doctors, and so forth may not want to call attention to themselves so that they don't get held against their will and coerced into practicing their trade.

 

[Arcticdude]

It's not likely that anyone would accidentally stumble across our place. We're 20 miles from a town of 500, and county population of 2300. The closest neighbor is 4 miles away. This area is mostly ranchers and loggers. The nearest big city is about 150 miles away. Our winters would weed out most city people long before they'd get very far away from "free" handouts.

 

[bigpaul]

most doctors here and even dentists do not live where they work, our dentist for instance lives over 30 miles away from where she works. it may be possible if someone lives in a city I suppose but I live in a rural area and people HAVE to commute to where the work is. post SHTF they will be where they live not where they work, so they chances of them turning up on my doorstep are ZERO.
wife not long ago had a doctor tell her that she lived "in the middle of nowhere" and that he would not want to live there, he wanted to live near the shops and all the other mundane resources of normal modern life so I expect do many thousands/millions of other people.
85% of the UK population lives in cities and large urban centres, that is over 55 million people.

 

[Røkkr-3]

No black and white answer possible here for me, there are so many contributing factors which may lead to going for one of the presented options.

I'm throwing in a fourth option, which is a little bit like the third one.

In case an encounter with random people or small groups occurs, the colony hopefully knew that they were coming long before and were not caught by surprise (that's the first crucial parameter). Even if you have seen them coming - you can't be sure if it's their full number.
I would "invite" them to stay at the colony for two or three nights, guarded and separated - but taken care off if supplies allow and get to know them a little. Maybe there are craftsmen, doctors or other useful persons among them which can be of help. Learn what their goals are (separated questioning) and where they are going. Maybe they want to be part of a community, maybe just travelers.

In the meantime, security in the colony would be increased - and a large perimeter around the settlement searched - to see if there are more of them.

When the three days have passed without incidents, they would be set free to be on their way or if they'd desire to join the colony - give them a place to stay within a trial period (assumed the colony is okay with it). They'll have to put in effort and work, no room for people just sitting around and wasting resources. If they choose to wander, one or two persons from the colony will follow them unnoticed for at least a week - to make sure their not coming back.

There is no 100% guarantee in life, they might find another colony and tell them about you - maybe they don't have the same good intentions. Who knows, but killing every stranger just to be sure they won't tell anyone - I don't think that it should be a pillar for rebuilding a civilization.

 

[bigpaul]

we wont be rebuilding civilisation, whatever is left of so called civil-isation will adapt and evolve and build itself.

 

[Brent S]

Great thread. Trust is a dangerous thing, but also necessary. I agree that everyone would have to contribute in some way. Having rules like the military does with a chain of command would be wise, especially in the beginning. I’m not crazy about one person being in charge of a group either but something more along the lines of an elder council that makes decisions together. And the first one that comes up with a Democrat or Republican issue I’d throw them out in a second.... building a community is the best way to not just survive but to thrive and do well. Vetting the potential newcomers would have to be a system where everyone gets a say. One thing about making plans though is in the real world there are always surprises and changes.

 

[Proud Prepper]

You need one leader in charge of make a fast decisive desicions. An advisory council to assist and predetermin actions to many common situations is a good idea. That's the method we use in our prepper group. In the leader and the rest advise me. All can over rule me if unanimous. The same way all chose me, unanimously as leader.

 

[Røkkr-3]

Instead of electing one person to rule or lead, we have decided to go back to an old leadership system called the Triumvirate - a system that should not be fully unknown. History has shown us way too many times how awfully wrong things can go if just one person is given absolute power - be it religious, political or military.

The Triumvirs get elected by the whole group, everything gets discussed within the whole group or with the persons involved for specific themes. Not to withhold information from the others but because it isn't of interest for them, however everyone can join without having to ask for permission to do so (there are no closed doors). The Triumvirs will then take everything in consideration and decide.

Apart from that, everyone has his/her field of expertise - and his or her expertise is always respected.

 

[tmttactical]

My group has a deciding counsel, --- Me, myself, and I. Advisory board is wife, my sweety and yes dear. Between these two groups, all issued are handled.

 

[BillMasen]

My group has a deciding counsel, --- Me, myself, and I. Advisory board is wife, my sweety and yes dear. Between these two groups, all issued are handled.

I have absolute total and final authority in decision making in our group, So long as I get the wifes approval first.

 

[Dies Irae]

Glad to see that this thread is still visited.

 

[GaRp58]

My 40 years of experience makes me the unfortunate final profi but never the final decider...I let all discuss the topic till they cannot go further, I listen to the possibilities from whoever, decide which is going in the right direction and give a final tip to sound like the final idea came from someone else but with only a tip from me. What they do, is only without me anywhere near, if I know better...GP

 

[Oddcaliber]

Most interesting responses to this question. Let me throw this into the mix. Your group has successfully defeated a band of marauders/ raiders. Casualties on both sides. Now they surrender to you. What to do with the survivors? Put them on trial? Make them prisoners? Or execute them? Were in a WWOL post SHTF time frame.

 

[DrHenley]

Most interesting responses to this question. Let me throw this into the mix. Your group has successfully defeated a band of marauders/ raiders. Casualties on both sides. Now they surrender to you. What to do with the survivors? Put them on trial? Make them prisoners? Or execute them? Were in a WWOL post SHTF time frame.

Quarantine them and put them to work.

 

[Jayson]

Post-SHTF will be just like a combat zone. We’ll have to awaken our animal instincts and be aware of any sound or motion that is out of the ordinary. Like I was taught in Advanced Infantry Training...”When in doubt, throw in a grenade.”

 

[tmttactical]

Most interesting responses to this question. Let me throw this into the mix. Your group has successfully defeated a band of marauders/ raiders. Casualties on both sides. Now they surrender to you. What to do with the survivors? Put them on trial? Make them prisoners? Or execute them? Were in a WWOL post SHTF time frame.

Why on earth would anybody keep defeated marauders around? They attack you, fail and then expect you to let them surrender. Their actions were witnessed by your group, so no trial is needed. They attempted to murder your people, as demonstrated by your casualties. The penalty for attempted murder is death. The only real decision is the form of death. Prisoners require guards, food and water. Their cost in resources far out weigh any benefits gained by their labors as prisoners. As long as they live, they are a threat. Their intentions are already known. Only their failure kept you from being their prisoner / toys.