So, what can YOU do?

[Stik]

I read an article yesterday on Cracked.com, which suggested that after an apocalypse many people would die from having no useful or valuable skills - they wouldn't be able to support themselves, and those survivors with useful skills would have no motivation to protect/defend/spend meager resources on such people.

We're not talking zombies, here, or a disaster in progress. We're talking about the world after fall of civilization. The cause is not particularly important. The chaos is over, civilization is gone, and is unlikely to return any time soon, and this is the world we're living in.

It got me thinking: what could I provide in such a scenario? So:

I'm a very good shot with a rifle (I grew up shooting, and was on my college rifle team). Also pretty good with a crossbow and fair with hand bow.
I'm a good melee fighter from years of SCA combat, and from having been taught to box as a teen.
I have a strong working knowledge of small-unit tactics (SCA again), and how to design and defend (and take) fortifications.
I have a fair knowledge of construction and can build things from wood. My civil engineering background would also be helpful in choosing suitable sites for construction.
I know how to build a crossbow from scratch, and can construct and fletch arrows/bolts.
I can cook in the field, and can manage a fire.
I can fish, and can clean and prepare fish.
I am an artist - good with a brush or pen/pencil.
I sing and tell stories (a skill not to be underestimated - there won't be a lot of entertainment after the fall).


That's my post-apocalypse resume. What's yours?

[Cole]

-I'm a skilled laborer/contractor (can construct entire homes from scratch).
-I grew up on a farm (unlimited skills here, including animal handling, food gathering, food preparation, irrigation planning/use, gardening, machine operation and hard labor)
-Small arms training and mid sized rifle use. I (age 12) was recommended by a CAF recruitment officer to apply for a sniper position once I turned 18. I had the patience, stamina and mental fortitude to do this so I was told. I still kinda regret not following this path in life.
- I have extensive training in hand-to-hand combat including Tae-Kwon-Do, Karate, Kung-fu and years of practical training in Ninjutsu. Like Stik, I also have boxing training as my dad was a golden gloves boxer in the military.
- I can cook. I cook for my entire family till this day. I have over 7 years experience as a sous-chef/prep cook at a fine dining restaurant.
- I have taken and passed two separate 7 day survival tests. Arctic and Wilderness survival (both started with no food or water).
- I have mountaineering experience (have repelled/negotiated cliffs and waterfalls both up and down)
- Avid camper, I can construct, tend and maintain fires with minimal resources (thanks to survival training above)
- Navigation, I can navigate using the sky, landmarks and moss observation (again survival training)
- Explosives technician, not something I would normally post, but I have experience (both practical and physical) ability to gather, create and detonate improvised explosives of various sorts (including pipe-bombs, smoke bombs, c4, slurry and nae-palm)
- Improvised Munitions, I can make a home made flame thrower from basic equipment. I can also make a potato launcher
- Fishing, I live on the coast in one of the worlds fishing capitals, (lake, river and sea) nuff said.
- I'm funny, people usually sit around and listen to me talk (I'm the ice breaker almost always)
- I have medical and first aid training at a industrial level
- I can rebuild motors and entire vehicles (proof is online already)
- I have the ability and knowledge to siphon gas without a pump.
- I work almost weekly with plumping, it's part of my current job.
- I also do electrical work from time to time and can set up and operate generators, lighting, solar panels and other power generating equipment.
- Water purification/sourcing (as above part of survival training)
- Hunting/Skinning, like I said above, I can shoot and was raised on a farm. So prepping and knowing how to preserve meat counts.
- Tunnel rat. I have constructed many tunnels, root cellars and a mine shaft for my brother. I have good knowledge in how to prevent cave-ins.
- Survival Instinct - probably my best quality (worst some would say). Meaning I know for a fact i would kill anyone without hesitation to protect my food sources, my friends or my family. I have little remorse/compassion for anyone I consider a waist of space, time or energy.
- Leadership, In this case, I would definitely be a leader. I can do as asked, but have leader qualities. I have been the captain of my youth basketball team, volley ball team. I own my own business currently and delegate difficult tasks to others. I also run multiple websites with hundreds of users who sometimes require guidance... lol I have always been the type of person people trust and follow as I am very loyal and honest.

Testimony;
I am an anarchist by heart, I believe in this situation I would govern myself and those in my group (Walking Dead Rick style). I don't believe others could provide for me, that I could not provide for myself. I would only ask others to do, as I would do myself. I would happily give my own life for the better of my group.

[Brightmantle]

I can keep a secret.

[Stik]

Any three people can keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

[Brightmantle]

Any three people can keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

And now you get where I'm coming from. Nuff said.

[Cole]

Anyone else? God I'm hoping someone is useful around planet earth...LOL

I was over at my buddy Scotts house yesterday and he was making survival packs for his whole family. I asked him why he was doing that and he replied "just in case"... I was like "in case of what". He says ... zombie apocalypse however he was actually worrying about earth quakes here on the island. I found that interesting... but kind of an eye opener of what I don't have prepared for my family. He's almost 50 (former military rat) and he's still in survival mode. Kinda neato!

[Lyrwik]

OK, here's my post-apocalypse resume:

- I have substantial first aid training through volunteer work with a couple different emergency services organisations (including training others). While I wouldn't put myself at the same level as a paramedic (or similar), most of what they do that I can't involves equipment which may or may not be readily available after the apocalypse.
- I also have some (pretty basic) survival training through emergency services, eg. I could makeshift a shelter if I had to and can work with ropes/tie knots to a reasonable standard.
- I'm relatively fit and can protect myself well enough hand to hand (Taekwon Do training for about 10 years), but more importantly I'm capable and willing to just run - an often underestimated skill. I find it's best to remember that no matter how good you are, if you are outnumbered, your best bet may well be to just get out of the situation.
- While there's plenty of things I may not know, I'm good at following instructions and working out how to get things done. Another valuable skill when working with other survivors as the team will come to trust and depend on you - being reliable makes a person an asset rather than a liability, which means that others' with complementary skills will be more likely to want to keep me around (and not stab me in the back and eat me).
- While I don't consider myself a natural leader, I believe I'm pretty good at being tactful in pointing out problems and risks when making plans, which allows those problems to be solved without creating tension within the group/with the leader (by questioning them).
- While it's not usually a skill to boast about, I think I can lie/deceive pretty effectively... Something which could well come in useful in getting out of bad situations. I think much of this ability came from DMing, to be honest...

Something else which might keep me alive at the time of the apocalypse (as opposed to after) is that I live in Australia in the third biggest city, but many people don't know it. As such, I figure there's less of a chance we'll be the target, since it would require the attacker (assuming nuclear war style apocalypse) to know enough about Australian geography to bother targeting us

As an aside, I also find it interesting seeing how use of weapons is always a focus when it comes to survival skills. Personally, I know very little about guns but don't think it would that much of an issue here (Australia) as they're really not that prevalent so very few people would actually get their hands on one (and fewer still actually be any good with it). They'd still be around I'm sure but not in great numbers. I think this would also mean we'd be less likely to resort to post-apocalyptic turf/resource wars (as being armed tends to embolden people). However, I admit that this may be a naive view given the atrocities that humankind is already clearly capable of, so I suppose I have to expect that we would only get worse with resources becoming more scarce...

I've done a little bit of reading on survival techniques and something I found interesting was that this particular author suggested that the greatest risk (beyond the immediate dying of thirst, etc) in any survival situation is boredom. When people are holed up, they get antsy (cabin fever) and start making bad decisions and/or panicking. As such, one of the most important things is to just keep busy. I thought it was an interesting tip and I think it makes sense, given that everyone's mental health would no doubt come under strain in such a situation.

[Cole]

- While there's plenty of things I may not know, I'm good at following instructions and working out how to get things done. Another valuable skill when working with other survivors as the team will come to trust and depend on you - being reliable makes a person an asset rather than a liability, which means that others' with complementary skills will be more likely to want to keep me around (and not stab me in the back and eat me).

that's awesome! Good stuff Lyrwik

[TigerStripedDog]

This is very interesting. And not as far fetched as you might think. There have been more than one super-flu epidemics. All it takes is one nasty virus and this could be the world we live in.

What can I do?

I'm a physician - I can diagnose and treat most common life-threatening conditions, and I am aware of what medications and procedures can treat them. I am proficient at major surgeries, and could attempt some major surgeries (albeit with limited success). This also means I can raid pharmacies... while the medicines last and don't decay.

I am a good shot with a shotgun, fair with a rifle and a handgun. I can handle, clean, and operate most simple firearms.
I can skin, clean, and cook most animals.
I am a fast learner, and have a basic knowledge of what can and shouldn't be eaten.
I can care for farm animals.
I can train animals.
I can procreate
I can fish.
I have a basic understanding of agriculture (family farm) and feel confident in being able to manage a small plot of land.
I can govern, as I have a proficient knowledge of debate, trial law, and constitutional law.


Hope I never need it.

Tiger

[BryantTheSwordsman]

My resume is pretty short compared to Cole's but I got some skills.

I know how to shoot a rifle, and teach others how to do so effectively.
I can survive on field, such as hygiene, shelter, and all that good stuff.
I know combat care and how to treat wounds quickly.
I know land nav, so I can know where im going.
I am a decent melee comantant, tan belt warrior and 7 years of Belegarth Medieval Combat.
Leadership traits and skills from being in the marine corps.
Small Unit tactics up to the Squad level.
Physically fit.
Was a prayer leader in Recruit training, so I can help in a spiritual aspect. (Which I read the same article from cracked.com a Stik. Morale will be very important to maintain.
And finally, good instinct. Its never let me done.

[Legend of Old]

I have the ability to eat large amounts of food and thereby drain the party's resources.

[Cole]

I have the ability to eat large amounts of food and thereby drain the party's resources.

we kill you first! Then the zombies

[Crasez58]

I can hunt,fish,trap. I can build a shelter, I may not be the best leader here but I do understand tatics. I am a fairly skilled carpenter and can opperate most heavy machinery. I can create improvised munitions (ammunition and such). I am also a fairly skilled marksman with any firearm handed too me although I am best with a rifle. I also learn quickly