Posted: 12/22/2008 12:03:46 PM EDT
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I've seen it suggested here(and elsewhere) that if you have prepared for bad times, with hopefully enough food, water, and supplies to last you for a while, it might be considered unethical to try to go to the store at the last minute to get more. Aside from whether it could turn into a mob scene, what do you think about the idea? Would you consider it unethical to go to the store when dark clouds were gathering(if you had some sort of warning that something bad was getting ready to happen)?
Would it depend on how much you already had at home? How about if there was a good chance that you might have some extra people show up at your place after TSHTF? |
| fourdeuce, i think what you've seen people here call unethical is looting. nothing wrong paying for goods, regardless of how much you have. somebody else's lack of planning will not constitute an emergency for me. that being said, i have cases of ramen to give out to those who might come looking. |
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Going to the store to buy things when the great unwashed hoards are going to buy their stuff (i.e. all pre-looting) is not unethical. It's not necessarily wise, but not unethical.
You can logic your way through this; if it's not uneihical now to prepare, it won't be unethical then because you each have the same opportunity to purchase the provisions. The results (what you eventually have during the downturn) may be different but your opportunties will be the same and that's the deciding factor. R. |
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Quoted:
fourdeuce, i think what you've seen people here call unethical is looting. nothing wrong paying for goods, regardless of how much you have. somebody else's lack of planning will not constitute an emergency for me. that being said, i have cases of ramen to give out to those who might come looking. Yeah. I don't think I've ever heard it described as unethical to shop last minute, just ill-advised because it is often fruitless. |
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I would not mistake unethical for unwise. My local grocer will not be slammed by mobs of angry city folks. It might be packed, but I would be surprised if it was more than just lively. I would just be topping off my regular perishables and depending on the time of year, buying some extra milk and cheese. Nothing major.
On the other hand, driving to walmart in the local city would be extremely unwise. Its busy in normal times on the weekend. Once SHTF, it will be empty in a matter of days. |
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Quoted:
Going to the store to buy things when the great unwashed hoards are going to buy their stuff (i.e. all pre-looting) is not unethical. It's not necessarily wise, but not unethical. You can logic your way through this; if it's not uneihical now to prepare, it won't be unethical then because you each have the same opportunity to purchase the provisions. The results (what you eventually have during the downturn) may be different but your opportunties will be the same and that's the deciding factor. R. i can see an obama dictatorship saying it is unethical b/c some people lacked the opportunity to prep, thus you hoarders will have to give your preps to the .gov to redistribute. not that this point would be logical, but it's illogical that the man got elected in the first place. yeah, hope and change. 
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I don't think it's unethical to buy more goods. Steal them - yes illegal and immoral. Loot them - yes, the same.
I do think that it's prudent of people to pause and thing though their preparations and likely scenarios well in advance of an event. Rather than adding an HDTV, a second cell phone line, or going deeper in debt for trinkets add more food and water supplies and pay down their debt. |
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Going to the store to buy things when the great unwashed hoards are going to buy their stuff (i.e. all pre-looting) is not unethical. It's not necessarily wise, but not unethical. You can logic your way through this; if it's not uneihical now to prepare, it won't be unethical then because you each have the same opportunity to purchase the provisions. The results (what you eventually have during the downturn) may be different but your opportunties will be the same and that's the deciding factor. R. i can see an obama dictatorship saying it is unethical b/c some people lacked the opportunity to prep, thus you hoarders will have to give your preps to the .gov to redistribute. not that this point would be logical, but it's illogical that the man got elected in the first place. yeah, hope and change. I can easily see that occurring. It won't matter if you've had food stores for years, when scarcity hits you will be called a hoarder and you will lose everything. |
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Going to the store to buy things when the great unwashed hoards are going to buy their stuff (i.e. all pre-looting) is not unethical. It's not necessarily wise, but not unethical. You can logic your way through this; if it's not uneihical now to prepare, it won't be unethical then because you each have the same opportunity to purchase the provisions. The results (what you eventually have during the downturn) may be different but your opportunties will be the same and that's the deciding factor. R. i can see an obama dictatorship saying it is unethical b/c some people lacked the opportunity to prep, thus you hoarders will have to give your preps to the .gov to redistribute. not that this point would be logical, but it's illogical that the man got elected in the first place. yeah, hope and change. I can easily see that occurring. It won't matter if you've had food stores for years, when scarcity hits you will be called a hoarder and you will lose everything. Don't advertise your preps... |
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Going to the store to buy things when the great unwashed hoards are going to buy their stuff (i.e. all pre-looting) is not unethical. It's not necessarily wise, but not unethical. You can logic your way through this; if it's not uneihical now to prepare, it won't be unethical then because you each have the same opportunity to purchase the provisions. The results (what you eventually have during the downturn) may be different but your opportunties will be the same and that's the deciding factor. R. i can see an obama dictatorship saying it is unethical b/c some people lacked the opportunity to prep, thus you hoarders will have to give your preps to the .gov to redistribute. not that this point would be logical, but it's illogical that the man got elected in the first place. yeah, hope and change. I can easily see that occurring. It won't matter if you've had food stores for years, when scarcity hits you will be called a hoarder and you will lose everything. Is that not why firearms and ammunition are also vital preps? |
| I think the only thing you need to worry about is others going there to loot. If you do go to legitimately purchase goods, go with as many people as possible with very discrete load-out to defend yourselves appropriately. Do not loot! It is not that I'm even arguing with the fact that it is theft. It is actually more the point that it endangers everyone involved with the situation. You may have LE at the store, you may have armed citizens, and then you trying to defend yourself while you are committing a crime? It just gets really messy...did I mention that it is theft? |
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Going to a store and paying for what you get is completely ethical. It may not be advisable - but otherwise nothing wrong with it.
My written Emergency Plan has a two phase "Buy List" section. One is when an emergency "may" be anticipated (sort of a build up)... and another when I decide that an emergency is "likely"... but still in advance of crowds. Most of it is focused on perishables like fresh fruit - and items with limited shelf lives (yeast). Having well thought out lists prevents forgetting things. |
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yeah, that's it.......fuck your family––-let everybody elsehave it Use your head! He is of no use to his family if he gets killed going into a riot to get more food when they can just eat the 2000lbs. of food they already have.
If you are prepping now, why would you want to risk your life to get more food? I am not going anywhere near panicking assholes. If things are still relatively calm, that is another matter. |
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yeah, that's it.......fuck your family––-let everybody elsehave it I've already prepped for my (very small) extended family. My Grandchildren are taken care of. As far as I'm concerned everyone else is free to kill each other as they see fit over what is left on "that day" when it comes. I see nothing unethical about going out and doing battle with the mobs for a loaf of bread on "that" day if you want to. But that's not what we're about.
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most of the time, with 'ethics' questions, we already know the answer before we ask. The difficult thing is always doing what we know in our hearts is the right thing to do. I already know what MY answer is on the question, but was curious about other people's ideas.  I'm pretty sure I've seen some people here suggest that it wouldn't be "fair" or something like that to make a last-minute run to the store if you already have plenty at home, but so far they seem to be staying out of this thread.
I did mention the possibility of riots already, because I was curious about the people who consider it unethical to do that, whether there's a chance of riots or not. I have last-minute lists, too, including things like fresh(er) batteries, fresh fruit and vegetables, etc. and other stuff to augment my stored stuff. |
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desperate people do desperate things.
I submit to you that under the right circumstances most will do some pretty god awful things to stay alive. I prep to have options that others won't have. fainess will not be a factor in my decision making process. I'll do a last minute shopping list then avoid such place once the crowds start getting violent. |
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Hey Gopher, I'm all for capitalism. I'm even for adding a "you should have known better tax". But going on the ideal of treat other the way you want to be treated. and "There but for the grace of God go I". well... here's a example.
I'm from the Volunteer state. Living in TX, I'm sure you know about TX history. What if them TN Volunteer's told them TX boys at the Alamo, "sure, we'll come help you for 25K and a vet"? Dont get me wrong. I'm not pounding on my chest say'in if it wernt for TN there wouldnt be no TX. I'm not saying that at all. Just tired of the "do any body you can, for everything you can, whenever you can" mindset. A man has to have principles. A code of behavior. |
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My duty is to ensure the safety, survival and, whenever possible, the comfort and happiness of my family. Once that obligation is satisfied, it's my choice to assist my local community (which, really, is an extension of my first duty). I'll continue to acquire materials to assist in those endeavours until, as mentioned by another poster, the risk/benefit tells me it's time to hunker down instead.
All that's polite-speak for "'Fair'? Fuck 'fair'!" 
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