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I have lived in FL for 6 years, and am now a permanent resident. But there is a strong segment of the local culture that I just don't get. What is the deal with a large percentage of Floridians being obsessed with survivalism when they tend to live in relatively safe neighborhoods?
1. For example, there is the constant worry about home invaders, people always shouting about the need for guns to protect oneself - and yet in all my time here I have never seen a reason for such incredible worry over it (and I lived 5 yrs in Miami). It doesn't seem nearly as common as the amount of time people put into worrying about it happening. Please, let's not get into a shouting match about gun rights. I'm looking for calm insights as to WHY there is a culture of people feeling so afraid here. It doesn't seem to be more dangerous to live in FL than any other state for the most part, but there seems to be far more concern for one's survival than in other states - it would seem disproportionately so.
2. Also, Floridians as a whole seem to take themselves far more seriously than I am used to people doing in other states (I've lived in several). As a whole they seem much more angry, and have no sense of humor whatsoever about things that FL may not do as well as other states. Up North, when someone points out something the state or city is doing wrong, people just laugh about it and roll their eyes and say "yeah, the govt., what a bunch of idiots! Our city is so backward..." Maybe they get involved and try to change it.But it's not personal. Down here in FL, if someone mentions that the city or state ever does something wrong or could be better, people get all defensive as if it's a personal attack. Or, they get angry and start talking about dismantling the govt. entirely and living in anarchy - ...wait, what?? Of course, that comes back to needing guns to be prepared...
Why are our only two options accepting govt inadequacy completely, or grabbing an arsenal of guns and taking the whole govt apart? Umm... is there no third option?
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3. Then there is the survivalist culture. Militias, people preparing for zombie apocalypse, people stocking up on supplies for a century to come. Even on Amazon, you can see the endless Floridian reviews of knives, dry stock supplies, rope, tools - and they're not calm reviews about preparing for hurricanes. They're really impassioned reviews about which would be better to kill people with in hand-to-hand combat, or which is the best to use for that inevitable time when we will be living in the wild with no govt. or roads with hordes of thieves roaming the countryside. Did we just get transported back to the Middle Ages? These reviews inevitably mention FL, so I'm just saying...
Am I missing something, or are Floridians living in a war that none of the rest of us knows about?
Obviously, I know a ton of Floridians who don't fit into this stereotype. But there are also plenty who do. So even if it's not everyone, what's the deal with a significant segment of the population always preparing for the End Days?It seems more than in most other states.
People just seem to be a little bit... wound up, here. And I'm just wondering WHY? Is it the water? Will I one day be bitten and become a zombie too?...
Last edited by StarfishKey; 06-05-2014 at 09:47 AM..
I don't quite understand your mindset. You seem to think that people should wait till after a disaster or incident before reacting. What good would a gun do for home protection if purchased after a home invasion, burglary, etc? It's not like you get a warning notice. That's like putting on your seatbelt after a car accident. Nice homes and neighborhoods are usually targeted by smarter and more professional criminals. So living in a safe neighborhood does not make you 100% immune. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
As for our government, there is an obvious attempt to infuse a police state in this country. More and more people are realizing that our politicians do not have our best interest at hand. Democrat or Republican, both are screwing us. As we fight amongst ourselves they continue to chip away at our liberties. With our rising debt, Social Security, Student loan bubble, growing global unpopularity due to shoving democracy down other countries throats when in reality we are there for oil or some other corporate interest, etc we are headed for a SHTF scenario. This country can't keep doing what it's doing. At some point, something is going to break. Whether it's a socioeconomic collapse or worse. People are trying to prepare for the worst, because once whatever collapses, it'll be too late to prepare then.
People are trying to prepare for the worst, because once whatever collapses, it'll be too late to prepare then.
So there's no ability to calmly address the issues and fix them as in other states - the only option in Florida is to arm oneself and prepare for the End Days?
Of course the world is in some turmoil. But millions of other people around the country are able to take it in stride, and are surviving - even those in NYC who were actually bombed in their own city by invaders. And yet, they have adjusted and are ok. Not roaming the streets with machine guns and helmets, totally freaking out. People in suburban FL are not likely to experience that scenario any time soon, and yet you would think they face it daily based on all the "preparation for the worst."
Might there be an in between? Like you don't like the way your govt is going, so vote differently, or get involved yourself? Do you really need to stock pile your resources in the backyard and start learning the language of potential space invaders?
I think the issue is that Florida is a place people who have the extremist mentality (whether that's anti-tax or pro-gun...or both) run to. Of course when one place has such a density of similar thought it becomes rather apparent as the paranoia feeds itself.
So there's no ability to calmly address the issues and fix them as in other states - the only option in Florida is to arm oneself and prepare for the End Days?
Of course the world is in some turmoil. But millions of other people around the country are able to take it in stride, and are surviving - even those in NYC who were actually bombed in their own city by invaders. And yet, they have adjusted and are ok. Not roaming the streets with machine guns and helmets, totally freaking out. People in suburban FL are not likely to experience that scenario any time soon, and yet you would think they face it daily based on all the "preparation for the worst."
Might there be an in between? Like you don't like the way your govt is going, so vote differently, or get involved yourself? Do you really need to stock pile your resources in the backyard and start learning the language of potential space invaders?
Those folks in NYC believe the guv'mint will take care of them, LOL.
Interesting questions. There are a whole lot of people in the U.S. that are involved in survivalisim. People have built underground bunkers which are stocked with non perishable food, weapon, ammunition, fuel. Have you not ever seen "DOOMSDAY PREPPERS" on TV?
There are several reasons people need to be prepared for an emergency where its going to be "every man for himself". War (attack on US), Nuclear or Chemical accident, breakdown of society, civil unrest, riots, failure of the governmemt and other catastrophic events are very possible in these times. If you have no preparations you will be at the mercy of the situation.
Home invasion is real and totally possible any time, any where. Take a moment and Google "Florida Home Invasion" and you will be presented with several pages listing home invasions that took place in Florida. They happen throughout the US all the time. They are usually violent events. Robbery, obviously, is the usual motive but rape, murder, kidnapping, arson are also potential events in a home invasion. Understand what a home invasion is: One or more people entering your home who were not invited to your home. Having a weapon, or more than one weapon in the home can be used to defend the home and its occupants. This phenomenon is not limited to Florida and I don't see why anyone would think that it is a Florida phenomenon. People all over the country are afraid of crime striking them or their families.
All 50 states have passed laws allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons in public, either without a permit or after obtaining a permit from state or local authorities. Please don't think that this is another Florida phenomenon, its not. There is not a state in the U.S. that I am aware of that bans the ownership and possession of a firearm in their home. The figures vary by source, but approximately 50 percent of homes in the US have firearms in them.
As far as Floridians taking themselves more seriously than other states, I would say that is an inaccurate statement. Most of the FL population is from somewhere else and I would think that those people had the same thoughts and opinions where they lived previously. So, I don't think that this is a "Florida" phenomenon either.
I don't understand that people who live in Florida (and many that don't) think that Florida is the only place in the country where anything happens. Florida and its population is not so unique in comparison to the rest of the populace of the U.S.
Try Googling "survial tv shows"and see how many there are (or have been). Those tv shows were not only beamed to Florida but the entire US.
You may be well served by looking beyond the Florida border with Georgia and actually find out what is going on in other states as far as crime, survivalism, opinions of people in other states and I am sure
you will find that people are people no matter where they are and we all have the same concerns and worries about our times.
Quote:
Originally Posted by StarfishKey
*Kind of a joke, and kind of not:
I have lived in FL for 6 years, and am now a permanent resident. But there is a strong segment of the local culture that I just don't get. What is the deal with a large percentage of Floridians being obsessed with survivalism when they tend to live in relatively safe neighborhoods?
1. For example, there is the constant worry about home invaders, people always shouting about the need for guns to protect oneself - and yet in all my time here I have never seen a reason for such incredible worry over it (and I lived 5 yrs in Miami). It doesn't seem nearly as common as the amount of time people put into worrying about it happening. Please, let's not get into a shouting match about gun rights. I'm looking for calm insights as to WHY there is a culture of people feeling so afraid here. It doesn't seem to be more dangerous to live in FL than any other state for the most part, but there seems to be far more concern for one's survival than in other states - it would seem disproportionately so.
2. Also, Floridians as a whole seem to take themselves far more seriously than I am used to people doing in other states (I've lived in several). As a whole they seem much more angry, and have no sense of humor whatsoever about things that FL may not do as well as other states. Up North, when someone points out something the state or city is doing wrong, people just laugh about it and roll their eyes and say "yeah, the govt., what a bunch of idiots! Our city is so backward..." Maybe they get involved and try to change it.But it's not personal. Down here in FL, if someone mentions that the city or state ever does something wrong or could be better, people get all defensive as if it's a personal attack. Or, they get angry and start talking about dismantling the govt. entirely and living in anarchy - ...wait, what?? Of course, that comes back to needing guns to be prepared...
Why are our only two options accepting govt inadequacy completely, or grabbing an arsenal of guns and taking the whole govt apart? Umm... is there no third option?
3. Then there is the survivalist culture. Militias, people preparing for zombie apocalypse, people stocking up on supplies for a century to come. Even on Amazon, you can see the endless Floridian reviews of knives, dry stock supplies, rope, tools - and they're not calm reviews about preparing for hurricanes. They're really impassioned reviews about which would be better to kill people with in hand-to-hand combat, or which is the best to use for that inevitable time when we will be living in the wild with no govt. or roads with hordes of thieves roaming the countryside. Did we just get transported back to the Middle Ages? These reviews inevitably mention FL, so I'm just saying...
[
Am I missing something, or are Floridians living in a war that none of the rest of us knows about?[/b]
Obviously, I know a ton of Floridians who don't fit into this stereotype. But there are also plenty who do. So even if it's not everyone, what's the deal with a significant segment of the population always preparing for the End Days?It seems more than in most other states.
People just seem to be a little bit... wound up, here. And I'm just wondering WHY? Is it the water? Will I one day be bitten and become a zombie too?...
Those folks in NYC believe the guv'mint will take care of them, LOL.
To a certain degree you are absolutely correct. However, its not only NYC. This line of thinking is pretty universal in the US. Look at New Orleans after Katrina.
No, I view paying for internet and cable redundant - I therefore only pay for internet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spring Hillian
As far as Floridians taking themselves more seriously than other states, I would say that is an inaccurate statement. Most of the FL population is from somewhere else and I would think that those people had the same thoughts and opinions where they lived previously.
I am referring to the people I know that are born Floridians, with family going several generations back. I find this far more with them than I do anyone else I've met here, although they are nice people in many other ways.
I think the issue is that Florida is a place people who have the extremist mentality (whether that's anti-tax or pro-gun...or both) run to. Of course when one place has such a density of similar thought it becomes rather apparent as the paranoia feeds itself.
The only "density" of the population is along the coast lines. The middle portion of the state does not suffer from a density of population except major cities such as Orlando, Ocala, and probably no others.''
Since it has been well established that most people living in FL are not from here it would seem that the extremist mentality exists nationwide but becomes concentrated in FL since the population is from elsewhere.
Look at the national picture.
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