Prepper Anxiety Poll #17

At this point in time, your "doomer" stress level is pegged at ...

  • absolutely no worries

    Votes: 12 4.3%

  • a bit concerned

    Votes: 41 14.9%

  • watchful, ready, and checking the preps, just in case

    Votes: 164 59.4%

  • glued to the screen, expecting the worst any day now

    Votes: 58 21.0%

  • totally freaked and in my bunker

    Votes: 1 0.4%
  • Total voters
    276
  • Poll closed .
Safecastle

Safecastle

Emergency Essentials Store
Time to recalibrate ...

For those of you who have been around a while, you'll recall that a couple of years ago, we did a series of 13 of these anxiety polls over a period of about 6 months. We've done a few sporadically since. (All worded exactly the same.)

The September '05 poll easily established the higest average anxiety reading we've measured (immediately following Katrina). The average on that poll was 2.42.

The first poll, June 16, 2004--average score, 1.83:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=104207

The second poll, July 1--average score, 1.65:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=106303

The third poll, July 15--average score, 1.91:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=108265

The fourth poll, August 1--average score, 1.85:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=111006

The fifth poll, August 15--average score, 1.65:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=113376

The sixth poll, September 1--average score, 1.89:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=116464

The seventh poll, September 15--average score, 1.94:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=118574

The eighth poll, October 1--average score, 1.76:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=120887

The ninth poll, October 15--average score, 1.94:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=123099

The tenth poll, November 1--average score, 2.14:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=125432

The eleventh poll, November 15--average score, 1.66:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=128175

The twelfth poll, December 1--average score, 1.58:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=130406

The thirteenth poll, December 15, 2004--average score, 1.59:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showt...hlight=prepper

The fourteenth poll, September 1, 2005--average score, 2.42:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showt...repper+anxiety

The fifteenth poll, July 14, 2006--average score, 2.12:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showt...repper+anxiety

The sixteenth poll, October 9, 2006--average score, 1.92:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showt...repper+anxiety


Here's an explanation of how the poll results are averaged out.

Please remember, that it's very helpful (for future reference) if at least some of you comment in the thread about what is currently going on that is causing prepper stress.



Edited to add...

OddOne here... Added my chart o' results to this post, with JC's permission. My "analysis" of it, FWIW, is in post 30.

End edit!
 

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DustMusher

DustMusher

Inactive
It i my feeling that the majority of the responses at Watchful signify a higher level of prepping and not ignoring what is going on, but then that is just my opinion.

DM
 
Sharon

Sharon

Inactive
I'm watchful right now, ready to become glued to my screen. Been here before so freaking out isn't happening like it has in the past before I became used to this. A new normal....:shk:
 
M

momof23goats

Deceased
yes, it has become a new norm. sad, to think we need to watch to se if we are going to be bombed, every day, or a ne kind of plague or what ever is going to sweep the land.
or ifwe are going to be poisioned by our own food chain, or if we can afford to buy gas to drive to work or heat our homes.
just flat out sad.
 
W

willdo

Veteran Member
My biggest concern is there is too much

pressure building up in all the bottles that are getting shook and one of them is bound to blow if the shaking doesn't stop already which will set off more bottles shaking and you get the picture, a big mess! I'm watching and checking those preps and lists and praying.
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Dozdoats... yep. That's just how life is... of course, on a farm or homestead, a lot of "prepping" is simply following the normal seasonal cycle.

Right now I am feeling a heightened alert... not "freaking out" or even "glued to the screen" (for one thing- who has time? Too many things to do, between normal spring routine- chicks, gardens, new calves, and on and on- and some extra prepping, even if it's just cleaning up and organizing).

But I do have a concern that some moron is going to get up on the wrong side of the bed one of these mornings, or have a fight with his wife or mistress, or check his portfolio and find that real estate just took another dive... and when there's one last straw of some kind... we'll find ourselves in the middle of WWIII without having a clue how we got there.

Because there's a few too many nutcases out there who WANT Armageddon to happen. And historically,it's always been some relatively minor incident which finally pulls the trigger.

All we as individuals can do is be as prepared as possible and keep our eyes open.

Summerthyme
 
B

BerkshireGrl

Inactive
I have to agree with Dozdoats and Summerthyme...watchful and checking preps is definatly my usual. However I checked #4, glued to the screen, etc. I am not freaking out or anything, actually I am quite calm about all these dots and worries lately, but have been checking the BS alot more and I guess I wouldn't be surprised if all h*ll breaks loose.
 
Skyraider

Skyraider

Veteran Member
Voted 3 but it's actually a 3.5, Checking the preps has involved a much more intensive activity than the description states. Have been driven in completion and action and larger projects. I honestly feel like it's 1999. I'm just so much cooler about it.:whistle:

Skyraider
 
T

TJA

Veteran Member
Pretty much a 3. Although I would love to have a bunker hahaha. The whole Iran thing is a bit unsettling, I guess thats a good way to put it.
 
Safecastle

Safecastle

Emergency Essentials Store
FWIW, the average score over the first 16 polls is 1.87

To this point on the current poll, we are at 1.92

If I recall, we normally get more anxiety logged at night, so we may yet see this tick upward.

It's early to be making a projection, but if the networks can do it, I'll take a shot--
It appears that, as a group, we are not as nervous about things as one might gather from some of the threads out there. Analysis: we've got some cool customers watching the deal and playing their hands close to the vest. :p
 
SheWoff

SheWoff

Southern by choice
DH and I are at about a 3.5....while not glued to the TV set yet, we are doing everything we can to be prepped as well as we can be. Just steady at it for the past couple of months now. Even though there are so many dots being connected the page is turning black, I'm not ready to head out or bunker down now. If shots get fired in the Iranian direction, then we will look at things a might different.

She:dpaw:
 
brandyh29

brandyh29

Inactive
I voted watchful, ready etc. I've never seen so much war-talk that I can remember. Somethings about to blow.
 
Marthanoir

Marthanoir

TB Fanatic
Awooga Awooga, this is not a drill, this is a drill buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I'm glued to the screen waiting for the crap to hit the fan
 
S

sparkky

Inactive
I was a "watchful" also, a notch up from normal.
Ya know, I was just thinking about a few days ago I was somewhere talking to someone about something (great memory skills I have isn't it? LOL) when I heard the emergency broadcast test come over a radio. I IMMEDIATELY tuned out who was talking and looked toward the sound and devoted my complete attention to make sure it was only a test.
I have notitced nowadays when that signal comes on I tune out EVERYTHING around me and devote my entire attention it. Before it even gets to the "this is only a test" part I have accessed where I am, wind and weather conditions, preps we want to do soon that are not yet done or completed that should be dealt with NOW on the way home, best way to get out of the city from where I am, alternate routes, fuel in my work truck, fuel in the pickup at home. Seems like a thousand different things.
I remember when I used to just ignore those and considered them annoying. Some ways that seems like not that long ago, and other ways it seems like a hundred years ago.
Sorry for the short ramble.
 
Rex Jackson

Rex Jackson

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I vote a bit worried only because I am ready for anything. I have all plans in place. All preps in place, a bugout spot that rocks and everything I didnt know I learned from here. I can make water out of thin air and know which trees I can eat the bark from. :) I started prepping early thanks to warnings in the Bible as well as other clues I picked up along the way. - prepping for about 16 years solid now.
 
timbo

timbo

Deceased
I'm a pretty steady kind of guy. I've had my share of emergencies that I had to take care of in life. Life and death kinds.

September 11th and into the 12th of 2001 I was at my height of tension. The future looked so bleak and uncertain. Everything after that has been a 2-3 kinda thing.

Something is really bugging me now. I dont feel tense as much as just DOWN.

Bleak. Who in the hell put me in this back seat of a 90MPH car with no driver?

It's an intuitive thing, nothing extra to put my finger on. Well I guess I could try to put my fingers on the many dots out there but I would run out of digits before I run out of dots.
But that isnt it.

Im not watching the MSM or even here anymore than I normally do, maybe even less.

Wish the hell I could put how I feel in words. Get it out of me and look at it. But it just isnt coming clear.
 
S

sparkky

Inactive
timbo,
maybe ya just feel like you've run out of time to get ready.
I've always kinda figured it's not your brain that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, but your "gut".
our brains are pretty stupid sometimes. all that information it processes but it needs the "gut" to yell, "hey up there, wake the hell up!!! something's going on and you damn well better get a handle on it and figure it out PDQ!!!!!"
 
Sharon

Sharon

Inactive
Timbo: The feeling you're feeling is how I feel when my ducks are all over the place and none are in a row...when there are so many loose ends I don't know which way to turn or look...and none of the ends match...kind of a hopeless feeling.
 
timbo

timbo

Deceased
Sharon and Sparkky, both of you have good words that kinda fit my mood.

I've always been a 'gut' guy,not the brainy one. Intuition is unsettling though. It gives you no plan,or as Sharon says, my ducks are all over the place.

I dont know if I've ever had a premonition in my life that came true, but yet I'm sensing something that I dont know if I've ever felt before.

Something evil this way comes.

Ive told others of my 'black Irish heart'. That's the one that can go into the depths of hell and then just stroll around like it was home.

Hell, maybe it's just the ol' fart in me acting up. Just never felt this way before. I dont like it.
 
JohnGaltfla

JohnGaltfla

#NeverTrump
Stress? Me? Nah.

But I'm glued to my screen. I don't want to miss one cruise missile sending payback to those Iranians for years of B.S.

Of course then I have to travel with my BOB everywhere, but by God, I'm ready.
 
Pass Go

Pass Go

Inactive
Watchful and ready. Hey, Tim - you know your instincts are good, and I know mine are, too. In the years I've been around here I've never felt the vibe I feel these days. It's not a matter of "if" anymore before we're using our preps. I just hope it's only the food preps and not the "other" ones, but they are ready to go if need be.

I've been thinking about buying a new bike because my touring bike isn't all that substantial, but it is fast. Two would be good, and since I have two of about everything else I figure I might as well have two bikes, too. I only have a three mile ride to work, and it'll be a cold day in hell before they close schools. Anything to ship the little chimps off to the nanny state daycare, ya know?
 
timbo

timbo

Deceased
Pass Go, I would dearly love to unwrap our motor home, fill it up (with goods,got gas) and head far and away to the beautiful UP of MI. They are still in snow but I dont care.
Boy that sure sounds like I want to escape dont it?

Afraid there wont be a true escape, just a postponement for us all.
 
Sully

Sully

Inactive
I'm not exactly glued to the tv...but almost. I know something can happen at any time.. their move, our move, an accident. Like a timebomb (no pun intended) waiting to happen, like there's something dark and evil out of control and there's nothing we can do to stop it. I really can't find the words to explain exactly how I feel but I hate this feeling of helplessness. I try to prep as well as I can but I know it can't be enough...

Sully
 
Pass Go

Pass Go

Inactive
Trepidation. When even I feel like the UP of MI would be the final American bastion of freedom, you know the senses are tingling. Get on up there with Ted when the time's right and bring yer bow. I always wanted a motorhome, but not more than my scooter and Corvette, I guess. That was before and this is now - should'a got the MH, but then I don't have an UP to go to.
 
O2BNOK

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
voted 'watchful, ready, checking, etc.' but the description seems to lack that extra tick of anxiety I feel, probably from reading all the excellent articles and opinions here... I guess I'm really at the point of feeling that every day spent above ground is a good one.
xoxo
 
O

OddOne

< Yes, I do look like that.
Trends are interesting to see at times...

I took five sets of numbers from the anxiety polls, trying to aim for roughly six month intervals, and dropped the percentages into Excel. (I used the percentages so that the figures would auto-adjust to accomodate voter count differences.)

Plotted the five steps as low-to-extreme anxiety, and then had Excel calculate logarithmic trendlines based on those figures.

The result is below.


Note, if you will, that during the last few years, respondents picking high anxiety are trending upward by roughly the same slope as low anxiety is trending downward. Similarly, the low and high anxiety plots are near mirror images of each other. This is a fair indicator of mindsets - folks with low anxiety levels are tending as a group to go straight to high-anxiety instead of stepping through the middle ground. This may be a warning sign of extreme reactionism in personality for some.

Low anxiety trended slowly upward, extreme actually trended downward, and none didn't do much one way or the other. I'd think based on the figures - utterly unscientific though they are - that the low trendline represents the building discomfort we all feel as things get progressively worse.

The peak in high is roughly centered on the September 05 poll, post-Katrina, which shows just how strong an affect on the psyche a natural disaster has, especially on many that were low before. Many of those same people reverted back to low once things returned to some semblance of normalcy outside the affected area.

Opinions?

oO
 

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Safecastle

Safecastle

Emergency Essentials Store
Interesting indeed, oO!! Thanks for your efforts and analysis!

I suppose we could come to a few different conclusions depending on how you use the accumulated data, but your trend markers are quite telling.

At this point, I'm just puzzled why we have no one in the bunker this time around. If I recall correctly, we almost always have 5 or 6 who mark that option. If I had to try to explain it, I think I would venture that it reflects how numb everyone is becoming, to include those who might trend toward the most extreme reactivity.

Are we as a group becoming a bit more calm in the face of potential crisis? If so, is that a reflection of our own comfort level with our preps? Or that we are simply coming to grips with a world in which our American "birthright" of personal peace and prosperity is lost?
 
Safecastle

Safecastle

Emergency Essentials Store
OddOne said:
Trends are interesting to see at times...

I took five sets of numbers from the anxiety polls, trying to aim for roughly six month intervals, and dropped the percentages into Excel. (I used the percentages so that the figures would auto-adjust to accomodate voter count differences.)

Plotted the five steps as low-to-extreme anxiety, and then had Excel calculate logarithmic trendlines based on those figures.

The result is below.


Note, if you will, that during the last few years, respondents picking high anxiety are trending upward by roughly the same slope as low anxiety is trending downward. Similarly, the low and high anxiety plots are near mirror images of each other. This is a fair indicator of mindsets - folks with low anxiety levels are tending as a group to go straight to high-anxiety instead of stepping through the middle ground. This may be a warning sign of extreme reactionism in personality for some.

Low anxiety trended slowly upward, extreme actually trended downward, and none didn't do much one way or the other. I'd think based on the figures - utterly unscientific though they are - that the low trendline represents the building discomfort we all feel as things get progressively worse.

The peak in high is roughly centered on the September 05 poll, post-Katrina, which shows just how strong an affect on the psyche a natural disaster has, especially on many that were low before. Many of those same people reverted back to low once things returned to some semblance of normalcy outside the affected area.

Opinions?

oO
Click to expand...

Hoping this gets pulled to page 2 in its entirety, to include the graph. If not, maybe oO could repost that graph here again??
 
Safecastle

Safecastle

Emergency Essentials Store
1.98 was the final tally on this poll

So, taking the overall average for the first 17 Anxiety polls--1.87
 
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