Prepper Anxiety Poll, July 15, '04 (3rd in the series)

Safecastle · Jul 15, 2004

OK, we're beginning to get some data that we can chart. Thing is, I don't have a clue how to create a graph or chart here. Could someone who knows how we might add a simple graph to these posts, please step forward?

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

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

BugoutBear · Jul 15, 2004

None of the above JC, I'm as prepped as I could possibly be. . .just burned out on all the speculation, information & hype. . .

BugoutBear

Tweakette · Jul 15, 2004

Mine is cranked to the max right now, which is unusual for me. It's probably because my parents have theatre tickets in NYC for different plays over the next 3 weeks, and I dread it when they go in there.
They're trying to use up their "two-fer" coupons (coupons for 2 tix for the price of 1) before the convention as then getting in and out of NYC will be nearly impossible.

Usually I'm in "watchful and ready" mode, not real jumpy just prepared. Now I'm glued to the news.

Tweak

A.T.Hagan · Jul 15, 2004

Still only a bit concerned.

.....Alan.

Larred · Jul 15, 2004

I'm with BOB, I've had my fill of the speculation, crap or get off the pot. In the mean time I'm going to live life to the fullest...

Regards,

Darrel

Sharon · Jul 15, 2004

The first two polls I was prepped and watchful. I've lowed my expectations now with "just a bit concerned". I'll probably never again be "no worries", just a new normal for me now.

However, I think we've a little breathing room at the moment and I take all the breathing room I can and enjoy it!!!! When we get close to the elections I will probably up my concern.

It's nice to enjoy life while we can!

Safecastle · Jul 15, 2004

Well, at this early juncture, we seem to be at a record high level

--an even 2.00.

I figured we'd be up a bit on this poll with all the talk of suitcase nukes. The talk is all pretty much based on the publicity given Paul Williams' book that recycles the old claims that 20 suitcase nukes (or is it three?) are in the U.S. and in the possession of AQ. I'm not saying I don't believe it, but neither am I convinced.

For me, I did bump my level up a notch to "watchful." That because of the Congress briefing that "sobered" even the most liberal ones there, the many subtle security moves out in CONUS, and the DHS being pretty forward in warning LE, yet not alarming the masses.

I'm concerned for my wife who flies thousands of miles a month. She's implied that things are ratcheting up out there. She's tough to shake, but I can see her concern.

Unique · Jul 15, 2004

I took this poll after reading the story about the airplane :shkr:

My answer maybe temporarily skewed...
The summer of Terror...No reporting of REAL news...I'm always worried but gosh!

phoenician · Jul 15, 2004

Hey Unique --- :shkr:

that just about says it all....... :lol:

suzy · Jul 15, 2004

I'm up one notch from the last poll, to "watchful".

Were closer to the elections, there are some pretty specific threats directed towards Italy, and the air just doesn't feel right.

There seems to be an erie quiet, too quiet in some areas. The plane traffic is different, a lot of LOUD night flights, every night, which wasn't the case in the past. There have been people arrested in our state (see posted article) with suspicious intentions, additional people arrested in Minnesota. A few too many things coming together right now.

No panic, just a watchful ear to the ground, and listening a little better.

suzy

astrogirl · Jul 15, 2004

I'm prepared, but only a bit concerned. Worrying never solved anything, so I make sure my ducks are in a row and get on with my life.

Whatever happens though, a BOB would be no comfort for not being at home if serious SHTF.

Charlie · Jul 15, 2004

Still ZEN PREPPING here. A little each day......no panic based on the news of the day. Doing that is for the rookies!

Tweakette · Jul 15, 2004

It's not a rookie, thing here, Charlie - I'm fine and we're all set to deal with things without any trouble, but I've got a LOT of people I care deeply for right in the middle of the potential kill zone and they WON'T PREP and they WON'T LEAVE.

For instance, my parents are 20 miles outside of NYC directly downwind of it.

For me it's far worse than worrying about myself.

The only thing I can do for them is stay on top of the news so I can maybe get them an early heads-up if things start going south. Whether or not they'd actually do anything with the info is another thing entirely.

Tweak

patb · Jul 15, 2004

Yes, have preps, but have started doing some inventorying and making lists. A lot of my 2YK preps foodwise went to local food bank. I learned the wisdom of storing only what you know you will eat or use. Saves money as well as space.

Actually through the years, my preps have come in handy during layoffs (happened a few years ago to my DS) and times when we just couldn't get to town for one reason or another. Nothing serious. I feel we will do okay.

One of the preps we use the most is our generator. Power goes out regularly during wind storms. Have to check on fuel for it now. Back to my lists.

Patricia

kittyinva · Jul 16, 2004

I'm actually between choices---I'm not glued to the screen but I am expecting the worst anytime now.

Pete/ME · Jul 16, 2004

JC Refuge, I could do a quick and dirty Excel graph on each of the end results if you'd like. Horizontal field would be poll date, vertical would be poll result. This would be good for seeing long term trend.
Pete

Edited to add:
This is a quick one I did this morning. I lost some color info when converting to a .gif file... may need to think on how to do that better. The 1.90 is the average given the number of replies when I posted, using the methodology of JC Refuge's second thread (link above in his post)

Safecastle · Jul 16, 2004

Hey Pete ... thanks! I like the colors, etc.

One request I'd have ... since our average is pretty much going to stay within a more closely defined range of, say 1.25 and 2.75 or 3, how about if we use those minimums and maximums for the chart? That way, we'd see the results reflected in more significant contrast. Right now, the graph shows little change, at a glance.

If you could do that, then attach the doc to a PM to me, I can try to wrangle it into my initial post in this thread. And maybe if we're really lucky, I can figure out how to update the graph myself as we go forward.

Again, many thanks!

Pete/ME · Jul 16, 2004

How about this: (I tried to PM it to you, but you can't PM attachments... at least not that I could see...)

</FONT>

Safecastle · Jul 16, 2004

That's better, Pete. Anyone else have any suggestions?

I've been trying to figure out how to do charts in a couple of different spreadsheet programs I have but have given up :sht:

.

I guess if you're willing, Pete, I'll ask you to provide the chart of previous poll data before I post the new poll (twice a month). The polls automatically close after five days so on the sixth day or anytime in the next week or so you could calculate the lastest average and create the new chart. Then, you could email it to me (I'll PM you my email address) and hopefully I would be able to insert it in the initial post of the next new poll thread.

Sound like a reasonable plan? If not, you could email me the chart along with a few instructions on how I can try to update it. :shr:

Trivium Pursuit · Jul 16, 2004

I'm between watchful and glued. I'm in this bizarre situation where I take a bus downtown now every morning at 7am, and can't surf where I am now working. So if I want to know what's going on, I scamper up to the Public Library at lunch, which is in fact where I am right now(hi mom)... Drives me nuts, especially when I come all the way up here and get 'server is too busy, try again' on tb2k!

jed turtle · Jul 16, 2004

uh, i have been serenely coasting along in the middle like before until just now, when i read this elsewhere on the board, which has pushed me one notch higher for the first time ever:

"Some more things have happened in this area which seem to confirm Al Cuppett's concerns. Things are getting spooky. Three weeks ago the Bargain Barn here in Jasper burned mysteriously. It was the Southeast's largest sporting goods store. It had anything anyone would want to survive in the mountains, and had an inventory of over a million rounds of ammunition, plus well over a thousand guns. No one thought much about it, other than missing our favorite source for camping equipment until today. We just learned that within a few days of the Bargain Barn burning, the Southeast's largest gun store burned mysteriously in a Tennessee town just north of the Georgia line, and a mega-gun and hunting supply store in Marietta, GA (NW Georgia suburbs) also burned mysteriously. So in a matter of a few days in late June thousands of rifles and pistols, plus millions of rounds of ammo were instantly erased from the Southern Highlands.

Does that sound very suspicious?

Brother Richard"

this is a very big dot imho and this is exactly the kind of unexpected sabotage i would expect from either an invading force or a domestic enemy just before the balloon goes up. those places were veritable armories for knowledgable civilians if we were about to be invaded. now they are nothing!!!

Brooks · Jul 17, 2004

What would be really neat (quantitative) would be if folks who had blood pressure machines posted their blood pressure on a regular basis and then see if there is any pattern to that.

lili · Jul 17, 2004

If I lived in Italy, I would be at the maximum.

Safecastle · Jul 18, 2004

amishmum · Jul 18, 2004

Watchful. I remember AT Hagan saying on a thread that a lot of anxiety would be alleviated if people would prep and stay that way, make it a life style. That was you right AT?

Safecastle · Jul 18, 2004

Amishmum (and Alan)--It WOULD make sense that such a thing would be true (being prepped helps sooth the nerves). But there are plenty on this board who daily disprove that hypothesis.

By all accounts, we're just about the best prepped group of people you could find anywhere. Does that mean we're the most level-headed? :lol:

We all have the same choice before us when we get up in the morning ... half-empty, half-full. I have to guess that some folks here believe their choice of worrying about what may come helps them be prepared. I know there are others who try to retain all their faculties and keep a balanced approach in order to best deal with whatever comes day to day.

All that is part of what makes a poll like this interesting, no?

lifestuff · Jul 18, 2004

Bring it on, no problem.

Glued ! Awaiting !

If anything happen today or tomarrow or the next day or months, it will just be
as bad as if it were next year or next decade, lets get it over with if it must come.
I Know many people will suffer and It would better if nothing bad happens. But bad things do and will happen, so lets get it over with so I can adjust to it or die trying. Pumped Buged out and prepped.

Capt Teach · Jul 18, 2004

No worries here. Got enough real life (work related) angst that I know will happen in the next month. After that maybe. I tend not to worry over things I can't change/control.

Capt Teach

mamabird · Jul 19, 2004

Capt Teach, that's how my DH feels. He told me he has enough to worry about with work and paying the mortgage and car payment and other bills. So I'm the one worrying about the safety and prep level of my family. Maybe that balances it out.

pkchicken · Jul 19, 2004

Glued....SIGH...

i guess I check the news once a day and stay prepped. I believe the other shoe is gonna drop but I also find that being prepped as well as I can gives me peace of mind. I've done what I can to prepare for any eventuality.

So I guess part of my mind is glued and the rest of my conscious mind is out having fun with the kids, playing in the garden and being grateful for this life we have.

pk :chkn:

Safecastle · Jul 19, 2004

Last call.

c & c · Jul 19, 2004

My level is down to watchfull again, but could go staight to freeking at any time.

prudentwatcher · Jul 19, 2004

I am more than a little uneasy at this point, but I agree with Alan 100%. I am as prepped as I can possibly be. I have food, water, medical supplies, heat, sanitation supplies, and tons of other stuff. We'll use most of it even if TS doesn't HTF. I guess I'm just a "doom junkie" and have to have my TB2K fix. I guess I follow this stuff because nothing makes it into the news or papers here.

north runner · Jul 19, 2004

Due to recent events on this forum I'm changing my vote from 'glued' to 'totally freaked and in my bunker'. So that makes 2.

One minute to midnight.

jed turtle · Jul 19, 2004

probably ought to find another board to post this on, but here goes:

had a dream last nite. a dirigible was dropping a load of black smoke or dust onto the top of a tall skyscraper in the early morning as i approached it to pick up a family member. i raced inside to break into his bedroom just as the black gas was filtering into his room. although i was able to wake him he was unable to rapidly come to full consciousness/ mobility and i had to drag him down the stairs to escape the gas. in the hallway on the first floor, doctors and nurses were entering with syranges in hand. something in my head instantly knew that they were going to infect not only the people who were being knocked out by the gas, but also any dogs in the building. as i managed to knock them over on my way out, somehow i found myself in a similar crisis scenario, basement of another skyscraper as it was hit by an airliner and the concrete ceiling started to fall apart...

i have long attributed my peaceful sleeps to having prepped for Y2K and, knowing i've done as best as i could, left the rest up to God. this unexpectedly bizarre dream, tho, has me wondering "what's next?"

LMonty911 · Jul 20, 2004

We moved to Wiscosnsin less than 2 weeks ago-and I am less prepped because of the move, then I have been since early 99. With all the current events to consider, I'm really more anxious than usual-because I feel very underprepared and more vulnerable than usual.
To balance that, at least we have a small unfinished basement, and its a real house, not just a double wide. With abackup generator wired into it. Thats something that makes me feel very good, since I'd guess by our location a shelter in place is more likely than a bug out. But I wont feel comfortable until we are both working again,and can afford to reprep.
I'm guessing the national political convnetions are juicy targets, and since theyare coming up way too soon for me to accomplish what I want to, I'm staying glued to the screen and watching.

A.T.Hagan · Jul 20, 2004

amishmum said:
Watchful. I remember AT Hagan saying on a thread that a lot of anxiety would be alleviated if people would prep and stay that way, make it a life style. That was you right AT?

That was me.

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1017423&postcount=99

And a lot of the anxiety does go out of it too.

UNLESS you're a doom junkie.

For those folks it's not about being prepped. It's more about telling themselves and each other ghost stories to see who can scare each other the worst. It's the thrill they're really looking for, not the actual news gathering. Some prep, some don't and it's just as well.

A distinguishing characteristic between survivalists and doomers.

.....Alan.

Safecastle · Jul 20, 2004

Graphed Results

With this poll now closed, I thought I'd test-post the bar graph showing the results from the first three polls. The exact (to two decimal points) average response for each poll, chronologically, are: 1.83, 1.65, and 1.91.

edit: no such luck ... will try again later

Pete/ME · Jul 21, 2004

JC... I know you've been having trouble getting the attachments to post... in order to save a bit of time and frustration, I threw this together during a spare moment. Hope you like it, and I'll leave it to you to expound on the analysis.

Safecastle · Jul 21, 2004

Thanks Pete. I like your bar graph--please email that to me if you would--hopefully I can work with it. It's similar to the one I ended up with in my experimenting, though I couldn't figure out how to add the exact values to show on each bar as you did.

I think I have the posting attachment issue identified and fixed (AdSubtract required a couple of exception entries, and not just disabling the program, before it would allow me to "manage attachments").

So to be sure, here's another test ... Oh please work!

But like I said, I'd like to use your version going forward if I can get it all down. :ecrz:

Prepper Anxiety Poll, July 15, '04 (3rd in the series)

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

absolutely no worries

a bit concerned

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

glued to the screen, expecting the worst any day now

totally freaked and in my bunker

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