Ant,

IT was a general comment inferring that lack of consequence creates predators. There's a thousand modern day examples - New Orleans - where things went stupid beyond any humanity.

We were fortunate that isolation lasted 2 or 3 days. There wasn't enough time isolated from police for them to get too brazen, but there were people helping themselves to others property. People dressed as SES coming on boats asking if people need prescriptions refilled and never coming back. As soon as the water went down humanity came back. Old mate down the road charging 60 bucks to fill your gas bottle went back to normal prices etc etc.

Don't kid yourself about the "mateship" of Australians.

I don't think you need to prepare for the end of society, but be prepared for what it does to your neighbours if it happens.

StG,
You remind me of the famous science fiction writer, Robert Heinlein, who said, "Humanity is only ever three square meals away from a riot."
You may be right, but for now, I believe I will cling to a less cynical view of both our species and our culture.
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

Stg, Anthony,

Actually it's an interesting subject.
While we operate within the bounds of organised society, we manage during short events/ disasters to retain the psychological parameters which we operate in. However, if things break down completely, we very quickly revert to an instinctive model. This is frightening because it exposes just how visceral and animalistic we are under the veneer of civilisation. It's quite confronting, in fact when our base nature exposes us.

Notwithstanding, things have to break down considerably before such a reality overtakes us.

Ant,

Good luck with that. I think that's the reason the media failed/and are failing, to report to realities of what actually goes on in times like that. Keeping up the illusion. I'll bet you anything nearly everyone in New Orleans is now armed.

Poirot,

By 11am the first day, money, fuel, and food was gone from everywhere out here. How long do you think that 'considerable breakdown' would take from there given something the equivalent of the '04 tsunami taking out an ability to respond for say, two weeks to a month?

Maybe you're right StG,
But here's the thing.
You sound like you're scared.
Me? I prefer to live without fear.
And if that means living an illusion, then so be it.
Anthony
http://www.observationpint.com.au

StG,

The topic of this thread is about guns in "our present society"....A totally collapsed infrastructure and organisation is a different paradigm.

It's interesting to ponder, however. Unfortunately, I'm a bit busy today so will have to mull it over a little later.