Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 7, 2014 15:21:08 GMT -5
What skills do you have?
I am thinking more along the lines of "practical skills." But for the sake of completeness we can include less practical skils like specific academic knowledge.
For the practical skills question, let me frame it like this. Let's say there was some cataclymic event and most of society has died off. You are one of the survivors and are banding together with other survivors to rebuild society. The leader of the new community asks you what skills you have to offer the group.
Do you have advanced knowledge of medicine? Can mend broken bones and the like. Are you good at fixing and/or building things? Can you cook well? Can you hunt and skin food? Do you know how to grow crops or manage livestock?
Would you say your skills are more practical or theoretical?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on May 7, 2014 15:25:08 GMT -5
I can cook. I also have limited sewing, with practice I could get better. I'm all right with basic first aid. Otherwise my skills are more theoretical. I have microbiology skills which could be handy during a zombie apocalypse because I could study the cause and maybe find a cure but I'd need access to materials which would be hard to come by. I'm so screwed. I suppose I could try to sell that I am only 30 so I am still fertile enough to help with repopulating the world.
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Bob Ross
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Post by Bob Ross on May 7, 2014 15:25:17 GMT -5
Nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills...
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 7, 2014 15:29:44 GMT -5
I can cook. I also have limited sewing, with practice I could get better. I'm all right with basic first aid. Otherwise my skills are more theoretical. I have microbiology skills which could be handy during a zombie apocalypse because I could study the cause and maybe find a cure but I'd need access to materials which would be hard to come by. I'm so screwed. I suppose I could try to sell that I am only 30 so I am still fertile enough to help with repopulating the world. It's kinda funny you should mention the Zombie apocalypse. This thread was inspired by watching "The Walking Dead" and wondering how I could contribute to a survivor community in such a scenerio. I suppose society would need "brood mares" to help repopulate the earth.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on May 7, 2014 15:31:00 GMT -5
To highjack for a second, I am not sure how far along you are in the series but the interesting thing is over time the characters have evolved and developed/learned new skills in the fight to survive. People you would have thought would be bumped off a long time ago are still around.
So if we're going by that I don't think it's so much the skills you bring in but that you are able to adapt/think on your feet. What serves you at the beginning may get you killed later on.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 15:31:44 GMT -5
I know how to grow food and save seeds. I know which vegetables like each other and which don't and some methods of controlling pests etc. without chemicals.
I can knit and crochet and sew straight lines on a sewing machine, and patch stuff if necessary.
I can raise animals. Its not my first choice nor am i great at it.
I know medicinal values of some herbs and wild plants, etc.
The family actually has what i call our 'zombie apocalypse compound'. (Dad just calls it the mountain land...)
After reading One Second After, I'm thinking of buying a pre- computer car and parking it around just in case...
Afterward, well I have a bit of educational/ child development knowledge...
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on May 7, 2014 15:32:21 GMT -5
Let's say there was some cataclymic event and most of society has died off. You are one of the survivors and are banding together with other survivors to rebuild society. The leader of the new community asks you what skills you have to offer the group. I would be worthless and they would kill me off for taking up space. If I happen to actually survive the cataclysmic event in the first place.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on May 7, 2014 15:35:52 GMT -5
I can cook. I can sew a poor stitch. I am not too fazed by blood and guts. I can navigate public transit like a boss (which would make me useless in a post-apocalyptic world). I can swim.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 7, 2014 15:36:12 GMT -5
I have virtually no "practical" skills.
I've done basic first aide/CPR training, which is better than nothing I suppose, but wouldn't be much use in a real emergency.
Can't really cook or fix things, and I know next to nothing about raising crops or managing livestock. I've never even really handled a gun either.
I have moderate computer skills. Probably better than average but not what I'd call "professional grade."
I have more theoretical skills. I have a college degree in physics and my professional skill is running radiation safety programs. I might be useful to have around in the immediate aftermath of a nuclear war because I have studied the effects of nuclear weapons and might be able to give valuable advice that could save lives from the fallout and how to manage the contamination of the enviornment (i.e. in food) afterwards. In theory, I could probably serve as a manageable science/math teacher to the kids if that was a priority of the community, in place of a real science teacher.
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Bob Ross
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Post by Bob Ross on May 7, 2014 15:36:23 GMT -5
I'd be good at providing sarcastic one-liners.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 15:36:33 GMT -5
Oh, I can shoot, i'm not very proficient at it though as it doesn't make me happy, unless its nerf or paintballs... so...
I can cook though, and I can cook over an open fire if necessary.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on May 7, 2014 15:40:40 GMT -5
I can stand by and mock all those who try and fail. Yeah- I'd be good at that.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 7, 2014 15:44:51 GMT -5
Oh, I can shoot, i'm not very proficient at it though as it doesn't make me happy, unless its nerf or paintballs... so... I can cook though, and I can cook over an open fire if necessary. We're talking about shooting to SURVIVE Oped. Happiness doesn't enter into the equation.
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on May 7, 2014 15:45:41 GMT -5
I'm basically useless in a post apocolypse situation. I can cook but in WD they don't cook much. I could shoot zombies bu someone would have to loan me a gun.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on May 7, 2014 15:46:41 GMT -5
I can do a somersault! I can cook, take care of the animals (but won't let you hurt them so you all better like eggs), work in the gardens in most capacities, sew a button, manage your money and organize your stuff. I could also do basic first aid. The other things I'm good at are not PG13 which is also why I had to learn to sew buttons. Oh! And fix zippers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 15:48:06 GMT -5
Well, im sure i could get better, but what i'm saying is, although i know HOW, I'm not very good, because i've never wanted to shoot an animal say... so never practiced beyond the instructions on how to do about shooting. I really haven't been all that worried if the paintball actually HIT the tree i was aiming at, or if the nerf dart missed the window completely ...
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 7, 2014 15:48:37 GMT -5
Let's say there was some cataclymic event and most of society has died off. You are one of the survivors and are banding together with other survivors to rebuild society. The leader of the new community asks you what skills you have to offer the group. I would be worthless and they would kill me off for taking up space. If I happen to actually survive the cataclysmic event in the first place. Meh, you could just be a brood mare. Just pop out one kid after another and take care of them. Somebody has to be the new Eve.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on May 7, 2014 15:49:27 GMT -5
Cook, Shoot, Catch, gut, scale and fillet a fish. Grow food, make compost, dig a latrine build and bank a campfire Build a shelter as needed in an appropriate spot out of only a tarp and rope Can foods Advanced first aid including stopping bleeding, tying a tournequet, splints, and braces some medicinal plants Sew, crochet Sharpen knives and blades using a honing stone
(TheCaptain = Girl Scout equivalent of Eagle scout)
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on May 7, 2014 15:54:03 GMT -5
The Captain reminded me! I used to be a Girl Scout and I can pitch tents (no, not that kind! the real kind) and start fires and hammer and build stuff that's not too complicated or all engineerie. I can catch fish and gut them, etc. but that's gross. I'm also really good at cleaning so we all don't die of disease. Please keep the veggies knives and stuff separate from the fish guts! I think she just learned how to shoot.
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on May 7, 2014 15:55:07 GMT -5
I'm going to join Captain's group
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 15:56:17 GMT -5
I am making a list of who I will give directions to the bunker... and who I will not...
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 7, 2014 15:56:19 GMT -5
To highjack for a second, I am not sure how far along you are in the series but the interesting thing is over time the characters have evolved and developed/learned new skills in the fight to survive. People you would have thought would be bumped off a long time ago are still around.
So if we're going by that I don't think it's so much the skills you bring in but that you are able to adapt/think on your feet. What serves you at the beginning may get you killed later on. I watched it on Netflix, so I'm through season three. I don't think season 4 is up yet.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on May 7, 2014 15:57:14 GMT -5
I can't even do that! I am totally worthless!
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on May 7, 2014 15:57:15 GMT -5
Forty years ago I successfully completed Air Force survival school. I have forgotten much of what I learned, but I think I could probably still build a fire, construct a shelter, and possibly avoid being eaten by a bear.
I can also sew pretty much any kind of clothing, with or without a pattern, and believe I could construct anything else made of fabric with a little practice and the right tools.
I can cook basic stuff in large cauldrons, you know, the kind of thing that doesn't take a lot of finesse.
I can grow vegetables, as long as they are tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, zucchini, and potatoes.
I can read Russian, Chinese, and French. If necessary and with some practice, I could get up to speed in speaking them.
I can row a boat.
I can read a map.
I am not afraid of bugs.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 16:00:00 GMT -5
How about mutantly large radioactive bugs? ... We have to prepare for everything...
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on May 7, 2014 16:01:32 GMT -5
Cook, Shoot, Catch, gut, scale and fillet a fish. Grow food, make compost, dig a latrine build and bank a campfire Build a shelter as needed in an appropriate spot out of only a tarp and rope Can foods Advanced first aid including stopping bleeding, tying a tournequet, splints, and braces some medicinal plants Sew, crochet Sharpen knives and blades using a honing stone (TheCaptain = Girl Scout equivalent of Eagle scout) This is the second time I saying this - I want to be you!!!!! (first one on your house buying thread)
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on May 7, 2014 16:02:20 GMT -5
Sorry, then all bets are off. I can handle fish guts, I HATE cockroaches!
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 7, 2014 16:03:28 GMT -5
I can't even do that! I am totally worthless! Well, I don't know what to say then. I guess we could keep you around in the YM survivor community because TheCaptain is worth two of any normal folks. So I guess there's that. Besides, having someone around to nobally sacrifice themselves for the good of the group can be handy. So it may not be worth killing you off right away.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on May 7, 2014 16:08:07 GMT -5
I can cook, sew, and fish. I can build a fire, have a terrific sense of direction, and I can design a stormwater detention basin in my sleep (ok probably not all that helpful in a zombie situation, but I would head up the stormwater management department in post-apocalyptic world).
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on May 7, 2014 16:10:40 GMT -5
I can't even do that! I am totally worthless! How do you feel about being used as Zombie Bait while we all run for safety? That's helpful!
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