The National Geographic reality TV show ‘Doomsday Preppers’ aired from 2011 to 2014 and profiled various preppers and their families as they prepared for ‘doomsday.’
At the end of each episode, a group named ‘Practical Preppers’ evaluated them and gave each of the participants a score.
While the show was clearly designed to portray these people as crazy, it offered a glimpse into the lives and scope of the preparations these people have made.
When the show first aired, I was an avid viewer and considered Doomsday Preppers one of my guilty pleasures. I don’t often watch TV anymore, but I always stop and give it a bit of my time and attention when I encounter an episode.
Shows like this are not to be taken too seriously, but they can offer us some guidance in the form of things not to do. To this end, I have compiled a list of six dangerous mistakes from Doomsday Preppers.
Going On A Reality TV Show
When everyone and their dog knows the scope of your preparations, you can be assured that you will face the impossible decision of what to do when friends, family, and strangers come knocking at the door.
Related: These 10 Types of People Will Die First When SHTF
It is also impossible to deny that you are a prepper when a film crew follows you around for three days and broadcasts everything on national TV.
Good operational security (OPSEC) is critical to preparedness. When too many people know what you have stockpiled, some will attempt to steal those supplies from you.
It’s ok for people to know you’re into preparedness, but the true scale of your preps needs to be a secret from everyone aside from your immediate family.
Most Of The Preppers Are Preparing For Overly Specific Events
Most of the preppers that appear on the show are preparing for a very specific doomsday event. Pandemics, polar shifts, economic collapse, nuclear war, and EMPs are only a few of the scenarios for which these preppers are getting ready.
The problem with preparing for an overly specific event is that you will develop tunnel vision on that particular event, and being prepared for other probable events may suffer.
For example, if you put all your time and resources into prepping for a nuclear war, you may be ready for other events but not for others, like an earthquake.
In Many Cases, Prepping Has Taken Over Their Lives
There is nothing wrong with being prepared, but many of the people who appeared on Doomsday Preppers allowed prepping to take over their lives.
There are two significant issues with allowing prepping to become an obsession.
The first is that so much time focusing on the potential for doomsday reduces the enjoyment of regular life.
It also has a significant negative effect on mental health as there is only so much focus on future destruction that we can take before it affects our ability to enjoy the little things in life.
The second is that a prepping obsession will bleed over into your regular life, which can bestow the label of a ‘crazy survivalist.’
Related: 5 Things You Can Do If People Find Out You’re A Prepper
Indeed, we should not concern ourselves with the opinions of others, but we also face some risk when people consider us crazy or obsessed with the end of the world.
When people see us as being crazy, they start to take notice of all the seemingly ‘crazy’ things that we do.
For example, if your neighbor thinks you are nuts, they may call the authorities when they see you buying large amounts of food, weapons, or ammo. This will cause too much-unwanted scrutiny.
Over-Reliance On Supplies And Gear
With a few exceptions, most of the people profiled on the show have stockpiled a lot of supplies and gear.
There is no doubt that the show’s producers specifically chose people with a lot of ‘cool survival stuff’ to make the show more intriguing.
I am sure these preppers also have the required survival skills to weather whatever catastrophe they are preparing for.
⇒ They Should Teach These Skills In School
Survival gear is great and makes surviving doomsday easier, but if you end up in an actual worst-case scenario, your skills and knowledge are all you have to fall back on.
We all must gain as much knowledge as possible to complement the gear, tools, and supplies we have acquired.
Often Their Plans Are Too Specific
The scenarios that these people were prepping for are pretty specific, as are their plans to deal with them.
Often, these plans were particular; whether sheltering in place or bugging out, they were very detailed and specific to the disaster they thought was imminent.
I’m sure many of the preppers who have appeared on the show also had contingency plans, but that is not how the producers often portrayed them.
The ability to think creatively and adapt to an ever-changing situation is critical to surviving any emergency, and an over-reliance on a specific course of action will be a deadly mistake.
The Show Provides An Unrealistic Portrayal Of Prepping
One of the major issues I have with Doomsday Preppers is that the show gives the audience an unrealistic idea of what prepping is.
There is no doubt that some preparedness-minded people would be put off by the extreme lengths that the people profiled on the show go to so they can be prepared for doomsday.
The reality is that you can obtain a good level of preparedness without going to the extremes depicted in the show
A bunker, bugout location, piles of gear, and years of food are great, but even modest attempts at preparedness exponentially increase your survivability in an SHTF situation.
Doomsday Preppers is a good TV show to watch to get some ideas for preparing for some specific doomsday scenarios.
It is also an excellent show to watch to get some ideas of what not to do. The essential factor to consider is that this is another reality show in a long linage of reality shows.
If you keep that in mind, there is definitely something to learn from watching these programs.
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A few of those show participants got in trouble for just being on the show – didn’t have to wait for the eventual fallout ….
one of the very first episodes the old guy that was semi-invalided – drove thru his episode on a golf cart – got hauled off to the looney bin for observation ….
another total jackazz – spent his episode waving guns around – his problem was being on probation and the LEOs watching the show – Mr Show Biz got arrested and finished up his original sentence
Never watch the TV show. Had a gut feeling this was another staged reality series. Just like the ones on cable TV. Like the that family who lived in Alaska. But really lived in town then out in the woods building a house. Some of the characters had run-ins with the law off the TV set.
Take a lot of those shows with many grains of salt.
People like Les Stroud a Canadian survival expert, was much more practical.
Alone was showing the mental breakdown that happens during short term survival.
Dual Survival you can make your own decision on that show.
Those Naked and Afraid BS participants were more of an exhibitionist of pole dancers. Then surviving in the modern world. It might work in warm weather but come on in the Winter time, BS.
Some shows had a couple techniques that were actual methods. As the article goes many preppers get to focused on one part of SHTF than the big picture view.
Prepping should be more of commonsense, old traditions passed on from the older family members. That is now lost with social media, smart phones currently.
The mainstream broadcast TV series of “The Survivor” show was just a show. Early participants were into the survival mode at a competition mode. Not really the mindset you want in real survival.
Then the writers turned the series into college fraternity Animal House style survival joke.
Tribes competing against each other, even their own teammates.
Survival is not what people saw on that survivor show. There was scheming, backstabbing among the teams. That stuff would get people killed in the real SHTF reality.
So take most of the shows as an entertainment value than total survival reality.
Yes basic camping skills, military background and listening to people real survivors will get us through. The mess we may face in the future. Good Luck in your preps.
So what are we really prepping for?
What is your idea of prepping based on, one or many scenarios, real experience. TV shows, movies, books?
The Bible! We need to do what we can to be ready for the great Tribulation God is going to send on this sinsick world. But at the same time we MUST depend on HIM to take care of our needs. He will supply what we need. Do what you can but it will be our love for God & His Son The Christ, our love for our “neighbors”
And our Faith & trust in our King & our
Saviour, that is the most important!
He had some good content, but he was making mistakes that a little bit of planning & discernment would have prevented.
loose lips sink ships
I don’t watch most reality doomsday shows, however, I have been watching Survivorman the full episodes on YouTube. I remember watching Alone some, I realized that bugging out to the wilderness with” a tarp and a knife” is difficult even for seasoned survivalist, not to mention the average American these days.
An important takeaway is that tools and supplies will get you so far, but you also need skills to go with them and prepare for various scenarios. If we learned anything from our brush with a pandemic, we learned that everyday items we keep around are more important in most scenarios for run-of-the-mill personal disasters like inflation and job loss. Hurricanes, tornados, fires, and floods can wipe out an entire stash if you haven’t planned on how to protect what’s yours.
Yup, the survival situation we maybe facing is including the supply chain shortages. Access to authentic made camping survival gear not made in China.
Inflation may not change until the next election, if not stolen again by the alphabet agencies.
Even the traditional mountain man had high survival learning curve. Some survived, some didn’t make it. There weren’t many guide books back then, that we have now.
We also must take some of the survival experts in modern times with some skepticism. There people who never went camping that cut-and-paste stuff into books from other sources. To make a buck.
The military survival books are based on short term scenarios. The military has a supply chain ratline operations. Sure Spec-Ops have the know how. But the average citizen is not trained in that mindset to survive for what they do.
There are good survival schools to teach those skills needed. There are also survival scam schools in operation thereabout too.
Even the genuine survival instructors know we can’t cover all 100% of the situations we may face. The best of the best don’t always survive the task at hand. Which is something most survival experts, websites, movies or books. Remind us about, we just do the best we can and ask GOD to guide us on our endeavor to safety.
Excellent Views and article
One thing to remember is who is watching
everyone you see, talk to , interact with and write to
There is no more secracy , as cloud is controlled , even this one
person to person
no phones
low level with noise in back ground
water, wind, trees blowing , natural blockers
Now more than ever , dont look like the extreme
plan , prepare , as if your were going on normal
dont create the Sore thumb that stands out for attention
The less they know about you the better off you are
a lot to be said about dead people living again in others identities
use alias
use others accts
use other s for your wall of protection
not who , but who they think you are
NEED TO KNOW
First mistake, you can not fight for long. Given a choice between shooting and running, run. Odds are against you, if you survive three firefights you have beat the odds. Getting wounded in a SHTF situation is likely a death sentence. Guns are tools, but they attract all the wrong attention. Ether you will be considered a threat or a target.
Second mistake, specific plans are limited in situational reality. Flexibility and adaptability work, adapt or die. You can save enough food to last for years, but if you are in a urban environment, what happens when your water stops running? Third, skills are more important than tools. Most tools can not be carried in a back pack. Skills can without adding weight. Learn how to garden, identify wild food, butcher animals, fish, build shelters, fires and staying clean and healthy.
Never forget, your decisions will be effected by your physical state. If you are starved, fatigued, and sore, don’t expect to make clear logical decisions. Have a plan, and a goal- and rules. Simple things like changing you socks and keeping your feet clean is the difference between being mobile and being a victim. Safe water procedures are hard if you are thirsty, but having a case of the shits in a survival situation will kill you. Going without bathing will give you passengers. Lice will make you deathly sick, fleas do it faster. Mosquitos love dirty targets. Maintenance takes time and energy, even on your self.
Before production was started, I was asked by the producers to appear on the show, and when I turned down the ‘opportunity’, they asked me to be a consultant. Again I turned them down. I suspected from the outset, from the way the producer that talked to me was describing things, that it was going to be a hatchet job on preppers.
And I know a couple of the people that appeared on the show. Those two, as well as remarks in interviews and such after others had done the show, told me that the producers specifically made the people choose one scenario only to portray. They were not allowed to really indicate what they were actually prepping for, with many of them being full-fledged preppers getting ready for a whole list of possibilities. They simply were not allowed to do so.
Also, the directors of the shows suggested things, prompted the people to do certain things or types of things, and asked for specific actions, and even ‘suggested’ dialogue.
It was not a real portrayal of preppers, at all. Yes, I do credit it with getting attention directed to the concept of prepping, which helped bring many people into beginning prepping, and at least thinking about it. Which was good.
And, with the wide range of preppers and scenarios portrayed, taken as a whole, did have many useful tips. One did have to weed through (more like wade through) everything to pick out the good stuff. People willing to look at everything and think things through, I think could make the separation. Though certainly not all.
I only watched the first five episodes or so, meaning that I cannot speak to the entire run of the show. Everything I have heard is that the additional episodes were just as bad, if not worse, than those first ones.
So, take it for what it was, reality show entertainment, controlled by the producers and directors to get maximum viewership and advertising dollars.
Just my opinion.
If we look at our lifestyle currently we are in a mild SHTF situation. At least in America, we got an unwieldy tax and extreme spending govt.
We got inflation, food prices going up not down. We got Marxist gang rioters to do harm at any minute. A govt in charge that don’t represent us unless your an illegal freeloader.
Bleeding our military dry of arsenal material reserved for our war purpose. Being given to a made up Ukrainian War by the Biden crime family.
What will the military do with CCP China invading Taiwan?
Our USA military has gone woke, can they defend us, really?
The Open Southern Border is open to terrorist cells, for another 911.
We got G. Soros DA’s not prosecuting criminals , but going after honest citizens defending themselves. Like the NYC Marine taking down a dirt-bag criminal.
Planned food crisis, meat, potatoes are expensive. Veggies like Organic getting wind-drift over-spray from nearby corporate chemical crop spray farms.
Yes we are in a survival situation every day if you look at it in this context. We don’t have to wait for SHTF, it’s already hear, we don’t see it yet.
SHTF is already here, we don’t need to fantasize anymore.
True!! But the overt violence and massive bloodshed against us has not started……… yet ………. but IS coming.
Obama is in term #3, and he answers to the NWO and was planted here by them, long ago.
He had Loretta Fuddy killed to keep his secrets, as she was the one who created his fake birth certificate. Plenty of videos on this.
I’d expect false flags blamed on Putin, leading to Obama declaring Martial Law, which SUSPENDS ALL PUBLIC LAWS, and then it begins in ernest. Those who would resist complete NWO takeover must be eliminated or at least their numbers brought down to nothing so they are no threat. Realize………….. ALL current NWO controlled NATO countries were DISARMED FIRST, before the NWO took total control of them via their proxy leaders.
I’d calculate this may happen before it gets cold again. Trump set their plans back 4 years when Hillary was supposed to win, and as you’ve seen they’ve accelerated things to get back on schedule — and this is why you see one major threat to patriots almost weekly since Obozo started Term #3. Joey is just the deflection dummy at the podium.
If you prepping and don’t end up homesteading your not a serious prepper
Not everyone can handle a homestead lifestyle. I’d love to do so but I’m disabled. I can’t even manage the small garden I own in my front yard. And we cannot have chickens where I live. (Just thinking of that was a good stating place)
The concept of “Prepping” is to do what you can do. Simply do the best with what you have. One of the best preps id a proper mindset.
As if everyone can afford to homestead. One preps within their means in order to increase their odds of surviving a difficult situation. Obviously Raven Tactical has 50 acres, an extensive garden, chickens, rabbits, goats, etc., three wells, 3000 watts of solar panels, and more. Sorry Raven Tactical, not everyone can reach your exhalted level of prepping.
Well then go be a hobbyists
Here is a scary SHTF; Biden gets impeached by the Demoncrats, 25th amendment. Kamala becomes the president and Obama becomes the VP! The Demo’s know Biden’s one step away as a dementia patient. All before the 2024 Presidential Election and China invades Taiwan, another 911 goes down.
What would you do?
Obozo will run Big Mike, his male wife, in 2024. This is why we are being bombarded with tranny and alphabet stuff now, to soften up public acceptance of same.
Please go home and wash your dirty mouth with soap.
This is a family like prepping site.
May God have mercy on your soul.
Why bother voting is dead and I don’t give a s**t what DC does
The Raven speaks truth. It was just in the news today how voting may be a thing of the past. Think about it, how can a guy win an election from a basement? Or a half baked Fritter-man get into office when even the medical field says he lives with a brain of mush and lives in a delusional world… When his respect for the office is to show up in a sweat shirt and gym shorts! Or how can a squeaky cocktail waitress without any experience in live get into office? I, we could go on and on! It’s the whole system of things! Way bigger than you or me or a vote!
These shows are all fake as it gets. anyone who puts any stock in this BS, deserves what they get. Listen to the elders, they know. Find people who are not prepping for war.
I think Taco, has seen too many violent survival shows and he curses too much.
Agree elders have a lot of knowledge to give us. Wars never solved the problem only slowed the symptoms. God is in charge.
I think Taco is probably about 12 and plays way too many computer games.
Elohim used war and would wipe off the generations of people
If you, or ANYONE who has been to your bug out place took their cell phone along, it’s no longer a secret and the location and possibly even photos taken of the site are now in the hands of the NSA, which means, Biden, Obama and the DS.
YouTube has a video of Edward Snowden – former NSA employee who would know, telling YOU the MANY ways your cell phone is tracking and reporting on YOU and includes possible taking photos or even video of things despite you “thinking” it was turned off.
Bad news for you. Turning your cell phone OFF………. doesn’t turn it off. We KNOW it can record and transmit your voice conversations, and even take photos without your permission.
I thought everyone knew this by now but guess not.
Well it’s a homestead you kinda need to live there so they probably are aware the rural people have homes
“ Prepping “ is simply carrying water, blankets, and snacks. These items in your vehicle will keep you in an emergency. As you add preparations to take care of your self, family, guests you grow more aware. First rule…you can’t save yourself. Second rule you can’t save any one else. Prepping is about having the tools to survive an emergency situation. Knowledge is the best tool. Adding basic plans, maps, goods, and directions is then effective to survive in an emergency. Having basic items is the key. Human nature is well documented. History is the best teacher. Y2k storage was useless in just 3 years after 2000. All food, batteries, obsolete equipment, and Unmaintained generators were no longer viable. Investment in items you use and rotating supplies will keep your goods usable. Quality equipment is best investment…buy the best you can afford. Lastly know that 4 minutes without air, 4 days without water, 4 weeks without food, and heating or cooling extremes will destroy your plans. Little things are a very big deal!
First thing I must say is that the episodes were specific to one threat because that’s how the producers wanted it. Most preppers prepare for many different situations but that’s not how they wanted to do the show.
Second is that the smart ones only showed a small portion of what they have. Enough to make people think about what they should start doing.
The show did portray most as nut jobs but not all. Some made sure they weren’t going to be living in the same place much longer.
I do agree with most of what is mentioned in this article though.
I found the show “Alone” a lot more interesting and useful. It’s where they drop 10 individuals in different places in the Canadian wilderness with very limited gear and whomever survives the longest wins. It really opened my eyes to what kind of skills and knowledge one actually needs when the SHTF and you don’t have a stockpile of stuff to fall back on but just yourself and nature.
I’m am truly sorry for all I said, I get that way when drinking tequila in the morning.
Am from NYC and get frustrated with all my peoples coming across the border.
May God Bless you Taco.
Try not to be offended, go in peace!
The trolls are trying to ruin a great prepping website. Please trolls stop it.
I like watching shows that show you what you can do to survive. Like Creek Stewart ‘s
SOS How to Survive. It gives some good ideas on what you can do with whatever you have.
I don’t remember who. But someone associated with your group used to mail out military surplus and gadgets. some were survival related. And we would sent back money to cover expenses. Many were usable. A lot were just fun to get something in the mail. In November 2020 I got cancer leading to surgery In January 2021 and 11 months of Chemo therapy. Two more minor byopcys. And now I am cancer free. During this time I stopped all communications. Internet.. I just no longer responded. I just “DROPPED OUT”S. Enough about that. I really contacted you to see if this program was still ongoing. I never told the man goodby. And I might still owe him some money. I liked the program. It was fun.In would be interested if know anything.
I remember watching one show with a nice younf couple. They had wooden shelves filled with beautiful home canned fruits and vegetables in glass jars. The shelves had no rail to keep the jars in place, and I believe they lived in the New Madrid fault zone. So much for all those supplies in case of earthquake.
Although the show was staged, it is what got us into prepping. The first episode we watched where the guy made a filter to drink his own pee, we laughed hysterically at, along with the rest of the episode. The never will we watched just for the laughs, but it wasn’t nearly as ridiculous. The third week, halfway through the episode, I asked my wife if some of this wasn’t starting to make sense, and she agreed. We started learning more about prepping from that point on. Had no clue about it before the show.
Not everything was staged. I know that some things were but I can tell you that there was some reality there. At least with our episode only one thing was staged.
Although the show was staged, it is what got us into prepping. The first episode we watched where the guy made a filter to drink his own pee, we laughed hysterically at, along with the rest of the episode. The never will we watched just for the laughs, but it wasn’t nearly as ridiculous. The third week, halfway through the episode, I asked my wife if some of this wasn’t starting to make sense, and she agreed. We started learning more about prepping from that point on. Had no clue about it before the show.
IT IS TRUE ABOUT STEALING YOUR PREPS I KNOW FIRST HAND
A Spanish man 2 doors over who lives with his sister is bi polar, a known crook and drug user and has been in jail many times,. About 3 years ago he said if they ran out of food he would break in and steal my food and supplies.
I told him i would shoot him dead right on the spot , in fact i put a trespass order against him.
probably the best article ever posted on this site ! Bar NONE !
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN, said no one with a few brain cells ever.
We Dont know. BUT we know the BAD prep show was bad.
I recommend watching shows like Mt Men, anything Alaska, home std rescue. Anywhere they wrestle with harsh or remote environment, they learn to make do, RE PURPOSE and make something out of nothing. Get an old copy of the BSA Field book/ Guide, it shows lots of pioneering, plants, etc. REAL books dont need a generator to be read.
Every “living remote” show episode can make you think, how do I do that with nothing. the more you see, the more you can draw on, when you need to make something REMOTELY similar.