Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Guest on February 17, 2006, 09:51:15 PM

Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Guest on February 17, 2006, 09:51:15 PM
Cheesy Title says it all.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: TarpleyG on February 18, 2006, 02:33:32 AM
I know how to work on computers???

No, I can sail...so, I take a boat, me, my wife, and the pets and get the H E double hockey sticks outta here.

Greg
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: BozemanMT on February 18, 2006, 04:03:04 AM
The wife.  No, not that way, but that she has skills.  She can can, garden, sew, knit, make jerky, etc.
All i can do is lead (which is mostly get out of the way) and shoot.  (Of course, so can she and she's better at it)
so basically I have to hang onto the wife.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: onions! on February 18, 2006, 04:31:26 AM
Village idiot.
I make people feel better about themselves.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Declaration Day on February 18, 2006, 04:36:19 AM
If guns and ammunition become a form of currency, I could open up a bank.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Iain on February 18, 2006, 04:44:52 AM
My organs.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Art Eatman on February 18, 2006, 05:47:00 AM
Aw, well, I learned a few things, through the years.  There will most lilkely be a demand for teachers--for the grownups.  There is always somebody asking, "How do I...?"  Old farts usually have an answer, 'cause they've already done it.  Several times.

Smiley, Art
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Preacherman on February 18, 2006, 05:50:19 AM
Well, being a member of the clergy, I'm sure I'll find something to do:

-  Comfort the living;
-  Bury the dead;
-  Convert the naughty living into the peaceful dead, thereby helping my congregation.

Cheesy
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: K Frame on February 18, 2006, 06:17:56 AM
My charming and clever wit...

(edited, dammit...)
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Art Eatman on February 18, 2006, 06:26:06 AM
Hey, Preach, I can be real helpful to ya, with my backhoe. Smiley

Mike, it sure ain't your typing...

Cheesy, Art
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on February 18, 2006, 07:20:53 AM
The ability to fly a gyrocopter and lob Molotov cocktails.

- NF
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Stickjockey on February 18, 2006, 07:58:08 AM
Quote
The ability to fly a gyrocopter and lob Molotov cocktails.
The ability to fly an airplane and make Molotov cocktails.

Not to mention:

I can hold my own with a rifle. Not "gnat's eye at 1,000 yards", but well enough to bring home venison.

I can fix things.

I've done a bit of leather work. Not Don Hume quality, but practical.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Gewehr98 on February 18, 2006, 08:28:52 AM
Depends on how much of civilization remains, I guess.

10,000 - 20,000 rounds of ammo

components on hand to make at least that much again

gunsmithing skills

small engine repair

USAF SERE schooling

hunting and gardening background

could be interesting, in a Mad Max sort of way...
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Silver Bullet on February 18, 2006, 09:05:48 AM
My Firefly DVD set.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: RadioFreeSeaLab on February 18, 2006, 09:08:54 AM
My stunning good looks.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Fly320s on February 18, 2006, 09:33:51 AM
Lots of gold teeth.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Guest on February 18, 2006, 09:45:07 AM
Big farm, self sustainable for the most part, and the know how to make it.  that, and the few nieghbors around here are also farmers and old family friends for generations.  and a comand of the high ground with big guns.  molon labe!
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: The Rabbi on February 18, 2006, 02:54:13 PM
Victim-on-demand.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: zahc on February 18, 2006, 03:12:56 PM
I can do advanced math, so I'd probably be considered a god.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Brian Williams on February 18, 2006, 04:17:23 PM
I have a degree in Industrial Arts/Technology Education.  Basically shop teacher.  I can do most anything with tools.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Waitone on February 18, 2006, 04:43:08 PM
The value of all minerals in my body is about $3.00.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: brimic on February 18, 2006, 05:13:47 PM
Chemist. Even after the world collapses, there will still still be a strong need for people with chemistry knowledge- there will still be people who need poisoning and/or blowing up. Killing is the true mother of all invention.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Antibubba on February 18, 2006, 05:17:50 PM
My Alpha-Grade sperm.   Wink


Are the same things that would make us valuable in a collapse the same items that would be of benefit in a slower but steady decline of our society?  For example, I have a knack for scrounging and find odd but usable "junk".  Both sorts of scenarios will find "scavengers" invaluable.  In a declining society the knowledge of computer systems will still have merit, whereas in a total collapse it might be worthless.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: onions! on February 18, 2006, 06:54:44 PM
Antibubba?Have you ever read David Drake & S.M.Stirlings' "General" series of books?They make a kind of funny use of computer knowledge after a techno fall.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Stetson on February 18, 2006, 08:25:41 PM
My library
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Slimjim on February 18, 2006, 08:55:33 PM
I can drive commercial vehicles, up to Tractor trailers. But society has collapsed, whats to stop me from learning.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Antibubba on February 18, 2006, 10:18:18 PM
Well, when the "collapse" part of the equation was mentioned, I was considering EMP as a possibility.  

   One skill (which I keep meaning to get around to) which will survive (or come back) will be amateur radio.  If no EMP, then I see a far-flung radio packet/computer network coming about.  If EMP, then we'll set up crystal receivers and spark gap transmitters until we scrounge/build enough radio tubes.  All that stuff is in books-much faster than having to discover it again.

   If collapse, then those with trapping skills will be very much in demand; not so much for meat and skin gathering, but for the millions of suddenly "undomesticated" dogs hunting in packs, and the marauding cats too.  There isn't enough ammo to handle our furry former friends.

   Anyone who can build and set up a windmill, microhydro, or solar panels will never be hungry ever again; we won't be able to rely on a network of power generation.  Even if we could still generate the power, weather and "scavengers" would eliminate most of the lines (easy sources of copper and aluminum, and those tower struts are easily adapted into house frames or whatever).

What else?

   -Being able to identify, contain, and clean up hazardous materials.
   -Acting, singing, spinning yarns, and other means of entertaining, since Sirius radio and Battle of the Network Stars will be things of the past. Think of Brin's original novel "Postman.
   -Herbalists.
   -And I know the general theory of distilling, and how to build a still-purely for fuel purposes, of course.  Wink
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Justin on February 19, 2006, 08:59:50 AM
My deep and intimate knowledge of pop culture.

Oh, and the last of the V8 Interceptors.  Smiley
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Slimjim on February 19, 2006, 10:17:44 AM
Quote from: Justin
My deep and intimate knowledge of pop culture.

Oh, and the last of the V8 Interceptors.  Smiley
Yes, They laughed at us and our carburetors.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: roo_ster on February 20, 2006, 05:47:40 AM
Strong back.  Me lift heavy stuff.

Also:
Basic carpentry, electrical, and plumbing
Basic auto repair
Ability to "make do" with seemingly worthless & inappropriate materials.  Think "electronics mount from old licence plate."
Shoot straight...if I don't have to shoot too far
Reload ammo
Did I mention that I can lift heavy objects?
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: SalukiFan on February 20, 2006, 06:49:04 AM
I can brew my own beer. After the collapse of civilization, if that doesn't make me popular, I don't know what will. Smiley

- SalukiFan
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Azrael256 on February 20, 2006, 09:44:39 AM
Riding, shooting, scavenging.  I can make a still.  I'm not going to have my own TV show, but I'm a good enough mechanic to make anything go.  I can make a still.

That, and my charming personality.

Did I mention that I can make a still?
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: mtnbkr on February 20, 2006, 10:01:08 AM
Quote
My charming and clever wit
Yer screwed.

I'm pretty handy with my hands  and anything mechanical.  I have a decent green thumb.  I can hunt/fish and cook what I kill/catch.  I have limited knowledge of edible/medicinal plants (more than most city-dwellers, but less than a true "country boy").  Unlike most people my age, I actually listened when my grandparents told he how they did things in the good/bad ol' days.

I can set up WANs, LANs, and various types of systems, if that's considered useful in the post apocolypical age....

Chris
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Guest on February 20, 2006, 10:32:36 AM
Quote from: Antibubba
...Acting, singing, ...
Guess I'll just have to play the blues.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Matthew Carberry on February 20, 2006, 10:34:26 AM
Waffles
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Guest on February 20, 2006, 01:41:55 PM
I'm learning to make soap. That oughta be worth a little somethin'. Smiley
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Guest on February 28, 2006, 06:25:32 AM
We are going to need a pub at the end of the world. Brewers, bakers, bouncers and  barmaids needed.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Stickjockey on February 28, 2006, 09:25:20 AM
Barman and brewer S. tickjockey at yer service! Cheesy
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Bemidjiblade on March 01, 2006, 04:09:46 AM
I can teach, fight, sing, preach, train, build, and break animals.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Guest on March 01, 2006, 05:10:39 AM
Stickjockey- good, we can build a plane out back of the pub. Do you suppose there is a ethnanol conversion for a pw 985?!
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: Chris on March 02, 2006, 10:47:43 AM
I can shoot well, cook well, and do most general maintainance and repair work.  that might just keep me alive....until they find out I'm a lawyer.  then i'm a gonner.  Smiley
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: cordex on March 02, 2006, 11:27:16 AM
I figure I'd feed a family of four for a couple of days.
With enough salt, I could last longer.
That's gotta be worth something.
Title: After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?
Post by: atek3 on March 05, 2006, 07:18:57 PM
I'm a chemist.  With the right reagents, I can make lots of valuable things.

atek3