After civilization's collapse, what will make you valuable?

[Guest]

Title says it all.

[TarpleyG]

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

[BozemanMT]

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.

[onions!]

Village idiot.
I make people feel better about themselves.

[Declaration Day]

If guns and ammunition become a form of currency, I could open up a bank.

[Iain]

My organs.

[Art Eatman]

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.

, Art

[Preacherman]

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.

[K Frame]

My charming and clever wit...

(edited, dammit...)

[Art Eatman]

Hey, Preach, I can be real helpful to ya, with my backhoe.

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

, Art

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

The ability to fly a gyrocopter and lob Molotov cocktails.

- NF

[Stickjockey]

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.

[Gewehr98]

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...

[Silver Bullet]

My Firefly DVD set.

[RadioFreeSeaLab]

My stunning good looks.

[Fly320s]

Lots of gold teeth.

[Guest]

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!

[The Rabbi]

Victim-on-demand.

[zahc]

I can do advanced math, so I'd probably be considered a god.

[Brian Williams]

I have a degree in Industrial Arts/Technology Education.  Basically shop teacher.  I can do most anything with tools.

[Waitone]

The value of all minerals in my body is about $3.00.

[brimic]

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.

[Antibubba]

My Alpha-Grade sperm.  


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.

[onions!]

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.

[Stetson]

My library