Paradise Lost?

[Reagans Rascals]

Hypothetical and Tin Foil Warning:

What do you consider to be the "canary in the coal mine"? Essentially, what event or action would you view as the point of no return in the collapse of society and breakdown of all basic laws and governing structures?

When would you abandon all civility and morality imposed by societal constructs and simply transition into complete survival mode?

I guess what I am attempting to ask is, in a severe SHTF situation, at what point or event would you stop being nice, and start doing what needs to be done?

This could be, perhaps taking an aircraft from the local airport (being a pilot myself) and leaving for better ground, or it could be taking food or supplies (by force if necessary). As in a Walking Dead type scenario, how long would you wait and what would make you ultimately flip the switch?

What event do you view as indication of paradise lost?
Multiple NBC attacks, World-wide contagion, zombie outbreak, or etc. occurs and so at which point do you abandon hope for stabilization and control and begin your own journey?

Personally for me, it would be the collapse of the public broadcast systems (emergency bands, TV and Radio), the closure of public transit and air traffic. In addition to wide scale CONUS military mobilization.

What do you view as the turning point?

[glocktogo]

Must we?

[R.P.]

I'll play.
1.Total economic collapse
2. massive riots in our large cities that will make Greece look like a picnic.
3. DHS checkpoints around our large cities to not let anyone in or out.

#3 is already put in place and being implemented in some areas in preparation for the unfortunate inevitability of #1 and #2.

I can envision something like Katrina and the Superdome in every major population center in the country.

Also, a massive CME or EMP would really suck and would spiral us down the toilet as quick as you can snap your fingers.

[Kfgk14]

Well, I don't go into complete survival mode until someone is coming to get me, I.e. looters make a siege of my home, death threats against me written in sheep's blood or something. That's when I get into my food stores, sleep in full battle rattle if at all, Indian shutters and blackout curtains, etc. This could happen in a regular, non-TEOTWAWKI situation (have fun getting to my house, rioters). If the economy is slumping, the stations aren't pumping, and the grid is shutting down, I'm increasingly arming up. This doesn't mean I don't talk to my neighbors, go to work when possible, etc. I'll likely transition into an under-the-table, grey-market trade (using gunsmithing knowledge, gardening skills, hunting/fishing/trapping and gear stores as a source of income). Thankfully, my area as a whole is rather well-prepared. We're all armed (me better than the rest), we're all skilled, and in a vital step, we're all on solar or private hydroelectric (totally custom job, not me) power with battery banks and such. There are sixteen (SIXTEEN) Tacoma's in driveways within 15 minutes of me, I know all the owners personally, they're all prepping. We have professional welders, machinists working out of their shops, former auto mechanics, one retired (but very capable) plumber, and an electrician in the area, as well as two budding blacksmiths (an independent high school study project, they're doing some great work in a short time learning).
So, to put a long story short, I think my community would go into a survival mode, but not in the sense that we'd all be cooped up in our homes, waiting for Armageddon.

[Moose-Knuckle]

"The calm before the storm. . . "

IMHO paradise has already been lost. . .

We are on the precipice of some calamity as I type this. What it will be, who knows? The important part is we know something is coming.

Geo-political change brought about by a myriad of economic collapse, war, totalitarian control, et al.

[The_War_Wagon]

Der Kommissar Obamassar's re-election?

[kywndg]

The answer is quite simple really.

The re-election of Barack Obama.

[camoman]

Just in....breaking news.... today President Obama makes history again by appointing himself President for life....just kidding...but I wouldn't put it past any of these crooks that we call our leaders.

[Inkslinger]

If the Kardashians show gets canceled, it's go time.

I all most shot coffee out of my nose!

[Inkslinger]

Really though, to the OP. It could be a verity of situations that constitute a "game on scenario". All of which would be the beginning of a sad day for humanity. The bright side is that, you, me, and most of the people who frequent this site, will "know". Know when it's time to "go hot". For whatever reason!

Human intuition is a powerful thing. All most 11,000,000 firearm sales is a pretty good glimpse into people's mindsets. There is a reason we spend most of our days feeling uneasy. There is a reason we have a firearm on us or within arms reach 24 hours a day. I read the news, ( mainstream & alternative) and I almost can't believe how our world is changing. Not for the better and at an alarming rate, I might add.

It's our actions after the first shot that will determine our collective outcome. Your family is obviously priority one. A close second should be your fellow man. There will be "the good" and "the bad". I will do everything in my power to put down "the bad". The things we do to, for, and with "the good" will build and strengthen our future.

We seem to be very near a turning point in history. I hope when the storm comes, we all make it through to see the sun again.