E DI TOR’ S LETTER
006
ISSUE 32M
y dad likes to say, “If you run with the bulls in
Pamplona often enough, eventually you’re going
to get trampled.” But unlike the aforementioned
San Fermin festival where people deliberately
stand in harm’s way for the thrill of it, his remark
got me thinking about how the average suburbanite can often stand in
the path of destruction without even realizing that a whole lot of hurt is
heading their way. The flipside of that coin is that sometimes the prob-
lems we face can be tremendously overstated and peddled by media
provocateurs looking to profit from overzealous headlines and clickbait.
In a previous article we published on Operation: Dark Winter, one
of the panelists we interviewed, Dr. Neal Olshan, discussed a “fear
pandemic” being part of the collateral damage a public health crisis
would create. Whether it’s a viral outbreak, riot, natural disaster, or any
other major catastrophe, a tidal wave of misinformation, desperation,
and paranoia is sure to exacerbate the initial problem far beyond its
expected consequences. Why? We’re surrounded by people who flip
out when the kid working at the drive-through forgets to include their
order of french fries. Now imagine how they’d react to something
that actually demands rational thought — here come the bulls and the
bullsh*t they bring with them.
While the notion of the torch-and-pitchfork crowd is often talked
about, this behavior isn’t relegated just to old monster movies. Long
before there was an internet or political pundits telling you how to feel
about events filtered through their inherent biases, misguided masses
still acted on rumors, panic, and suspicion rather than facts. Is anyone
old enough to remember how people reacted to the original broadcast
of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds? Yes, many listeners really thought we
were being invaded by Martians and panicked.In this issue, we’ll look at several preparatory measures you can use
to bolster your wellbeing and make the most of your surroundings
during a time of crisis when you may be locked down. Ever thought
about getting a dog as an extra measure of protection? We tapped Jeff
Franklin to help answer that question. Having trained commando dogs
for some of the nation’s top military units as well as anti-terrorist groups
and national police forces the world over, we can safely say his advice
on what to know about buying a dog for protection is second to none.
We’ll also dissect a topic that doesn’t get enough discussion on
how to address — having a stalker. Two of our regular contributors
delve into a situation that’s all too real and can quickly escalate from
online character assassination to physical confrontations. In addition,
we’ll evaluate the latest watches, explore the finer points of growing
plants using hydroponics, and also check out what there is to glean
from survival/apocalyptic-themed video games. Can even non-gamers
actually learn something from simulated versions of reality? Read on
and find out.
Imagine what the world was like before the advent of all the stuff
we have now. It challenged people to think for themselves. Before
there was 9-1-1, if you saw an approaching fire, you didn’t wait to see if
the firemen showed up — you took action. Certain survival situations
are so catastrophic that they might only take minutes to turn the
world on its ear. Do you plan to get caught up in the undertow of
those who haven’t been educated enough to think for themselves?
Or will you rise above it by giving your reaction some forethought
and education? Start preparing now, so you’ll be in a better position
to administer the journalistic polygraph test when the ratings contest
between news agencies begins and the stampede starts running
through your neighborhood.By John Schwartze,
Network Manager & Acting Editor // RECOIL OFFGRID