LOTS of conversation on last week’s episode…and this week was another good one. One thing that I mentioned in last week’s comments was that The Colony isn’t a show you want to watch to LEARN how to survive a disaster. It’s a show to watch to start preparedness conversations with your friends/loved ones, to give you scenarios to game, and to show you how average people MIGHT react in a disaster situation. The psychology lessons alone are VERY valuable from the show.
The show starts out with the colonists relalizing that the stream that they’re using is polluted. There’s a sheen of oil and several dead fish floating on the water. I’m really surprised that they haven’t caught more rainwater up to this point.
In a long term survival situation, once you get your basics (shelter, fire, water, food, & security) taken care of, you want to create redundancy for each of them. In this case, even though they had repeated rains and were catching SOME water, they evidently didn’t store much of it because as soon as they see that the stream is polluted, they say that they only have 4 days of water left. This is really pathetic, because that amounts to about 50 gallons of water, or 2 good sized rubbermaid containers.
As I cover in my “Advanced Urban Water Purification” book, you CAN make water contaminated with oil, pesticides, herbicides, and other pollutants potable in a fairly straightforward manner. The colonists are very close to having everything in place to do this…they just don’t know it.
What they decide to do is build a cistern to catch rain water…great idea, but poor implementation. They decide to build an above ground cistern. Unfortunately, it’s got some big problems. They basically use plywood lined with a tarp. The first problem is that they left a big gap in the tarp for the water to go through.
The bigger problem is water pressure. The cistern is basically a box that appears to be 8 feet by 4 feet and 4 feet high. The 2 sides that are 4 feet tall by 8 feet long will have almost 4,000 pounds! of pressure against them when it’s full. (as a note, it DID rain at the end of the show, the cistern got a couple of feet of water, and it held until morning! I still have doubts as to whether or not their cistern could handle being filled.)
They would have been much better off if they would have found a place where they could dig in the ground and use the earth to provide counter pressure. Their wooden design could work, but it’s not likely.
They FINALLY set up a night watch, but they’re only using one person for the entire night. In general, the more boring the watch, and the less disciplined and experienced your group, the more often you should rotate. Michael was supposed to be on watch, but he laid down and went to sleep and intruders came and broke in again.
I discuss this in the SurviveInPlace.com Urban Survival Course, and I’ll briefly describe a sleep/watch strategy here. Basically, you would designate 12 hours for sleeping. Out of those 12 hours, everyone in the group would sleep for 8 hours and be on watch for 4. Ideally, you’d have 1/3 of the group on watch at any given time.
Again, you could obviously modify it if you had a high percentage of people with military experience, but this is a solid strategy for groups that are mixed in experience, training, and discipline.
Two of the guys catch a gator…which was simultaneously gutsy and done smartly. While gators have very strong jaws, they don’t have much strength to open their jaws. I would have killed it before carrying it a few blocks, but I’m impressed that they pulled off catching, killing, and butchering it.
3 of the colonists go out exploring and find a fast food restaurant. For a second time, they find evidence that someone else is living in a place they’re searching and they decide to loot it anyhow! I’m all for scavanging after a disaster, but I’m a 10 Commandments guy and taking supplies that people are using or will be using before you can replace them is stealing.
Besides that, there will be “law” and “justice” in a disaster situation, no matter how bad things get. It may be in the form of people taking the law into their own hands instead of in the form of the police and a judge, but you have to expect that there will eventually be consequences for breaking laws.
When they got back to the colony, they changed their story and said that there was no sign of life. To me, this is simply an indication that they realized that it was wrong to take stuff from the fast food restaurant, but they did it anyhow.
Fortunately, at the end of the episode, they decided to pick a leader. They picked Sally, the mechanic. One thing to keep in mind is that the person who does the most isn’t necessarily the best person to lead. I’ll be interested to see if Sally taking a leadership role will take away from what she’s able to actually do, or if she’s able to use her leadership position to inspire the others and increase overall productivity.
I was very glad to see that the colonists switched from a democratic form of organization to a representative republic. Democracies are inherantly unstable and have historically imploded when the laziest 51% figures out that they can survive off of the efforts of the 49% that works the most.
So, what survival lessons did you see this week? What conversations did The Colony start for you? And what are some of the traits should the ideal leader have in a long term survival situation?
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
I still do not think they have there act together in terms of protecting there space… I am 72 an did 3 yrs in the Army many many years ago … MOS was a teletype repair guy with a crypto clearence…bottom line is NO one got in the Com center with out a clearance…Seems as if the bad guys just walk into there space at will…My son an I talked about breaking up the night watch…One guy all night is not going to work ~!
Plus I think they need to step up to the fact they have to treat the bad guys very hard… they seem unable to make the jump from nice folks…. to keeping there area safe….No one should be able to go through the doors … make the bad guys work at getting in… an drive them off before they do get inside your space….This is an area that needs a lot of work… in my opinion…. Old Ed
I was impressed with the alligator capture, they pulled that off really smartly and the guy that fell asleep on his watch managed to redeem himself in my eyes by his gator capturing and fileting skills. I agreed with Reno that the group was easily distracted by the mere mention of food that they all abandoned their house and supplies to go ogle the gator. Just the night before they were almost robbed again! Security needs to be beefed up for sure. I think Sally was a good choice, as opposed to some of the other ppl who’s names that came up, but I think Reno should have been chose as the leader. I think they are a very creative and skilled group as evidenced by the stuff they’ve managed to build, but at the same time, they are also operating very loosely and are easily distracted, they need more discipline.
I would have taken the role of leader then established Security, (rotating shifts) and designated responsibilities to the different individuals. For instance 2 people each on water, food (wild game)& packaged, shelter maybe more than two. Catch all rainwater possible and build cistern in ground. No looting. They appeared disorganized and irresponsible, which was detrimental to their survival.
I whole heartily agree.1) anyone with military background should take over leadership because they know how.2) takes 6 weeks to collect h2o, set up watches, gather food and secure the place are losers. and the girl being caught ALONE!!!!!!! come on…. i would have left her with the others. she deserves that for going off by her self, and giving all that stuff to get her back????? NOT!!!!
I wonder if you could use some cargo straps or chains around the plywood cistern? I know you can get straps and chains rated more then 4000lbs. Would that keep it together when full?
As for security, friend and I were just talking about that today.
With all the debris around, I don’t know why they haven’t made a way to barricade the door. Then you could be throwing bricks and what not at them from the 2nd floor or roof. They have enough resources to make that building into a castle. Personally, I’d setup a makeshift catapult on the roof, and chuck 5 gallons of bricks and debris at a time.
the fact of the matter is this when you have no law enforcement to protect yourself and your loved ones you HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF you cant just GIVE ANYWAY ANYTHING your numbers your defences where you are what you have NOTHING IS FREE in that case it has got to give and take. you give to those you can TRUST AND NOBODY ELSE if somebody comes looking to take whats yours YOU PUT THEM IN THE GROUND YOU NO HAVE NO OTHER CHOISE IF YOU WANTTO SURVIVE
I would like to know how to purify water, contanimated with oil and herbicies that is the one thing I have not been able to find. I think they need to become more aggressive in their security also. In real life I do not think they would still be alive. They men would have been killed and the women taken as slaves, it is a good thing this is a simulation.
Don,
That is definatly something David covers in the course. I would be happpy to give you more information on signing up for the course of you like.
Evan
Don, you can build a filter with a couple of sizes of gravel,sand and charcoal (burnt wood) if you look online you can find several sites that will show you. My father and I designed and built a large scale activated charcoal filter for our mutual (local) water company,the EPA were so impressed with how clean we made our water they came out to see and copy our design. Do a little research you’ll find it.That contaminated water situation they had on the show would be an easy fix.
Can you give me more information, all I can find are links to sites that want to sell me camping filters or really expensive ones. I want one I can build myself. I know it can be done just need some plans.
Hey Dan,
Here’s a BIG part of the process…it’s the system that Paul K was referring to. My apologies that Evan didn’t refer you to it earlier.
David
I agree with Vera, they need to set up rotating shifts, preferably 24/7. They really need to get serious about security (should have been 30 days ago). I would think that at this point they would have set up some simple early warning traps like running lines of string near the bushes tied to a can with some rocks or glass in it. I am surprised that with all the work they have done to their existing location they now want to move on, don’t they only have a few weeks to go? Without tires for the tractor and maybe the use of the “pig truck” they would have to leave some really valuable stuff behind. The grass doesn’t look any greener on the other side to me, maybe with a tummy full of gator they will not want to move on so quickly.
these colonist became comfortable in the idea that there was plenty of water nearby, ignorant to the possibility of losing it. they seem to take alot of things for granted, or they simply don’t have a clue. if these people are an example of general society, that leads me to believe personal security should be at the top of any preppers survival pyramid. it would be a huge waste of time to do all that planning, storing, & becoming sustainable just to lose it to desparate looters like the colonists.
Jeremy,
The “needs” pyramid is a GREAT way to organize your thoughts on survival and preparedness. I’ve got one that I posted awhile back called, “Heirarchy of Urban Survival Needs.” You can see it by going here: http://secretsofurbansurvival.com/98/gold-vs-food-which-to-buy-first/
David
thanks for the link, it was nice to compare what i’ve been doing to a more detailed outlook. my pyramid did’t include any gold or silver, just cash in a B.O.B.. but given the state of our current economy, i can see how these could hold up better than the $1000 i have for “just incase.” converting all or sum from paper to gold coin would be in my best interest. what do u think?
P.S. my version.
security
tools shelter
food water fire
This group is just rabble – a bunch of individuals who evidently need a lot more misery to get their act together. They are typical Generation X / post baby boomers – all worried about offending each other instead of stepping up and calling a spade a spade. No discipline for falling asleep on watch, no discipline for violating the rules and going off alone and getting kidnapped. They need a strong leader and need to divide into teams, each with primary responsibility for one of their necessities.
agree…but with what do they enforce anything? They have no will to make a stand internally or externally. The guy who fell asleep should have been turned loose on his own….
The lackadaisical attitude these people take toward security of self, group, and resources borders on suicidal. The really haven’t organized so much as screw-all and if this were real, they’d be finished before they got started. This program is of value only as a series of “what NOT to do” lessons.
Let us not forget, that the show is scripted…and they cannot take any serious action against the “bad guys.” Those in the colony know that how bad things get, they will not die and the camera crew is only a few feet away from them, with cameras rolling all the time. I do believe that they are playing to the camera as well.
good point BUT that being said in a REAL LIFE SITUATION such as this THATS THE REAL DEAL
yes…it is all about ratings…not survival..
Right on, guys…remember, it’s not a show to watch to learn survival lessons. It’s a show to watch to start conversations, game scenarios, and watch psychology.
I love all the acomments from the would be survivalists and arm chair commandos. Most of it is bull. Leaders lead by one of two ways…they are elected or by force. Elected leaders only last as long as the electorate allows..which in this situation is zero, because as soon as she makes a decison they don’t like ..then what? I’ll tell you …nothing. If you can not back up your directives they are useless. So, unless she is willing to take out one of her own to prove a point…you have no real autority…you have to convince and conjole and try and persuade peole to do what yo wnat…bad karma all around. You take a leadership stand , you lay out the rules you see who follows willing ly and who does not…then you take what you need and leave the losers on their own. No time for democracy in survival. That is why the military uses a chain of command…simple and direct and if you disobey…consequences.
What do you do with the lame as@#$$#5 who falls asleep…cut his rations in half etc??…please…once again…no way to enforce the rules.
The guys who brought the gator back were not brave or smart…they were stupid and acted without good judgement. they were lucky. The plan to get the gator needed to be thought out and executed in a manner that would not get any of them hurt…what do you do with an injured person bitten by a gator..who can no longer provide assistnce to the group…stupid stupid stupid..this is all hollywoood crap…The frist time they weere raided is Ok…you learn…the second time should have cause irrepreble harm to the ‘enemy’, to make them think twice about trying it again. in addition, someone should have reconned them on the out bound while they were licking their wounds and planned an immediate follow up to hit them where they live and finish the job, and take what they need. Nothing like an object lesson to get people thinking…the leader needs this type of activity to show why they should lead…not because they are a good diplomat…that time is past.
my typing needs severe improvement!!
If it helps any, grammar could use a bit of a tune-up as well (not necessarily singling you out as this applies to all of us. It was your appended comment re: “typing” that caught my attention). FYI, I believe the word “serious” would be more meaningful than “severe”.
Hey Sandman,
Any MINOR issues with your spelling/grammar are more than made up for by the quality of your comments.
If anything’s too bad on an otherwise great post, Evan or I will fix it.
David
I have to agree this was more what not to do than how to be successful. I would have been temped to use the gator for security. They needed early warning devices and 4 hours is about tops for staying vigilant on watch. The water catchment need to be smaller or in the ground or both. Never put all of your eggs in one basket. Organize, prioritize, and work the plan.
I would be very concerned about the water situation, this should have been the 1st thing they sould have taken care of. I hope they learn to smoke meat properly, in case they have a meat windfall.It would be great if they could convert water to a clean swimming pool like thy did the box, and then cover it somehow! Knowing how it feels to be robbed, why do it to someone that may be worse off then you, do we need to become complete savages in a disaster? The cyclecar seems to be a useful item.
It may be scripted as Linkrds suggests – but evidently you haven’t watched Stephen King’s The Stand, which is also a scripted movie. The first thing you notice is people arming themselves to survive, with or without a group to bolster their courage.
They also started picking up along the way whatever they could carry to get them a little further up the highway, whether apples-water-bicycles for transportation, etc.
The colony appears to be more a caricature of M/M Suburbia playing at surviving when the mall shuts down. This is about as believable as Paris Hilton on a working farm.
I wondered when they killed the gator why they failed to catch the blood. It would add nutrician to a stew or soup.
I also believe they need to make notes on the solutions they have found (under the assumption that the persons who have come up with the answers now could go missing at any moment)
And they should be making a simple map of the areas they have searched for the
purpose of identifying things that might prove usefull at a later date
While this is all scripted hollyweird “entertainment”, everyone is right about how this can be taken as a tool to help better shape the plans of those who already have knowledge of “survivalism” and self sufficiency. We’re all survivalists, if you eat food and drink water to stay alive, you’re surviving. As to how you acquire the food and water determines if you’re a good survivalist; if your knowledge of sources of food and water are no more than a refrigerator and a sink faucet, then you suck as a survivalist obviously.
Anyway, as far as my critique of this past episode, being a mechanical guy, I do like the cycle car, even though I might’ve done it differently, I think needing two people to pilot the thing is counterproductive to taking multiple people out, if you get attacked, then you effectively have two people who are unable to fight back. I think I would’ve welded up an axle to use some other tires on the front fork of the bike then attached the trailer to the rear of the bike, that way the pilot can control the thing by themselves while the passengers were free to do whatever needed to be done. Secondly, they veered off of their objective, they were supposed to be trying to get water, I would’ve went to the bayou and got the water, THEN came back to the fast food joint or wherever to scrounge. Priorities.
As far as stealing other people’s stuff, this is a case of things coming back to bite you in the rear. You steal other people’s stuff then wonder why they follow you home and steal your stuff. If you’re gonna bring people back to your colony, try to do it on more positive terms. Imagine, your group is one of many in the immediate area trying to survive, then you constantly steal everyone elses stuff, raid their places, then wonder why the whole neighborhood is kicking down your doors, stealing your women and burning your crap down, you more or less overstayed your welcome in the neighborhood.
All things considered, after getting your a**es kicked and robbed several times, you still haven’t figured out about the necessity of barricades and fortifications? Then you put one guy in charge of security, staying up ALL NIGHT, without an means of stimulation, not even a book to read? I almost don’t fully blame Mikey for falling asleep, I blame the group as a whole for being too selfish to realize that they need to stagger their sleeping patterns to allow a few people to be up at the same time throughout the night so no one person is stuck sleeping all day if they did manage to stay up all night.
As far as the gator, I’m not sure how I would’ve handled that one, using stronger guys to do the job, along with that snare was a good idea, but given that the gator was probably planted there, partially domesticated, it wasn’t as vicious as it could’ve been. I think I would’ve had three people, one with the machete to whack the gator while the other two snared the thing; screw all of that macho grabbing the snout crap, if the gator flailed the right way causing you to lose grip of his snout for just a second, then someone’s losing a hand or a leg.
I’m not sure how well the leader thing would pan out, I’m one that doesn’t take too well to following orders, especially if I think the orders are retarded or might get me killed. I would probably be the first to voice my grievances when I think a choice is stupid for whatever reason. If you need a “leader” for your group, then your group is doomed to begin with because that mean there’s no real unity if you need to have a central figure dictate what everybody else is going to do.
As far as the cistern, while there definately is room for improvement, its a start to at least get water gathered, BUT they should be working on something a little more permanent or better. If for no other reason I would’ve been emptying the cistern as it filled in order to store the water off site. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants to go to sleep and find your cistern totally emptied by goons overnight? While scouting around, I would’ve been trying to find buckets or other containers to use to store the water, but that’s just me. I would’ve probably made the thing smaller too, just so you can move it in and out, if for no other reason, goons could destroy the thing overnight just as easily as they can loot the water from it.
But, hypothetically speaking, if they don’t focus on securing their area, they will continue to be screwed from the get-go. In conclusion, I have another idea for helping make the show better-have a small segment at the beginning of every oher episode where the producers, or even the “stars” read “fan mail” to the viewers, which if you’re following me, would consist of critiques of the show, if for no other reason, to help everybody participating in the show to see just what the viewers do indeed want, to help make the show better for the survivalists to stomach, while still being entertaining for the primetime reality show crowd.
You have a number of good ideas. I like the one about separate storage of water after initially collected. If one used old milk containers or jars they could be hidden in the ground. Leaving it all in the cistern would also invite critters to use it…depending on the climate you had. On the other hand in a dry climate if critters would come… it may become a source of food…. small water hole idea….maybe not…interesting to try maybe.
It seems to me that having a leader is an obvious major advantage. But getting one in place that people agree to follow …. no matter what is something else again. It helps big time if people understand the need for a given order. It also helps if a fair duty roster is made out and followed to the letter (sickness being the exception)
The independent thinking you confess to is needed in some cases. In other cases it could get your team members killed.
In the military you obey orders …. to take care of your self and your group. You watch each others back.
In the non-military role… having the power to control who eats and who does not could be one easy solution. If you don’t want to obey the leader… then get out! Go on your own. Only problem is that anyone so “banished” will have intimate knowledge of the .
first of all they need to get serous about survival and come up with a real battle plan and it starts when you start planning before the disaster occures like watches that willhav eto be done in a two or four hour intervalls with gear that u will be using and haveing can goods and ability to collect and purify water to a dependable team to help u go and forage supplies and then don dyer had a good point luck its just a sumulation and no one is in real danger but if it was the real deal then the men would have been killed and the women traded as slaves or sex slaves or worse make to carry the heavy load and the men who have them as slaves and when they are done with then then they do the unthinkable and kill them and mike had a good point that the gen x are spoiled and lazy and just dont care until its get real the old saying is its all fun and games till the cops show up
and the sames goes for this group that hey dont care about this program and they need to step up and get serous or when it happens for real they will be an world of hurt so its best to prepair fo rthe worse
Hollywood…….yes. Excellant show to illustrate to the Gen-X’ers how real life can be after they realize that life & survival can turn very real in a moments notice. If you are not prepare for the future…….you will be doomed in the present…JUST LIKE THE COLONIST.
Just a thought. The idea of the cistern was good but, I agree with David about the likelyhood of the box failing. Plywood will eventually swell and crack. What about cleaning out the pool to use as a cistern? It’s already created to hold water. The issue would be catching and transfering the water to the pool. Of course they will also have to fix the fence where the gator supposedly gained access to the pool. They will also have the issue of water purity. Any ideas?
Mike should have really been chewed out for going to sleep. He strips down to his underwear and goes to bed? What a joke! Don’t volunteer for duty if you are not going to fulfill the task. And it should not have been for the whole night anyway. Take a 3 hour shift or so. Duh! You don’t have to be in the military to figure that one out! Those marauders just easily kicked in the door. I don’t get that either why they have not yet secured the doors!!! These colonists are not doing near as well as the first group did. And you don’t steal someone else’s things! I agree with David, thou shalt not steal. Don’t do to others what you don’t what done to yourself. Getting water and food has to be their number one priority. They may have to leave that area if they can’t find any food. I am amazed though that for the last month that they have been there that they have not been able to catch any fish?? All the items they are making are neat but you have to have water and food. I hope next season is better.
That is kind of funny that after all that time they hadnt caught any fish, havent they ever heard of trot lines? With all of those maggots they found on the dead pigs along with the dead pigs themselves (chitterlings make excellent catfish bait, along with liver), they should’ve had a butt-load of fish by now. If they could fabricate the windmill and other mechanical goodies, they surely could’ve fabricated simple fish hooks from stiff wire and set up trot lines in the bayou. Again that’s how I would’ve done things but I’m not on the show, I guess if I was I’d be the only one really surviving wouldn’t I?
i think mikey is a plant why would he take the time to get undressed and go to bed then a few min later they get robbed. plus how many people know how to handle a gater is this a ploy to get him back in grace. then
I am new to the survival mentality so I was just wondering why they would fight with the other “survivors of a flu pandemic”. What if these outside the colony people have skills, knowledge or experiences that everyone could benefit from? How long do we compete with our neighbors before we look at them as possible assets? One of them could be David Morris. Who wouldn’t want a REAL survivalist as part of their community? There is power in numbers so I suggest trying to tap into a possible source of allies.
Thats exactly what I’ve been saying, the way they keep going, they’re going to wear out any possible welcome in the neighborhood. Any people that may have been assets are now going to be enemies. If for no other reason, the old proverb “keep your friends close, enemies even closer” would definately apply to such a scenario. You would at least want to know who is good and bad in the area so you’ll know who to avoid. But who am I to judge?
“The Colony” is a good teaching exercise, and as such, is worth watching.
John Leach, in his ground-breaking 1982 book “Survival Psychology” points
out that in any group, during an emergency, 80 percent of the participants
will not know what to do and be frozen in indecision; 10 to 15 percent will
do the wrong thing and between 10 to 15 percent will react correctly.
The people who act appropriately will do so because of prior training.
We’re seeing Leach’s theory play out in “The Colony.”
I like what you’re doing here!
Leon
Even Soviet Russia, at its worst as a police state regime, never: -programmed its majority for genocide -pampered and supported lazy , racist parasitical minorities -allowed affirmative action, political correctness, forced sensitivity groups, discrimination againsts its best and brightest, a military that cannot win wars against even irregulars -subversion by primitive medieval muslims. Soviet communism actually offered a form of tyranny that was more humane than the AfroAmerican brand of communism.
Off topic anyone?
Hey Ed Jerome, I’m an old Air Force Crypto guy from 1972-76. HOO-RAH!
And I couldn’t agree more. These idiots keep blowing off security! Michael (who dropped the ball on his watch) did say it best…”HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE GONNA GET OUR ASS KICKED BEFORE WE LEARN!” Ok, so now they have a leader. THEY NEED A FRIGGIN’ SECURITY OFFICER!!. Seems like they’re all a bunch of mambie pambies, and no-one has ANY prior military experience. Michael should have lost his eating priveledges for 24 hours for the sleeping stunt.
But, all in all, it is a friggin’ TV show and they probably aren’t allowed to make any weapons that can actually hurt someone. So why is it that the guys who took Becka had guns? I saw what appeared to be a sidearm on the man holding her in the back of the truck while the other demanded food. This would never happen in my world. I have guns and if a scenario existed where I had to bug out and found myself part of a new group, I would be secretly carrying as I do in everyday life….dumb-ass Gen-X’ers!
Even though the “sidearms” were big cans of mace, or something similar, kind of like the crap Dog the bounty hunter uses, a weapon is a weapon. Even my feeble mind has enough knowledge of improvised weapons that if I were dropped into an urban jungle w/o a side arm of any type, with a little time I would’ve fabricated SOMETHING, be it firearm, archery equipment, some kind of projectile thrower, from the materials available. Heck, if those guys knew what people from 50 years ago know about “improvising” stuff, be it weapons, tools, etc, they would’ve ruled that neighborhood by now with their knowledge of how to do things and those past ass whoopins they received would’ve never happened, let alone the kidnapping, hell, I would’ve used that chick as bait to snag some goons if I knew they were tryng to hunt us, but all goofiness aside, since these folks are probably the type that may not have ever been exposed to anything worse than a BB gun, if that, then its almost understandable that they would have no idea about whipping up weapons to protect themselves, especially in a time like that.
I have extensive security management experience as well as survival training background. I have watched this season as well as last, and most definitely like last season. This program is touted as an “experiment,” where the participants are put through the wringer. This is also an experiment for the producers of The Colony as well. They most likely picked these particular candidates for not only their strengths, but for the many lacks on their applications. I hope this is the last scrape the bottom of the barrel season. People will stop watching if they amass a bunch of Barney Fife clones.
I have been in a few survival situations myself, and have always relied on my level head and my training to get me through it. I can tell you from experience that surviving some sort of catastrophe is hard enough alone, add a person or two who you hardly know, and you’re going see the worst come out in at some point.
I seen right away on episode one that this was going to be a group that was going to be their own worst enemy. It was a big mistake when the two men went overboard when they were picking a fight with the bad guys as they were leaving the area. I know not everyone has security sense, but they were letting their testosterone do the bad mouthing, instead of warning them of the consequences if they came back and following them for a short safe distance. They not only were not contaminated by the roughhousing they got involved in, but set the tone for their ass-whopping later. They also could of had a few other colonists recon where the bad guys were going. After the second confrontation they should of gotten a clue to formulate plans for serious interior/exterior security modifications, scavenging/manufacturing serious weapons, and security/recon patrols of the immediate areas. Their recent idea of a man-catcher is a brilliant idea. Tell the bad guy to stop so I can gently put this pole with a rope around your head. If I had one of them coming at me with that, I would just take hold of the pole and slam the colonist silly with the end he’s holding. There’s a positive though, it a great alligator catcher.
I’ve got two problems with the show and the colonists. Six episodes and still no real security. If this were a real situation they’d all be dead by now. They should remove the chain-link fence and create a smaller perimeter around the main house. Useful items could then be moved within the new perimeter. The fence is useless in its present state. I yell at my TV every week they don’t take on this project. This should have been obvious after securing some food and water in the first episode.
I also believe that the shows creators are constantly working against the colonists. People will make mistakes sooner or later but I think the show takes “too much” advantage of those moments every time a mistake is made. Those survivors who want to harm or exploit the colonists wouldn’t know “every time” they dropped their guard. Even when under constant surveillance. In my opinion, this actually takes away some of the realism of the situation.
My problem with this show is that the psychological pressure they are under is false and they all know it. They know they are on a show and that thier family and friends are ok at home. I have only seen a few episodes but all those people and noone owns a firearm for protection? If bad guys with guns want what others have, they will get it from good guys without them.
That’s definately a good point as well, everyone knows that no one is going to inflict harm on anyone, if in some alternate universe that wasn’t the case, things may have been a lot different, they may not have readily tried to attack a mob with nothing more than their bare hands, and after one or two of their friends got blown away, security would’ve definately become a top priority before anything else. One of the other things that I had to kind of snicker about regarding the false pretenses of the situation is when they found the macaroni art with one of the colonist’s kids names on the back and the guy started getting teary eyed like he really lost his family, all I could do is shake my head at the apparent “acting” that was being put on. I would prefer if they either left out stuff like that, knowing full well that because everything is indeed staged or otherwise arranged, that we can’t take it that seriously when they put in the emotional type stuff like that. Otherwise the show’s still alright for discussion and contemplating the hypothetical situation.
How many times do they have to get robbed before they figer out that they are not safe there?I could walk in with my M-4 and tie them all up and take what I wanted.
You must have a place that you can lock down and keep others out.On the first Colony they had a wharehouse to use.I see on this Colony their was a steal building that would work.Brick or Steal!Then you can keep the big bad wolf out.
dave w in the first colony they had a different skill set 2nd the steel was very thin 3rd they are in a completely different environment and they dont have raw materils the first had they made it harder for them so far i only see they have wood and pvc