What Is a Survivalist?
A survivalist is an individual who is prepared to be completely self-sufficient, often because of a belief that eventually society will collapse through social or political disorder and only the self-sufficient will be able to survive. The skills sought after by survivalists often include wilderness survival, first aid and self defense with both weapons or hand-to-hand combat.
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Theories/Speculation
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The great majority of survivalists come from the belief that eventually all of society will collapse. This theory leads to the conclusion that individuals trained in first aid, collecting food, surviving in wilderness and combat will be the ones who survive while others die.
Food Skills
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A survivalist will often study multiple ways to make or find food in the wilderness. These skills include hunting, fishing, growing crops, finding edible plants and trapping prey.
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Self Defense
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Survivalists believe in worst-case scenarios. They might feel that even if it's not a war or government that will lead to society's downfall, unprepared survivors will contribute to the chaos. Survivalists strive for the ability to use several types of guns, as well as the bow and arrow, knives and at least basic hand-to-hand combat for protection.
Many Different Types
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While all survivalists have the same general goals in mind (surviving an oncoming disaster), there is no one agreement on what that disaster will be. Some survivalists plan on being isolated from the majority of society, while others with similar views are preparing for a compound existence to hold off the outside world.
Misconceptions
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Perhaps the most common misconception is that all survivalists are fanatics, criminals or hate groups. While there are plenty of hate groups and fanatical groups that are survivalist in nature, not all survivalists belong to groups like that. A survivalist is simply someone who wants to be prepared for a worst-case scenario. Many special forces soldiers could be considered survivalist in their skill set.
Where to Start
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If survivalist skills are something you want to learn, the best way to start is with basic classes on growing a garden, basic wilderness survival, self defense and first aid. After that, keep increasing your knowledge bit by bit until you have learned everything a survivalist needs to know.
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