# What post apocalyptic skills do you have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 4, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352 "2013-10-04T14:10:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/81 "2013-10-07T16:17:53Z")
> [@](#): > > I think you unintentionally made my point. Evolution/natural selection/crass survivalism will eventually eliminate all diabetics. Wouldn’t it follow that diabetes would become incredibly rare, and unlikely to be passed on in that scenario? Nope. Diabetes was known in [ancient times](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_diabetes). It wasn’t as common, but it was known. As I said, the problem is that it’s possible to procreate BEFORE manifesting the signs of the disease. And if a disease carrier can pass on his/her defective genes before dying, then evolution won’t eliminate the carriers. > [@](#): > > The reason humulin was invented was because, eventually, diabetics become desensitized to animal insulin, or they become allergic to a particular animal. > Humulin is made using E-coli that has the insulin producing gene inserted. Not something that could be done on a farm. > That said, any type IIs would be eating a healthy diet and working hard, so, for most, insulin wouldn’t be required. The type IIs probably WOULD be working hard, but I’m not so sure about the healthy diet. After all, I’m sure that Twinkies and Fritos and other snack foods would be grabbed in raids, and either eaten as treats or used as somewhat perishable trade goods. Yes, EVENTUALLY the survivors will eat up just about all of the junk food, but can the type IIs survive until then? Of course, the oral antidiabetics probably have a much longer shelf life than insulin. I’d like to note that even though my blood sugar control has been pretty good for a while now (nothing over 140), I’m sitting here with an ulcer on my leg, and my doctor is worrying about my kidney functions. And that is WITH modern monitoring and medications. A big part of modern diabetic treatment is monitoring with fancy, sophisticated, expensive blood glucose monitors and testing strips. Actually, the strips are what’s expensive…and they need a pretty high tech level to make. I’m pretty sure that even the old style urine testing strips need a high tech level to make, though I won’t swear on it. I’m willing to discuss this further in a new thread, too. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/82 "2013-10-07T16:21:38Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > I grew up on a farm and although I haven’t done that sort of work for a long time I could fairly easily go back to it if I had to. Yup, that’s me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/83 "2013-10-07T16:30:05Z")
Half of my stuff is “theory”. I’ve read about how to do it or watched others do it but have not actually done it with my own hands. Which means I’d probably screw it up without help. This includes: Canning, cleaning game, horseback riding (but not training), advanced carpentry, sharpening knives. I’m good at farming. Have done the planting, growing, and harvesting by hand so if you need that wheat threshed, winnowed, and ground, I’m your gal. I’m a good shot with a gun (rifle and shotgun). I don’t require glasses or regular medication, which is a plus. I know how to knit. I can sew clothes by hand or machine (pants might be a problem at first but I can do top half stuff fine without a pattern right now). I can fish with a line. I know how to make a pen out of a quill. Basic carpentry and good at helping with the more advanced stuff. I know how to take raw wool and make it into yarn (but not how to shave a sheep). I know how to create starter yeast so we can have bread. I imagine archery is a much better skill to have than shooting guns though. Still, you’d need a fletcher to make arrows… and someone to make arrowheads. We’d want a pharmacist to go with our doctors so we could know what the heck to raid old pharmacies for when someone needs medication. Also the amateur radio guy will probably be tons more help than any of us might think at first. Communication, man! It’s great knowing how to use a bunch of tools and items like I do but y’know, if you don’t have any of item X, and you don’t know how to make basic item X, you’re up the river. So the person who knows how to make a loom - indispensable! A blacksmith?! Whoo-weee! Soap? Shoes?! That stuff is really helpful and a very specific skill to have. I mean…I hope we have a cheesemaker! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/84 "2013-10-07T16:37:36Z")
> [@Uber\_the\_Goober](#): > > Bolding mine. > I think you unintentionally made my point. Evolution/natural selection/crass survivalism will eventually eliminate all diabetics. Wouldn’t it follow that diabetes would become incredibly rare, and unlikely to be passed on in that scenario? This should follow for many other maladies that we currently treat with “maintenance medication” wouldn’t it? Meds run dry, those people start to die off. > > I’m only making this point because in the TV show “Revolution”, (a post-apocalyptic show) the “R” is dropped from the title during the intro momentarily, implying that a lack of all modern technology would somehow act to improve humankind on a more basic level. > > My opinion, we’d be trading physical survivability for intellectual ability, and that’s not such a good thing long-term. But I do think that humans would eventually start to progress via natural selection towards a more physically fit bunch. > An interesting question might be whether those physical failings would re-manifest themselves in time? Once we re-establish modern medicine, would we start caring for those diabetics etc. again so that the issue is evidenced to be a basic flaw in our genetic code rather than an intermittent “irregularity” or “mutation” that can be evolved out of? Or would there be no diabetics to care for - them having all died off, unable to pass on the genes? > > Well now this is a hijack. I’ll throw this out there, if anyone’s interested and responds, maybe we can start a different thread. Type I diabetes is not just a genetic disease. Genetics loads the gun but some other, environmental element (probably viral) pulls the trigger. That’s why the name changed from juvenile diabetes. It can manifest at any age. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/85 "2013-10-07T16:55:49Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Type I diabetes is not just a genetic disease. Genetics loads the gun but some other, environmental element (probably viral) pulls the trigger. > That’s why the name changed from juvenile diabetes. It can manifest at any age. ? I did not know that. So people are basically “catching” diabetes? Yay! A new reason to be irrationally scared of a whole group of people!!1 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/86 "2013-10-07T17:10:08Z")
If you’re not genetically predisposed to diabetes, then the trigger won’t affect you. Probably. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/87 "2013-10-07T17:48:56Z")
Hunting/Fishing/Foraging Backpacking/Mountaineering/Canoeing First Aid (Ski Patrol for a number of years) Navigation/Orienteering Knots/Macrame/Knitting/Weaving/Sewing/Leatherwork Gardening/Farming Animal Husbandry/Butchery Carpentry/Plumbing Electrical Engineering: get a windmill or waterwheel turning a generator ---
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/88 "2013-10-07T17:55:26Z")
For someone with my skillset (listed a few posts back, plus I forgot I can make cheese given cows, calves, and a little bit of experimentation on how to make my own rennet), how big of a minus would it be that I’m narcoleptic? I mean, I’m not useful for guard duty unless you pump me with some stimulants, but I still have a lot of knowledge and skills. I just might need a nap a few times a day. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/89 "2013-10-07T19:04:03Z")
I know how to identify the correct Holly trees, roast their leaves, and make a caffeinated tisane . . . ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/90 "2013-10-07T19:32:00Z")
Skilled carpenter, decent mason, basic plumbing and electrical. I can keep houses in repair or build a compound from scratch. Also have project management skills and experience using unskilled labor. I can keep all you computer programmers/lawyers/baristas busy and productive. I disagree about the need for accountants though, even the Sumarians had accountants and somebody’s always gonna need to know how our resources add up. Also: 1st Aid Brewing, malting Decent shot with rifle/shotgun Can wield a sword/axe/baseball bat well enough to be dangerous Camping ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/91 "2013-10-07T19:58:32Z")
All my professional skills are tailored to banking, insurance, IT, and general computer use. None of which would be of any value post-apocalypse. I guess I could be a music instructor. I play a mean saxophone, I have a decent knowledge of other light woodwind instruments and valve brass, and my piano is passable. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/92 "2013-10-07T20:13:06Z")
I can preserve food. I’ve canned fruits and vegetables, smoked meats and fish. You don’t want me near it when you are killing it or growing it, but once that part is done, I can make sure you can eat it six months from now without dying (probably). ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/93 "2013-10-07T21:25:34Z")
> [@randomface](#): > > For someone with my skillset (listed a few posts back, plus I forgot I can make cheese given cows, calves, and a little bit of experimentation on how to make my own rennet), how big of a minus would it be that I’m narcoleptic? Probably not a big deal - we’ll post someone to work with you when you fall asleep it’s not face-down in the curds and whey. We’ll need people cross-trained anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/94 "2013-10-07T21:30:52Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > All my professional skills are tailored to banking, insurance, IT, and general computer use. None of which would be of any value post-apocalypse. > > I guess I could be a music instructor. I play a mean saxophone, I have a decent knowledge of other light woodwind instruments and valve brass, and my piano is passable. Something tells me that Cecilville will have a computer network up and running as soon as the lights come back on. Even if all the EEs we have on the boards do not make it to town, I can wrap a core and get it spinning. Music will be nice to have as well. Cheers **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/95 "2013-10-07T21:37:23Z")
Yeah, pretty sure if we all make it to the bunker we can get a network up and running, as well as radio communications. Hell, I know where we can get some kicking microwave equipment for some nice point to point stuff…as long as someone brings a few cases of single malt in the survival supplies. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/96 "2013-10-07T21:38:15Z")
> [@Uber\_the\_Goober](#): > > ? I did not know that. So people are basically “catching” diabetes? > > Yay! A new reason to be irrationally scared of a whole group of people!!1 Not “catching it” - Type 1 diabetes isn’t contagious, it’s an autoimmune disease. But you can develop it at any age. I managed to pick it up at the grand old age of 38. The folks at Joslin Diabetes Center (one of the oldest/best diabetes places in the country) told me that they’ve diagnosed people in their 80s with T1. It tends to show up more often in kids/teenagers, but it’s definitely possible to have your pancreas crap out at any age. Back to the OP: yeah, I don’t have my hopes too high on coming up with homemade insulin after the apocalypse, but I’m pretty sure I personally would die trying 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/97 "2013-10-07T23:49:01Z")
With all the brainpower and skills in Cecilville, we’d probably be able to keep a few modern niceties running … Which is why I’d recommend keeping a low visual / electronic presence so raiding parties / brigands would not see us as a tempting target, then again we’d be we’ll defended against assaults from raiders anyway Flowerchildia would be a much softer and more inviting target anyway, which is why we should offer to hook them up to the Cecilville electrical grid, use them as a lure to keep raiders away from Cecilville ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/98 "2013-10-08T00:08:52Z")
In _Lucifer’s Hammer,_ authors Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle wrote a brief scene celebrating the valuable skills of the compound’s bookkeeper, who kept the supplies and labor pool organized. But if our colony already has one of these, I am well and truly fucked, good for little else but standing guard and sleeping in a cave at the territory’s furthest outposts. The craftsmen, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc., would be gods to me. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/99 "2013-10-08T00:21:34Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > In _Lucifer’s Hammer,_ authors Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle wrote a brief scene celebrating the valuable skills of the compound’s bookkeeper, who kept the supplies and labor pool organized. But if our colony already has one of these, I am well and truly fucked, good for little else but standing guard and sleeping in a cave at the territory’s furthest outposts. > > The craftsmen, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc., would be gods to me. We need at least two of everything, including bookkeepers, can’t have the wheels fall off if someone has an accident. I realized something about Cecilville, since we are already a community of sorts, we may have an easier go at it. Of course there would be conflicts but I think we might be better at group cohesiveness than a random group of folks getting together post Apocalypse. So I think the question now is where? **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352/100 "2013-10-08T00:51:48Z")
I dunno, unless everyone went around wearing a nametag with their SD handle, there’s no way I’d know who anyone actually was! I do think established communities will have an edge over people trying to get used to each other at the same time they’re trying to survive a crisis situation. The basics are pretty well covered - here’s what I’ve got: Storyteller and lore-keeper. I can tell stories (established fables, fairy-tales, folk-tales from MANY cultures, and modern stories (now gather round and I’ll tell the tale of Gilligan’s Island… ) as well as on-the-spot made-up stories. Beekeeper. I have kept three hives personally for a year, one of them swarmed and I caught it, ending up with four hives at the end of the year. I am not allergic to bee stings, and I don’t actually like honey, so I won’t be eating the product. 🙂 Tailoring. If someone gives me fabric, I can make you clothing - either by patterning or draping. Patches and fixes and utilitarian things like tents or sails are also doable - I have made a tent before. Lifeguarding and Swim Instructor. I can swim well, quickly, for a long time, and can teach others (have taught both children and adults) how to swim. I am also conversant in water safety, and could teach that as well, although I am not a certified Lifeguard Instructor. First Responder/Wilderness First Responder. Childcare. I am not maternal, but I am very good with other people’s children. If life is dire, the community needs a daycare equivalent, so all the “children of tomorrow” aren’t keeping their parents from the vital work of keeping the community running today. Bonus points that I can teach the older buggers my skill-sets (or others that I pick up), making them more useful also. Random useful bits: I can sing on-key, hold a harmony, and have a pretty good range. I have a very good memory for melodies, and a decent memory for lyrics. I can shoot very well with rifles, and exceedingly well with pistols. I am accurate with bows (not amazing, but I’ll hit the target), but have a very weak draw so my range is short. I am familiar with reloading and with black-powder (built a working cannon for a class project). I enjoy disassembling, cleaning and repairing firearms, and am quite good for an amateur. I’m not squeamish about blood, bugs, or guts, or with injuries to humans/animals, either in inflicting them, or repairing them. I don’t eat much. I vote that we consider somewhere with a really strong river current, or somewhere with un-tapped-out coal, for easier power acquisitions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-post-apocalyptic-skills-do-you-have/670352.md?page=6)