Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with survival

A skunk is holding me hostage outside in the cold.

greta simone — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:20:34 -0800

HELP! I'm totally stuck outside because a skunk is holding me hostage, and it's cold. I stepped outside on my enclosed patio to have a smoke and read an article on my laptop. My patio is enclosed by a building and a tall fence (which the skunk apparently crawled through) and the only way in is through the door I came out from. I sat down and heard some rustling, and a skunk appears in front of the door and then popped back beside the concrete step that leads to the door. He keeps popping his head out and looking at me. I hear rustling.
Do I just make a run for it and try to get in the door (which means packing up my laptop and drink and having to open said door, which means I'll have to hesitate right beside him)?
Or do I try to scare him away by throwing a chair pillow in his general direction or making some noise or something? Will he go on the attack if I do?
It's pretty cold out here, and I'd like to not get sprayed or attacked. I can't get over the fence. Help me metafilter.

For a screenplay: what are some wilderness traps one could improvise to incapacitate another person?

thejrae — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:09:04 -0800

For a screenplay: what are some wilderness traps one could improvise to incapacitate another person? The protagonists are extreme survival camping types, a hetero couple. They are out in the middle of nowhere winter camping when a crazy dude starts shooting at them with a rifle. They manage to escape on his Argo (ATV type thingy) to get a headstart, but have little supplies. They have a gun but I'm not sure if I want them to use it- they'd prefer to solve things non-violenty. ;)

Anyway, they need to set a trap up for the hunter. They have something he wants so they can lure him.

I've seen some snare traps and deadfall traps online, but those seem more for small animals. This is for a human. There's the pit with spikes in the bottom, but I'm not sure if they'd have enough time to dig a pit, and don't know if they have a shovel or not (of course I could write it in... but it seems kinda boring, I dunno.)

Maybe it's not a trap but more "knowledge of the land" they could use to their advantage... a triggered avalanche perhaps?

The other thing is I don't want to kill the hunter- just pin him down or knock him out.

Also, me and 2 other people are shooting this in Colorado this winter, so we have to be able to pull off these special effects ourselves! That's a big catch! :P We could use stock footage perhaps for an avalanche.

I want to commune with the dead

ollyollyoxenfree — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:22:37 -0800

What are some good official sources for post-catastrophe, post-accident, or post-emergency reporting? In Laurence Gonzales' Deep Survival he writes the following:

Commune with the Dead. If you could collect the dead around you and sit by the campfire and listen to their tales, you might find yourself in the best survival school of all. Since you can't, read the accident reports in your chosen field of recreation. Accidents in North American Mountaineering; the National Speleological Society's newsletter; River Safety Report; and numerous other publications (such as the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) and Web sites not only provide reading that is by turns gripping, hilarious, and heart-wrenching, but also tell you the mistakes other people have made. Then you can be on the lookout for similar situations and perhaps avoid them. (Wasn't this the cave where those scuba divers drowned ...?)

What are some other similar official reporting in this area? Thanks.

Similar recent AskMeFi question.

Survival Simulation Games

Elminster24 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:13:21 -0800

Survival simulation video games (not horror)...help me find some. Looking for recommendations on survival games (like Lost in Blue, Sims Castaways, etc.) for the PC. I am really big into survival stuff (Man Vs. Wild/Survivorman type stuff) and love to play computer games based around that--preferably on a deserted island.

I played Lost in Blue which was ok, but to be honest I didn't really like the whole plot and having a girl you needed to look after was really annoying. But I LOVED how things like fishing, building a fire, etc. were all twitch based minigames that actually had you spinning a stick or throwing a spear instead of a stupid puzzle or something like that.

I played Sims 3 but it got boring REALLY quickly because you basically just gather and build stuff, there's no challenge to any of it.

I also tried the Virtual Villagers and My Tribe games, but those are all puzzle and time based. The real thrill for me is in the actual act of doing the survival stuff, like gathering wood and then building the fire and trying to get it lit, or gradually improving your survival situation by creating tools, etc.

Really not interested in any of the horror based survival games or anything like that. And I prefer good graphics but its not a deal breaker.

I know this is really specific, but hey, if anybody can come up with suggestions its the Hive Mind.

Seeking stories of men and women who -- either by way of adventure or by circumstance -- succumbed to the elements after a protracted attempt at survival...

cadastral — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:57:30 -0800

I've read and loved the histories of Sir Robert Falcon Scott, James Kim, George Mallory, S. A. Andrée, et cetera, and now I would like to be pointed towards more stories of men and women who -- either by way of adventure or by circumstance -- succumbed to the elements after a protracted attempt at survival... preferably leaving a rich and well-written-about story.

Great God! This is an awful place and terrible enough for us to have laboured to it without the reward of priority... but for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past. We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale...-Robert Falcon Scott, 1912

This kind of stuff really tugs at me and gets me on some gut-level. I read Scott's journals a couple of years ago, and lately have been devouring everything I can get my hands on regarding James Kim. Which other stories have been documented (either first-hand, or by others) in similar ways. They need not be famous or well-known... just compellingly documented

Despite a past personal interest in dead alpinists and mountaineers, I feel like I've read everything printed on the subject, and it's not my chief interest at the moment... though I can't really see a reason to not include them, past my own personal preference.

Lastly, here are some wikipedia categories I've consulted that may give you an idea of what I've found, so far. Thanks for your help.

Category:Antarctic expedition deaths
Deaths from hypothermia
Mountaineering deaths
Mountaineering deaths on Mount Everest
Accidental human deaths in the United States

In what percentage of large passenger jet crashes are there any survivors? And on those occasions, what is the average survival rate?

Joe Beese — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:03:49 -0800

In what percentage of large passenger jet crashes are there any survivors? And on those occasions, what is the average survival rate?

Can you live on it?

leotrotsky — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:14:33 -0800

HypotheticalFilter: What would happen to a morbidly obese person if completely deprived of food? I wonder about the very large, those confined to bed, or requiring motorized vehicles to move about. What would happen if they were suddenly unable to access a food supply?

Assume there's plenty of access to water. Would their bodies be unable to handle it, causing stroke or heart attack? I figure most of their muscles will have atropied, but would they eventually get down to a mobile size? Would they have those excess skin problems like the gastric bypass folks? Other issues?

This is not a joke question, I am genuinely curious if large amounts of excess fat can be converted to a source of food for an extended period of time in the absence of other sources

Near Death Non Fiction

dydecker — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:52:24 -0800

Please recommend me a book about disaster/survival along the lines of Shackleton's 'South', Jon Krakauer's 'Into Thin Air' or 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place'. The last one of these is about a guy who ends up cutting off his own arm to free himself from under a rock in the Utah desert, which is kind of a vibe I'm shooting for: a non-fiction book about a person/people who got themselves into a terrible near-death or dangerous situation, but managed to survive.

Do you have any recommendations of non-fiction books along these lines? I feel like reading something like this, especially if it is well-written.

nights on earth

yonation — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:08:09 -0800

if i were stranded on a desert island -- or to stray from the cliche, in a postapocalyptic abandoned mall -- how would i make booze? give me the best and easiest recipes for making alcohol on the sly, on the easy, quickly and with a macguyver-esque fetishism for utility. i mean, the world's ending in said location, and what else do you need?

Taken my thinking, my means of survival

generalist — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:49:36 -0800

What are some good compendiums of subsistence-level skills/resources available online? I have the army survival manual and the encyclopedia of country living, etc., and I'm interested in stuff that covers the ground between them, like tips and tricks for getting by when I'm not yet stuck under a lean-to evading the marauders, but gas is rationed, food distribution systems are slow or failing, things are falling apart but not obliterated. For example, clear descriptions of basic mechanical engineering and construction for useful applications, the kind of stuff that I'd just google unless my service provider or the powerlines go down. (I've read previous responses to similar questions, and got some good stuff, but I figure there's ever more available online) Thanks in advance.

Survival tips&tricks?

tseo — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:30:43 -0800

Where can I find some tips&tricks for camping in the nature? I am spending lots of time in the mountains camping and having fun so I was looking for tips and tricks like "How to light a fire when it's raining?", "How to cook stuff in tree barks?", "How to make a shelter?", etc.

How Will Daily Life Change During This Slow-Depression?

raikkohamilonso — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:02:31 -0800

How is daily life going to change over the next few years - because of the Slow Depression? I'm starting to see trucking companies with lots of trailers parked. Roads seem to be getting pretty bad. Banking system is basically on the way out. Major retail seems headed to the bottom as well.

I'm presuming food is going to start going up at some point. Gas as well. Distribution of goods/services seems to be at risk? Are there angles that are not obvious? Is anyone planning for this?

Daily Grind for Dummies?

mumbleitaliano — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:21:28 -0800

For those of you that have a 9-5 type job that you're not absolutely passionate about, how do you survive the daily grind? I've been working, on and off, for 13 years in jobs that are related to my degree, which I have little passion for. I tend to lose my motivation pretty quickly, and the standard 2-3 weeks of vacation time doesn't cut it. So I tend to jump from job to job, sometimes with long breaks in between. While this feels wonderful at the time, it is making it understandably harder and harder to find the next job.

I've been trying to identify new career possibilities for a long time, and have read many books, and lots of questions here about that. For now, let's just say I am going to keep working at a job that I don't love. I know I'm not the only one. So how do you stay motivated? How do you prevent the 9-5 cubicle-type job from crushing your soul?

Why isn't the process of waking from sleep pleasant for most?

wackybrit — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:14:26 -0800

Why isn't the process of waking up quick and pleasant for most? In asking for anecdotal evidence about waking up, most people I know say it's not a particularly pleasant experience. They just "have" to do it - this is even if they get the right amount of sleep. Only a few say they find it "easy" to get up consistently.

But why is waking an unpleasant experience? Shouldn't it be good, from an evolutionary point of view, for all humans to wake up briskly, full of beans, and ready to go? (Historically to have gone hunting, to escape predators, etc - nowadays, simply to go to work and earn money for survival).

Essential things like reproduction, urination, defecation, and even going to sleep have a real sense of urgency or pleasure about them - why not the process of waking up? Is there anthropological evidence for certain populaces to find it easier to get up than others, etc? Is it just modern Western culture that makes it hard for us to get up? Any insights welcomed.

What food should I put in my school bag?

Nighthawk3729 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:39:09 -0800

I am a college student, and my cafe likes to charge 7 bucks for a wrap, as such, I try to scrounge food from around the campus, you know, going to events here and there to try and pass up the obscenely large food bill. I carry everything in my bag, from a few extra pieces of clothes, to an emergency flashlight, to an emergency can of slim fast, to everyone of my notebooks and class textbooks. I also carry some of my books in my hands nowadays for space. As you can imagine, my bag is stuffed, I've actually noticed a rip along of of the zippers, so that sections not being used so much anymore, hah, to think, I've only had it for 3 months! I Was wondering what would be a good food that could withstand not getting mushed in my bag, and that if it exploded [happened] that it wouldn't be horrible. Any ideas? PS - as you might be able to tell, I'm a little rough with my bag.

What you don't know may KILL you.

sixcolors — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:31:20 -0800

How is paying attention to detail an extremely important skill in the military? I know "why", not doing so can get you or somone else killed, but I don't know "what" people are referring to. Lately, I've been developing interest in learning about the military. A phrase that comes up over and over is "paying attention to detail is crucial". I'm curious what people are referring to. Is it ike noticing that moving green shapes in the plants/trees/bushes are actually your enemies in camoflage? Or something more complex?

How to survive a strangling?

hihowareyou — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:09:02 -0800

Someone sneaks up behind you and wraps a rope or belt around your neck to choke you. What is the best way to survive? [Yes, I watch too many violent movies] e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32iktipIxFw (warning: violent)

In movies you typically see the victim grabbing at their neck, but that never seems to work. I'm wondering if there are better options and what the specific tactics and risks are.

Bad Parents

Rlocurto — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:47:28 -0800

what animals are terrible parents? I'm looking for animal offspring with a very low chance of survival. Bonus points if's its a forest dwelling creature.

The Average Joe Surviving the Economic Meltdown

boots77 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:31:10 -0800

Surviving the Economic Crisis: What practical things can the "Average Joe" do to prepare for an economic meltdown? I'll admit it. I'm spooked by all of the talk of an economic meltdown and have decided for better or worse that because the talk is from expert analysts and Washington economists (who usually never admit that they are in trouble) rather than street corner "doom-sayers," there might be some credence to the claims that we are seriously in trouble.

I am an average person who has an average family with a very average job. Given this, what should I buy for my home or what should I do with the money I have in the bank or what should I do with little spare money that I have just in case this is- in the words of Fred Sanford- "the big one."

Just to give you an example of what I mean, I just bought a s---load of rice yesterday because it stores well and have also decided to make sure to have at least 6 months of bill money in the bank. Websites, articles, etc... would be a great help also.

This sounds like a survival thread, and I guess in a way it is. Thanks all and ..Good luck.

What to bring to live in the woods?

assasinatdbeauty — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:05:34 -0800

Less obvious things to bring when going to live in the woods for a month or two? Next year i'll be going to live in the woods for one to two months, most likely in the north west of the united states. I wanted input on things to bring that i might not have thought of, i have the basics under control. I'll be there with another person but we don't want to rely on each other to bring things we didn't, we want to be essentially self sufficient. I'm looking to keep packing as light as possible, so i don't want to bring anything bulky or things that require a lot of time and construction.

Preparing for the Worst

netbros — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:43:30 -0800

What vegetables, fruits, fish and animals would be recommended for a self-sufficient survival farm? Whether it be climate change, energy shortage, economic collapse, or act of nature; there are many plausible reasons these days to consider alternatives to the western way of living. Perhaps people living in the communes of the 1960-70s were thinking ahead.

If you had a small, 10-20 acre family farm or slightly larger community property what vegetables would you plant, what fruit trees would you cultivate, what fish would you stock in the pond, and what farm animals would you raise to make your environment as self-sufficient as possible for your family and/or community in the face of a calamitous future? What considerations are required to care for all of this?

How do you cope with a crappy landlord?

Listener — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:57:33 -0800

I need help for coping with being a renter for a year. I just sold my house out of town and moved back to the Lower Mainland. Because I had no cellphone, it was hard to shop for a place when I was in town for a few days, and I think that`s why I ended up with something of a disappointing place, but anyway, how do I cope with it for the next year? We`ve already had problems, and we`ve only been here a couple days. We arrived well after 1st of month, but a bunch of things were not fixed -- a toilet that runs constantly, windows that do not lock at all or even shut properly, a fire alarm that is nonworking. Supposedly he`s coming tomorrow to do it, but he yelled at us and was horribly rude on the phone when we want to know when this will all get done. He said they were not essential, but I think the windows are essential security issue, even on 1.5 flights up.

He`s exaggerating, claiming we called him 13 times in a day, but we just called trying to reach him (no voicemail) because he said `Call any time.` Sheesh. There was no heat when we got here and by morning (with drafty windows) it was 60F in the place. So we called! Is it reasonable to have the heat off for the season already? He claimed they provide `reasonable heat`but he should have told us it`s off now and we wouldn`t have panicked. He lied, instead. It`s a rough start.

How do I let this go and feel okay in this place as my home for the next year? We made this change because we needed to move and we sold at a very good time, but don`t want to buy now. Renting sucks and I don`t know how to cope. Tips and resources are welcomed. I wish I could reframe this in my mind and feel okay going forward. Or maybe that`s not even the right thing to do.

The place has some good things -- southern exposure, fairly quiet, 850 a month for a huge one bedroom in Burnaby very near Boundary -- but it lacks a lot because I am not ready to pay more right now.

Mmmm, roast squirrel

hungrysquirrels — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:39:19 -0800

OutdoorSurvivalFilter: Why is it necessary to skin an animal before roasting over an open fire. Gutting I can understand. But let's say you've hunted something to stay alive. what's the minimal amount of work required to safely roast it on a pit stick.

/ignorant, and slightly drunk

Prepare for Peak Oil without looking like a nutjob?

UMDirector — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:01:12 -0800

Best way to mitigate effects of potential peak oil and global warming issues without looking like a nutjob? CYOA in a realistic manner? So I am trying to think of ways to cover my butt in case any Peak Oil or rapid Global Warming societal collapse issues come to pass. I tend to think society will figure out ways around much of this but it never hurts to prepare just in case...I wasn't too worried about Y2K but I did have about a weeks supplies just in case.

So what can I do to prepare but also benefit me in case nothing happens (for example I ate the food and drank the Y2K water)?

An example might be: Get one of those instant water heaters to lower your electrical costs in case the price of electricity goes way up...or get solar panels...or get the following camping books that would also serve you in case of complete societal breakdown...make sure your house has a fireplace...etc...

I should maybe note we are in the 'burbs south of Boston and will likely be having a home built in the next year so I will have a lot of options coming up to set up my life in the best way possible for such things....without my wife or friends thinking I am a nutjob!

What are some good books about life in captivity?

Telf — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:00:19 -0800

Help me find literature written about life in prisons, work camps, concentration camps etc. Can you guys please suggest some interesting works of fiction or nonfiction focusing mostly on life in prisons, prison camps, concentration camps, DP camps, refugee camps or any similar settings. Stories that take place in war ravaged occupied areas also fit the bill, think postwar Berlin etc. I'm finding myself very interested in this sort of thing recently.

I'm particularly interested in how people survive these situations. Profiles of people who managed to make it to the top of the ad hoc hierarchies of camp life are especially interesting to me. I'm also deeply interested in the bartering and general economies of camp life.

In no particular order, here are some works that I have read and either enjoyed have been deeply affected by:

King Rat by James Clavell. Historical Fiction. Story about life in Japanese-run POW camp in South East Asia. Profiles one low ranking American soldier who claws his way to the top.

Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard Semi autobiographical. Recounts the experiences of a wealthy British child living in a Japanese prison camp during WWII. Reveals lots deal making and bartering.

Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi. Autobiographical memoir about life in Auschwitz. Extremely honest, shows competition between prisoners.

Night by Elie Wiesel. Holocaust memoir. Perhaps more inspiring than many of the Holocaust memoirs.

The Captive Mind by Czeslaw Milosz. Has less emphasis on prison/camp life than other listed books, but does profile survivors of the camps and how they lived.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Fiction but semi autobiographical. Account of life in Stalinist prison camp.

This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen by Tadeusz Borowski. Collection memories about concentration camp life.

Maus by Art Speigelman. Graphic Novel. Extremely powerful for a graphic novel. Depicts and contrasts the behavior of the author's father during and after life in a concentration camp.

If anyone could suggest more works in this vein, I'd really appreciate this. Bonus for providing a brief synopsis. Double bonus if you can provided some varied time periods/locations of such life.

Thanks.