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  3. You get an unlimited supply of a single item to survive post-apocalypse. What are you choosing, and why?

You get an unlimited supply of a single item to survive post-apocalypse. What are you choosing, and why?

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asklemmy
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  • C [email protected]

    I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

    A This user is from outside of this forum
    A This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote last edited by
    #116

    Ok so some people are asking what type of apocalypse but I feel that's mostly irrelevant because you said it's a post apocalypse scenario. The apocalypse has already passed.

    So there's kind of two options. One is where I would be the sole survivor on the planet, and the other is where there's still pockets of survivors out there.

    Most post apocalypse situations involve other people surviving, so I'll start there.

    You didn't put a limiter on what the item could be, whether it had to be realistic or not, and how this supply would come to be. So I'll give three answers, each with different degrees of what I'm assuming your intention behind the question is.

    The first would be an infinite supply of non tricky, non malevolent genie lamps. Infinite wishes baybee, this trumps pretty much everything.

    Something more fantastic but more reasonably grounded would be computers, with a complete set of data on human history, art, music, science and schematics, with instructions on how to rebuild society in a more equitable way, translated into all languages possible, with a pictogram of how to charge it up etched on the outside. Pass those suckers around, rebuild society, got infinite of them, everyone gets one and it has the windows space pinball from the 90s on it just for fun.

    But since you said lighters, to play with the idea of things that exist, I'm gonna go with tents. Probably those onion shaped ones that are designed to be permanent housing, or yurts. Sure water and food are important but without shelter you're fucked, and I could house everyone.

    Now if it were an apocalypse where I'm the only survivor, I would want an infinite supply of one thing.

    BACKUP. GLASSES.

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    • C [email protected]

      I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

      S This user is from outside of this forum
      S This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote last edited by
      #117

      A) Something to trade (rely on others)

      B) Something for ME to survive on (rely on nobody)

      C) Something to rebuild (everyone relies on me)

      I generally lean towards rebuilding, but it really depends on what apocalypse we're talking about here. Zombie? Nuclear war? Asteroid? Nazis? Waterworld?

      So, assuming I can survive enough, I'd pick rebuild critical tech like rubber or a way to forge steel or a critical chemical. Think, "Doctor Stone".

      But if I need to survive like a water world or a desert world or a zombie outbreak, what I pick is going to be pretty fucking different. Cigarettes don't mean shit if there's no water. Water don't mean shit if that's all you have. And none of that matters if you're stuck in a world with aerosolized zombie infection that results in smart running zombies that fast heal.

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      • C [email protected]

        I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

        jela@lemmy.todayJ This user is from outside of this forum
        jela@lemmy.todayJ This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote last edited by
        #118

        Mainly maps, but also other informative reading materials such as natural medicine, almanacs and other foraging guides.

        L 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • S [email protected]

          Toilet paper. During apocalyptic scenarios, it's worth is apparently uncountable, so I will be able to trade it and live a life of opulence.

          P This user is from outside of this forum
          P This user is from outside of this forum
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          wrote last edited by
          #119

          Can't believe I had to scroll this far to finally see the first item to disappear in every real apocalypse I've been through. Plus it's man's greatest invention. Just ahead of the Hubble space telescope.

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          • C [email protected]

            I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

            P This user is from outside of this forum
            P This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote last edited by
            #120

            Not a single mention of bullets? Seriously?

            In an apocalypse, ammunition will be worth more than gold.

            Y S 2 Replies Last reply
            1
            • jela@lemmy.todayJ [email protected]

              Mainly maps, but also other informative reading materials such as natural medicine, almanacs and other foraging guides.

              L This user is from outside of this forum
              L This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote last edited by
              #121

              Condition is infinite supply of one item.
              You have to choose printed Wikipedia book for it to be one item.

              B 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • C [email protected]

                I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

                L This user is from outside of this forum
                L This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote last edited by [email protected]
                #122

                Will "fully equipped cruize ship" count as one item?
                Then I can scavenge them for all parts required to build new civilization.

                And if it is not, then question to OP, what is the limit for the composite items to stop being counted as one item?

                K 1 Reply Last reply
                3
                • C [email protected]

                  I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

                  L This user is from outside of this forum
                  L This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote last edited by
                  #123

                  Waterproof matches.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • P [email protected]

                    Not a single mention of bullets? Seriously?

                    In an apocalypse, ammunition will be worth more than gold.

                    Y This user is from outside of this forum
                    Y This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote last edited by
                    #124

                    Metro 2033 ing intensifies

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    1
                    • C [email protected]

                      I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

                      Y This user is from outside of this forum
                      Y This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote last edited by
                      #125

                      Gout sufferer checking in, Prednisone

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • C [email protected]

                        I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

                        R This user is from outside of this forum
                        R This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote last edited by
                        #126

                        drinkable water

                        T 1 Reply Last reply
                        4
                        • not_rick@lemmy.worldN [email protected]

                          We can clean up the entire Capital Wasteland!

                          D This user is from outside of this forum
                          D This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote last edited by
                          #127

                          I was thinking Fallout 4 when I said it. The cans of pure water.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • R [email protected]

                            drinkable water

                            T This user is from outside of this forum
                            T This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote last edited by [email protected]
                            #128

                            Sorry to be pedantic, but potable water, but yes, that is the correct choice.

                            crypt0cler1c@infosec.pubC 1 Reply Last reply
                            3
                            • C [email protected]

                              I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

                              M This user is from outside of this forum
                              M This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote last edited by
                              #129

                              AAA batteries

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • P [email protected]

                                Not a single mention of bullets? Seriously?

                                In an apocalypse, ammunition will be worth more than gold.

                                S This user is from outside of this forum
                                S This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote last edited by
                                #130

                                Maybe in a zombie apocalypse, but what are you gonna do with bullets in a regular apocalypse?

                                You may be the only person you'll ever see for years at a time. You can't drink them, you can't plant them, you can't build with them.

                                You could probably use them on yourself if you've got a gun that they work in, though, especially if that's the only one item you decided to choose for long-term survival. 😮

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                                0
                                • C [email protected]

                                  I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

                                  S This user is from outside of this forum
                                  S This user is from outside of this forum
                                  [email protected]
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #131

                                  Depends on the apocalypse.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • T [email protected]

                                    Sorry to be pedantic, but potable water, but yes, that is the correct choice.

                                    crypt0cler1c@infosec.pubC This user is from outside of this forum
                                    crypt0cler1c@infosec.pubC This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #132

                                    Shut the fuck up

                                    T 1 Reply Last reply
                                    3
                                    • L [email protected]

                                      Will "fully equipped cruize ship" count as one item?
                                      Then I can scavenge them for all parts required to build new civilization.

                                      And if it is not, then question to OP, what is the limit for the composite items to stop being counted as one item?

                                      K This user is from outside of this forum
                                      K This user is from outside of this forum
                                      [email protected]
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #133

                                      Why cruise ship and not aircraft carrier?

                                      B 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • C [email protected]

                                        I’m thinking either Bic lighters or cigarettes, just to trade

                                        wraithgear@lemmy.worldW This user is from outside of this forum
                                        wraithgear@lemmy.worldW This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #134

                                        ammunition could get you anything you could need. drinking water would be a second i guess, but you could with effort gather drinkable water.

                                        ammunition is heavy, but no where near as heavy as water for trading purposes,

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                                        • R This user is from outside of this forum
                                          R This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #135

                                          Ok, well, "uncontaminated soybeans"

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