The Difference Between Me and James Rawles
James Rawles is, as you probably know, is the guy behind SurvivalBlog.com. If you are interested in prepping, then you probably already know who he is. Some of you may have even read his fiction book Patriots
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.I’ve seen mixed reviews of the book – some love it, others throw it in the trash, after the first twenty pages. It’s a matter of personal taste, I guess. But his book is beside the point…
His blog is one of the biggest in the field and probably brings in more money than all the others combined. He has a huge readership and advertiser base. No one can accuse him of being an incompetent marketer.
James seems to be a stand-up guy. He knows his stuff and he is expert at getting it in front of the public eye. It’s a fact; the more people who prep the better off we all will be after a collapse, in this regard James does an awesome job.
There is a fairly fundamental difference, though, between James and myself…
What got me thinking about this was a comment on the blog a few days ago. The comment stated:
“SurvivalBlog is better than this site and JWR is better than you.”
Interesting and obviously a matter of opinion. Survivalblog.com is the flagship site in the emergency preparedness market and I wouldn’t assume that I’m better than that.
He has a huge reader base, with his readers writing the majority of the content posted on his site. This opens up a huge amount of combined knowledge, knowledge that cannot possibly be equaled or surpassed by a single individual.
While I won’t disagree or argue the fact that he has a great site, to say one is better than the other is redundant. We both approach emergency preparedness and survival from a different angle.
While James has strong focus on gear and retaining wealth after a collapse, my focus leans more toward being frugal, living cheaply and prepping with little cash outlay. I get into concepts of preparedness that I don’t see James touch on.
We have different backgrounds and frame of life, so we look at things from different angles. For instance, when he gets up in the morning he sees what he calls “The Rawles Ranch”, while I on the other hand wake up to el cheapo travel trailer and clay dirt.
What I try to do on this blog is bridge the gap between the two.
If you can afford to invest thousands of dollars moving to a secluded retreat in Idaho, stocked with freeze-dried foods, a gun collection that would make Burt Gummer
blush with envy, several pounds of gold and an armored personnel carrier in the driveway – great. Go for it.
blush with envy, several pounds of gold and an armored personnel carrier in the driveway – great. Go for it.There is nothing wrong with this approach if you can afford it. Trouble is many of us can’t come close to this level of preparedness, without accumulating massive debt, which in my opinion defeats the purpose of prepping and the concept of self-reliance altogether.
Survivalblog.com is an awesome site, but it is not for everyone – neither is this site.
We both have our strengths and weaknesses, to say one is better than the other shows a lack of understanding from the perspective of the anonymous person leaving the comment - wouldn’t you agree?
December 18th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Arguing about who is better or who has the better site is irrelevant and a waste of time. I read both SurvivalBlog and your site on a daily basis, and I have learned a wealth of information from each. Sometimes the information is similar, sometimes it covers the same topic from different angles, and sometimes one of you covers something the other hasn't thought of. I read several other sites as well, and I suggest that all preppers gather as much info as possible from as many good sites as possible. No one person can cover everything. I appreciate the experience of both JWR and you, and I appreciate the time you take to share it. Arguing about who is better is a petty waste of time.
December 18th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
This is an excellent posting. I for one visit both sites daily and gather valuable information from both. I think most of us are middle of the road preppers, meaning that we are prepared between a well stocked isolated fortress on top of a mountain and a cave in the back woods. (And I am not saying that you live in a cave sir) Your site, Mr Rawles' site and many others provide information and options that we can use to prepare best based on our individual circumstances. For anyone to say that one site is better than another doesn't see these sites as informational and a valuable resource available to all of us for free. Keep up the good work sir.
December 18th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Anonymous 12:23 PM,
Exactly – we need to all work together. As Bruce Lee once said; "Use what is useful".
December 18th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I agree. I read both thesurvivalistblog.net & survivalblog.com – and others. It's not an 'Exclusive OR' situation; benefitting from one doesn't necessarily exclude the other.
I pick up useful info & insight from many sources – and use my own God-given ability to think,reason and search things out on my own.
My life experiences & perspective are somewhere in that middle ground between 'dirt cheap' and 'fully fortified retreat'…and can learn valuable lessons from both.
December 18th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I read both blogs & have learned from both. I pick & choose what works for me. I tend to agree more with what is posted on this site, much like I prefer Pepsi over Coke or Burger King over McDonalds. However, I still do drink both colas, eat at both restaurants and read both blogs. At least neither site is Tab or KFC! Now I know I made some laugh and offended others with that one.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
In a context like this "better" is a word used by a troll.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
MD,
I visit both sites daily, and appreciate the content on both. JWR's site started in 2005, and now 4 years later, it is huge. Your site will grow over time, and i look forward to reading it daily.
theberkeyguy
Jeff
December 18th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Great post. I never thought that one site better than the other. I can't afford to be Rawles, and I don't want to live in a trailer (no insult intended), but both of you have thought-provoking content. Interestingly enough, I found your site through a link at Survivalblog.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I'm not sure I would give a squat about an opinion tossed out by an anonymous poster.
Just do what you do. Like the above, I read both sites and can appreciate the "On the cheap" approach on my budget.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Like the others, I read both sites every day. Both are excellent. More information, different viewpoints makes us all smarter.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
i prefer this blog to any others because it tends to have more practical ,daily use type of info than blog X. i also imagine some of blog x articles written by guys who go to gunshows in thier camoflage and rarely expose themselves to air that is not heated or cooled.but ,the internet is a huge place and there is room for all.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
When I read "SurvivalBlog is better than this site and JWR is better than you." in your post, my first thought was "well, depends upon your point of view."
While Rawles does have an excellent background for the situation, and thus a good knowledge of tools, the problem with his method, as you even state, is that you need a rather large quantity of available and disposable cash to "prep" his way. While I believe that you get what you pay for, and for preps you should buy the best quality item for the "stockpile" and "preps", it is not always in the budget. And using his method, you would need to have started prepping at least 10 years ago.
As for the person who made the statement of the comparison, well, I'm glad that person has the funds to buy the quality items. Good for you! However, not everyone has an extra $100K-250K just lying around. Some of us have to work from a weekly budget to stock.
And as an example, homemade waterproof matches (made at a cost of less than $5.00 for over 200 matchest) work just as well as a purchased box of 20 matches (at a cost of $5.00-$10.00) however, I will have more at a less cost. And becuase I bought a few flint sticks and made my own "tinder" from wax, dryer lint, etc, I can pretty much have fire all the time for the same cost, as purchasing one fancy firestarter. (Remember kids, you should have FIVE different ways to start fire!)
There is no one perfect way to prep and stock, and any wise person will not depend upon just one source for information. There are so many different situation that one can prep for from natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes to more radical natural disasters such as a CME, meteorite, volcanoes to pandemics whether they be natural or bioterrorism, a nuke strike, or an economic failure. The bottom line is that a state of emergency would exist and thus martial law. And the psychology of each event is the same. All people would be in a panic state. The government would be in a panic/power state. Prepping is prepping. You assume the worst and hope for the best. You assume you have no electric, no gas, no heat, no cooling, no clean water, etc and you prep for as such.
But the most important thing is having the KNOWLEDGE of how to prep, the KNOWLEDGE of what to do if and when SHTF (no matter the situation), and the PLANNING of what one will do in such a situation.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Mr Creekmore, they baited you and you bit… Don´t mind the idiots.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Hhmm, I try to avoid measuring myself against others in life or blogging. I really like both of your blogs. Economics are a serious limiting factor which is impossible to ignore.
I say do the best you can, whatever that is. If you can afford to get a tiny plot of land and a wall tent that is OK. Maybe you can save up for awhile and get a travel trailer. Someone who makes a few more bucks might be able to get a mobile home on 5-6 acres. Maybe a shack/ cabin on 10 acres. If you can afford to do more than do so. The same could be said for food and guns or whatever else.
I work hard and live conservatively so can afford to have a nice AR. No reason for me to use a Mosin Nagant that some Russian conscript drug through the mud in WWI.
Do the best you can and don't look down on yourself for not being able to do more.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
They are complementary. Whoever says one is better than the other is just trying to get a rise out of you, just like the media does to promote ratings. The more info out there, the better decisions we can all make for our own situations
December 18th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
We are all in this together. United we stand,divided we fall. It's a born with thing all survivalists have. The person that said that will dry up and blow away when TSHTF. IF you are trying to divide us with that comment(whom ever you are) you are nothing more then some liberal debtridden bleeding heart that thinks the government is going to save us. We choose to stick together,you others are on your own.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
MD–Seems like most of us read both (and many seem to read more). I'm guessing it can get a bit frustrating at times dealing with negative comments (sorta like a preacher when people complain about the sermon maybe?). Keep doing what you're doing.
jjj
December 18th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
i can't add much to what others have said other than to keep up the good work. I read your blog ad several others. I have learned much from each and every one of them. I believe the more you learn about different ways of prepping the better one's chances are. There are many different ways to achieve the same or similar results and one should know as many ways to accomplish a goal the better. As I have read many times before; Two is one, one is none. Keep up the good work.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Wow, what a stupid comment!If this dude doesn't like it.Dont read it.I truly dont read rawles much,cause I cant afford his way. So no point.But not gonna knock the man. M.D you have a lot of loyal readers.I followed for a long time either,silent or anomously. lots of us read and respect your work. Dont let one jackas get ya down.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
MD,
, thereby helping create job security for himself, you, Dakin, Ferfal, …
It hasn't been lost on us that you write all the content found on this site. Not only do you come at things from a different angle, but you both have different business models. As Ray Croc (founder of McDonalds) said, "know your business". At this point, Rawles has garnered enough attention to be in the business of judging an ongoing creative writing contest (no disrespect to him–he also writes quite a bit and includes links to all sorts of news articles that get all of us paranoid whackos even paranoider
jjj
December 19th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Post #1 sums it up perfectly. I didn't really prep until reading an article last year on one of the news sites about prepping, which referred me to JWR's site which got me more interested, concluding people really prepare for the unknown. JWR's site is very good about certain subjects etc. I have read both JWR's books, both are good. Your site is much better in regards to people like me, who needed to learn, prep fast & being conservative about which purchases. I also read both blog sites daily. Yours is first & most fascinating & educational for the average person, with beginning preppers like me. I have worked very hard in my spare time prepping this last year, taking every moment & spare dollar, moving as fast as possible without destroying my daily life, balancing both. You do a fantastic job & don't let idiotic remarks cause disparity. If it wasn't for sites like yours & others, we would most all be in worse shape. Thanks to you, we have over a years worth of storable food or more, pistol, rifle & shotgun for each member, enough ammo & reloading components to hopefully get the job done, as the list goes on………GREAT JOB M.D.!
December 19th, 2009 at 12:56 am
MD, good site and ignore the "SurvivalBlog is better than this site and JWR is better than you." As others have stated an obvious troll and probably some computer geek that frequents glocktalk.com (no offense to GT)
December 19th, 2009 at 1:40 am
I AGREE,WE ALL HAVE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.I HAVE LEARNED FROM SOME SITES AND NOT MUCH FROM OTHERS.I PREFER THIS SITE BECAUSE OF THE FRUGALITY INVOLVED IN YOUR ADVICE IN TEACHING AND ADVICING US.THERE IS NO NEED TO PLAY THE WHO IS BETTER GAME.WE JUST NEED PREP TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND GET READY FOR THE NEXT TEST WE ARE DEALT.MD YOU HAVE ONE HECK OF A SITE HERE,KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK MY FRIEND.FROM JAY IN NC
December 19th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Thank you all for the encouraging comments – I'll do my best to make the blog even better and more useful to you in the future.
December 19th, 2009 at 3:31 am
MD -
Like many of the other commenting, I view both sites each day, and like many of them, I fall in the middle ground.
I'm not nearly as far along as I would like to be. My larder isn't nearly deep enough, and neither is my gun cabinet, but we'll get by with what we've got.
I have to prep on a real-world budget, so I take baby steps and glean information from many sources on and off the 'Web.
As you pointed out, JWR and you come at the same problem from different angles, and both viewpoints are valuable.
Keep on doing what you do — in the way you choose to do it.
I'll keep on reading.
December 19th, 2009 at 3:33 am
Keep on keepin' on MD. You fill the void left after Rawles leaves out the "non-yuppie" survivalists. I like his blog, and there's good info there. But you show us "peons", who otherwise might get discouraged and give up, another avenue. As the old saying goes, there's more than one way to skin a cat…..
December 19th, 2009 at 5:17 am
m.d. i read both blogs and buy with both links to be fair .but some one has to mention dankin and the bison blog just to be fair .insanity has to be included. all 3 give differing views to the same end. dont change
December 19th, 2009 at 6:26 am
Read both blogs daily. (In fact, I got the link to your blog from survivalblog.) I like many of your ideas because I have a limited budget and some of your postings give me ideas I may not thought about otherwise. Keep up the good work…
December 19th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Hi MD, Dahveed here. I agree with you. Mr. Rawles has a great site, and so do you. I read both. I'm a guy with 5 kids (4 at home, one out in the world on his own), used to work 2 jobs, now works one. I check both sites as part of my waking-up every morning. I will never afford a survival retreat. I will be able to continue to stash water, food, supplies, when & where I can. I give credit to Ike passing through my corner of OH, SM Stirling writing intriguing books, you, and Mr. Rawles. I am very pleased with how you approach things here. You are level-headed and frugal, and, as a guy with a bazillion kids, I appreciate that.
This past year, my wife and I ran 2 raised bed gardens, and basically transplanted our side yard flowers & replaced them with edibles. We then canned the heck out of the proceeds. Loved it. We will do this every year from now on, we loved the results that much. I'd say that while we recognize a need & desire to work with neighbors where appropriate, one of the things we'd love to work more on would be self-reliance. Not to the exclusion of others, but to not be as dependent on those elements of society that aren't likely to last through the more or less collapse we all see careening our way. For example, I am interested in learning more about fabricating from metal, since that sort of production, at least on a simpler level, might be hard top come by. Occasionally, an article here, or a linked book relates to that. So I get an opprtunity to learn more. That sort of thing keeps me coming back. And will. Have no fear, MD. You and Rawles are apples and oranges. Both are good places to learn more, and you truly have a good, informative site. So long as you are here, we will continue to come here.
December 19th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Having different ways to approach the coming situation can only be advantageous to the reader. I use info from both sites to prepare as best I can. Whether one site is better than the other is a moot point as only a fool would limit his resources instead of using all available.
December 19th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
This site is better than survivalblog and you are better than JW,R.
Anonymous too.
December 19th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
We can all learn from one another. Working together, having good conversations and even healthy debates. It's all good.
December 19th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
like most commenters, i read both blogs- as well as several others. learning from as many perspectives as possible seems to be the most useful strategy. I will offer one opinion on the survivalblog-survivalistblog comparison, however. I appreciate that you do not drench your work in religious faith, since faith does not play a role in my life or preparations. There is absolutely nothing wrong with personal faith and i imagine it is a key tool in the preparations of many- but the particular style of JWR with regard to his own faith often distracts me from the practical knowledge of survivalblog.
many thanks to mr. Creekmore and to mr. Rawles for the hard work that goes into their respective efforts.
uce
December 19th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
MD, Don't pay attention to that idiot. We need
your insight and knowledge. JWR's site is fine,
but you are down here with the rest of us.
Thanks for everything you do.
December 20th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Iread both blogs and get great information from both. In my opinion there are too many facets of this subject to be adequatley covered by one person. Both of you keep it upi.
December 20th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I have been to both sites and believe there is relevent information on both. Keep up the great work.
December 20th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Well, I like your site.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:33 am
I read both sites daily and have found useful information on both. I am glad to see both on the web.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:56 am
MD
I started reading his site before I found your site. I have since stopped reading his because I can relate to your real life survival preps. His is still knowlegeble but I do look at yours everyday.
December 21st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Your design is so much easier and pleasant to look at. The other site appears somewhat chaotic, not exactly what you need to be focusing on when preparing….. Keep up the good work!
December 21st, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I, too, read both sites, and I've even visited a number of others. The Creekmore site is really good for straight forward advice that most of us can follow and afford. Rawles (what's the deal with the comma after Wesley, anyway) has a huge site, and Patriots is a keeper even though it has to be one of the poorest written novels I've ever read (still won't sell it to halfpriced books because it is so full of how to do information–like buidling that latrine out of the 55 gallon containter, etc). And now and then I visit bison just the hear the outburst (I do like his "long view" of history a bit.) So, please don't let the competition get to you, MD, you're doing great.
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:31 am
JWR has his own style and approach to preparedness, which as you pointed out has a different focus than your own. You are both a class act because both are willing to work with others toward the same goal of preparedness and self sufficiency.
While I don't always share your political views, I respect the hands-on knowledge you share and consider your blog a useful and entertaining read.
All that sniper did was highlight what will undoubtedly be the cause of his or her own eventual demise. We're going to have to work together to make it through the various crises we're facing as communities and as individuals. Somebody who tries to play two good men off each other isn't going to find very many sympathetic neighbors when TSHTF.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Your site and Rawles site are my daily reads. They do approach the subject of survival from different angles and I believe that's a good thing. Keep up the good work and keep posting the good topics for those of us on a budget and playing catch up.
December 31st, 2009 at 2:47 am
MD,
I'm one of the 80% mentioned earlier who find this site a source of great information and resources. I also go to JWR's site but find his site more "Commercialized" and catering to people of higher means. Keep up the good work!
PS. In reading one of your past blogs about survival firearms and keeping it simple, it reminds me of something that everyones heard and my father said to me often, "Beware of a man who only owns one gun, because he probably knows how to use it".
A prepper in Ky.
December 31st, 2009 at 5:41 pm
This would only benefit those who oppose us. We need solidarity. Let's not take the bait of someone with ulterior motives. Both are valuable websites.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I appreciate both sites – however SurvivalBlog certainly looks at survivalism in my opinion as a life changing ongoing project that should be tops on your priority list in life. I can't afford to completly redo my house so it will work out better in a firefight. I cannot afford to purchase all the communication equipment often discussed nor switching my vehicles over with multi-use fuel conversions. For me – and I think most people – it is just not realistic. Some great ideas over there – but I really enjoy "survival on a budget" while I enjoy my big screen TV and playing paintball once in a while. I still prepare and regulary increase my stockpiles, but I live a normal life as well.
Thanks –
Rourke
WorldInfoCD.com
January 6th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Even if you could afford the Rawles way, I don't think it's the best.
Isolationism will not work. Humans are group animals. We need to live in groups. Those who can ride out temporary instability and then have skills useful for the new society will survive.
The idea that each person is going to be their own butcher, baker, and candlestick maker is absurd–humans have been specializing for thousands of years, and that specialization will continue after TEOTWAWKI.
Some food, water, a weapon, and most importantly cycling down your material expectations will get you far in the coming years.