A few acronyms that you hear in the survival community that you might run across:
WTSHTF – When the Sh** Hits The Fan
This describes a cataclysmic financial, natural, or terorist action that rips the fabric of “normal” society and everything changes. The assumption is that a period of anarchy (primarily lack of law enforcement) will result for some period. Looting after Katrina is a simple example of this state.
TEOTWAWKI – The End Of The World As We Know It
This is self explanatory. It is speculated that there are some situations that could be irreversible and many of the things that we take for granted might take extremely long to return to “normal”.
I am not stating these terms to be alarmist, just so that you will know what these terms are if you come across them…
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the careful warnings and reminders.
Indeed, both being prepared and creating a variety of relationships with people who can help us is huge.
Cooking: we have a BBQ grill. I figure we will cook all the meat the first night of disaster. I remember SF Earthquake 1989. It will not last. Better to cook it and aim to eat it because that is a food item which will spoil rapidly.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
It is reminders like this that want to make a person WUASTC (Wake up and smell the coffee).
Vicki http://www.bridalthreadshq.com
Cool. If I think of more I’ll be sure to mention them here!
Greg Dougall, http://www.gregdougall.com
Strangely enough I’ve come across both of these acronyms in corporate life, along with USCWAP – Up Sh** Creek Without A Paddle!
http://www.martin-wright.com
Thanks Rob for such a wonderful post and great advice as always!!!
Funny. I will use these, never heard them before.
Robert Martin
http://www.carbuyinghq.com
Never heard of them before either but will definitely not forget them.
Jennifer
The Harwood Center – Tinnitus, Chronic Illness, Fears, and Anxiety
The definitions for those terms are very interesting. Hopefully we never have to deal with those types of circumstances. However, it would be wise to be prepared for them, just in case.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
I remember growing up and hearing: You had better do as you are told or the fit is going to hit the shan.
James Mason
BusinessAndMarketingMakeover.com/blog
Rob,
> TEOTWAWKI – The End Of The World As We Know It
Wow, I still remember that acronym when I first came across in late 1990’s.
A favourite doomsayer one for sure.
Funny thing is the world – the human psyche as a whole – is ALWAYS evloving. To create something new, quite often the old one needs demolition. Create destruction is necxessary to come up with something better.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
Thank you Rob
Jose Escalante
http://www.JoseEscalante.com
Unusual but could be very handy when texting…
I would have to see it a few times to instinctivly recognize them.
Bert (alter ego- Mister P)
MisterP.org
BusinessAndMarketingMakeover.com/blog
Because Nobody Does It Alone.
I agree with John Ho above. Destruction is necessary to improve TWAWKI.
The psychology of acronyms (? ) – they develop in high stress and/or time pressured environments such as corporations, army, emergency response. They help establish a sense of distance and control for those who use them.
Keri Eagan
Anything Alternative
Rob,
“WTSHTF – When the Sh** Hits The Fan”
Heard that one all my life. I’ve seen it a few times in my life too.
Cool Stuff!
Lynn Lane
http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
Yikes!
Actually the anarchy from Katrina seemed to intensify and spillover into areas where the evacuees fled. As the main recipient of those escaping, Texas experienced a brief spike in murder rates and other crime . . . but it was largely confined to Houston. Dallas, San Antonio and Austin managed to stay steady. Houston got the people who didn’t move themselves out. It was so bad that people who had gotten to Houston on their own came to Dallas to get away from the other evacuees.
Many of them still live in Dallas today prefering to never go back to NOLA.
It’s amazing what a little water and wind can do.
The importance of water, Katie
WTF and LOL
Nice, glad to know what I should look out for
Pushing companies from good to great, Kate
Is WTF one of the acronynms? I love the other suggestions above as well. Just reading your posts has made nme notice these things in the grocery store now.
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Tips, Babysitting Services – Babysitters, Nannies, and Au-pairs
I thought TSHTF last November. Time will tell if I was right.
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Trainer
Corp Speak: When the fecal missile impacts o the circular air device, or is it just MilSpeak?
Learn to say “okay, that sucks. Now what can I do?”
TEOTWAWKI — haha, I remember this as the song! I wonder how these are said.
MissMentor
Lisa, I’ve heard it pronounced “Tee-ought-waukee” Rob