View Full Version : Your post-apocalyptic trade skill
diela
10-12-2006, 01:04 PM
It occurred to me last night while watching "Jericho" that most geeks would have a tough time finding something to trade in a freshly-made barter economy after some cataclysmic event... like nuclear war, or after all the zombies were cleared out. :D After all, techno-geeks rely on electricity.
I think my post-apocalyptic trade skill would have to be knitting. After all, when all the socks in warehouses get used up, nobody's going to be manufacturing any more anytime soon.
So the first thing I'd try to do after a horrible event is get a couple of sheep, or goats, or both (for spinning my own yarn later) and learn how to spin. Then start knitting socks, scarves, and sweaters like mad. "I'll trade you a pair of socks for those cans of beans, mister!"
What would your trade skill be?
paulsaves
10-12-2006, 01:13 PM
My trade skill would probably be, trading/smuggling/delivering goods. I'm pretty good at stealing, and I like traveling, so that's the most logical for me.
seumas
10-12-2006, 01:14 PM
__________
baulsaak
10-12-2006, 01:39 PM
Unfortunately, it will probably never happen. I'd give anything to live in a post apocolyptic world where the actions you choose mean something, instead of the mindless drudgery of mortgages and corporate ladders and sit-coms.
Same, I think most people would like their lives to feel worth something. I'm betting on the odds, if 99% of the world dies, I'll probably be one of them, if I'm not I'm probably in trouble, except I'm good with my hands *wink* and could probably make stuff out of wood, or do physical labor.
soundwave2-0
10-12-2006, 01:50 PM
lumberjack
tokenuser
10-12-2006, 01:59 PM
I recently reread a book called "Wolf and Iron" - not really postapocalyptic, but more post economic collapse. End result is the same without the nuclear wastelands (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091818/).
Anyway - I would want to be a smithy, and work iron into tools, weapons, etc. Oh yeah - and rig car alternators to power electric devices via wind/water energy ... a post apocalyptic future is tnothing without a thumping soundtrack.
herod
10-12-2006, 02:12 PM
I would definitely be a rogue/thief/ninja. Without electricity I am pretty much useless so I would have to rely on others to work hard for their money so I could come into their house in the middle of the night and take everything, I would live the rest of my life on the streets.
burntfire
10-12-2006, 02:22 PM
I would probably be a information gatherer/collector.
That, or food for others.
seumas
10-12-2006, 02:29 PM
__________
sugarsickness
10-12-2006, 02:40 PM
Well since I am ridiculously good looking and have long rock star-esque hair I would be the one to speed up repopulation by impregnating all of the women.
seumas
10-12-2006, 02:43 PM
__________
funnelfish
10-12-2006, 02:45 PM
Sad to say, but as an actor (and not a movie star) I have often wanted there to be some sort of technological colapse as it would pave the way for wandering minstrals and playgroups again. To go from place to place and earn my keep entertain people.
That or a hired merc.
comradelazyman
10-12-2006, 02:47 PM
Right, is this what skills do we have to trade in exchange for things or what you would want to do in a post-apocalypse situation? Cos some answers seem to be in regards to the latter.
In terms of practical skills for trade I have none. Although i'm pretty good at drawing things so I could possibly barter with some pictures or fake maps. Otherwise I would have to resort to stealing or living off the land Ray Mear's style. I dunno how much help fashion would be in a post-apocalypse. I'd be more worried about finding food unless it's another ice age. Then I would have to make a squirrel vest to keep me warm.
big-doze
10-12-2006, 02:55 PM
For a run of the mill, generic apocalypse, I'd probably end up lifting large things, pushing large objects, and providing shade for weary workers as we rebuild our shattered society.
Oh, and I'd join one of those wandering playgroups. Y'know, tell some jokes, dance a jig, maybe continue the storylines from our favorite TV shows and comics. Generally taking our minds off the fact that everyone we know is probably dead.
harlo
10-12-2006, 03:31 PM
Two words: Radioactive Pimp. I'd start clocking all the one eyed, three tittied fallout freak ladies. Their special? The Dirty Bomb Sanchez.
abacusand13south
10-12-2006, 04:08 PM
Id probably end up being the old hippy looking guy that lives in the woods and has little to no human contact.
seumas
10-12-2006, 04:09 PM
__________
jcroft74
10-12-2006, 04:12 PM
Hm. Well, with my werestling and judo experience over the years, I could probably join a milita. You know, that whole wake up at 5am and train all day thing. No personal time thing. The whole pointless sacrifice for months for three meaningful minutes on a mat thing.
You could be like a post apocalypse samurai type. That would be cool.
I would be a spy. Often an underrated professional in post-apocalypse fiction. But your little community will be tremendously grateful for useful information about the world. Of course my cover would be as a travelling teacher.
diela
10-12-2006, 04:17 PM
Well since I am ridiculously good looking and have long rock star-esque hair I would be the one to speed up repopulation by impregnating all of the women.
I was waiting for the first "I wanna be the first post-apocalyptic gigolo!"
I was mostly referring to a skill that you could use to trade for food and clothing, not necessarily how you want to spend your time. Hence my "barter economy" statement. Somehow I don't think sneaking into people's houses and stealing their money would get you very far, unless you want the paper to wipe your ass with. It will be worthless. :p
Not to mention, you probably won't need to work very hard in such a system, since you won't be working to keep up all the materialistic crap we all do now... just basic necessities like food and shelter, maybe some tools related to your trade. Fortunately, most of mine will be sitting in the local Walmart for me to pick up. Until they run out. Then hopefully my "herd" will be large enough to keep my supply going.
Oh, and I'd probably also garden. Fresh veggies will probably be a bonus... but then hubby's gonna have to sleep out there with a shotgun to prevent midnight garden raids. lol
seumas
10-12-2006, 04:21 PM
__________
satori
10-12-2006, 04:25 PM
Sausage for hire... I'd do jobs like plumbing, delivering pizza... anything requiring a sausage.
divadawg9234
10-12-2006, 04:34 PM
hmm, I guess being able to change the tire on my car isn't going to help me here...
I'd probably cook and give massages in exchange for things :)
seumas
10-12-2006, 04:41 PM
__________
abacusand13south
10-12-2006, 06:16 PM
So, basically, you'd just continue to be a geek. :)
Definately but id also talk to Super Jesus about getting MMA going again because we will need entertainment.
viscountradu
10-12-2006, 06:22 PM
i would go back to practicing the mystic arts and become a level 12 wizard and cast fireball at all my enemies.
diela
10-12-2006, 06:24 PM
Actually, I don't believe that to be likely. Any advanced society needs money as any advanced society will comprehend the need to exchange time and skills for payment which will not always be possible to conduct via means of "barter". And since a post-apocolyptic society is still one from an advanced civilization, we will hold onto the concept of money.
And since cash already exists and will continue to exist for some time after an apocolpyse, it is likely that we would continue to use federal bills rather than start trading sea shells.
While I agree we won't be turning to seashells, paper money is a joke.
As we've seen on Jericho, after an event where electricity is gone, the big problem is going to be communication. Even a rotary phone won't be operational if the phone company's switchboard is blacked out. So nobody is going to know what the heck is going on.
Now say two guys meet on the road. One is really hungry, and has a wad of cash in his pocket. The other guy has a bunch of fish he just caught, or some meat from wild game. Neither one has seen another person for at least a few days. You're telling me fish guy would take paper bills left over from a government system that is most likely gone? In trade for food that might very well be his only wealth at the moment? I sure wouldn't... I'd want something I could actually use, like ammo or guaranteed fresh water.
What if fish guy gets to the next town and nobody's taking money anymore? He's screwed... and with poor communications, he's not going to know for sure.
I say human beings will stick with money for maybe a week, and then it's going to be barter.
There was evidence of this trend in the aftermath of Katrina when people were left in the Quarter to fend for themselves, but they pretty much banded together and shared. In their case, they knew help would eventually come. But I bet nobody was using cash to keep track. They just did what they needed to survive long enough.
In a situation where there is no hope of eventual rescue, cash will be worthless after a month at the most, I guarantee it. Otherwise every bozo would go to the nearest bank and blow a hole in the wall and be set for life. Or if those targets are already gone from the looting immediately after the event, they'll ferret out deposit safes in manager offices from retail chains and the like. It will be worthless because there will be so much of it everywhere.
harlo
10-12-2006, 06:53 PM
You could pay people by giving them entrance into your Costco compound. Though I imagine someone would have to pony up big time for this honor.
divadawg9234
10-12-2006, 06:56 PM
You could pay people by giving them entrance into your Costco compound. Though I imagine someone would have to pony up big time for this honor.
hahaha!!!!
I'm a bit of a jack of all trades... with a heavy focus on computers, of course. So, until we need perl scripters again, I'd have to fall back to some of my hobbies as tradeskills.
Stuff I can do, that 99% of the world would have to die before anybody paid me to do it:
Leatherworking - I'm pretty good with leather and can make anything up to, but not including, clothing. Leather will be useful for making all sorts of stuff, if there are animals to get it from. Otherwise, it can be salvaged and repurposed... but will be in short supply.
Besides, I have a feeling the BDSM crowd will thrive in a post-apolcalyptic world... and I could be their local supplier.
Woodworking - Less experienced with wood than leather, but I've built furniture and other items. They've generall turned out functional and sturdy.... not exactly pretty tho. That comes with time.
Good for fortifications, shelters and repairs.
Hunting - Haven't hunted since I was a teenager. I was very good and I still remember everything my granddad taught me. Would need to learn to skin and tan.
People need food and leather will be a by-product.
Metalworking - Like my woodworking skills, my metal working skills are very utilitarian. I can cut and weld (also taught to me by my grandfather... what was he preparing me for?) and have tried my hand at shaping. This is why I call it metalworking instead of smithing, would need to hone this a bit.
People will need armorplates welded on their mad max cars.
Weaponsmithing - Ok, now I sound like I am playing WoW. Heh. I know a fair amount about both firearms (ranging from blackpowder to submachineguns) and melee weapons. I can repair both, to a certain degree. I also have an innate ability for hoarding them. :)
Because people won't be nice after the mushroom clouds.
On Bartering:
Now say two guys meet on the road. One is really hungry, and has a wad of cash in his pocket. The other guy has a bunch of fish he just caught, or some meat from wild game. Neither one has seen another person for at least a few days. You're telling me fish guy would take paper bills left over from a government system that is most likely gone? In trade for food that might very well be his only wealth at the moment? I sure wouldn't... I'd want something I could actually use, like ammo or guaranteed fresh water.
What if fish guy gets to the next town and nobody's taking money anymore? He's screwed... and with poor communications, he's not going to know for sure. Money may or may not survive and it might evolve. However, this scenario can only be played out once. If he's just been thrust into this world (or rather, it onto him) and he doesn't know yet if money is still valid... yes, he'd be a fool to part with more fish than he can spare. If he has no money, but has fish... it might be an ok gamble, if the wager is small.
losojosdemuerte
10-12-2006, 07:39 PM
I guess I would like to run numbers and maybe a bartender or even better a Male Madam. Everyone has a vice and I want exploit it.
jcroft74
10-12-2006, 08:01 PM
I guess I would like to run numbers and maybe a bartender or even better a Male Madam. Everyone has a vice and I want exploit it.
Isn't a male madam better known as a pimp? And wouldn't you rather be known as pimp? I mean really!
soundwave2-0
10-12-2006, 08:05 PM
i think the male madam would also mean he could sleep with girls for money..but he would prolly just get guys.
women don't need to pay for sex...they just need to show up.
i think the male madam would also mean he could sleep with girls for money..but he would prolly just get guys.
women don't need to pay for sex...they just need to show up.Specifically, I think he wants to be known as "the male Heidi Fleiss of the post Apocalypse." I heard he already has a business card.
losojosdemuerte
10-13-2006, 12:01 AM
Isn't a male madam better known as a pimp? And wouldn't you rather be known as pimp? I mean really!
Well if someone called me a PIMP then I would have to shoot them, in their PIMP's heart.
I think a Male Madam is more respectable. Tell me what you think.
atomusk
10-13-2006, 12:06 AM
Well if someone called me a PIMP then I would have to shoot them, in their PIMP's heart.
I think a Male Madam is more respectable. Tell me what you think.
i personally perfer "Man Whore," or just "Whore" for short
bravestarr
10-13-2006, 12:11 AM
Well if someone called me a PIMP then I would have to shoot them, in their PIMP's heart.
I think a Male Madam is more respectable. Tell me what you think.
i think you should get back to work.
and why would you want to be a Male Madam in world infested by post-apocalyptic three tittied mutant freaks.
i think you should get back to work.
and why would you want to be a Male Madam in world infested by post-apocalyptic three tittied mutant freaks.Post-apocalyptic three tittied mutant freaks get horny too. He's just a capitalist doin' what it takes to earn a buck, or... uh.. a chicken if diela's right, in a cruel world.
Well we could always use some good ol fashion Thunderdome action. Mark me down as a gladiator.
fino35
10-13-2006, 12:47 AM
I wanna live on the outskirts of town with the rest of the mutants, killing and eating those who happen to pass by.
psbp516
10-13-2006, 01:32 AM
Two words, Bear hunter. I would hunt bears.
icedsoul
10-13-2006, 01:35 AM
I guess I would like to build vehicles of all sorts...
or maybe start mapping the area. and I am good with people so some psychological help maybe... :-D
satori
10-13-2006, 01:38 AM
i personally perfer "Man Whore," or just "Whore" for short
That's why I said sausage for hire dude
bravestarr
10-13-2006, 01:40 AM
i’m thinking high end fashion designer. have you seen some of those ensembles they wear, absolutely hideous.
diela
10-13-2006, 01:55 AM
Post-apocalyptic three tittied mutant freaks get horny too. He's just a capitalist doin' what it takes to earn a buck, or... uh.. a chicken if diela's right, in a cruel world.
Buck works too, if we're talking venison steaks.
Yum.
calvinslug
10-15-2006, 04:34 AM
i could build houses. General carpentry and plumbing. You'll all treat me as your king when you can shower again.
seumas
10-15-2006, 05:03 AM
__________
ariastar
10-15-2006, 05:10 AM
I was raised exceptionally well-rounded. I can do things from sewing tents to fahioning crude hunting tools and hunting. Yes, my dad did teach me. Yes, we hunted regularly.
fushna
10-15-2006, 06:26 AM
I wanna live on the outskirts of town with the rest of the mutants, killing and eating those who happen to pass by.
Dude sounds like fun, count me in.