[maz]

Obamageddon: Fear, the Far Right, and the Rise of “Doomsday” Prepping in Obama's America

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 June 2019

This article examines the politics of American “doomsday” prepping during Barack Obama's presidency. It challenges claims that growing interest in prepping post-2008 arose exclusively from extreme apocalyptic, white supremacist, and anti-government reactions to Obama's electoral successes – claims that suggest prepping to be politically congruent with previous waves of extreme right-wing American “survivalism.”

Drawing on ethnography, this paper argues that, while fears of Obama have been central to many preppers’ activities, much of their prepping under his presidency centred on fears that sit outside survivalist politics. Building on this, the article illuminates connections between prepping and America's twenty-first-century electoral mainstream. Engaging with discussions about the “remaking” of American conservatism during Obama's presidency, it particularly frames prepping's growth as being engaged with, and shaped by, currents of mainstream anti-Obama fear that similarly undergirded the Tea Party's rise within popular Republicanism at this time.

It was only a few short years ago that prepping for a disaster meant that you could possibly be a racist or some kind of domestic terrorist. In light of the coronavirus and other natural disasters, this thesis, which is not even a year old, has already aged terribly.

[Pants-of-dog]

How does the current reaction to the corona virus make this thesis wrong?

[maz]

How does the current reaction to the corona virus make this thesis wrong?

Because a lot of these people weren't just prepping because there was a non-white president in office at the time. And while some of them slowed down when Trump became elected, many continued to prepare for a situation just like the coronavirus ad advised others to continue to do the same.

Also, the issue is not whether the thesis is right or wrong but rather why would mostly left leaning outlets try to demonize preppers or try to discourage them from preparing? Do you see preppers trying to encourage their political adversaries not to be prepared for an emergency?

[Pants-of-dog]

Because a lot of these people weren't just prepping because there was a non-white president in office at the time.

That is what the study you cited also claims: that it was about more than just Obama. You and the study agree on this point.

And while some of them slowed down when Trump became elected, many continued to prepare for a situation just like the coronavirus ad advised others to continue to do the same.

This does not contradict the thesis either.

It can be true and logical that preppers did all their prepping as part of a resurgence of fear, racism, and extremism in US right wing politics and at the same time have done so in such a way that it does partially help then in case Trump continues to drop the ball with respect to the corona virus.

Also, the issue is not whether the thesis is right or wrong but rather why would mostly left leaning outlets try to demonize preppers or try to discourage them from preparing? Do you see preppers trying to encourage their political adversaries not to be prepared for an emergency?

This is a different argument.

I doubt anyone tried to discourage anyone from prepping.

[maz]

Speaking to you personally, what was the purpose of all of these articles at the time announcing that white people were preparing while Obama was president? Exactly what was the big deal?

[maz]

To those who mocked preppers, your day of reckoning has arrived

[JohnRawls]

To those who mocked preppers, your day of reckoning has arrived

Dude, you don't need extreme preparations against Coronavirus. This is not nuclear war/WW3.

[maz]

Dude, you don't need extreme preparations against Coronavirus. This is not nuclear war/WW3.

At this point, I don't think that anyone would be even so daft as to say that there is no possibility of nuclear WW3. These people are preparing for the unknown, whether it's nuclear WW3, panic buying, something that a black president, or any president may or may not do.

[Pants-of-dog]

Speaking to you personally, what was the purpose of all of these articles at the time announcing that white people were preparing while Obama was president? Exactly what was the big deal?

Are you talking to me?

[maz]

Are you talking to me?

Yes. I was asking you for your opinion. What was the point of all of these alarmist articles about white conservative preppers during the Obama administration?

[Pants-of-dog]

Yes. I was asking you for your opinion. What was the point of all of these alarmist articles about white conservative preppers during the Obama administration?

Why do you describe them as alarmist?

[Rich]

Well it appears that basically the preppers were right. The Liberals owe the Preppers an apology. Everything taken to extremes creates its problems. But it should be now clear that a moderate level of prepping helps buffer the system, helps buffer the economy, a moderate level of prepping by the average citizen is actually good for the resilience of the nation. But then again Cultural Marxists seek to destroy our nations, they want to weaken the resilience of the nations majority ethnic citizens and any minority ethnic citizens that are seen as collaborators with the majority ethnic.

[SolarCross]

The thing with prepping is that like anything you need to practise it to get good at it. All these idiots out there frantically buying up all the toilet paper as if it was socialism being implemented instead of just something relatively harmless like a loose bioweapon are all last minute preppers who just do not really know how to do it from lack of practice. In fairness to the toilet paper hoarders unless you have spent some time actually working out a good prepping plan there is no obvious answers as to what to get, when to get it and it what quantity for what contingencies. In the long run perhaps even the toilet paper hoarders may be proven right if in the wake of coronavirus somebody successfully carries out a socialist revolution.

[late]

Well it appears that basically the preppers were right. The Liberals owe the Preppers an apology. Everything taken to extremes creates its problems. But it should be now clear that a moderate level of prepping helps buffer the system, helps buffer the economy, a moderate level of prepping by the average citizen is actually good for the resilience of the nation. But then again Cultural Marxists seek to destroy our nations, they want to weaken the resilience of the nations majority ethnic citizens and any minority ethnic citizens that are seen as collaborators with the majority ethnic.

Love the hallucinations.

The CDC is still offering it's standard advice, have 2 weeks worth of stuff in case of emergency. That's about where I'm at, but it looks like I might want to do a little more.

Want to know what will actually weaken the nation? Idiots that believed what Trump said and are blowing off what the Docs are saying.

On the plus side...

[maz]

Why do you describe them as alarmist?

SPLC wrote many alarmist articles about preppers and then making vague, indirect assertions about them being dangers. No one has ever given a good answer as to why they sought to do this.

One similar example of an alarmist type article was just after the Sandy Hook shooting where the Independent wrote an egregious article tying preppers to the shooting, based on hearsay and no evidence that I could see.

Mother of Sandy Hook school gunman Adam Lanza was a 'prepper' survivalist preparing for economic and social collapse, say reports

The mother of Adam Lanza, the gunman who killed 20 children and six adults in one of America’s worst ever school massacres, was a “survivalist” preparing for economic and social collapse, it has emerged.

According to reports, Nancy Lanza was a so-called 'prepper', a part of the survivalist movement which urges individuals to prepare for the breakdown of society by training with weapons and hoarding food and other supplies.

“She prepared for the worst,” her sister-in-law Marsha Lanza told the Chicago Sun-Times.

“Last time we visited her in person, we talked about prepping – are you ready for what could happen down the line, when the economy collapses?”

Marsha Lanza described Nancy as 'self-reliant' and said she repeatedly talked about her preparations for the economic and social meltdown.

Police have said Mrs Lanza, 52, owned five legally registered guns, three of which her son carried with him.

Mrs Lanza is thought to have trained her sons, Adam and Ryan to shoot, even taking them to local ranges.

Friends and family have portrayed Mrs Lanza as a paranoid ‘survivalist’ who believed the world was on the brink of violent collapse.

Despite initial reports that she was a kindergarten teacher at the school her son attacked, she had no connection with it and was described by a neighbour as ‘a stay-at-home mom’.

Today's reports come amid growing calls for President Barack Obama to take action over gun controls.

[late]

[Pants-of-dog]

@maz

Again, why do you describe these as “alarmist”?

[maz]

@maz

Again, why do you describe these as “alarmist”?

Because they are alarming the public that preppers are dangerous white supremacist terrorists. In the SPLC's case, they are attempting to turn public opinion against preppers by writing scary press releases so that they can collect donations.

[Pants-of-dog]

Because they are alarming the public that preppers are dangerous white supremacist terrorists. In the SPLC's case, they are attempting to turn public opinion against preppers by writing scary press releases so that they can collect donations.

No, not from what I have seen.

The article you copied and pasted did not do that, and I assume you chose that one because it felt more alarming to you.

Nothing in that article says anything about preppers being dangerous, or white supremacists.

Nor does there seem to be any indication that “they” (whomever “they” are) are trying to inflated public opinion one way or another.

[late]

Because they are alarming the public that preppers are dangerous white supremacist terrorists. In the SPLC's case, they are attempting to turn public opinion against preppers by writing scary press releases so that they can collect donations.

Last time a prepper made national news was because he was a terrorist.

Take a deep breath, maybe learn meditation.