Finding a home for preparedness/stockpiling threads

[tamagotchi]

Preparedness/stockpiling continues to be a hot topic in Frugality & Finances and Mindful Home Management. Many posters have been discussing this topic in Frugality & Finances recently. Today several threads in this discussion were moved to Mindful Home Management.

Although the specific topics of each of these threads might seem to fit better in MHM, the threads are part of a larger discussion that is, at present, taking place in F&F because there is no other place for it. Moving the threads takes them out of their natural context in the discussion.

What we really need is a subforum (probably another subforum in MHM) dedicated to preparedness and stockpiling. A new subforum would be a much more natural home for threads of this nature. It might also avoid some of the perennial arguments between stockpilers, and those who think stockpiling is silly, crazy, or wasteful.

I understand that new forums are not being opened at this time and that is the reason that my original request thread for a Preparedness forum (http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=996974) was closed. I hope this decision can be reconsidered because we need a better home for these threads.

At very least, maybe we can have a decision that all related threads can remain in F&F for the time being, without being moved out of the context of the larger discussion?


Here is a quote from a post in Frugality & Finances about the current situation:

Originally Posted by amyamanda

Can someone please help me to understand why some threads have been moved?

I started the Lentils and Beans thread SPECIFICALLY as a frugality thread. Eating out of pantry for frugal reasons. It was apparently moved to Nutrition and Good Eating, a board I never frequent.

To me, pantry eating is most definitely a frugality issue. Eating more lentils and beans is a frugality issue. And it is a finances issue. DH got laid off, we are making the most of what we have, eating more lentils and beans so we spend less on groceries. It's frugality and finances.

I see that some other threads have been moved to other boards elsewhere. I don't get it, and I am frustrated. I am sure the people who started those threads also intended them to be seen and participated in by the community on THIS board. ETA that this particular board has a certain outlook and common basis of understanding. That is the context I wanted for my thread. It's not okay with me that someone has reclassified "my" thread without asking or understanding the reasons for why it is here.

I do think that a lot of threads here lately indicate that our community would be well-served by a Preparedness forum. I could imagine such a forum being created and some threads being moved there. But come on. If I had wanted nutrition and healthy eating advice regarding lentils and beans, I would have posted on that forum. That was not my goal.

This is currently the only board I regularly visit at Mothering. I hop around to the others sometimes, but my home is here.

I am not sure who to express this to, and it concerns this board, so I'm putting it here.

Here is a list of the threads that were moved this afternoon, as well as a list of other recent threads (within the last few weeks) in Frugality & Finances and Mindful Home Management. I'm sure I have missed some, but just looking down this list, it's obvious to me that this is a topic with a lot of interest, that does not fit neatly into either forum.


Threads moved today from Frugality & Finances to Mindful Home Management:

When to replenish stockpile items?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1045791

Lentils and beans, and eating out of pantry
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1045791

Best dehydrator and vacuum sealer?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1046184

Can we talk generators please?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1046267



Other recent (or recently updated) stockpiling/preparedness threads in Frugality & Finances:

buy food now. Lots.
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1043612

Another aspect of preparedness?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1046266

Skills from 100 years ago
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1044430

Thinking about needs and getting them met (spinoff)
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1044294

Stockpiling exercise - where are the gaps in your pantry?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1045653

dried beans instead of canned
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1045802

Buy in bulk/stockpile tribe
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1035778

S/O Good items for bartering?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1045714

What are your stockpile essentials?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1044505

Another stockpiling thread
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1045209

What to do with investments - spinoff from buy.food.now thread
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1044389

The Great Depression Part 2?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1043583

storing stockpiles
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1044636

Stockpile recipes
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1044378

Describe the financial future...?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1043786

Bargain hunting/stockpiling mamas, how do you make a plan of attack?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1039217

s/o economy threads- tough times pave the way for change?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1037479

Couponing/Stockpiling: What items do you refuse to pay for?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1038167


Other recent (or recently updated) threads in Mindful Home Management:

Storing Potatoes and Onions
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1045306

2009 Food Storage Challenge
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1020179

Moth safe food containers
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1044079

Do you freeze all of your grains to avoid infestations?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1043407

Deal on solar/hand-crank radio/flashlights
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1037182

Are you Stocking Up or Preparing for an Emergency? Support Thread part II
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=996495



Many more examples of threads on this topic are listed in my initial forum request post, here:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...73&postcount=3


I hope this helps give the forum admins a complete picture of the current situation, or at least helps those of us participating in the discussion to keep track of where these threads are!

[JessicaS]

The topic is more applicable to MHM. Several of the threads you have posted as in F&F belong in MHM. Just because something is "cheaper" doesn't mean that makes it belong in F&F. Breastfeeding is obviously cheaper than FF but that doesn't mean a thread about the subject would belong in F&F. F&F is for managing income, financial planning and things like that.

Dried vs Canned does not belong in F&F, that belongs in Good Eating, recipes is also GE and Stockpiling can be either MHM or Good Eating.


We aren't adding a forum at this time. If it is out of hand just do a monthly or weekly thread.

Such a forum was only recently requested, there are other things that have been waiting much longer and people have been very patient.

We are not adding forums yet, we are working on some projects, we need to add some mods and when that is all accomplished we will start looking at the forums.

[Arduinna]

bumping this because I was searching for threads on this topic today and it would be so much easier to access the various information on the topic of preparedness if it was in it's own forum.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

bumping this because I was searching for threads on this topic today and it would be so much easier to access the various information on the topic of preparedness if it was in it's own forum.

We don't have plans to create a forum for this topic. It might be better suited to social groups once those are added.