What use is gold in say an EMP strike?

a reply to: daskakik
Oh okay. I'm enjoying interesting discussion with other members though so if you don't like my particular style you can always ignore the thread. If you keep on about it you are just going off-topic and I just wanted friendly discussion, such as I'm enjoying with other members.

On-topic, I can't eat gold, and I reckon I'll be long dead if total societal collapse happens before gold returns as a currency.
That said, hoarding gold seems pointless when I can purchase so many more useful things to help me in the hypothetical events as intimated in the OP.

a reply to: InceyWincey

I'm not going off topic. The unlikeliness of the situation in the OP and gold actually retaining value in the short term is precisely what the thread is about, isn't it?

If you just wanted to share ideas about what to do if/when the SHTF then why not just make a thread that approached it generally and not a specific (unlikely) scenario.

originally posted by: InceyWincey
On-topic, I can't eat gold, and I reckon I'll be long dead if total societal collapse happens before gold returns as a currency.

You are wrong. I think people have shown you why this is.

If this is what your thread is really about then why dismiss valid arguments against your flawed conclusion?

originally posted by: daskakik
a reply to: InceyWincey

I'm not going off topic. The unlikeliness of the situation in the OP and gold actually retaining value in the short term is precisely what the thread is about, isn't it?

If you just wanted to share ideas about what to do if/when the SHTF then why not just make a thread that approached it generally and not a specific (unlikely) scenario.

I chose a specific unlikely scenario, I was thinking sustained solar event taking out the whole world. If you don't wish to discuss that specific premise and the usefulness (or not) of gold then don't.
Why are you derailing the thread?
Of course the scenario is unlikely in my lifetime, but it is the discussion scenario I chose. Now, do you wish to chat about what you think you'd do in such a situation or just keep giving me a hard time about my style of discussion?

originally posted by: daskakik
You are wrong.

That is your opinion. You do not 'know' that.
At least I'm honest that all I've got is opinion on a hypothetical scenario.

originally posted by: InceyWincey
I chose a specific unlikely scenario, I was thinking sustained solar event taking out the whole world.

It won't and that is exactly what I'm discussing when I posted info about how it won't even fry the majority of cars and it wouldn't affect most electronics.

It would really just take out the power grid and that can be up and running within a relatively short period of time.

That is your opinion. You do not 'know' that.
At least I'm honest that all I've got is opinion on a hypothetical scenario.

I linked info that cited actual tests so it isn't just opinion.

I will bow out now since it is obvious that no actual info is going to be appreciated in this doomporn circlejerk.

a reply to: daskakik
Oh okay.
Thanks for your friendly contributions to the thread

And back to anyone interested in this thread, am I really off-target with thoughts that a sustained solar event of enough magnitute could knock out our electronics, data centres, industry etc? Note I say 'could' and I'll add 'potentially' for anyone who wishes further clarity.
I imagined the hypothetical situation in the OP but if it's something which could 'never' happen then cool, let me know how you 'know'. Everything I've ever read tells me it 'could' happen given the right circumstances.
...and gold would be worthless to me, you can keep it, I'll choose something more immediately useful.

a reply to: InceyWincey

Last post.

Maybe already posted but take any electronic equipment you want to make sure survives the emp/solar flare and place it in a sturdy metal box connected to ground. 2-way radios, solar chargers, multiband radio, computers (if digging in)/tablet (if on the move) with as much knowledge as you can cram into them. Whatever you think might be most useful to you.

This is actually done by many preppers, as well as governments, which is another reason society won't be starting over from zero but they could also be useful right after the SHTF.

a reply to: InceyWincey

Gold will always be king. Just the way it works.

a reply to: daskakik
I have a tablet plus charging gear, batteries, and dynamos in a couple of old microwave ovens under the house. I hope that will help me. Am I correct in assuming you accept such an event 'could' happen, and defensive preparations are not inappropriate?

originally posted by: InceyWincey
a reply to: daskakik
Am I correct in assuming you accept such an event 'could' happen, and defensive preparations are not inappropriate?

Not as described in the OP. Some places might be at higher risk from a nuclear caused emp. Not sure if the radiation makes it a moot point and it certainly wouldn't be a worldwide event.

Solar flares are not a threat to electronic devices and even a CME would only be a threat to the grid and some communication networks. Long cables are the target.

As someone posted somewhere on the web, if one is seen and power plants can be alerted in time all they would have to do is shut the grid down until it passes and then turn the lights back on.

a reply to: daskakik

I've never said solar flare in this thread, I've only ever said solar event, that covers all EMP eventualities.
Do you accept that potentially it is a possibility or no? I'm interested in this topic so any useful links will be appreciated which show this could never happen.

a reply to: InceyWincey

i have always wondered what was so useful about gold that it was the global currency before "theoretical" money. seems like gold is really only considered valuable to those who have almost literally everything else in spades. gold is the final frontier of being wealthy, after food, clothes, buildings, subjects, influence, etc. but if the goal is not wealth, then gold becomes superfluous. i agree with gargoyle, potable water will definitely be in the top 5 of tradeable commodities.

a reply to: TzarChasm

Yes. A kilo/litre of clean fresh water is worth more to me in immediate total societal collapse than a kilo of gold.

originally posted by: InceyWincey
I've never said solar flare in this thread, I've only ever said solar event, that covers all EMP eventualities.
Do you accept that potentially it is a possibility or no? I'm interested in this topic so any useful links will be appreciated which show this could never happen.

No, I don't accept that it is a possibility and especially the worldwide event as proposed.

Taking all solar events into account, none of them are a worldwide threat to all electronic devices. I already posted links to that info.

Here is one more EMP myths

Extremists: Some general emphasis of comments fall into either "the world as we know it will come to an end" if there is a high altitude nuclear burst, or the other extreme: "it's not a big deal, nothing much will happen". Since we really have never had a nuclear burst over anything like our current modern infrastructure, no one really knows for sure what would happen, but both extremes are not very believable.

That is for nuclear blasts. The site also has info on solar storms.

originally posted by: InceyWincey
a reply to: TzarChasm

Yes. A kilo/litre of clean fresh water is worth more to me in immediate total societal collapse than a kilo of gold.

which reinforces my confusion that gold was ever considered something worthy of being currency.

a reply to: daskakik

Not even a possibility? Do you have a link to support your opinion?
This proposed scenario fascinates me so if you have a link to show it could never happen I'd love to read it.
Thanks in advance.

a reply to: TzarChasm
Gold is lame. It has no nutritional value and won't help me catch prey or boil water.