I found this on Facebook and decided to post it here. What 4 would you choose (and why)?
Deserted Island Question
- Thread starter Miss Chicken
- Start date
Raft - to escape from the deserted island
Compass - to guide myself back to the shipping lanes
Flare gun - to attract rescuers
Volleyball - for companionship
Compass - to guide myself back to the shipping lanes
Flare gun - to attract rescuers
Volleyball - for companionship
I choose
1) tent - for shelter
2) matches - because I don't have the patience to rub two sticks together and I want a fire for warmth, cooking and signalling
3) pot - for cooking and collecting rain water
4) knife - for dozens of reasons
1) tent - for shelter
2) matches - because I don't have the patience to rub two sticks together and I want a fire for warmth, cooking and signalling
3) pot - for cooking and collecting rain water
4) knife - for dozens of reasons
Tent, for shelter
Mirror, to start fires
Pot, to cook and boil water and collect rain. Boiled water is for drinking and first aid, make some bandages out of bark etc.. by boiling them to sterilize and soften.
Knife, very important for everything
Mirror, to start fires
Pot, to cook and boil water and collect rain. Boiled water is for drinking and first aid, make some bandages out of bark etc.. by boiling them to sterilize and soften.
Knife, very important for everything
It would depend where the island was. If I thought I had a chance of escape I would go with what RJ went with, otherwise:
Saw
Knife
Tent
Pot
If it were a nice place where I could build a shelter without dying of exposure first, I might swap the tent for the tarp which would have more diverse uses.
Anything perishable would be useless, as would anything that would run out, so matches, weed, vitamins, rifle etc all useless.
Saw
Knife
Tent
Pot
If it were a nice place where I could build a shelter without dying of exposure first, I might swap the tent for the tarp which would have more diverse uses.
Anything perishable would be useless, as would anything that would run out, so matches, weed, vitamins, rifle etc all useless.
Tent
Rope
Pot (the non-weed kind)
Knife
My first focus is on shelter and survival with items that won't run out.
Rope
Pot (the non-weed kind)
Knife
My first focus is on shelter and survival with items that won't run out.
You're right. Water purifier is useful but limited so the pot is a better idea.
5 ounces of weed isn't much, but if there's some seeds at least you could grow more.
So: Saw, Knife, Pot and Pot
So: Saw, Knife, Pot and Pot
You don't have a light...
Knife - Hunting, signalling reflector, protection from predators, cutting wood, whittling kindling, carving sticks for making fire, cauterizing wounds, making a spear, preparing and eating food, etc.
Tarp - Shelter, blanket, rain poncho, water collector, signal sign, sail, etc.
Pot - Water collector, water boiler, food cooker, food and water storage (keep food safe from scavengers and bugs), storage for matches, blunt object to break things, etc.
Matches
Matches was the one I spent the most time considering, alternating back and forth between matches and mirror. While it's possible, mirrors are pretty difficult to make fire with, since they're flat and one-sided and can't focus the light very well. Mirrors would be good for signalling, but then I can also do that with the knife or a fire. So mirror was out.
Since the type of island was not specified, I considered what would have the most broad usefulness (if it was an Arctic/Antarctic island you could just melt ice, and if it was tropical it will rain a lot). People think rubbing sticks together to make fire is fairly easy, but it's not. So, while matches are a finite resource, I'd like to have it as a safety net until I learn how to make a fire with friction. You can go a while without eating, but without clean water your ability to function is going to degrade quickly and you'll die in a couple days.
Unless you can see your desired destination or know where you are relative to it (and it's not far), setting out in a tiny raft is more likely to get you killed than get you to safety.
Tarp - Shelter, blanket, rain poncho, water collector, signal sign, sail, etc.
Pot - Water collector, water boiler, food cooker, food and water storage (keep food safe from scavengers and bugs), storage for matches, blunt object to break things, etc.
Matches
Matches was the one I spent the most time considering, alternating back and forth between matches and mirror. While it's possible, mirrors are pretty difficult to make fire with, since they're flat and one-sided and can't focus the light very well. Mirrors would be good for signalling, but then I can also do that with the knife or a fire. So mirror was out.
Since the type of island was not specified, I considered what would have the most broad usefulness (if it was an Arctic/Antarctic island you could just melt ice, and if it was tropical it will rain a lot). People think rubbing sticks together to make fire is fairly easy, but it's not. So, while matches are a finite resource, I'd like to have it as a safety net until I learn how to make a fire with friction. You can go a while without eating, but without clean water your ability to function is going to degrade quickly and you'll die in a couple days.
Unless you can see your desired destination or know where you are relative to it (and it's not far), setting out in a tiny raft is more likely to get you killed than get you to safety.
Tarp
Pot
Knife
Those are the three obvious ones for me. They have such varied and important uses. The tarp could be a tent, windshield, blanket, sail, etc. Pot for boiling water and cooking food. Knife for just about anything.
As for the fourth item....I think I would go with the first aid kit, because I am the delicate type and I just know I'd die of some terrible infection otherwise. Plus it could contain scissors, gauze which seems like it could have a few good uses, tape, small metal things or other useful implements.
Pot
Knife
Those are the three obvious ones for me. They have such varied and important uses. The tarp could be a tent, windshield, blanket, sail, etc. Pot for boiling water and cooking food. Knife for just about anything.
As for the fourth item....I think I would go with the first aid kit, because I am the delicate type and I just know I'd die of some terrible infection otherwise. Plus it could contain scissors, gauze which seems like it could have a few good uses, tape, small metal things or other useful implements.
Ohhh...a fun question 
I'll review each first...
Tarp- Great to have and can be used for many things.
Sunscreen- Won't Last. Also ,I could easily stay in the shade midday.
Toilet Paper- Won't last a week.
Pot- Useful for boiling things.
iPod- Useless to someone like me.
Hiking boots- Depends on the island. I'd definitely use them if I was on an island like in Cast away or 7 days, 6 nights.
Handsaw- Useful
Flare Gun- Limited- there's always the chance it would go unnoticed.
Inflatable Raft- It depends on the island and where it is like someone said.
Flashlight- Batteries won't last
Insect Repellent- it won't last
Hammock- great, especially in the tropics
Compass- Depends on the island and whether I'm able to get off the island. If it's a small island and the currents won't let me get far from the island, I may not have much use of it.
Mirror- More reliable than Flare gun, plus I could use it to start a fire.
Vitamins- It won't last
Water Purifier- Unless the island was full of tepid water sources, I could get by without. Plus, I can just boil the water.
Fishing Rod- Definitely useful, but it may depend on type of water.
Rope- It can be made, but it could be useful.
Hunting Rifle- First of all, chances are there are no large animals that one would shoot. Bullets would be wasted shooting rodents that react so quickly, all that.
5 Ounces of Weed- No
First Aid Kit- If I need one badly, I'm fucked anyway.
Tent- Nice, but not necessarily durable and stable long term
Knife- Nice to have
Matches- They won't last
Volleyball- No
My choices are....
Tarp, Handsaw, Pot and Mirror.
Rope, Hammock and fishing rod can be made and a knife can be fashioned from a rock.
I'll review each first...
Tarp- Great to have and can be used for many things.
Sunscreen- Won't Last. Also ,I could easily stay in the shade midday.
Toilet Paper- Won't last a week.
Pot- Useful for boiling things.
iPod- Useless to someone like me.
Hiking boots- Depends on the island. I'd definitely use them if I was on an island like in Cast away or 7 days, 6 nights.
Handsaw- Useful
Flare Gun- Limited- there's always the chance it would go unnoticed.
Inflatable Raft- It depends on the island and where it is like someone said.
Flashlight- Batteries won't last
Insect Repellent- it won't last
Hammock- great, especially in the tropics
Compass- Depends on the island and whether I'm able to get off the island. If it's a small island and the currents won't let me get far from the island, I may not have much use of it.
Mirror- More reliable than Flare gun, plus I could use it to start a fire.
Vitamins- It won't last
Water Purifier- Unless the island was full of tepid water sources, I could get by without. Plus, I can just boil the water.
Fishing Rod- Definitely useful, but it may depend on type of water.
Rope- It can be made, but it could be useful.
Hunting Rifle- First of all, chances are there are no large animals that one would shoot. Bullets would be wasted shooting rodents that react so quickly, all that.
5 Ounces of Weed- No
First Aid Kit- If I need one badly, I'm fucked anyway.
Tent- Nice, but not necessarily durable and stable long term
Knife- Nice to have
Matches- They won't last
Volleyball- No
My choices are....
Tarp, Handsaw, Pot and Mirror.
Rope, Hammock and fishing rod can be made and a knife can be fashioned from a rock.
Tent
Matches
Pot
Water purifier
It would help to know more about the island. If there's nothing but fish, crabs, insects, etc, then I'd go with the pot. If there are birds, reptiles, larger mammals about, the gun might be useful. But I think you'd probably run out of bullets fairly quickly.
Matches
Pot
Water purifier
It would help to know more about the island. If there's nothing but fish, crabs, insects, etc, then I'd go with the pot. If there are birds, reptiles, larger mammals about, the gun might be useful. But I think you'd probably run out of bullets fairly quickly.
I assume I'm alone in this scenario? Because unless I had company and/compelling reason to believe rescue/escape would be imminent, I doubt my will to live would last long on a deserted island. Don't get me wrong, I definitely intend on doing a lot more living before my time's up, but I have very little interest in going insane from loneliness while eating berries and suffering from extreme sunburn. I'll therefore take the flare gun, the matches, the tent, and the rifle. If the flares and lighting the island itself on fire a la The Lord of the Flies don't attract help... game over, man. Thanks for playing. 
If I do have some company, I might swap the gun for the knife. But, unless the company were really great, without clear hope of rescue, the end result might be about the same before long.
If I do have some company, I might swap the gun for the knife. But, unless the company were really great, without clear hope of rescue, the end result might be about the same before long.
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